Least Cost Analysis for Biocorrosion Mitigation Strategies in Concrete Sewers

Georgios Fytianos, Emmanouil Tziolas, Efthimios Papastergiadis and Petros Samaras
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Georgios Fytianos: Department of Food Science and Technology, International Hellenic University, Sindos, 57400 Thessaloniki, Greece
Emmanouil Tziolas: ELGO-Demeter, Fisheries Research Institute, 64007 Nea Peramos, Kavála, Greece
Efthimios Papastergiadis: Department of Food Science and Technology, International Hellenic University, Sindos, 57400 Thessaloniki, Greece
Petros Samaras: Department of Food Science and Technology, International Hellenic University, Sindos, 57400 Thessaloniki, Greece

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 11, 1-13

Abstract: The changing role of the municipal water and wastewater authorities, together with the need for a sustainable maintenance treatment in the sewer systems, have been the catalysts for the integration of technical and financial information into asset management systems. This paper presents results from a cost-comparative analysis focusing on an annuities calculation for the evaluation of microbiologically induced corrosion (MIC) or biocorrosion mitigation methodologies used in the maintenance of concrete sewers. The replacement cost of deteriorated sewer concrete pipes is high, and MIC mitigation methods can be used to increase the current service life of concrete pipes. From the MIC mitigation methods that are frequently used, the authors examined those of flushing with high-pressure water (i.e., a common method used in Greece), and spraying with magnesium hydroxide slurry (MHS). The authors chose four different cities for the assessment, which presented different sewer characteristics and socioeconomic backgrounds. In addition, all methods for concrete sewer MIC mitigation were compared to the present value of replacement of sewer concrete pipes with new PVC ones. Results showed that flushing with high-pressure water is very cost demanding and should be avoided, while spraying with MHS could be a sustainable and economic solution in the long term.

Keywords: sewer corrosion; least cost analysis; biocorrosion (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:11:p:4578-:d:367088

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