NEHRP Clearinghouse
- Title
- Observations on Water System and Pipeline Performance in the Limon Area of Costa Rica Due to the April 22, 1991 Earthquake.
- File
- PB93126811.pdf
- Author(s)
- O'Rourke, M. J.; Ballantyne, D.
- Source
- National Science Foundation, Washington, DC., June 30, 1992, 118 p.
- Identifying Number(s)
- NCEER-92-0017
- Abstract
- The document focuses on earthquake damage to water and oil pipelines, water supply, and water treatment following the 22 April 1991 Costa Rica Earthquake. The moment magnitude 7.5 earthquake occurred approximately 40 km south-southwest of Limon, and resulted in a coseismic uplift of up to 1.5 meters along Costa Rica's east coast. The report also provides an overview of the engineering aspects of the event and recovery activities. Turbidity in the watershed which provides Limon's primary water supply increased to as high as 2.4 percent solids, making it extremely difficult to treat. In addition, the water treatment plant was damaged by the earthquake. Cast iron, ductile iron and reinforced concrete cylinder pipe water transmission lines were damaged by both wave propagation and permanent ground deformation. Water distribution piping, also including PVC and galvanized iron, was similarly impacted. Documentation and evaluation of that damage is described, and compared with empirical estimates from previous earthquakes. Twin 150 mm (6 in), 100 km long, oil transmission lines suffered only a single failure from wrinkling. A description of the pipelines and the failure is provided.
- Keywords
- Water treatment; Damage assessment; Costa Rica; Water pipes; Failure; Water supply; Earth movements; Earthquake damage; Costa Rica Earthquake; Earthquake engineering; Earthquakes; Pipeline transportation; Seismic effects; Water services; Petroleum pipelines