Aging America: Pipelines

     America is still a relatively new nation, only 230+ years old with many cities, roads, and people to support its innovation and progress. However, the rate of progress and innovation is beginning to slow down as we begin to become victims of ourselves. The once prestigious roads, bridges, canals, and pipelines are beginning to show their age, sometimes with disastrous results. For example, on September 9, 2010, a 30 inch diameter natural gas pipeline ruptured and exploded in San Bruno, California, leaving a crater 167 feet long and 26 feet wide. The explosion killed 8, injured many others, and destroyed much of the neighborhood in which it was located in. The pipeline had been installed in 1956 with improper welding techniques and sharp turns that prevented inspections and weakened the overall strength of the pipe. Over the years, as pressure varied, the welds grew strained and eventually broke, causing the explosion. Many more miles of pipeline are just like the one in San Bruno, ticking time bombs. As we continue to move forward into the future, these systems grow older and more strained as consumption rises too. Since many of the plans for these pipelines have been altered in some way or designed so that inspection is difficult to carry out, more people are being put at risk. Gas pipelines are not the only kind of pipelines that are suffering or on the verge of breaking, water mains and oil pipelines are subject to the same treatment. Many water pipes are corroding and leaking wasting billions of gallons of water each year. Oil pipelines are being put under pressure as gas demand grows too, threatening to burst. The only way to fix this problem is to go there and replace those pipelines. This procedure is costly and inconvenient but the long term effect will obviously outweigh all of the cons. Money can be gathered easily because many of these utility companies that run and operate these systems have plenty of money. For example, look at the advertising that advocates of oil and coal are doing on television. It takes millions of dollars to air these commercials. So instead of using the money to air commercials that are clearly sending a false, twisted message about the benefits of fossil fuels, they could use it to upgrade their aging systems and then focus on finding alternative sources of energy that will actually benefit EVERYONE, not just their paychecks.
      Many pipelines run through residential and urban areas, posing a problem when trying to access and maintain them. The best solution in my opinion, is to dig them up, completely replace them with new pipelines that use new materials which can withstand more pressure, last longer, and be easier to maintain. Advantages to starting anew include being able to lay down pipes in an orderly fashion that makes it easier to inspect with PIGS. By laying new pipeline, engineers and city planners will also be able to update maps of their locations, making life easier for the people responsible for their maintenance. Installing new pipes also allows technology to gain a handle on relatively old tech. With terrorism part of the new reality, pipelines are especially vulnerable as they run through hundreds of miles of rural areas that are easy targets for anybody bent on hurting someone.New pipes can be installed with sensors that can report any breaches. Another plus side is the ability for the pipelines to monitor themselves and improving efficiency. Old pipelines also have an impact on the scenery of the landscape, sticking out like a sore thumb. New pipelines can blend into the scenery, reducing their visual impact on beautiful landscapes across America.
      However, we must keep in mind that pipelines carrying oil and natural gas will eventually be reduced or even phased out as our world becomes more dependent on CLEAN, RENEWABLE sources of energy. Pipes for water or other non fossil fuel things will be the only kind of pipes. These pipes will always need to be maintained and upgraded from time to time allowing Americans and the nation to advance forward.