MIC is not new. The single-celled organisms that cause it existed long before humans, let alone before we got round to making steel. Steel is an ideal location and microorganisms love to attack it.

No, there are many different microorganisms that can cause MIC. And every year, new species and mechanisms are discovered. Microorganisms are everywhere where water, nutrients and favourable living conditions are present. Obviously, Deltares keeps a close eye on all developments. 

Fortunately, yes. For example with coatings to isolate the steel from microorganisms. Another example is cathodic protection, which slows down the corrosion process by applying a protective electrical voltage to the steel. The rule of thumb for every protection measure is: “make an informed decision about the right protection”.

Deltares has been researching MIC for more than ten years in laboratory and field experiments. We are constantly learning more about when MIC occurs and what can be done about it. We use that knowledge to help clients protect their steel infrastructure, extending the lifespans of pipes, sheet piling or wind turbines.

The field is too complex to make a direct link between climate change, water quality and MIC. Nevertheless, the activity of micro-organisms is affected by temperature, nutrients, and other environmental factors. There are many types of microorganism, each with their own preferred growing conditions.

Deltares has developed MIC probes. They consist of a steel surface with a layer of MIC organisms. They are ideal measuring instruments to study the effects of different environments or countermeasures.