Water 2050 Sustainability, The Race to Net Zero Emissions - How Can We Evaluate and Select Options for Coating and Lining Water Tanks, Piping and Treatment Facilities to Reduce Carbon Now

Paper ID: C2025-00324 ABSTRACT: In 2022, AWWA began a project to establish a long-term vision of the future of water. The first report was “Water 2050 Sustainability”. This report recommended implementing a new water utility paradigm that included sustainability in utility operations.
The Water 2050 Sustainability report stated, “With rising sea levels and warming temperatures globally, the water community must not only achieve a holistic “One Water” mindset, but it also must fully embrace energy production and emissions reduction as integral to its work.” One of the focus areas that the group established was a roadmap to “the race to net zero emissions”.
These initiatives will require a review of utility maintenance procedures – specifically coating and lining of assets. This review will require FAR more than evaluating what is in the bucket of paint, but true carbon emission reduction over the life of the structures must look at life cycle of the maintenance, application methods, amount of time to complete the maintenance as well as the contents of the bucket.
This paper will provide a framework to evaluate and select the maintenance painting and lining option that moves toward zero carbon emissions while maximizing coating lifecycle and asset life.