Water Distribution
Resolving corrosion issues in drinking water distribution systems
Clean water is the single most important resource on the planet. It is common knowledge that underdeveloped countries struggle to provide enough clean water to their citizens, but even developed countries like the United States are fighting an uphill battle to keep up with the aging infrastructure of pipes and water systems. Even today, drinking water distribution systems rely on metallic and concrete pipes, which are at risk of corrosion.
Corrosion, or rust, occurs in storage tanks, water distribution lines, aqueducts and treatment plant facilities, and can contaminate drinking water. Commonly found in aging drinking water distribution systems, corrosion is caused when the metal in the pipes reacts with the oxygen in the water or when the protective layer in concrete steel reinforcement is destroyed. This corrosion may not be noticed until it begins to affect the quality of the drinking water and is often a difficult and time-consuming issue to resolve.
OBIC 1100 interior coatings for potable water systems
That is where OBIC products can help. Our UL certified NSF/ANSI 61 polyurea coating can be used for potable water system applications, including storage tanks, distribution lines, aqueducts and treatment plants. OBIC 1100 not only rehabilitates aging pipes and potable water systems, but it also protects against future corrosion, extending the life of the affected pipes or systems by decades.
As an added benefit, rehabilitation with OBIC 1100 requires minimal downtime. This spray-applied lining system cures in minutes, so your drinking water distribution systems can be back up and running quickly.
What does it mean to be certified NSF/ANSI 61
Water treatment and distribution products in North America are required to comply with NSF/ANSI 61 standards. Additionally, forty-nine U.S. states have legislation, regulations or policies requiring or recommending drinking water system components to comply with or be certified to NSF/ANSI 61. Eleven Canadian provinces/territories have similar regulations.
According to NSF International’s Drinking Water System Components – Health Effects Standard Overview, NSF/ANSI 61 is an approved standard of the American National Standards Institute and the legally recognized national standard in the United States for the human health effects assessment of drinking water contact materials, components and devices. This standard forms the basis of the regulatory framework and of public health protection for controlling the health effects of drinking water contact materials across the USA and Canada.
Developed by a team of scientists, industry experts and key industry stakeholders, NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 sets health effects criteria for many water system components including:
- Protective barrier materials (cements, paints, coatings)
- Joining and sealing materials (gaskets, adhesives, lubricants)
- Mechanical devices (water meters, valves, filters)
- Pipes and related products (pipe, hose, fittings)
- Plumbing devices (faucets, drinking fountains)
- Process media (filter media, ion exchange resins)
- Non-metallic potable water materials
Information above published by NSF International.
Schedule a customized product demonstration
OBIC lining systems offer a high-quality, cost-effective alternative to the replacement of the structure. Product demonstrations can be conducted in an optional lunch and learn format, and we encourage you to invite anyone interested in learning more about OBIC products.