Plastic Pipe Systems for Successful Risk Management in the Water Industry

In Germany, the water sector is considered critical infrastructure, the failure or impairment of which would lead to long-term supply bottlenecks and significant disruptions to public life. Furthermore, the predicted future scarcity of drinking water resources requires a paradigm shift and a more responsible approach to water, our most valuable foodstuff.

Based on the EU Drinking Water Directive (TW-RL) amended in January 2021, extensive changes have resulted, which have also been transposed nationally into the amendment of the Drinking Water Ordinance (TrinkwV, 06/2023) and, via the Water Resources Act (WHG), into the Drinking Water Catchment Area Ordinance (TrinkEGV, 12/2023). In particular, the first-time introduction of a mandatory risk assessment for the entire supply chain, from the catchment area to the consumer, presents new challenges.

In the future, water suppliers will be obliged to identify potential risks and hazard events for the water supply at an early stage and to be able to react appropriately to them. The new requirements are based on a risk assessment and are increasingly focused on prevention.

Innovative plastic pipes with additional functions offer solutions that help, for example, planning offices to implement an “intelligent water network” with products and measuring systems. With this water network, companies in the water industry can meet the specific requirements in the regulations (abbreviated excerpts from the TrinkwV):

Security

Risk management in the water industry must be carried out at least in accordance with the generally accepted rules of technology (DIN EN 15975-2) and must consider risks to water supply facilities that arise concerning drinking water quality from climate change, water losses, and leaky drinking water pipes.

Prevention

Identify hazards and hazard events for water supply facilities and develop an assessment of the resulting risks to drinking water quality.

Documentation and Data Management

New documentation and information obligations for operators. New requirements for inspection duties and the inspection plan. Among other things, the Drinking Water Ordinance regulates the intervals and scope of drinking water analyses. egeplast offers products for all requirements in this regard. Pipe variants that have already proven themselves as ‘problem solvers’ in specific applications can, with the amendment of the Drinking Water Ordinance and the Drinking Water Self-Monitoring Ordinance, also demonstrably help to implement the required risk management approach (hazard prevention) – for instance, through continuous leakage monitoring – and to comprehensively enhance infrastructure resilience.