Indoor plumbing had a significant impact on public health and daily life in countries all around the world. Billions of people now rely on taps at home for drinking water, cooking, cleaning, and more. However, there could be hidden dangers in some of the water supplies. We want to have a closer look here, including at research from earlier this year. Then, if you need help with tube swaging for applications like moving water, we can help.
Are there problems?
Over time you may start to notice different problems with the water supply in your home. An odd colour, bad smells, and an unusual taste can all occur for different reasons. Some will only be temporary, typically caused by work on the infrastructure in your area. However, sometimes it can indicate that there is a serious problem.
Research from a team from IMU in China and UPM in Spain found that stagnant water in pipes can become a breeding ground for harmful bacteria. It could potentially lead to serious health risks.
The study
The researchers took samples of water from Hohhot, a Chinese city in Inner Mongolia with over 3.4m residents. Crucially, the supplies here are chlorinated, containing a small amount of chlorine to treat it and kill bacteria. The study simulates conditions to reflect what happens when water is sitting in pipes. They added glass beads to help monitor bacteria adhesion and growth.
Checking the water allowed the researchers to understand how bacteria and other microorganisms form and develop. They were able to showcase that within hours, and over the course of days, a sticky biofilm could form in pipes. As a result, there could be issues lurking in households all over the planet. It is important to think about this and how to correct the issue. Potentially solutions like tube swaging could help to join pipes more effectively.
The researchers looked at how different metals influence bacterial growth. Water supply pipes can be made of a variety of metals, including iron, steel, copper, aluminium, and PVC. The key finding is iron is one of the biggest risk factors. As a result, stagnant water in iron or steel pipes could be a serious health problem, allowing growth of harmful Salmonella and more.
What next?
As well as their findings, the researchers suggested a deeper look into water infrastructure. The goal should be to improve policies, especially for drinking water. In addition, we can explore design practices. This should include use of different materials and ways to prevent water stagnation in pipes.
Speak to us about tube swaging
Metal tubes are a fantastic option for all kinds of applications, including plumbing and heating, oil and gas, automotive, and more. In addition, techniques like swaging, reduction, and bending adapt the tubing to suit various needs. Crucially, they can help to create reliable, leak proof joints, reducing the need for fasteners.
If you’re planning a project and want expert help to alter the tubes, you can trust us. We’ve been doing it for years, giving us an abundance of experience and knowledge. Critically, we know how to work with different materials. For example, we consider things like springback and account for them.
So, speak to us about tube swaging and other services. We can provide design advice and recommendations to ensure you get the best results.