Experts: reports Port Moresby water supply network shows signs of imminent failure
Monash University
Following reports out of Papua New Guinea's (PNG) capital, that Port Moresby's ageing water supply network is showing signs of imminent failure, Monash experts are available to discuss pipeline corrosion, ageing water infrastructure, and sustainable engineering solutions.
Professor Jayantha Kodikara, Director of the ARC Smart Pavements Hub, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Contact: +61 3 9903 4840 or [email protected]
Comments attributable to Professor Kodikara:
“What is unfolding in Port Moresby reflects a wider challenge with ageing pipelines, though the cause depends on the construction practices used at the time. Many older networks were not laid with engineered backfill.
“In Australia prior to the 1960s, the soil excavated from the trench was typically used as the backfill surrounding the pipe. Yet that material actively governs how quickly a pipe corrodes. Soil density and moisture determine its corrosivity, and variations along the pipe promote the microcell formation that accelerates localised corrosion.
“Our ongoing research is engineering corrosion-resistant backfill incorporating recycled materials, with promising early results, offering a sustainable means of extending the life of ageing networks.”
Thisara Senarathna, PhD Candidate, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Contact: +61 3 9903 4840 or [email protected]
Comments attributable to Mr Senarathna:
“The situation in Port Moresby is a stark reminder of a challenge faced by ageing pipeline networks worldwide. Once protective coatings deteriorate, buried metal pipes become increasingly vulnerable to corrosion, particularly in aggressive soil environments.
“Similar challenges exist in Australia and elsewhere, demonstrating that this is not simply a local maintenance issue but a broader infrastructure resilience challenge.
“For rapidly growing cities and many Pacific nations, the key opportunity is to move beyond costly reactive repairs and adopt more sustainable, long-term approaches that consider how the surrounding soil environment influences pipeline performance and service life.”
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