Sewer networks are subjected to biodeterioration, a damaging process based on the production of sulfuric acid by microorganisms in specific conditions. Aerial part of this phenomenon can be divided in four elementary stages. The study of the mechanisms both on-site and in the lab could generate consistent information for the design of an accelerated test. The present study highlights the absolute need of H2S addition for an effective and standardizable accelerated biodeterioration test. This test, developed by Ifsttar, brings interesting results. In near future, it will be a way to rank materials according to their ability to resist to biodeterioration, and to select only the more durable ones.
