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Infrastructure damage from sudden thickening of water
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$begingroup$
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
edited 3 hours ago
Cyn
9,85112246
asked 5 hours ago
Redwolf ProgramsRedwolf Programs
1,0351722
$endgroup$
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
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
edited 3 hours ago
Cyn
9,85112246
asked 5 hours ago
Redwolf ProgramsRedwolf Programs
1,0351722
$endgroup$
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
science-based water infrastructure
edited 3 hours ago
Cyn
9,85112246
asked 5 hours ago
Redwolf ProgramsRedwolf Programs
1,0351722
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
edited 3 hours ago
Cyn
9,85112246
9,85112246
asked 5 hours ago
Redwolf ProgramsRedwolf Programs
1,0351722
asked 5 hours ago
Redwolf ProgramsRedwolf Programs
1,0351722
asked 5 hours ago
Redwolf ProgramsRedwolf Programs
1,0351722
1,0351722
$begingroup$
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 |
$begingroup$
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
$begingroup$
Will this Handwavium take all over the world's water, including water in the bodies of living organisms?
$endgroup$
– Alexander
5 hours ago
$begingroup$
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
$begingroup$
@Alexander No, only water contaminated water touches
$endgroup$
– Redwolf Programs
4 hours ago
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
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.
answered 5 hours ago
LSerniLSerni
27.9k24888
$endgroup$
add a comment |
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1 Answer
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1 Answer
1
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oldest
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$begingroup$
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.
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.
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.
answered 5 hours ago
LSerniLSerni
27.9k24888
$endgroup$
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.
answered 5 hours ago
LSerniLSerni
27.9k24888
answered 5 hours ago
LSerniLSerni
27.9k24888
answered 5 hours ago
LSerniLSerni
27.9k24888
answered 5 hours ago
LSerniLSerni
27.9k24888
27.9k24888
add a comment |
add a comment |
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$begingroup$
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