The Chemistry Eating Our Sewers

What’s actually eating away at the concrete inside our sewer systems? The answer takes us into a world of bacteria, sulfuric acid, and chemical reactions happening beneath our streets.

In this episode, Joseph Talley of Imerys provides a deep dive into the chemistry of wastewater corrosion. He breaks down how the process starts, what it does to concrete, and why understanding those reactions matters when choosing how to repair the damage.

There’s some fascinating materials science in the response, too. Talley explains how calcium aluminate linings interact with that corrosive environment, using chemistry to neutralize acid and slow the bacteria producing it.

That science connects to a very practical question for utilities: can we get more life out of what’s already underground? From avoiding excavation in New Orleans’ French Quarter to evaluating a repaired treatment structure for four years in Washington, D.C., the conversation connects chemical reactions to construction decisions and the evidence needed to try something different.

Talley also describes work on thinner linings for new concrete, raising the possibility of putting that chemistry to work before the damage begins.

waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.

Learn more about this episode\'s sponsor Imerys.