Stop corrosion – instead of replacing the pipeline

At Eskilstuna Energi & Miljö, a water pipeline has been protected against corrosion since 1989. By installing NoCor® cathodic protection, recurring leaks and operational disruptions have been avoided without the pipeline having to be replaced. The result is at least ten times longer service life, major financial savings and a significantly lower climate impact.

When a water pipeline starts to leak, the obvious question is often: When does it need to be replaced? But sometimes there is a better alternative – stopping the cause of the problems and allowing the existing infrastructure to continue doing its job.

That was the situation at Eskilstuna Energi & Miljö. A water pipeline developed serious problems with corrosion and water leakage early in its service life. This led to recurring remedial work, high costs and unnecessary operational disruptions. Instead of accepting these problems as a natural part of the pipeline ageing process, a different path was chosen in 1989: installing NoCor® cathodic protection.

Prevent instead of repair

Cathodic protection neutralises the electrochemical process that causes corrosion. In this way, both the water pipeline itself and its associated components are protected.

For Eskilstuna Energi & Miljö, this meant addressing the root cause of the corrosion-related problems instead of continuing to deal with the consequences in the form of leaks and repairs.

The effect has been long-lasting. The pipeline has been cathodically protected since 1989, and costly repairs and emergency shutdowns caused by corrosion have been avoided.

The result – more than three decades later

The impact becomes particularly clear when looking at the bigger picture:

• At least 10 times longer service life for the existing pipeline.
• More than 99% lower future emissions compared with the alternative of replacing the pipeline.
• More than 354 tonnes of CO₂ can be avoided because no new steel production is required.
• Several million SEK in potentially freed-up capital, since investment in a new pipeline can be avoided.
• Fewer corrosion-related repairs and emergency shutdowns, with positive effects on both finances and operations.

When the most sustainable pipeline is the one already in the ground

Water and wastewater infrastructure is built to last. That means there is also considerable value in extending the service life of what is already in place. The Eskilstuna Energi & Miljö case is a concrete example of what a different perspective on corrosion can achieve. The question does not always have to be when the pipeline must be replaced – but whether corrosion can be stopped and the existing infrastructure given a significantly longer life.

For municipalities, water and wastewater utilities and other organisations with extensive pipeline networks, there is potential worth exploring: extending the service life of existing assets can be an investment that makes sense both economically and environmentally.