The loss of treated water from defective pipelines is one of Africa’s most serious problems. The supply of water is an expensive and ongoing headache for Donors and Water Authorities alike, which work together to satisfy disgruntled end users. There are many reasons for water loss, but perhaps the three major reasons are broken pipes, leaking pipe joints and theft from the pipeline system, particularly in high-density suburbs. In this age of high technology, water loss is unacceptable, particularly on a continent that is ravaged with drought and where rural communities understand better than most, that every drop counts. Water losses in piping systems are not only down to broken pipes and joints and poor installation techniques, but also to poor installation techniques, which lead to premature failure in the ground. So, if water systems are to benefit people fairly, then it is necessary that answers be found.

Of utmost importance, Governments and other donors must be assured that monies provided for much needed water schemes will be well spent, and that water networks, once installed, require minimal service and maintenance. Plastic water pipe systems in use today, whilst superior to other systems in many regards, require significant attention to trenching and backfilling procedures (to support and protect pipes in the ground from excessive point load damage) at the installation stage. Thorough installation procedures are labour intensive and costly. Also, most pipeline installations at this time use joints which are not tamper proof and this lack of joint security makes water theft easier. What then can be done about such losses of scarce and expensive purified water if water systems are to benefit people fairly?

A combination of new technologies now offers an answer to these problems in the form of an extremely tough and robust three-layer plastic pipe used in conjunction with electro-fusion joints. The new pipeline system cannot be opened or tampered with by the general public without immediate evidence being obvious to authorities. The new pipe and fittings also ensure a 100% leak free system, which does not require the costly trenching, and backfilling procedures at present required for plastic piping systems. The writer maintains that for this new concept to be successful, there will need to be a commitment from both Government and in particular water department Chiefs. The use of a high quality plastic pipe for Africa goes against most conventional views in the industry, where normally the cheapest pipe and fittings are purchased in order to reduce the initial scheme costs. But this approach nearly always proves to be more costly in the long term and invariably delivers poor quality service because of system failures and down time whilst repairs are affected. It is also impossible to spot system tampering with the currently used products. A new approach is needed and this new approach will require a new mindset at the design stage.

After much research and many costing exercises, a new piping system is now available which appears to be ideal for the African environment. The system is tough and can be installed in roughly excavated trenches and re-buried below the as dug soil. There is no need for specially imported and expensive backfill materials. The slightly higher production/purchase costs are quickly countered by the savings afforded due to reduced theft, water loss and lower overall installation costs. The new pipe is Blue in colour and is highly visible in an existing network of Black coloured pipes. The new proposal offers the following benefits to users:

BLUE PIPES GIVE CLEAR VISIBILITY IN THE GROUND AND HIGHLIGHT ILLEGAL INTERFERENCE

• BLUE PIPES PREVENT THE USE OF RECYCLED AND LOW GRADE MATERIALS
• JOINTING THAT CAN ONLY BE PERFORMED BY MUNICIPAL WORKMEN
• A 100-YEAR TOUGH PIPE THAT CAN WITHSTAND POOR BURIAL CONDITIONS
• A SEMI-FLEXIBLE PIPE THAT CAN BE LAID EASILY IN HIGH DENSITY SUBURBS
• A PIPE THAT IS IDEAL FOR RURAL AND ROUGH TERRAIN APPLICATIONS
• NO CALCIFICATION OR SCALING IN THE PIPE THAT LEAD TO DELIVERY LOSSES
• A PIPELINE THAT CAN BE TRENCHED BY SELF-HELP OR RURAL COMMUNITIES

The new pipe has been designed by a leading European plastic pipe company and the raw materials used in the design are very special - the sale of the raw material is controlled world-wide and is not available to unapproved pipe manufacturers. If electro-fusion fittings are used in conjunction with the new pipes, then no water loss is possible. The pipe design is sophisticated and requires the use of two plastic extruders linked together, a technique that low-tech companies cannot offer. The use of these new three-layer pipes will allow African countries the opportunity to install a best quality water system with little significant increase in initial cost (costing information is available for examination). Engineers can be confident of a leak-free long-life system which when considered alongside the current 30% water losses (and higher) experienced in most municipalities, should not be seen as a pipe dream, but rather as a serious opportunity to install a system most suitable for African conditions. And, as an added benefit, the new pipes can also be used for Gas pipelines, where questionable installation workmanship may be a factor.