Different types of sanitation chemicals

Different types of sanitation chemicals

Importance of Sanitation in Porta Potty Rentals

Deodorizers and Fragrance Additives: Making Spaces Fresh and Pleasant


In the world of sanitation chemicals, deodorizers and fragrance additives play a crucial role in creating pleasant environments while combating unpleasant odors. These products are essential in both residential and commercial settings, where maintaining fresh-smelling spaces is vital for comfort and well-being.


Portable restroom rentals are often needed in endurance events porta potty rental units construction.

Modern deodorizers work in two primary ways. Some products neutralize odor-causing molecules through chemical reactions, while others mask unwanted smells with more pleasant fragrances. Advanced formulations often combine both approaches, offering a comprehensive solution to odor problems. Common active ingredients include cyclodextrins, which trap odor molecules, and various essential oils that provide lasting freshness.


Fragrance additives have evolved significantly, moving beyond simple perfumes to sophisticated blends that can create specific atmospheric experiences. From crisp citrus scents for cleaning environments to soothing lavender for relaxation areas, these additives are carefully formulated to enhance the overall sensory experience of a space. Many manufacturers now offer eco-friendly options, using natural essential oils and plant-based ingredients to appeal to environmentally conscious consumers.


In commercial settings, these products are particularly important in restrooms, waste management areas, and high-traffic zones. Time-release formulations ensure consistent fragrance delivery, while new technologies like dry vapor systems provide continuous odor control without leaving residue or moisture.


As the industry continues to advance, manufacturers are focusing on developing longer-lasting, safer, and more environmentally sustainable options, making deodorizers and fragrance additives an increasingly sophisticated segment of sanitation chemicals.

Bacterial Enzyme Treatments: Natures Cleaning Solution


When it comes to sanitation chemicals, bacterial enzyme treatments represent a fascinating and eco-friendly approach to cleaning and waste management. These treatments harness the natural power of beneficial bacteria and their enzymes to break down organic matter, eliminate odors, and maintain cleanliness in various environments.


Think of bacterial enzyme treatments as natures own cleaning crew. These specialized formulations contain carefully selected bacterial strains that produce specific enzymes. These enzymes act like microscopic scissors, cutting through organic waste materials like grease, protein, starches, and other tough-to-remove substances. Unlike harsh chemical cleaners, enzyme treatments work gradually but thoroughly, continuing to clean long after application.


What makes these treatments particularly attractive is their environmental friendliness. Theyre non-toxic, biodegradable, and safe for both humans and animals. Youll commonly find them used in septic systems, grease traps, drain lines, and even in carpet cleaning. Theyre especially effective in food service environments where grease and organic waste buildup can be a significant problem.


However, its worth noting that bacterial enzyme treatments arent instant solutions like traditional chemical cleaners. They require time to work effectively and often need regular application to maintain optimal results. But their gentle yet persistent action, combined with their environmental benefits, makes them an increasingly popular choice in modern sanitation practices.


Whether youre dealing with stubborn drain clogs or trying to maintain a cleaner, fresher-smelling environment, bacterial enzyme treatments offer a smart, sustainable solution that works in harmony with nature rather than against it.

Odor Control Products and Technologies

Blue Formaldehyde-Based Solutions: Powerful Disinfectants for Modern Sanitation


Blue formaldehyde-based solutions are among the most effective and widely used sanitation chemicals in healthcare facilities, laboratories, and industrial settings. These distinctive blue-colored disinfectants combine the powerful antimicrobial properties of formaldehyde with other active ingredients to create a robust cleaning and sterilization solution.


The characteristic blue color serves as an important safety feature, making it easy to identify the chemical and prevent accidental misuse. These solutions are particularly effective against a broad spectrum of pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and spores. Their strong germicidal properties make them especially valuable in environments where thorough disinfection is crucial.


However, these solutions must be handled with extreme care due to formaldehydes toxic nature. Users must wear appropriate protective equipment and ensure proper ventilation when working with these chemicals. Despite their effectiveness, many facilities are gradually moving toward less hazardous alternatives due to growing health and environmental concerns.


In medical settings, blue formaldehyde solutions are commonly used for sterilizing surgical instruments and medical devices. Theyre also utilized in mortuary services and some specialized laboratory applications where their powerful disinfectant properties are essential. While these solutions remain important in specific applications, their use is becoming more targeted and controlled to minimize exposure risks while maximizing their beneficial sanitizing properties.

Odor Control Products and Technologies

Waste Management and Disposal Best Practices

Okay, lets talk about sanitation, specifically the stuff we use to clean and disinfect, and lets focus on the "green" side of things, moving away from the harsh stuff like formaldehyde. When you think about cleaning, you probably imagine that strong, almost clinical smell. Thats often from chemicals that, frankly, aren't great for us or the environment. Formaldehyde is a classic example – its a powerful disinfectant, sure, but it can irritate your skin, eyes, and respiratory system, and it's even classified as a known carcinogen. Yikes.


So, what are the alternatives? Thats where "non-formaldehyde green solutions" come in. Were talking about sanitation chemicals that are effective at killing germs and bacteria without relying on formaldehyde or other equally nasty chemicals. This could mean using ingredients derived from plants, like essential oils known for their antimicrobial properties. Think tea tree oil, eucalyptus oil, or even citrus extracts. These often have a pleasant scent and are generally safer for people and pets.


Enzymatic cleaners are another fantastic option. These use enzymes to break down organic matter, like grease, food spills, and even bodily fluids. Theyre particularly good for things like carpet cleaning and dealing with pet messes. The beauty of enzymes is that theyre biodegradable and leave behind no harmful residues.


Another area of innovation is in using peracetic acid, which breaks down into harmless substances like acetic acid (vinegar), water, and oxygen. It's a powerful disinfectant used in medical settings and the food industry, but now its finding its way into more consumer products.


The push for these greener solutions is driven by a growing awareness of the health and environmental impacts of traditional cleaning products. People are demanding safer alternatives, and companies are responding by developing and marketing these non-formaldehyde options. Its not just about being "eco-friendly" either; its about creating healthier environments for ourselves, our families, and our communities.


Of course, its important to remember that "green" doesnt automatically mean "weak." These non-formaldehyde solutions are designed to be just as effective as their traditional counterparts, but with a much gentler impact. You might need to read the labels carefully and choose products that are specifically formulated for your needs, but the good news is that there are more and more options available every day. So, ditch the formaldehyde and embrace the green! Its a win-win for everyone.

Maintenance Schedules and Inspection Protocols

Winterizing Antifreeze Chemicals



When it comes to maintaining a clean and safe environment, especially during the colder months, winterizing antifreeze chemicals play a crucial role. These specialized sanitation chemicals are designed to prevent freezing in various systems and surfaces, ensuring that everything functions smoothly even when temperatures drop.

One of the primary applications of winterizing antifreeze chemicals is in plumbing systems. In regions where winter brings freezing temperatures, unprotected pipes can burst, leading to costly repairs and potential water damage. By adding antifreeze chemicals to the water system, homeowners and facility managers can lower the freezing point of the water, thereby protecting pipes from the dangers of ice expansion.

Another important use of these chemicals is in HVAC systems. Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning units are vital for comfort and indoor air quality, but they can be vulnerable to freezing conditions. Winterizing antifreeze chemicals help to keep the water in these systems from freezing, ensuring that the units continue to operate efficiently throughout the winter.

Outdoor surfaces also benefit from winterizing antifreeze chemicals. Walkways, driveways, and parking lots can become hazardous when covered in ice. These chemicals are often used in de-icing solutions to melt existing ice and prevent new ice from forming. This not only enhances safety but also reduces the need for constant manual removal of ice, saving time and labor.

In agricultural settings, winterizing antifreeze chemicals are used to protect irrigation systems. Frozen irrigation lines can disrupt the water supply to crops, potentially leading to significant losses. By incorporating these chemicals into the irrigation water, farmers can ensure a consistent water supply even in freezing conditions.

It's important to note that while winterizing antifreeze chemicals are effective, they should be used responsibly. Many of these chemicals contain substances that can be harmful to the environment if not handled properly. Therefore, it's essential to follow usage guidelines and dispose of them according to local regulations to minimize environmental impact.

In conclusion, winterizing antifreeze chemicals are a vital component of winter sanitation and maintenance. They help protect various systems and surfaces from the damaging effects of freezing temperatures, ensuring safety, efficiency, and continuity of service. As we head into the colder months, it's worth considering the role these chemicals play in keeping our environments comfortable and functional.

Ensuring User Hygiene and Comfort

Okay, so lets talk about the unsung heroes of sanitation, specifically when it comes to waste tank cleaners and descalers. We often think about the glamorous side of cleaning, maybe the sparkling countertops or the freshly mopped floors, but let's be real, dealing with waste tanks is where the real grit is. And thats where these chemicals come in, doing the dirty work so we dont have to...or at least, not as much.


Think about it: waste tanks, whether theyre in RVs, boats, or even industrial settings, are breeding grounds for all sorts of nastiness. Were talking about built-up solids, stubborn scaling, and, of course, the inevitable odors that nobody wants to experience. Regular cleaners often just arent enough to tackle this kind of grime. Thats where specialized waste tank cleaners and descalers step up to the plate.


These chemicals usually work by breaking down the organic matter thats causing the buildup and those awful smells. Some are enzymatic, meaning they use natural enzymes to digest the waste. Others might be more chemically aggressive, using acids or alkalis to dissolve the scaling and hardened deposits. The choice really depends on the type of tank, the severity of the buildup, and frankly, how much youre willing to spend.


Descalers, in particular, are designed to target mineral deposits like calcium and magnesium that can form a hard, crusty layer inside the tank. This scaling can reduce the tanks capacity and even damage its components over time. So, a good descaler is essential for maintaining the tanks efficiency and longevity.


Now, its super important to choose the right cleaner for the job. You wouldnt use a harsh acid on a plastic tank, for example, because youd risk damaging it. Always read the instructions carefully and follow the safety precautions. Nobody wants a chemical spill or, worse, a reaction that could release harmful fumes.


Ultimately, waste tank cleaners and descalers may not be the most glamorous part of sanitation, but theyre absolutely essential for maintaining hygiene, preventing odors, and ensuring the longevity of waste management systems. Theyre the silent guardians against the gunk and grime, and deserve a little respect for the less-than-pleasant job they do.

Okay, so were chatting about sanitation chemicals, right? And in that world, pH balancing solutions are like the unsung heroes keeping things from going totally haywire. Think of it like this: youve got your cleaners and disinfectants doing their job, which is awesome, but sometimes they can be super acidic or super alkaline. Thats where pH balancers come in.


The thing is, extreme pH levels, whether too high or too low, can cause all sorts of problems. They can irritate skin, corrode surfaces, and even mess with how effective the cleaning products are in the first place. Imagine trying to wash your hands with soap thats so harsh it burns! Not ideal, right?


pH balancing solutions are designed to nudge the pH of a cleaning solution (or even the water itself) back towards neutral, which is around 7. This can involve adding acids to lower the pH if its too high (alkaline), or adding bases to raise the pH if its too low (acidic).


Why bother? Well, for starters, it makes things safer for people using the chemicals. Less irritation, less chance of chemical burns. It also helps protect the surfaces being cleaned. Nobody wants their stainless steel sink dissolving because the cleaning solution is too acidic.


Beyond safety and surface protection, pH can also impact how well a sanitizer or disinfectant actually works. Some sanitizers are most effective within a specific pH range. Get the pH wrong, and you might as well be spraying water.


So, pH balancing solutions are like the behind-the-scenes regulators in the sanitation chemical world. Theyre not always the star of the show, but theyre essential for making sure everything works safely and effectively. They help create a more stable, predictable, and ultimately, a cleaner environment.

San Francisco Ferry Building, The Embarcadero, and the Bay Bridge at night, all examples of infrastructure

Infrastructure is the set of facilities and systems that serve a country, city, or other area,[1] and encompasses the services and facilities necessary for its economy, households and firms to function.[2] Infrastructure is composed of public and private physical structures such as roads, railways, bridges, airports, public transit systems, tunnels, water supply, sewers, electrical grids, and telecommunications (including Internet connectivity and broadband access). In general, infrastructure has been defined as "the physical components of interrelated systems providing commodities and services essential to enable, sustain, or enhance societal living conditions" and maintain the surrounding environment.[3]

Especially in light of the massive societal transformations needed to mitigate and adapt to climate change, contemporary infrastructure conversations frequently focus on sustainable development and green infrastructure. Acknowledging this importance, the international community has created policy focused on sustainable infrastructure through the Sustainable Development Goals, especially Sustainable Development Goal 9 "Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure".

One way to describe different types of infrastructure is to classify them as two distinct kinds: hard infrastructure and soft infrastructure.[4] Hard infrastructure is the physical networks necessary for the functioning of a modern industrial society or industry.[5] This includes roads, bridges, and railways. Soft infrastructure is all the institutions that maintain the economic, health, social, environmental, and cultural standards of a country.[5] This includes educational programs, official statistics, parks and recreational facilities, law enforcement agencies, and emergency services.

Classifications

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A 1987 US National Research Council panel adopted the term "public works infrastructure", referring to:

"... both specific functional modes – highways, streets, roads, and bridges; mass transit; airports and airways; water supply and water resources; wastewater management; solid-waste treatment and disposal; electric power generation and transmission; telecommunications; and hazardous waste management – and the combined system these modal elements comprise. A comprehension of infrastructure spans not only these public works facilities, but also the operating procedures, management practices, and development policies that interact together with societal demand and the physical world to facilitate the transport of people and goods, provision of water for drinking and a variety of other uses, safe disposal of society's waste products, provision of energy where it is needed, and transmission of information within and between communities."[6]

The American Society of Civil Engineers publishes an "Infrastructure Report Card" which represents the organization's opinion on the condition of various infrastructure every 2–4 years.[7] As of 2017 they grade 16 categories, namely aviation, bridges, dams, drinking water, energy, hazardous waste, inland waterways, levees, parks and recreation, ports, rail, roads, schools, solid waste, transit and wastewater.[7]: 4  The United States has received a rating of "D+" on its infrastructure.[8] This aging infrastructure is a result of governmental neglect and inadequate funding.[8] As the United States presumably looks to upgrade its existing infrastructure, sustainable measures could be a consideration of the design, build, and operation plans.

Public

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Public infrastructure is that owned or available for use by the public (represented by the government).[9] It includes:[9]

  • Transport infrastructure – vehicles, road, rail, cable and financing of transport
    • Aviation infrastructure – air traffic control technology in aviation
    • Rail transport – trackage, signals, electrification of rails
    • Road transport – roads, bridges, tunnels
  • Critical infrastructure – assets required to sustain human life
  • Energy infrastructure – transmission and storage of fossil fuels and renewable sources
  • Information and communication infrastructure – systems of information storage and distribution
  • Public capital – government-owned assets
  • Public works – municipal infrastructure, maintenance functions and agencies
  • Municipal solid waste – generation, collection, management of trash/garbage
  • Sustainable urban infrastructure – technology, architecture, policy for sustainable living
  • Water supply network – the distribution and maintenance of water supply
  • Wastewater infrastructure – disposal and treatment of wastewater
  • Infrastructure-based development

Personal

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A way to embody personal infrastructure is to think of it in terms of human capital.[10] Human capital is defined by the Encyclopædia Britannica as "intangible collective resources possessed by individuals and groups within a given population".[11] The goal of personal infrastructure is to determine the quality of the economic agents' values. This results in three major tasks: the task of economic proxies in the economic process (teachers, unskilled and qualified labor, etc.); the importance of personal infrastructure for an individual (short and long-term consumption of education); and the social relevance of personal infrastructure.[10] Essentially, personal infrastructure maps the human impact on infrastructure as it is related to the economy, individual growth, and social impact.

Institutional

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Institutional infrastructure branches from the term "economic constitution". According to Gianpiero Torrisi, institutional infrastructure is the object of economic and legal policy. It compromises the growth and sets norms.[10] It refers to the degree of fair treatment of equal economic data and determines the framework within which economic agents may formulate their own economic plans and carry them out in co-operation with others.

Sustainable

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Sustainable infrastructure refers to the processes of design and construction that take into consideration their environmental, economic, and social impact.[8] Included in this section are several elements of sustainable schemes, including materials, water, energy, transportation, and waste management infrastructure.[8] Although there are endless other factors of consideration, those will not be covered in this section.

Material

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Material infrastructure is defined as "those immobile, non-circulating capital goods that essentially contribute to the production of infrastructure goods and services needed to satisfy basic physical and social requirements of economic agents".[10] There are two distinct qualities of material infrastructures: 1) fulfillment of social needs and 2) mass production. The first characteristic deals with the basic needs of human life. The second characteristic is the non-availability of infrastructure goods and services.[10] Today, there are various materials that can be used to build infrastructure. The most prevalent ones are asphalt, concrete, steel, masonry, wood, polymers and composites.[12]

Economic

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According to the business dictionary, economic infrastructure can be defined as "internal facilities of a country that make business activity possible, such as communication, transportation and distribution networks, financial institutions and related international markets, and energy supply systems".[13] Economic infrastructure support productive activities and events. This includes roads, highways, bridges, airports, cycling infrastructure, water distribution networks, sewer systems, and irrigation plants.[10]

Social

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Lehigh Valley Hospital–Cedar Crest in Allentown, Pennsylvania

Social infrastructure can be broadly defined as the construction and maintenance of facilities that support social services.[14] Social infrastructures are created to increase social comfort and promote economic activity. These include schools, parks and playgrounds, structures for public safety, waste disposal plants, hospitals, and sports areas.[10]

Core

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An Autobahn in Lehrte, near Hanover, Germany

Core assets provide essential services and have monopolistic characteristics.[15] Investors seeking core infrastructure look for five different characteristics: income, low volatility of returns, diversification, inflation protection, and long-term liability matching.[15] Core infrastructure incorporates all the main types of infrastructure, such as roads, highways, railways, public transportation, water, and gas supply.

Basic

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Basic infrastructure refers to main railways, roads, canals, harbors and docks, the electromagnetic telegraph, drainage, dikes, and land reclamation.[10] It consist of the more well-known and common features of infrastructure that we come across in our daily lives (buildings, roads, docks).

Complementary

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Complementary infrastructure refers to things like light railways, tramways, and gas/electricity/water supply.[10] To complement something means to bring it to perfection or complete it. Complementary infrastructure deals with the little parts of the engineering world that make life more convenient and efficient. They are needed to ensure successful usage and marketing of an already finished product, like in the case of road bridges.[16] Other examples are lights on sidewalks, landscaping around buildings, and benches where pedestrians can rest.

Applications

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Engineering and construction

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Engineers generally limit the term "infrastructure" to describe fixed assets that are in the form of a large network; in other words, hard infrastructure.[citation needed] Efforts to devise more generic definitions of infrastructures have typically referred to the network aspects of most of the structures, and to the accumulated value of investments in the networks as assets.[citation needed] One such definition from 1998 defined infrastructure as the network of assets "where the system as a whole is intended to be maintained indefinitely at a specified standard of service by the continuing replacement and refurbishment of its components".[17]

Civil defense and economic development

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Civil defense planners and developmental economists generally refer to both hard and soft infrastructure, including public services such as schools and hospitals, emergency services such as police and fire fighting, and basic services in the economic sector. The notion of infrastructure-based development combining long-term infrastructure investments by government agencies at central and regional levels with public private partnerships has proven popular among economists in Asia (notably Singapore and China), mainland Europe, and Latin America.

Military

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Military infrastructure is the buildings and permanent installations necessary for the support of military forces, whether they are stationed in bases, being deployed or engaged in operations. Examples include barracks, headquarters, airfields, communications facilities, stores of military equipment, port installations, and maintenance stations.[18]

Communications

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Communications infrastructure is the informal and formal channels of communication, political and social networks, or beliefs held by members of particular groups, as well as information technology, software development tools. Still underlying these more conceptual uses is the idea that infrastructure provides organizing structure and support for the system or organization it serves, whether it is a city, a nation, a corporation, or a collection of people with common interests. Examples include IT infrastructure, research infrastructure, terrorist infrastructure, employment infrastructure, and tourism infrastructure.[citation needed]

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The term "infrastructure" may be confused with the following overlapping or related concepts.

Land improvement and land development are general terms that in some contexts may include infrastructure, but in the context of a discussion of infrastructure would refer only to smaller-scale systems or works that are not included in infrastructure, because they are typically limited to a single parcel of land, and are owned and operated by the landowner. For example, an irrigation canal that serves a region or district would be included with infrastructure, but the private irrigation systems on individual land parcels would be considered land improvements, not infrastructure. Service connections to municipal service and public utility networks would also be considered land improvements, not infrastructure.[19][20]

The term "public works" includes government-owned and operated infrastructure as well as public buildings, such as schools and courthouses. Public works generally refers to physical assets needed to deliver public services. Public services include both infrastructure and services generally provided by the government.

Ownership and financing

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Infrastructure may be owned and managed by governments or by privately held companies, such as sole public utility or railway companies. Generally, most roads, major airports and other ports, water distribution systems, and sewage networks are publicly owned, whereas most energy and telecommunications networks are privately owned.[citation needed] Publicly owned infrastructure may be paid for from taxes, tolls, or metered user fees, whereas private infrastructure is generally paid for by metered user fees.[21][22] Major investment projects are generally financed by the issuance of long-term bonds.[citation needed]

Government-owned and operated infrastructure may be developed and operated in the private sector or in public-private partnerships, in addition to in the public sector. As of 2008 in the United States for example, public spending on infrastructure has varied between 2.3% and 3.6% of GDP since 1950.[23] Many financial institutions invest in infrastructure.

In the developing world

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Anarchist protest for public transportation in Porto Alegre

According to researchers at the Overseas Development Institute, the lack of infrastructure in many developing countries represents one of the most significant limitations to economic growth and achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Infrastructure investments and maintenance can be very expensive, especially in such areas as landlocked, rural and sparsely populated countries in Africa. It has been argued that infrastructure investments contributed to more than half of Africa's improved growth performance between 1990 and 2005, and increased investment is necessary to maintain growth and tackle poverty. The returns to investment in infrastructure are very significant, with on average thirty to forty percent returns for telecommunications (ICT) investments, over forty percent for electricity generation, and eighty percent for roads.[24]

Regional differences

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The demand for infrastructure both by consumers and by companies is much higher than the amount invested.[24] There are severe constraints on the supply side of the provision of infrastructure in Asia.[25] The infrastructure financing gap between what is invested in Asia-Pacific (around US$48 billion) and what is needed (US$228 billion) is around US$180 billion every year.[24]

In Latin America, three percent of GDP (around US$71 billion) would need to be invested in infrastructure in order to satisfy demand, yet in 2005, for example, only around two percent was invested leaving a financing gap of approximately US$24 billion.[24]

In Africa, in order to reach the seven percent annual growth calculated to be required to meet the MDGs by 2015 would require infrastructure investments of about fifteen percent of GDP, or around US$93 billion a year. In fragile states, over thirty-seven percent of GDP would be required.[24]

Sources of funding for infrastructure

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The source of financing for infrastructure varies significantly across sectors. Some sectors are dominated by government spending, others by overseas development aid (ODA), and yet others by private investors.[24] In California, infrastructure financing districts are established by local governments to pay for physical facilities and services within a specified area by using property tax increases.[26] In order to facilitate investment of the private sector in developing countries' infrastructure markets, it is necessary to design risk-allocation mechanisms more carefully, given the higher risks of their markets.[27]

The spending money that comes from the government is less than it used to be. From the 1930s to 2019, the United States went from spending 4.2% of GDP to 2.5% of GDP on infrastructure.[28] These under investments have accrued, in fact, according to the 2017 ASCE Infrastructure Report Card, from 2016 to 2025, infrastructure will be underinvested by $2 trillion.[28] Compared to the global GDP percentages, The United States is tied for second-to-last place, with an average percentage of 2.4%. This means that the government spends less money on repairing old infrastructure and or on infrastructure as a whole.[29]

In Sub-Saharan Africa, governments spend around US$9.4 billion out of a total of US$24.9 billion. In irrigation, governments represent almost all spending. In transport and energy a majority of investment is government spending. In ICT and water supply and sanitation, the private sector represents the majority of capital expenditure. Overall, between them aid, the private sector, and non-OECD financiers exceed government spending. The private sector spending alone equals state capital expenditure, though the majority is focused on ICT infrastructure investments. External financing increased in the 2000s (decade) and in Africa alone external infrastructure investments increased from US$7 billion in 2002 to US$27 billion in 2009. China, in particular, has emerged as an important investor.[24]

Coronavirus implications

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The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated the underfunding of infrastructure globally that has been accumulating for decades. The pandemic has increased unemployment and has widely disrupted the economy. This has serious impacts on households, businesses, and federal, state and local governments. This is especially detrimental to infrastructure because it is so dependent on funding from government agencies – with state and local governments accounting for approximately 75% of spending on public infrastructure in the United States.[30]

Governments are facing enormous decreases in revenue, economic downturns, overworked health systems, and hesitant workforces, resulting in huge budget deficits across the board. However, they must also scale up public investment to ensure successful reopening, boost growth and employment, and green their economies.[31] The unusually large scale of the packages needed for COVID-19 was accompanied by widespread calls for "greening" them to meet the dual goals of economic recovery and environmental sustainability.[32] However, as of March 2021, only a small fraction of the G20 COVID-19 related fiscal measures was found to be climate friendly.[32]

Sustainable infrastructure

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Although it is readily apparent that much effort is needed to repair the economic damage inflicted by the Coronavirus epidemic, an immediate return to business as usual could be environmentally harmful, as shown by the 2007-08 financial crisis in the United States. While the ensuing economic slowdown reduced global greenhouse gas emissions in 2009, emissions reached a record high in 2010, partially due to governments' implemented economic stimulus measures with minimal consideration of the environmental consequences.[33] The concern is whether this same pattern will repeat itself. The post-COVID-19 period could determine whether the world meets or misses the emissions goals of the 2015 Paris Agreement and limits global warming to 1.5 degrees C to 2 degrees C.[34]

As a result of the COVID-19 epidemic, a host of factors could jeopardize a low-carbon recovery plan: this includes reduced attention on the global political stage (2020 UN Climate Summit has been postponed to 2021), the relaxing of environmental regulations in pursuit of economic growth, decreased oil prices preventing low-carbon technologies from being competitive, and finally, stimulus programs that take away funds that could have been used to further the process of decarbonization.[33] Research suggests that a recovery plan based on lower-carbon emissions could not only make significant emissions reductions needed to battle climate change, but also create more economic growth and jobs than a high-carbon recovery plan would.[33] A study published in the Oxford Review of Economic Policy, more than 200 economists and economic officials reported that "green" economic-recovery initiatives performed at least as well as less "green" initiatives.[35] There have also been calls for an independent body could provide a comparable assessment of countries' fiscal policies, promoting transparency and accountability at the international level.[32]

In addition, in an econometric study published in the Economic Modelling journal, an analysis on government energy technology spending showed that spending on the renewable energy sector created five more jobs per million dollars invested than spending on fossil fuels.[36] Since sustainable infrastructure is more beneficial in both an economic and environmental context, it represents the future of infrastructure. Especially with increasing pressure from climate change and diminishing natural resources, infrastructure not only needs to maintain economic development and job development, and a high quality of life for residents, but also protect the environment and its natural resources.[31]

Sustainable energy

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Sustainable energy infrastructure includes types of renewable energy power plants as well as the means of exchange from the plant to the homes and businesses that use that energy. Renewable energy includes well researched and widely implemented methods such as wind, solar, and hydraulic power, as well as newer and less commonly used types of power creation such as fusion energy. Sustainable energy infrastructure must maintain a strong supply relative to demand, and must also maintain sufficiently low prices for consumers so as not to decrease demand.[8] Any type of renewable energy infrastructure that fails to meet these consumption and price requirements will ultimately be forced out of the market by prevailing non renewable energy sources.

Sustainable water

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Sustainable water infrastructure is focused on a community's sufficient access to clean, safe drinking water.[8] Water is a public good along with electricity, which means that sustainable water catchment and distribution systems must remain affordable to all members of a population.[8] "Sustainable Water" may refer to a nation or community's ability to be self-sustainable, with enough water to meet multiple needs including agriculture, industry, sanitation, and drinking water. It can also refer to the holistic and effective management of water resources.[37] Increasingly, policy makers and regulators are incorporating Nature-based solutions (NBS or NbS) into attempts to achieve sustainable water infrastructure.

Sustainable waste management

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Sustainable waste management systems aim to minimize the amount of waste products produced by individuals and corporations.[38] Commercial waste management plans have transitioned from simple waste removal plans into comprehensive plans focused on reducing the total amount of waste produced before removal.[38] Sustainable waste management is beneficial environmentally, and can also cut costs for businesses that reduce their amount of disposed goods.[38]

Sustainable transportation

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Sustainable transportation includes a shift away from private, greenhouse gas emitting cars in favor of adopting methods of transportation that are either carbon neutral or reduce carbon emissions such as bikes or electric bus systems.[39] Additionally, cities must invest in the appropriate built environments for these ecologically preferable modes of transportation.[39] Cities will need to invest in public transportation networks, as well as bike path networks among other sustainable solutions that incentivize citizens to use these alternate transit options. Reducing the urban dependency on cars is a fundamental goal of developing sustainable transportation, and this cannot be accomplished without a coordinated focus on both creating the methods of transportation themselves and providing them with networks that are equally or more efficient than existing car networks such as aging highway systems.[39]

Sustainable materials

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Another solution to transition into a more sustainable infrastructure is using more sustainable materials. A material is sustainable if the needed amount can be produced without depleting non-renewable resources.[40] It also should have low environmental impacts by not disrupting the established steady-state equilibrium of it.[40] The materials should also be resilient, renewable, reusable, and recyclable.[41]

Today, concrete is one of the most common materials used in infrastructure. There is twice as much concrete used in construction than all other building materials combined.[42] It is the backbone of industrialization, as it is used in bridges, piers, pipelines, pavements, and buildings.[43] However, while they do serve as a connection between cities, transportation for people and goods, and protection for land against flooding and erosion, they only last for 50 to 100 years.[44] Many were built within the last 50 years, which means many infrastructures need substantial maintenance to continue functioning.

However, concrete is not sustainable. The production of concrete contributes up to 8% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions.[45] A tenth of the world's industrial water usage is from producing concrete.[45] Even transporting the raw materials to concrete production sites adds to airborne pollution.[45] Furthermore, the production sites and the infrastructures themselves all strip away agricultural land that could have been fertile soil or habitats vital to the ecosystem.

Green infrastructure

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Green infrastructure is a type of sustainable infrastructure. Green infrastructure uses plant or soil systems to restore some of the natural processes needed to manage water, reduce the effects of disasters such as flooding,[46] and create healthier urban environments.[47] In a more practical sense, it refers to a decentralized network of stormwater management practices, which includes green roofs, trees, bioretention and infiltration, and permeable pavement.[48] Green infrastructure has become an increasingly popular strategy in recent years due to its effectiveness in providing ecological, economic, and social benefits – including positively impacting energy consumption, air quality, and carbon reduction and sequestration.[48]

Green roofs

[edit]

A green roof is a rooftop that is partially or completely covered with growing vegetation planted over a membrane. It also includes additional layers, including a root barrier and drainage and irrigation systems.[49] There are several categories of green roofs, including extensive (have a growing media depth ranging from two to six inches) and intensive (have a growing media with a depth greater than six inches).[49] One benefit of green roofs is that they reduce stormwater runoff because of its ability to store water in its growing media, reducing the runoff entering the sewer system and waterways, which also decreases the risk of combined sewer overflows.[49] They reduce energy usage since the growing media provides additional insulation, reduces the amount of solar radiation on the roof's surface, and provides evaporative cooling from water in the plants, which reduce the roof surface temperatures and heat influx.[49] Green roofs also reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide since the vegetation sequesters carbon and, since they reduce energy usage and the urban heat island by reducing the roof temperature, they also lower carbon dioxide emissions from electricity generation.[50]

Tree planting

[edit]

Tree planting provides a host of ecological, social, and economic benefits. Trees can intercept rain, support infiltration and water storage in soil, diminish the impact of raindrops on barren surfaces, minimize soil moisture through transpiration, and they help reduce stormwater runoff.[47] Additionally, trees contribute to recharging local aquifers and improve the health of watershed systems. Trees also reduce energy usage by providing shade and releasing water into the atmosphere which cools the air and reduces the amount of heat absorbed by buildings.[48] Finally, trees improve air quality by absorbing harmful air pollutants reducing the amount of greenhouse gases.

Bioretention and infiltration practices

[edit]

There are a variety of types of bioretention and infiltration practices, including rain gardens and bioswales.[48] A rain garden is planted in a small depression or natural slope and includes native shrubs and flowers. They temporarily hold and absorb rain water and are effective in removing up to 90% of nutrients and chemicals and up to 80% of sediments from the runoff.[51] As a result, they soak 30% more water than conventional gardens.[51] Bioswales are planted in paved areas like parking lots or sidewalks and are made to allow for overflow into the sewer system by trapping silt and other pollutants, which are normally left over from impermeable surfaces.[48] Both rain gardens and bioswales mitigate flood impacts and prevent stormwater from polluting local waterways; increase the usable water supply by reducing the amount of water needed for outdoor irrigation; improve air quality by minimizing the amount of water going into treatment facilities, which also reduces energy usage and, as a result, reduces air pollution since less greenhouse gases are emitted.[48]

Smart cities

[edit]

Smart cities use innovative methods of design and implementation in various sectors of infrastructure and planning to create communities that operate at a higher level of relative sustainability than their traditional counterparts.[8] In a sustainable city, urban resilience as well as infrastructure reliability must both be present.[8] Urban resilience is defined by a city's capacity to quickly adapt or recover from infrastructure defects, and infrastructure reliability means that systems must work efficiently while continuing to maximize their output.[8] When urban resilience and infrastructure reliability interact, cities are able to produce the same level of output at similarly reasonable costs as compared to other non sustainable communities, while still maintaining ease of operation and usage.

Masdar City

[edit]

Masdar City is a proposed zero emission smart city that will be contracted in the United Arab Emirates.[52] Some individuals have referred to this planned settlement as "utopia-like", due to the fact that it will feature multiple sustainable infrastructure elements, including energy, water, waste management, and transportation. Masdar City will have a power infrastructure containing renewable energy methods including solar energy.[52]

Masdar City is located in a desert region, meaning that sustainable collection and distribution of water is dependent on the city's ability to use water at innovative stages of the water cycle.[53] The city will use groundwater, greywater, seawater, blackwater, and other water resources to obtain both drinking and landscaping water.[53]

Initially, Masdar City will be waste-free.[52] Recycling and other waste management and waste reduction methods will be encouraged.[52] Additionally, the city will implement a system to convert waste into fertilizer, which will decrease the amount of space needed for waste accumulation as well as provide an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional fertilizer production methods.

No cars will be allowed in Masdar City, contributing to low carbon emissions within the city boundaries.[52] Instead, alternative transportation options will be prioritized during infrastructure development. This means that a bike lane network will be accessible and comprehensive, and other options will also be available.[52]

See also

[edit]
  • Agile infrastructure
  • Airport infrastructure
  • Asset Management Plan
  • Green infrastructure
  • Infrastructure as a service
  • Infrastructure asset management
  • Infrastructure building
  • Infrastructure security
  • Logistics
  • Megaproject
  • Project finance
  • Pseudo-urbanization
  • Public capital
  • Sustainable architecture
  • Sustainable engineering

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Infrastructure | Define Infrastructure at Dictionary.com Archived 2016-03-05 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ O'Sullivan, Arthur; Sheffrin, Steven M. (2003). Economics: Principles in Action. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall. p. 474. ISBN 978-0-13-063085-8.
  3. ^ Fulmer, Jeffrey (2009). "What in the world is infrastructure?". PEI Infrastructure Investor (July/August): 30–32.
  4. ^ Dyer, Mark; Dyer, Rachel; Weng, Min-Hsien; Wu, Shaoqun; Grey, Thomas; Gleeson, Richard; Ferrari, Tomás García (December 2019). "Framework for soft and hard city infrastructures". Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Urban Design and Planning. 172 (6): 219–227. doi:10.1680/jurdp.19.00021. hdl:10289/15706. S2CID 209056612.
  5. ^ a b Hamutak, Luta. "Civil Society Comments on Infrastructure Strategic Sector" (PDF).
  6. ^ Infrastructure for the 21st Century. Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press. 1987. p. 21. doi:10.17226/798. ISBN 978-0-309-07814-6.
  7. ^ a b 2017 Infrastructure Report, 112pp, American Society of Civil Engineers, 2017
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Cervero, Robert (December 2014). "Transport Infrastructure and the Environment in the Global South: Sustainable Mobility and Urbanism". Jurnal Perencanaan Wilayah Dan Kota. 25 (3): 174–191. doi:10.5614/jpwk.2015.25.3.1.
  9. ^ a b "Public Infrastructure". Corporate Finance Institute. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i Torrisi, Gianpiero (January 2009). "Public infrastructure: definition, classification and measurement issues" (PDF).
  11. ^ "Human capital | economics". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2018-04-25.
  12. ^ "Infrastructure Materials Engineering – Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering". caee.utexas.edu. Retrieved 2020-11-05.
  13. ^ "What is economic infrastructure? definition and meaning". BusinessDictionary.com. Archived from the original on 2018-04-26. Retrieved 2018-04-25.
  14. ^ Cohen, Gershon (20 July 2017). "What is social infrastructure?". Aberdeen Standard Investments. Archived from the original on 26 April 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  15. ^ a b Pease, Bob (October 28, 2014). "Infrastructure Investment Opportunities for Public Safety Plans" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on April 20, 2021. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
  16. ^ "What does complementary assets mean?". definitions.net.
  17. ^ Association of Local Government Engineers New Zealand: "Infrastructure Asset Management Manual", June 1998. Edition 1.1
  18. ^ D.O.D. Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms, 2001 (rev. 2005)
  19. ^ Land improvement, Online BusinessDictionary.com, http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/land-development.html Archived 2010-05-26 at the Wayback Machine (accessed January 31, 2009)
  20. ^ Land development, Online BusinessDictionary.com, http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/land-development.html Archived 2010-05-26 at the Wayback Machine (accessed January 31, 2009)
  21. ^ "Business models for transport infrastructure assets? Some experiences in Europe. In The decision-making process for infrastructural investment choices". FrancoAngeli. 2020.
  22. ^ Chivatá Cárdenas, Ibsen; Voordijk, Hans; Dewulf, Geert (2018). "Beyond project governance. Enhancing funding and enabling financing for infrastructure in transport. Findings from the importance analysis approach". European Journal of Transport and Infrastructure Research. 18 (4). doi:10.18757/ejtir.2018.18.4.3261.
  23. ^ Leonhardt, David (19 November 2008). "Piling Up Monuments Of Waste". The New York Times. p. B1. ProQuest 897784170.
  24. ^ a b c d e f g Christian K.M. Kingombe 2011. Mapping the new infrastructure financing landscape Archived 2019-04-11 at the Wayback Machine. London: Overseas Development Institute
  25. ^ Peter McCawley (2010), 'Infrastructure Policy in Developing countries' Archived 2015-10-17 at the Wayback Machine, Asian-Pacific Economic Literature, 24(1), May. See also Asian-Pacific Economic Literature Policy Brief No 19, May 2010, on 'Infrastructure policy in developing countries in Asia'.
  26. ^ Barclay, Cecily; Gray, Matthew (2016). California Land Use and Planning Law (35 ed.). California: Solano Press. p. 585. ISBN 978-1-938166-11-2.
  27. ^ Koh, Jae-myong (2018). Green Infrastructure Financing : Institutional Investors, PPPs and Bankable Projects. Cham, Switzerland. ISBN 978-3-319-71770-8. OCLC 1023427026.cite book: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  28. ^ a b "COVID-19 Status Report". ASCE's 2017 Infrastructure Report Card. 23 June 2020. Retrieved 2020-11-05.
  29. ^ "Large economic gains can come from mundane improvements in policy". The Economist. Retrieved 2018-10-25.
  30. ^ "It's Time for States to Invest in Infrastructure". Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. 2016-02-22. Retrieved 2020-11-05.
  31. ^ a b Allen, Mr Richard I.; Allen, Richard; Tandberg, Eivind (2021). How to Manage Public Investment During a Postcrisis Recovery. International Monetary Fund. ISBN 978-1-5135-8441-6.[page needed]
  32. ^ a b c Funke, Katja; Huang, Guohua; Eltokhy, Khaled; Kim, Yujin; Zinabou, Genet (2021). Monitoring the Climate Impact of Fiscal Policy - Lessons from Tracking the Covid-19 Response (Preprint). SSRN 4026488.
  33. ^ a b c "How a post-pandemic stimulus can both create jobs and help the climate". McKinsey. Retrieved 2020-11-05.
  34. ^ "The Paris Agreement – UNFCCC". unfccc.int. Retrieved 2022-05-23.
  35. ^ Hepburn, Cameron; O’Callaghan, Brian; Stern, Nicholas; Stiglitz, Joseph; Zenghelis, Dimitri (28 September 2020). "Will COVID-19 fiscal recovery packages accelerate or retard progress on climate change?". Oxford Review of Economic Policy. 36 (Supplement_1): S359 – S381. doi:10.1093/oxrep/graa015. PMC 7239121. S2CID 218942009.
  36. ^ Garrett-Peltier, Heidi (February 2017). "Green versus brown: Comparing the employment impacts of energy efficiency, renewable energy, and fossil fuels using an input-output model". Economic Modelling. 61: 439–447. doi:10.1016/j.econmod.2016.11.012.
  37. ^ "Sustainable water: our essential guide to sustainable water resource management solutions & strategies". aquatechtrade.com.
  38. ^ a b c Fisher, S.; Reiner, M. B.; Sperling, J. (2017). "Unreliable Sustainable Infrastructure: Three Transformations to Guide Cities towards Becoming Healthy 'Smart Cities'". International Conference on Sustainable Infrastructure 2017. pp. 388–397. doi:10.1061/9780784481202.037. ISBN 978-0-7844-8120-2.
  39. ^ a b c Hartman, Meghan; Knell, Mark Bone; Witherspoon, Jay (2010). "Masdar City's Integrated Approach to Sustainability". Proceedings of the Water Environment Federation. 2010 (2): 104–117. doi:10.2175/193864710798285516.
  40. ^ a b "What Are Sustainable Materials?". Center for Sustainable Materials. Rutgers. Archived from the original on 4 June 2012.
  41. ^ "11 Characteristics of Sustainable Materials". Simplicable. 17 October 2018. Retrieved 2020-11-06.
  42. ^ Gagg, Colin R. (May 2014). "Cement and concrete as an engineering material: An historic appraisal and case study analysis". Engineering Failure Analysis. 40: 114–140. doi:10.1016/j.engfailanal.2014.02.004.
  43. ^ Schulte, Justine; Jiang, Zhangfan; Sevim, Ozer; Ozbulut, Osman E. (2022). "Graphene-reinforced cement composites for smart infrastructure systems". The Rise of Smart Cities. pp. 79–114. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-817784-6.00008-4. ISBN 978-0-12-817784-6.
  44. ^ Schlangen, Erik (2018). "Foreword". Eco-Efficient Repair and Rehabilitation of Concrete Infrastructures. Elsevier. pp. xvii. doi:10.1016/B978-0-08-102181-1.00030-7. ISBN 978-0-08-102181-1.
  45. ^ a b c "Why Building With Concrete is not Sustainable". IWBC. 2019-04-28. Retrieved 2020-11-06.
  46. ^ Kurki-Fox, J. Jack; Doll, Barbara A.; Line, Daniel E.; Baldwin, Madalyn E.; Klondike, Travis M.; Fox, Andrew A. (2022-08-01). "The flood reduction and water quality impacts of watershed-scale natural infrastructure implementation in North Carolina, USA". Ecological Engineering. 181: 106696. doi:10.1016/j.ecoleng.2022.106696. ISSN 0925-8574.cite journal: CS1 maint: article number as page number (link)
  47. ^ a b Basdeki, Aikaterini; Katsifarakis, Lysandros; Katsifarakis, Konstantinos L. (2016). "Rain Gardens as Integral Parts of Urban Sewage Systems-a Case Study in Thessaloniki, Greece". Procedia Engineering. 162: 426–432. doi:10.1016/j.proeng.2016.11.084.
  48. ^ a b c d e f "The Value of Green Infrastructure: A Guide to Recognizing Its Economic, Environmental and Social Benefits" (PDF). Center for Neighborhood Technology. 2011-01-21. Archived from the original on 2015-02-22. Retrieved 2020-11-05.
  49. ^ a b c d Li, W.C.; Yeung, K.K.A. (June 2014). "A comprehensive study of green roof performance from environmental perspective". International Journal of Sustainable Built Environment. 3 (1): 127–134. doi:10.1016/j.ijsbe.2014.05.001.
  50. ^ "Using Green Roofs to Reduce Heat Islands". United States Environmental Protection Agency. 2014-06-17. Retrieved 2020-11-05.
  51. ^ a b "Soak Up the Rain: Permeable Pavement". EPA. 21 August 2015.
  52. ^ a b c d e f Nader, Sam (February 2009). "Paths to a low-carbon economy—The Masdar example". Energy Procedia. 1 (1): 3951–3958. Bibcode:2009EnPro...1.3951N. doi:10.1016/j.egypro.2009.02.199.
  53. ^ a b "Wastewater Management Fact Sheet" (PDF). EPA: Office of Water. July 2006.

Bibliography

[edit]
  • Koh, Jae Myong (2018) Green Infrastructure Financing: Institutional Investors, PPPs and Bankable Projects, London: Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 978-3-319-71769-2.
  • Nurre, Sarah G.; Cavdaroglu, Burak; Mitchell, John E.; Sharkey, Thomas C.; Wallace, William A. (December 2012). "Restoring infrastructure systems: An integrated network design and scheduling (INDS) problem". European Journal of Operational Research. 223 (3): 794–806. doi:10.1016/j.ejor.2012.07.010.
  • Ascher, Kate (2007). The works: anatomy of a city. Researched by Wendy Marech (Reprint ed.). New York: Penguin Press. ISBN 978-0-14-311270-9.
  • Larry W. Beeferman, "Pension Fund Investment in Infrastructure: A Resource Paper", Capital Matter (Occasional Paper Series), No. 3 December 2008
  • A. Eberhard, "Infrastructure Regulation in Developing Countries", PPIAF Working Paper No. 4 (2007) World Bank
  • M. Nicolas J. Firzli and Vincent Bazi, "Infrastructure Investments in an Age of Austerity: The Pension and Sovereign Funds Perspective", published jointly in Revue Analyse Financière, Q4 2011 issue, pp. 34–37 and USAK/JTW July 30, 2011 (online edition)
  • Hayes, Brian (2005). Infrastructure: the book of everything for the industrial landscape (1st ed.). New York: Norton. ISBN 978-0-393-32959-9.
  • Huler, Scott (2010). On the grid: a plot of land, an average neighborhood, and the systems that make our world work. Emmaus, PA: Rodale. ISBN 978-1-60529-647-0.
  • Georg Inderst, "Pension Fund Investment in Infrastructure", OECD Working Papers on Insurance and Private Pensions, No. 32 (2009)
  • Dalakoglou, Dimitris (2017). The Road: An Ethnography of (Im)mobility, space and cross-border infrastructures. Manchester: Manchester University Press/ Oxford university Press.
[edit]
  • Body of Knowledge on Infrastructure Regulation
  • Next Generation Infrastructures international research programme
  • Report Card on America's Infrastructure
  • sustainable sports infrastructure
  • Dirk van Laak: Infrastructures, version: 1.0, in: Docupedia Zeitgeschichte, 20th may 2021

 

Map of London sewer network, late 19th century

Sewerage (or sewage system) is the infrastructure that conveys sewage or surface runoff (stormwater, meltwater, rainwater) using sewers. It encompasses components such as receiving drains, manholes, pumping stations, storm overflows, and screening chambers of the combined sewer or sanitary sewer. Sewerage ends at the entry to a sewage treatment plant or at the point of discharge into the environment. It is the system of pipes, chambers, manholes or inspection chamber, etc. that conveys the sewage or storm water.

In many cities, sewage (municipal wastewater or municipal sewage) is carried together with stormwater, in a combined sewer system, to a sewage treatment plant. In some urban areas, sewage is carried separately in sanitary sewers and runoff from streets is carried in storm drains. Access to these systems, for maintenance purposes, is typically through a manhole. During high precipitation periods a sewer system may experience a combined sewer overflow event or a sanitary sewer overflow event, which forces untreated sewage to flow directly to receiving waters. This can pose a serious threat to public health and the surrounding environment.

The system of sewers is called sewerage or sewerage system in British English and sewage system or sewer system in American English.[1]

History

[edit]

It was probably the need to get rid of foul smells rather than an understanding of the health hazards of human waste that led to the first proper sewage systems. Most settlements grew next to natural waterways into which waste from latrines was readily channeled, but the emergence of major cities exposed the inadequacy of this approach. Early civilizations like the Babylonians dug cesspits below floor level in their houses and created drainage systems for removing storm water. But it was not until 2000 BC in the Indus valley civilization that networks of precisely made brick-lined sewage drains were constructed along the streets to convey waste from homes.[2] Toilets in homes on the street side were connected directly to these street sewers and were flushed manually with clean water. Centuries later, major cities such as Rome and Constantinople built increasingly complex networked sewer systems, some of which are still in use. It was after the construction of the sewer systems that people realized the reduction of health hazards.[3]

Components and types

[edit]
Map of Seattle sewer districts, 1894

The main part of such a system is made up of large pipes (i.e., the sewers, or "sanitary sewers") that convey the sewage from the point of production to the point of treatment or discharge.

Sewers under construction in Ystad, Sweden

Types of sanitary sewer systems that all usually are gravity sewers include:

  • Combined sewer
  • Simplified sewerage
  • Storm drain

Sanitary sewers not relying solely on gravity include:

  • Vacuum sewer
  • Effluent sewer
  • Pressure sewer

Where a sewerage system has not been installed, sewage may be collected from homes by pipes into septic tanks or cesspits, where it may be treated or collected in vehicles and taken for treatment or disposal (a process known as fecal sludge management).

Maintenance and rehabilitation

[edit]

Severe constraints are applied to sewerage, which may result in premature deterioration. These include root intrusion, joint displacement, cracks, and hole formations that lead to a significant volume of leakage with an overall risk for the environment and public health. For example, it is estimated that 500 million m3 of contaminated water per year can leak into soil and ground-water in Germany.[4] The rehabilitation and replacement of damaged sewers is very costly. Annual rehabilitation costs for Los Angeles County are about €400 million,[5] and in Germany, these costs are estimated to be €100 million.[6]

Vacuuming debris from a sewer line

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is indirectly responsible for biogenic sulfide corrosion of iron sewers and consequently such sewers need rehabilitation work. Various repair options are available to owners over a large range of costs and potential durability. One option is the application of a cementitious material based on calcium aluminate cement, after a cleaning of the corroded structure to remove loose material and contaminants in order to expose a sound, rough and clean substrate. Depending on the concrete condition and contamination, the cleaning can range from simple high pressure jet water cleaning (200 bar) up to real hydro-demolition (2000 bars).

One method to ensure sound concrete is exposed is to verify that the surface pH is superior to 10.

As for any concrete repair, the state-of-the-art rules must be followed. After this cleaning step, the cementitious material is applied to the saturated-surface-dry substrate using either:

  • Low pressure wet spray: this method is the more common because it does not produce dust and virtually no material is lost by rebound. It utilizes classical facade rotor pump, easily available in the market. The main drawback is the limited pumping distance that cannot exceed 75 meters.
  • Spinning head wet spray: this method is similar to the first, but the manual spraying is replaced by a spinning head projecting the mortar onto the repaired surface. This method is fast and especially suited for cylindrical chambers such as manholes. When a structure is so severely corroded that human entry is a risk, spinning head application permits an “un-manned” consolidation of the manhole.
  • High pressure dry spray: this method, also called “shotcrete” or “gunite” is allowing a faster rate of rehabilitation, and also to make a thicker application in a single pass. The main interest of dry shotcrete is the capacity to pump the mortar over a long distance and this is needed when the access points are distant. Perhaps the longest dry shotcrete distance is a job site in Australia in 2014, where 100% calcium aluminate mortar was air transported over 800 meters before being sprayed. The main drawback with dry shotcrete is the generation of dust and rebound; these could be limited and controlled with appropriate means (pre-moisture ring, adapted aggregate grading, experienced nozzleman, water mist cut-off walls, etc.).

Challenges

[edit]
Building a sewer in newly filled land on former tideflats in Seattle, 1910.

Water table

[edit]

Sewer system infrastructure often reduces the water table in areas, especially in densely populated areas where rainwater (from house roofs) is directly piped into the system, as opposed to being allowed to be absorbed by the soil. In certain areas it has resulted in a significant lowering of the water table. In the example of Belgium, a lowering of the water table by 100 meters has been the result.[7][8] The freshwater that is accumulated by the system is then piped to the sea. In areas where this is a concern, vacuum sewers may be used instead, due to the shallow excavation that is possible for them.

Lack of infrastructure

[edit]

In many low-income countries, sewage may in some cases drain directly into receiving water bodies without the existence of sewerage systems. This can cause water pollution. Pathogens can cause a variety of illnesses. Some chemicals pose risks even at very low concentrations and can remain a threat for long periods of time because of bioaccumulation in animal or human tissue.

Regulations

[edit]

In many European countries, citizens are obliged to connect their home sanitation to the national sewerage where possible. This has resulted in large percentages of the population being connected. For example, the Netherlands have 99% of the population connected to the system, and 1% has an individual sewage disposal system or treatment system, e.g., septic tank. Others have slightly lower (although still substantial) percentages; e.g., 96% for Germany.

[edit]

Current approaches to sewage management may include handling surface runoff separately from sewage, handling greywater separately from blackwater (flush toilets), and coping better with abnormal events (such as peaks stormwater volumes from extreme weather).

See also

[edit]
  • History of water supply and sanitation
  • List of water supply and sanitation by country
  • Sanitary sewer overflow (SSO)
  • Sanitation
  • Sewer mining

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "sewerage – definition of sewerage in English from the Oxford dictionary". Oxforddictionaries.com. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2015-09-04.
  2. ^ George, A.R. (2015). "On Babylonian Lavatories and Sewers". Iraq. 77: 75–106. doi:10.1017/irq.2015.9. ISSN 0021-0889. JSTOR 26426051. S2CID 162653122.
  3. ^ 1001 Inventions that changed the World. Hachette India.
  4. ^ Kaempfer, W., Berndt, M., 2009. Estimation of service life of concrete pipes in sewer networks. Durability of building materials and components, 8, 36-45.
  5. ^ Sydney, R., Esfandi, E., Surapaneni, S., 1996. Control concrete sewer corrosion via the crown spray process. Water Environment Research, 68 (3), 338-347.
  6. ^ Kaempfer, W., Berndt, M., 1998. Polymer modified mortar with high resistance to acid corrosion by biogenic sulphuric acid. In: Proceedings of the IX ICPIC Congress, Bologna, Italy, pp. 681–687
  7. ^ "Beleid tegen watertekort dringt zich op". deredactie.be. 28 January 2015.
  8. ^ "Verrekijker" (PDF). Vlaamse Milieumaatschappij. June 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 December 2012.
[edit]
  • Media related to Sewerage at Wikimedia Commons

 

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