Redefining Urban

No Trench, No Problem: How CIPP Is Quietly Redefining Urban Infrastructure

Business

In the first week of June 2024, two major North American cities—Atlanta and Calgary—made international headlines for all the wrong reasons. Their aging water pipelines burst, leaving thousands without drinking water and halting daily life. It wasn’t an isolated incident—it was a symptom of a much deeper problem: the buried infrastructure we never see but depend on every day is rapidly deteriorating.

Did you know? Over 260,000 water main breaks occur annually in North America, and more than 33% of the US water mains are already past their intended lifespan. With over 2.2 million miles of pipelines in the U.S. alone, even conservative estimates suggest 700,000+ miles need immediate repair or rehabilitation.

That’s where Cured-in-Place Pipe (CIPP) steps in—not as a patchwork fix, but as a breakthrough solution.

According to Stratview Research, the global cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) market size was US$2.7 billion in 2023 and is likely to grow at an impressive CAGR of 4.9% in the long run to reach US$3.8 billion in 2030.

The Problem: Aging Pipes, Exploding Costs

Cities around the world are sitting on a ticking time bomb of decaying underground infrastructure. The traditional solution—digging up and replacing pipes—may work for short segments, but at scale, it’s time-consuming, labor-intensive, disruptive to urban life, and financially draining.

For municipalities and utilities, the dilemma is clear:

  • Excavation disrupts roads, homes, and businesses
  • Full pipe replacement is prohibitively expensive
  • Timelines stretch into months for just a few miles
  • Citizen backlash mounts with each closure or delay

In many ways, urban planners are stuck between a leaky pipe and a hard place.

The Agitation: Digging Deeper into the Real Cost

Beyond the visible traffic snarls and noise pollution, open-cut pipe replacement comes with a series of compounding challenges:

  • Labor shortages and rising construction costs slow progress
  • Environmental hazards, especially from older pipes with lead or asbestos
  • Operational risks, with each excavation exposing adjacent utilities
  • Lost productivity, both for the city and its citizens
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The gap between what cities need to fix and what they can afford is widening. Meanwhile, the risks of inaction—like water contamination, sewage overflow, and structural collapses—continue to grow.

The Solution: CIPP – The Trenchless Transformation

Cured-in-Place Pipe (CIPP) is a no-dig rehabilitation method where a flexible, resin-saturated liner is inserted into the existing pipe, then cured using heat, steam, or UV light to form a seamless, durable new pipe inside the old one.

Here’s what makes CIPP a standout:

  • Zero excavation required for most operations
  • Quick turnaround—often within a day per segment
  • Structural integrity restored with minimal disruption
  • Applicable to a wide range of pipe sizes (6 to 120 inches)
  • Cost savings of up to 50% compared to traditional methods

What’s Fueling the Growth of CIPP

Stratview Research projects that the global CIPP market will reach $3.8 billion by 2030, driven by:

  • Accelerating pipeline failures in the US, Canada, Europe, and Japan
  • Rapid urbanization in emerging economies demanding smarter infrastructure solutions
  • Government incentives and infrastructure bills, especially in North America and the EU
  • Pressure for sustainable, low-emission methods as CIPP requires less energy and material than excavation

Moreover, the demand for composite liner materials, especially nonwoven polyester fabrics with polyester resin, is expected to top 70 million feet annually by 2030. This material mix dominates due to its flexibility, strength, and cost-effectiveness, making up more than 60% of CIPP applications today.

 

What Forward-Thinking Cities and Companies Are Doing

  • New York and Chicago are scaling their trenchless rehabilitation programs with a focus on CIPP for sewer and stormwater lines.
  • Germany and Japan have formalized CIPP as the default method for non-critical pipe replacements under residential and commercial zones.
  • In India, Bangalore and Mumbai have begun pilot projects using UV-cured CIPP systems to reduce traffic congestion during pipe repairs.
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From robotic liner installations to AI-based pipe condition monitoring, the next generation of CIPP innovation is already underway—bringing faster curing times, better quality control, and minimal human intervention.

Strategic Takeaways

  • CIPP isn’t just a substitute—it’s a system upgrade. It adds decades of life to failing infrastructure without the downsides of excavation.
  • With an estimated 2 million miles of aged pipelines in just five major global economies, the opportunity is massive.
  • Materials matter: Composite liners, particularly polyester-based ones, are key to balancing cost and performance.
  • According to Stratview Research, global demand for composite materials used in CIPP is expected to grow 8–10% annually through 2030.

The Road (or Pipe) Ahead

Cities are often defined by what lies above ground, but sustained by what runs beneath. As urban centers stretch further and population densities increase, traditional approaches to infrastructure repair simply won’t suffice.

CIPP offers a smarter, cleaner, faster path forward. And it’s not just a construction solution—it’s an investment in urban resilience.

Want to understand the material breakdown, top players, and regional opportunities? Stratview’s CIPP Market Report delivers the data, insights, and strategic forecasts that planners, suppliers, and policymakers need to stay ahead.

Stratview Research

E-mail: sales@stratviewresearch.com

Direct: +1-313-307-4176

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