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Infrastructure damage from sudden thickening of water

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5

$begingroup$

Deep in a laboratory far under the megacity of Exampleville, a scientist is experimenting on a new compound found in an alternate, magical universe. He accidentally knocks over a vial of Handwavium, which falls into a sink. Suddenly, the magic spreads through the city's water, instantly thickening it to the viscosity of maple syrup.

This transformation spreads at about 100 feet/second, but I'd also be interested in how the effect would be different if it were instant. Assume that any water touching the sewer or fresh water systems would be converted. Lakes and rivers are out of the scope I'm looking for; I might make that a second question.

Anyway, how would this affect our water/sewer infrastructure, and would the effects be permanent? These buildings are skyscrapers, and there are at least 10 million people. Precipitation and dew are obviously not affected unless they contact contaminated water. Note that there is no magic aside from the Handwavium that affects the water, so no magical answers.

science-based water infrastructure

share|improve this question

edited 3 hours ago

Cyn

9,85112246

asked 5 hours ago

Redwolf ProgramsRedwolf Programs

1,0351722

$endgroup$

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  Will this Handwavium take all over the world's water, including water in the bodies of living organisms?
  $endgroup$
  – Alexander
  5 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  @Alexander No, only water contaminated water touches
  $endgroup$
  – Redwolf Programs
  4 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

5

$begingroup$

Deep in a laboratory far under the megacity of Exampleville, a scientist is experimenting on a new compound found in an alternate, magical universe. He accidentally knocks over a vial of Handwavium, which falls into a sink. Suddenly, the magic spreads through the city's water, instantly thickening it to the viscosity of maple syrup.

This transformation spreads at about 100 feet/second, but I'd also be interested in how the effect would be different if it were instant. Assume that any water touching the sewer or fresh water systems would be converted. Lakes and rivers are out of the scope I'm looking for; I might make that a second question.

Anyway, how would this affect our water/sewer infrastructure, and would the effects be permanent? These buildings are skyscrapers, and there are at least 10 million people. Precipitation and dew are obviously not affected unless they contact contaminated water. Note that there is no magic aside from the Handwavium that affects the water, so no magical answers.

science-based water infrastructure

share|improve this question

edited 3 hours ago

Cyn

9,85112246

asked 5 hours ago

Redwolf ProgramsRedwolf Programs

1,0351722

$endgroup$

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  Will this Handwavium take all over the world's water, including water in the bodies of living organisms?
  $endgroup$
  – Alexander
  5 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  @Alexander No, only water contaminated water touches
  $endgroup$
  – Redwolf Programs
  4 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

$begingroup$

Deep in a laboratory far under the megacity of Exampleville, a scientist is experimenting on a new compound found in an alternate, magical universe. He accidentally knocks over a vial of Handwavium, which falls into a sink. Suddenly, the magic spreads through the city's water, instantly thickening it to the viscosity of maple syrup.

This transformation spreads at about 100 feet/second, but I'd also be interested in how the effect would be different if it were instant. Assume that any water touching the sewer or fresh water systems would be converted. Lakes and rivers are out of the scope I'm looking for; I might make that a second question.

Anyway, how would this affect our water/sewer infrastructure, and would the effects be permanent? These buildings are skyscrapers, and there are at least 10 million people. Precipitation and dew are obviously not affected unless they contact contaminated water. Note that there is no magic aside from the Handwavium that affects the water, so no magical answers.

science-based water infrastructure

share|improve this question

edited 3 hours ago

Cyn

9,85112246

asked 5 hours ago

Redwolf ProgramsRedwolf Programs

1,0351722

$endgroup$

share|improve this question

edited 3 hours ago

Cyn

9,85112246

asked 5 hours ago

Redwolf ProgramsRedwolf Programs

1,0351722

share|improve this question

edited 3 hours ago

Cyn

9,85112246

asked 5 hours ago

Redwolf ProgramsRedwolf Programs

1,0351722

edited 3 hours ago

Cyn

9,85112246

edited 3 hours ago

Cyn

9,85112246

asked 5 hours ago

Redwolf ProgramsRedwolf Programs

1,0351722

asked 5 hours ago

Redwolf ProgramsRedwolf Programs

1,0351722

1 Answer
1

active

oldest

votes

4

$begingroup$

Most pumping systems are damaged, possibly destroyed.

Low viscosity fluids (like water) are usually pumped using centrifugal pumps, which are very efficient but generate high shear. An increase in viscosity will reduce the flow, increase the head, and markedly increase power requirements and heat production. Maple syrup levels of viscosity will make most electric pumps overheat and burn.

Some pumps will have overheating protection; most will not.

Most people die.

The human body is mostly composed of water. Consider that a comparatively small increase in blood viscosity due to high hematocrite is enough to increase the risk of a stroke. Should the water component assume the viscosity of maple syrup, absolutely 100% of people would immediately die of both cerebral ischemia and heart attack. Pulmonary embolia would also kill, but no one will survive long enough for that.

There is a novel by Kurt Vonnegut - Ice Nine - that I think deals with a special form of ice that freezes way above 0 °C, so that when coming in contact with ordinary water, that too is frozen into ice nine.

I also remember some French novel in which a scientist developed a catalyst capable of burning water. If dropped in the Seine, it would have set the whole world on fire.

share|improve this answer

answered 5 hours ago

LSerniLSerni

27.9k24888

$endgroup$

add a comment | 

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4

$begingroup$

Most pumping systems are damaged, possibly destroyed.

Low viscosity fluids (like water) are usually pumped using centrifugal pumps, which are very efficient but generate high shear. An increase in viscosity will reduce the flow, increase the head, and markedly increase power requirements and heat production. Maple syrup levels of viscosity will make most electric pumps overheat and burn.

Some pumps will have overheating protection; most will not.

Most people die.

The human body is mostly composed of water. Consider that a comparatively small increase in blood viscosity due to high hematocrite is enough to increase the risk of a stroke. Should the water component assume the viscosity of maple syrup, absolutely 100% of people would immediately die of both cerebral ischemia and heart attack. Pulmonary embolia would also kill, but no one will survive long enough for that.

There is a novel by Kurt Vonnegut - Ice Nine - that I think deals with a special form of ice that freezes way above 0 °C, so that when coming in contact with ordinary water, that too is frozen into ice nine.

I also remember some French novel in which a scientist developed a catalyst capable of burning water. If dropped in the Seine, it would have set the whole world on fire.

share|improve this answer

answered 5 hours ago

LSerniLSerni

27.9k24888

$endgroup$

add a comment | 

4

$begingroup$

Most pumping systems are damaged, possibly destroyed.

Low viscosity fluids (like water) are usually pumped using centrifugal pumps, which are very efficient but generate high shear. An increase in viscosity will reduce the flow, increase the head, and markedly increase power requirements and heat production. Maple syrup levels of viscosity will make most electric pumps overheat and burn.

Some pumps will have overheating protection; most will not.

Most people die.

The human body is mostly composed of water. Consider that a comparatively small increase in blood viscosity due to high hematocrite is enough to increase the risk of a stroke. Should the water component assume the viscosity of maple syrup, absolutely 100% of people would immediately die of both cerebral ischemia and heart attack. Pulmonary embolia would also kill, but no one will survive long enough for that.

There is a novel by Kurt Vonnegut - Ice Nine - that I think deals with a special form of ice that freezes way above 0 °C, so that when coming in contact with ordinary water, that too is frozen into ice nine.

I also remember some French novel in which a scientist developed a catalyst capable of burning water. If dropped in the Seine, it would have set the whole world on fire.

share|improve this answer

answered 5 hours ago

LSerniLSerni

27.9k24888

$endgroup$

add a comment | 

$begingroup$

Most pumping systems are damaged, possibly destroyed.

Low viscosity fluids (like water) are usually pumped using centrifugal pumps, which are very efficient but generate high shear. An increase in viscosity will reduce the flow, increase the head, and markedly increase power requirements and heat production. Maple syrup levels of viscosity will make most electric pumps overheat and burn.

Some pumps will have overheating protection; most will not.

Most people die.

The human body is mostly composed of water. Consider that a comparatively small increase in blood viscosity due to high hematocrite is enough to increase the risk of a stroke. Should the water component assume the viscosity of maple syrup, absolutely 100% of people would immediately die of both cerebral ischemia and heart attack. Pulmonary embolia would also kill, but no one will survive long enough for that.

There is a novel by Kurt Vonnegut - Ice Nine - that I think deals with a special form of ice that freezes way above 0 °C, so that when coming in contact with ordinary water, that too is frozen into ice nine.

I also remember some French novel in which a scientist developed a catalyst capable of burning water. If dropped in the Seine, it would have set the whole world on fire.

share|improve this answer

answered 5 hours ago

LSerniLSerni

27.9k24888

$endgroup$

share|improve this answer

answered 5 hours ago

LSerniLSerni

27.9k24888

answered 5 hours ago

LSerniLSerni

27.9k24888

answered 5 hours ago

LSerniLSerni

27.9k24888