How 3D Printing is Transforming Water Infrastructure

You learned it in science class: water is the foundation of life. The renewable resource is often taken for granted, since for many of us, it is easily accessible with a turn of the tap. However, the infrastructure that delivers clean drinking water, as well as the infrastructure that deals with wastewater, requires complex engineering. Globally, many water infrastructure systems face aging systems that need maintenance, or in some cases, replacement. These systems can be troubled by leaks, inefficiency, and high costs. Additionally, these systems often face a rising demand due to growing populations. Add environmental goals to the mix, and you have an elaborate question to answer: how can a community create efficient, secure, affordable, and sustainable water infrastructure?

Increasingly, engineers have been exploring 3D printing as a solution. The emerging technology is attractive for building and maintaining infrastructure because it offers faster, greener, and more customizable solutions. But before diving into 3D printing’s role here, let’s take a brief look at what water infrastructure is.

Concrete drawpit being placed into position at Esholt Waste Water Treatment Works (Photo Credits: Hyperion Robotics)

What is Water Infrastructure?

Water infrastructure is essential to the fulfillment of basic societal needs, from sustaining life to safeguarding public health. Collecting and treating wastewater is also critical for preventing disease and protecting the environment. One of the vital components of the water infrastructure framework is water treatment plants. These facilities collect water from surface sources like rivers or underground wells and treat it with various chemical and physical processes to make it potable. Once purified, the water goes through a network of distribution systems, consisting of pipes, pumps and storage tanks, that deliver water to its destination. After this water is used, it becomes wastewater, and it must be treated again. This water goes to wastewater treatment facilities, where it is subject to advanced processes to eliminate contaminants, before being safely released back into the environment. Other components in this vast network are reservoirs and dams, which store large amounts of water. These can be useful for flood control, hydroelectric power and providing a stable water supply.