Engineers at the University of South Australia have unveiled a material from water treatment sludge designed to replace traditional cement in sewer pipes.
This material reuses water treatment byproducts, reducing the demand for cement.
Research on this material indicates potential annual savings of up to $70 billion in maintenance fees for Australia.
Professor Yan Zhuge, supervisor and lead researcher on the project, emphasised the potential of this alternative solution.
“The construction industry is one of the world’s biggest greenhouse gas emitters, so if we can cut down on the need for cement, we will be helping to lower carbon emissions.”
Weiwei Duan, a civil engineering candidate, received the 2025 Australian Water Association’s Student Water Prize for his research on this project.
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