USE OF SOIL MAPS TO PREDICT THE INCIDENCE OF CORROSION AND THE NEED FOR IRON MAINS RENEWAL

The requirement for revised asset management plans from water-supply c ompanies and the need to prioritize the renewal of buried water-supply pipe-work has stimulated an interest in the spatial distribution of c orrosion risk and intensity. This paper reports how the relationships between soil corrosion and the spatial distribution of soil types, as displayed on soil maps, can be combined to predict the likely incidenc e of aggressive soils and thereby identify those water mains which are most likely to need early replacement. The concept is illustrated by a project supported by Portsmouth Water plc.