The water supply and transportation lifeline systems near the coastline of Sri Lanka were the most heavily affected by the December 2004 Great Sumatra earthquake and tsunami. The fishing and tourist industries were devastated; many fishing harbors were heavily damaged. Dozens of bridges in the highway and railroad system were damaged, primarily by erosion and scour. Portions of coastal road were washed away. However, most of the above-grade infrastructure components such as electrical distribution systems, water supply systems, communications systems, and bridges were inland and thus were not affected. Quickly distributing potable water to the affected areas was a challenge. International emergency responders provided portable, then permanent, water treatment facilities. An estimated 60,000 wells were inundated, 12,000 of which will require cleaning. Wells were being restored by pumping out the saltwater. Restoration was limited by the availability of equipment, labor, and supplies of critical resources. Sand for concrete to construct schools, hospitals, and housing was in very limited supply.

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Pipelines are vulnerable to earthquake shaking (ground motion) and permanent ground deformation (PGD) resulting from liquefaction landslide and fault movement. Pipe performance during an earthquake depends on four parameters: ruggedness, resistance to bending, joint flexibility, and joint restraint. Pipe materials are rated in this article for each of these parameters to help utilities select the appropriate pipe for the job. New pipelines installed in regions with high seismic activity should use continuous or restrained‐joint pipe, including steel pipe with welded joints, high‐density polyethylene pipe with fused joints, or ductile‐iron pipe with restrained joints. These guidelines are applicable to pipelines installed in both competent soils (i.e., those capable of providing competent foundation performance) and soils subject to PGD. Additional mitigation measures are recommended for critical pipelines. In regions with moderate seismic activity, pipe with segmented joints such as ductile iron and polyvinyl chloride, can be used in competent soils, but in soils subject to PGD continuous or restrained‐joint pipe similar to that used in areas of high seismicity should be used. For existing systems, replacement of existing pipe is not cost‐effective based on earthquake vulnerability alone, unless the pipe is critical for maintaining system operation. Vulnerable pipe should be replaced over the long‐term, with prioritization based on both seismic vulnerability and other asset management parameters. In the short‐term, system owners should focus on system control and emergency response mitigation approaches.

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