The problem with rusty water pipes

If a brown water flow comes out of the pipe, then in most cases it is a rusty pipe system. Rusty water is formed by oxidation of iron. Many of the installed drinking water pipes are made of iron or steel. Some of them are galvanized, but this coating of the water pipe does not last forever either. Once the zinc layer has been removed, the pipes begin to rust from the inside. In the case of advanced rust formation, components dissolve and thus enter the water pipe. A good sign of this is the brown, rusty-looking colouring. In addition to iron oxide, manganese can also cause this water discoloration.

Pipe renovation from the inside with RISAN® is suitable for any type of property, whether single-family house, multi-party house, residential complex, hotel, company building, hospital, retirement home, school, kindergarten, nursing home or similar. An internal pipe renovation of the drinking water pipes with RISAN® is usually always advantageous compared to a classic total replacement of the water installation.

RISAN® has been successfully renovating drinking water pipes from the inside since 1993. Many hundreds of properties at home and abroad create trust and long-term experience. Over the course of these decades, the RISAN®process has been continuously adapted and optimized to meet increasing technical requirements and stricter legal requirements. RISAN® is the first and currently the only pipe renovator in Europe to meet the strict requirements of the KTW assessment basis of the German Federal Environment Agency for organic materials used in contact with drinking water for pipes in the domestic sector (<DN80). Since March 2021, this compliance conformation has been a mandatory and only valid prerequisite for carrying out internal pipe renovation in the drinking water sector. All other certificates and test reports have been invalid since March 2021!

Since the KTW assessment basis came into force, only materials that can show proof of conformity may be used in the drinking water sector. In addition, the new BWGL provides for an annual monitoring and renewal of the confirmation of compliance by an accredited testing agency. Finally, all currently valid and possibly withdrawn conformity confirmations must be publicly accessible on the website of the accredited certification body. As a result, the end user can now directly check the validity and timeliness of the conformity confirmation at any time. With this new and strict legal regulation, the legislature has finally put a stop to various grey areas, misleading or false statements to protect consumers and for the protection of drinking water. Only the conformity confirmation according to KTW-BWGL of the UBA is permissible for the use of materials in the drinking water sector. All other certificates and verifications lost their validity with the entry into force of the BWGL!

Sewer pipes and sewage pipes can also be renovated from the inside. However, there are separate processes with their own coating materials, which technically differ significantly from the internal renovation of drinking water pipes with RISAN®. Specialist expertise and legal compliance must also be considered when selecting specialist companies for the renovation of sewer and wastewater pipes.

RISAN® is the first and currently the only pipe renovator in Europe to meet the strict requirements of the KTW assessment basis of the German Federal Environment Agency for organic materials used in contact with drinking water for pipes in the domestic sector (<DN80). Since March 2021, the KTW-BWGL has regulated the admissibility of organic materials in contact with drinking water. Both ingredients, migration values and microbiological growth are tested by accredited laboratories according to the assessment basis in the cold and hot water sector. A confirmation of compliance according to KTW-BWGL of the UBA confirms the complete passing of all prescribed partial tests. Since the KTW assessment basis came into force, only materials that can show proof of conformity may be used in the drinking water sector. In addition, the new BWGL provides for an annual monitoring and renewal of the confirmation of compliance by an accredited testing agency. Finally, all currently valid and possibly withdrawn conformity confirmations must be publicly accessible on the website of the accredited certification body. As a result, the end user can now directly check the validity and timeliness of the conformity confirmation at any time. With this new and strict legal regulation, the legislature has finally put a stop to various grey areas, misleading or false statements to protect consumers and for the protection of drinking water. Only the conformity confirmation according to KTW-BWGL of the UBA is permissible for the use of materials in the drinking water sector. All other certificates and verifications lost their validity with the entry into force of the BWGL!

The RISAN®coating material is developed, produced, and distributed by Risan ® through qualified RISAN® partners.

Sewer pipes and sewage pipes can also be renovated from the inside. However, there are separate processes with their own coating materials, which technically differ significantly from the internal renovation of drinking water pipes with RISAN®. Specialist expertise and legal compliance must also be considered when selecting specialist companies for the renovation of sewer and wastewater pipes.

Sewer pipes and wastewater pipes can also be rehabilitated from the inside. However, there are separate processes for this with their own coating materials, which are technically clearly different from the internal rehabilitation of drinking water pipes with RISAN®. When selecting specialist companies for the rehabilitation of sewer and wastewater pipes, attention must also be paid to professional competence and legal conformity.

Regarding the temperature resistance of materials in the drinking water sector, a distinction must be made between a short-term temperature increase (e.g., for a few hours in the case of thermal disinfection) and a continuous operating temperature, i.e., the water temperature is significantly increased throughout the year for 24 hours.

Conventional coating materials withstand a continuous operating temperature of maximum 55°C – 60°C. This no longer meets today's requirements, as the water temperatures in drinking water pipes are increasingly permanently up to 70° C and more, especially for hygienic reasons (e.g., legionella flushes). This places the highest demands on the coating material.

The RISAN® epoxy resin coating has been specially developed, tested and certified for use in hot water applications. Test reports from accredited laboratories confirm a continuous operating temperature resistance of the RISAN® coating material of at least 70° C and more. RISAN® thus also sets new standards in terms of temperature resistance in the field of pipe renovation from the inside.

Conventional coating materials for drinking water have very long hardening times, which range from at least 24 hours to several days before the drinking water pipes can be used again. This is neither feasible from a practical point of view nor from a cost-technical point of view.

The RISAN®coating material impresses with its extremely short curing time of just 6 - 12 hours (depending on the installation). As a result, the property can be put back into operation the day after the coating.

The RISAN® coating material is a 2-component epoxy resin specially developed and certified for the domestic drinking water sector.

Sewer pipes and sewage pipes can also be renovated from the inside. However, there are separate processes with their own coating materials, which technically differ significantly from the internal renovation of drinking water pipes with RISAN®. Specialist expertise and legal compliance must also be considered when selecting specialist companies for the renovation of sewer and wastewater pipes.

RISAN® has been successfully renovating drinking water pipes from the inside since 1993. Many hundreds of properties at home and abroad create trust and long-term experience. Over the course of these decades, the RISAN®process has been continuously adapted and optimized to meet increasing technical requirements and stricter legal requirements. RISAN® is the first and currently the only pipe renovator in Europe to meet the strict requirements of the KTW assessment basis of the German Federal Environment Agency for organic materials used in contact with drinking water for pipes in the domestic sector (<DN80). Since March 2021, this compliance conformation has been a mandatory and only valid prerequisite for carrying out internal pipe renovation in the drinking water sector. All other certificates and test reports have been invalid since March 2021!

The pipe renovation from the inside by RISAN® is suitable for metallic water pipes. These are galvanized iron pipes or copper pipes. For drinking water installations made of lead, a complete replacement of the pipelines is recommended for technical reasons, but above all due to possible health risks due to the high lead content of the pipes.

If brown water flows in your own house or apartment, corrosion in galvanized steel pipes could be to blame. Over 70% of domestic drinking water pipes are outdated! Apart from the fact that brown water tastes and looks unappetizing, in the medium term it mainly damages the drinking water pipes; these corrode from the inside out, the pipe walls gradually become thinner, until sooner or later pipe breakage inevitably occurs. And the first pipe break is not the end, but the beginning of the big problems, such as water damage, water interruptions, insurance issues, enormous costs, and time. Not to mention the limitation of living comfort.

In principle, there are two ways to solve the problem of rusted drinking water pipes in the long term: a) All installations in the house are torn out and replaced with new pipes. As a result, the property is uninhabitable for weeks without a water supply. The whole house becomes a construction site with numerous trades on site (installer, bricklayer, painter, plasterer, tiler, floorer, etc.). Not to mention the high cost! b) The clearly smarter solution is to rehabilitate the pipes from the inside with RISAN®. The pipes are not torn out, but gently cleaned and renewed from the inside. The advantages of interior pipe renovation with RISAN® are obvious: no construction site; the house remains habitable even during renovation; much faster than the conventional complete replacement; much cheaper than replacing the pipes, since no secondary trades are necessary; RISAN® pipe renovation has a replacement value guarantee, as with a complete replacement.

The final inner coating of the cleaned pipes prevents direct contact between metal and drinking water. As a result, new corrosion can no longer take place. The pipes remain protected, and the service life of a drinking water installation is extended by several decades after a professional and legally compliant interior renovation by RISAN®.

The legal warranty on most products and services in the EU is 2 years. In the case of pipe renovation from the inside, care must be taken in advance when selecting the supplier to ensure that the method used, or the coating material used, is approved, and complies with current laws. If this is the case, a pipe interior renovation can be expected with a warranty of 5 to 10 years. This corresponds to the same guarantee and warranty as you get for a new installation. RISAN® is liable for the refurbished pipe installations with a replacement value guarantee of 10 years.

The duration of the internal renovation of the drinking water pipes with RISAN® is on average about 3 - 5 working days per residential unit. The property remains habitable during this time; the water supply is also guaranteed (provisionally) during the pipe renovation. The exact time required for the pipe renovation depends, among other things, on the size of the property. This can be determined in advance during a technical local inspection. Pipe renovation in sections is basically also possible.

The property remains habitable even during pipe renovation by RISAN®. There are therefore no rental or production losses, and there are no relocation costs or additional rents for relocation. This method is therefore ideal above all for properties where a temporary closure or relocation would not be possible or would only be possible with great effort, such as residential complexes, nursing homes, hospitals, retirement homes, schools, kindergartens, etc.

The duration of the internal renovation of the drinking water pipes with RISAN® is on average about 3 - 5 working days per residential unit. During the renovation, the water supply is usually guaranteed – either by renovation in sections, or by a provisional water supply until the pipe renovation is completed.

The pipes are cleaned purely mechanically and without chemical additives. The entire pipe network is blasted clean from the inside using an air-sand mixture. The sandblasting is deliberately done very gently, with as little air pressure as possible, so as not to stress the pipeline network. After the cleaning process, a pressure test is carried out with air on the pipe network. Only after a positive pressure test is the recoating of the water pipes started.

In rare cases, leaks may occur in the pipe network after sandblasting. In most cases, these are leaks that are only covered by rust deposits until they are exposed while cleaning. Since the cleaning is carried out exclusively with air and sand, there is no (water) damage to the masonry in the event of possible leaks. The pipe renovation is therefore not impaired.

When renovating pipes from the inside with RISAN®, the drinking water pipes are not torn out and replaced with new ones but cleaned and preserved from the inside. The cost of pipe interior renovation with RISAN® is considerably lower (approx. 50%) compared to a conventional total pipe replacement. The costs of renovating the drinking water installation from the inside start for an example a single-family house at approx. €10,000.00 and take approx. 3 - 5 working days.

The short-term absorption of brown water from the tap is not harmful to health if the brown coloration is caused by rinsed iron and manganese deposits. However, long-term increased intake of iron and manganese should be avoided. However, in rare cases, brown water can be harmful to health if it is caused by damage to the pipe. In the event of pipe breaks, soil or contaminated surface water can penetrate the pipe system for a short time. Water suppliers must then flush the pipes thoroughly before releasing them again. To exclude any risk, water should not be drunk if it flows brown from the faucet.

If brown water flows in your own house or apartment, corrosion in galvanized steel pipes could be to blame. Over 70% of domestic drinking water pipes are outdated! Apart from the fact that brown water tastes and looks unappetizing, in the medium term it mainly damages the drinking water pipes; these corrode from the inside out, the pipe walls gradually become thinner, until sooner or later pipe breakage inevitably occurs. And the first pipe break is not the end, but the beginning of the big problems, such as water damage, water interruptions, insurance issues, enormous costs, and time. Not to mention the limitation of living comfort.

If brown water flows in your own house or apartment, corrosion in galvanized steel pipes could be to blame. Over 70% of domestic drinking water pipes are outdated! Apart from the fact that brown water tastes and looks unappetizing, in the medium term it mainly damages the drinking water pipes; these corrode from the inside out, the pipe walls gradually become thinner, until sooner or later pipe breakage inevitably occurs. And the first pipe break is not the end, but the beginning of the big problems, such as water damage, water interruptions, insurance issues, enormous costs, and time. Not to mention the limitation of living comfort.

In principle, there are two ways to solve the problem of rusted drinking water pipes in the long term: a) All installations in the house are torn out and replaced with new pipes. As a result, the property is uninhabitable for weeks without a water supply. The whole house becomes a construction site with numerous trades on site (installer, bricklayer, painter, plasterer, tiler, floorer, etc.). Not to mention the high cost! b) The clearly smarter solution is to rehabilitate the pipes from the inside with RISAN®. The pipes are not torn out, but gently cleaned and renewed from the inside. The advantages of interior pipe renovation with RISAN® are obvious: no construction site; the house remains habitable even during renovation; much faster than the conventional complete replacement; much cheaper than replacing the pipes, since no secondary trades are necessary; RISAN® pipe renovation has a replacement value guarantee, as with a complete replacement.

If brown water flows in your own house or apartment, corrosion in galvanized steel pipes could be to blame. Over 70% of domestic drinking water pipes are outdated! Apart from the fact that brown water tastes and looks unappetizing, in the medium term it mainly damages the drinking water pipes; these corrode from the inside out, the pipe walls gradually become thinner, until sooner or later pipe breakage inevitably occurs. And the first pipe break is not the end, but the beginning of the big problems, such as water damage, water interruptions, insurance issues, enormous costs, and time. Not to mention the limitation of living comfort.

In principle, there are two ways to solve the problem of rusted drinking water pipes in the long term: a) All installations in the house are torn out and replaced with new pipes. As a result, the property is uninhabitable for weeks without a water supply. The whole house becomes a construction site with numerous trades on site (installer, bricklayer, painter, plasterer, tiler, floorer, etc.). Not to mention the high cost! b) The clearly smarter solution is to rehabilitate the pipes from the inside with RISAN®. The pipes are not torn out, but gently cleaned and renewed from the inside. The advantages of interior pipe renovation with RISAN® are obvious: no construction site; the house remains habitable even during renovation; much faster than the conventional complete replacement; much cheaper than replacing the pipes, since no secondary trades are necessary; RISAN® pipe renovation has a replacement value guarantee, as with a complete replacement.