Bayer MaterialScience protects the earth's most important resources with innovative raw materials and future-oriented developments.

We live in a world of water. More than two-thirds of the earth's surface are covered by oceans, inland waters and rivers. Without water, life on our "Blue Planet" would be as desolate as it is on Mars. However, when it comes to available drinking water reserves on earth, appearances are deceiving: freshwater makes up only a relatively small amount of the 1.4 billion cubic kilometers of water on earth. Additionally, the rapid rise in global water consumption increases the shortage of our number one natural resource, and not only in the so-called arid zones...
For instance, the British Isles normally have plenty of water, at least that which falls from the sky. Nevertheless, in spring 2006 greater London was forced to ration tap water. The year before, the region had surprisingly little rain. The situation was exacerbated by the fact that segments of the island’s water pipeline system were installed back in the Victorian era, and up to 30 percent of the water pumped through the decaying pipes is wasted because of leakage.

Successful project garners accolades

"It's a real problem, both ecologically and economically," maintains Dr. Malte Homann, corrosion protection expert in the Coatings, Adhesives & Sealants Business Unit at Bayer MaterialScience. "Fortunately, the water utilities in Great Britain are now responding and investing large sums in the complete renovation of the country's water service systems." For example, coatings manufacturer E. Wood and applicator TJ Brent Ltd., under contract with South West Water plc, have been carrying out a very successful project in southwest England since early 2000.
A major contributor to the project is Copon Hycote 169, a solvent-free polyurea interior coating, which is based on special amines and the aliphatic coating raw material Desmodur® N from Bayer MaterialScience. In 2003 the UK Society for Trenchless Technology (UKSTT) named the ambitious renovation campaign the "Best Renovation Project for Large Pipeline Systems."