Florida Utility Battles Asbestos In Water Pipes
By Sara Jerome,
@sarmje
A Florida water utility is waging a $1.4 million battle against asbestos.
“More than 10,000 linear feet of aging, asbestos-containing water pipes will be dug up and replaced during the next year in neighborhoods just north of Rattlesnake Hammock Road in East Naples,” the Naples Daily News reported.
Installed in the ‘70s, the pipes are deteriorated and leaking. “And because the pipes contain asbestos, Collier County's water utility can't get in to clean them for fear of shaving or scraping the material into the water system,” the report said.
Aimed at securing the water supply for 112 homes, the project should be done by 2018, according to George Yilmaz, Public Utilities administrator, per the report.
"We're replacing the worst first so the neighborhoods we are going into now did experience some water main breaks," Yilmaz said. "The frequency of breaks is an indication of the age of the pipe or the premature aging of the pipe. We'd be going into this neighborhood regardless, because of the age and type of pipe provides potential risk for more frequent leaks and breaks. We want it so our customers basically have a new water system."
Collier County is not alone. Asbestos cement (AC) pipe makes up about 15 percent of water main pipe materials in North America, according to a Water Research Foundation report.
“Concerns over the environmental impact of AC pipe renewal and the associated regulations are an area of confusion for most water utility managers,” the report said.
In Collier County, PVC piping will replace the aging pipes, and it is expected to last up to 32 years, according to the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance.
Asbestos exposure can lead to mesothelioma cancer.
“There are about 2,500 to 3,000 mesothelioma cases in the U.S. each year. It’s most common in men over age 60, but women and children have been diagnosed as well. People with a past asbestos exposure history experiencing symptoms should consult a physician with expertise in accurately diagnosing mesothelioma,” the report said.