Save energy, water and better for public health
WASHINGTON, D.C., Feb. 8, 2007 (VNS) – With the new Congress pushing legislation to renew America’s aging drinking water and wastewater infrastructures, experts say the many advantages of PVC pipe will make it the material of choice for renewal programs throughout the country.
The United States currently loses 2.2 trillion gallons of water a year through its leaking and broken water and wastewater infrastructure, according to a recent issue of Modern Materials magazine. Non-corroding PVC pipes will dramatically reduce this loss, says Professional Engineer Veso Sobot in an article titled “Plastic Pipes and Energy.”
PVC piping systems are more energy efficient, cost effective, and better for the environment and public health than the old systems, Sobot writes, noting that aging, corroded pipes can introduce and harbor disease-carrying germs.
A U.S. National Research Council study released in December 2006 found, “Investigations conducted in the last five years suggest that a substantial proportion of waterborne disease outbreaks, both microbial and chemical, is attributable to problems within distribution systems.”
Even when it does not cause a leak, corrosion inhibits the flow of water because it roughens the pipe’s surface, Sobot explains. Pumping water through piping is an energy-intensive job, and far more energy is needed to pump water through older systems with cracks, leaks and rough surfaces than over the smooth surface of PVC pipes. This energy efficiency translates into lower operating costs and lower use of fossil fuels, Sobot notes.
The International Code Council and other industry associations have approved the use of PVC pipe without limitation in any water-related infrastructure system. Last week, the California Department of Housing and Community Development approved the use of CPVC pipe for all household plumbing, joining the other 49 states. California’s decision was hailed as a “major victory for consumers,” since it could reduce the average cost of new homes by many thousands of dollars.
Read the full Modern Materials article.