'Tank Liners': How the USS Abraham Lincoln keeps rust out of its drinking water
The USS Abraham Lincoln uses non-toxic epoxy pipe liners to protect its 26 potable water tanks from severe rust. This 24-hour application process prevents leaks and dangerous bacterial contamination.
Securing 26 water tanks
The USS Abraham Lincoln relies on 26 potable water tanks to hydrate its crew. Maintaining these massive systems requires constant vigilance against severe marine corrosion and internal rust, which can compromise the entire water network during long deployments.
The 2022 pipe failure
The dangers of rust became evident in September 2022. Severe corrosion ate a hole through a vent header pipe located just six inches above the bilge deck on the Lincoln, exposing the potable system to hazardous external leaks.
Isolating 3 contaminated tanks
When bilge fluid levels reached that six-inch mark, dirty water entered the system, contaminating three potable tanks with E. coli and coliform bacteria. The engineering crew quickly valved off the affected tanks and provided bottled water.
Lining 24-inch carrier pipes
To combat such severe oxidation, the Navy uses specially formulated, chemically-resistant bisphenol epoxy linings. This advanced non-toxic coating can be applied to complex carrier systems, fitting pipe diameters ranging from a fraction of an inch up to 24 inches.
Enduring 60-psi water pressure
Nimitz-class carrier drinking water networks operate under significant strain, with internal pipe pressures reaching up to 60 psi. The heavy-duty epoxy lining is engineered to endure this force without cracking, preventing future structural vulnerabilities.
Coating 1,000-foot pipe runs
Maintenance teams use an 'Air-Sand' method, propelling abrasive grit and then the epoxy via compressed air. This highly efficient technique allows continuous sections of pipe up to 1,000 feet long to be lined seamlessly without physical disassembly.
Restoring within 24 hours
Unlike total pipe replacement, this epoxy rehabilitation causes minimal disruption to ship operations. A deteriorating water system on a carrier can be fully lined, cured with hot dry air, flushed, and safely returned to service in less than 24 hours.
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