Asbestos cement (AC) piping has been used for potable water, irrigation, drainage and sewer systems
for approximately 100 years. The most significant problem affecting the structural integrity of asbestos
cement pipes results from the leaching of the cement mortar binder out of the pipe wall. This leaching
can occur from the internal surface, depending on the chemical make-up of the water or sewage, or from
the external surface, depending on the aggressiveness of the groundwater and soil conditions. This
paper describes the findings of test work on AC piping samples from potable water and sewer piping
that have been in service for up to 40 to 50 years, and discusses an empirical equation developed by our
company to estimate the remaining service life of AC piping systems.