August 2017 Vol. 72 No. 8
Features
PVCPA Study Examines Environmental Impacts, Safety, Costs Of Water Pipes
The Uni-Bell PVC Pipe Association (PVCPA), which represents U.S. and Canadian manufacturers of PVC pipe, announced the completion of the first comprehensive environmental and performance review of water and sewer pipes in North America. The study used life-cycle assessment methodology to evaluate the cradle-to-grave sustainability of commonly used drinking water and sewer pipe materials, including polyvinylchloride (PVC), concrete, ductile iron and high density polyethylene pipes over a 100-year service period.
Sustainable Solutions Corporation (SSC), a sustainability consulting firm, was hired by PVCPA to conduct the study. SSC’s engineers used the ISO 14040 series life-cycle assessment (LCA) standards from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) to evaluate PVC pipe’s environmental footprint. The peer-reviewed report also examines other pipe products based on durability, performance, and environmental data and statistics when available.
“The PVC pipe industry is the only pipe material that has transparently reported sustainability and environmental impacts,” said SSC President Tad Radzinski. “This is welcome information for both policymakers and utility professionals to make fully informed decisions in their efforts to improve underground infrastructure with sustainable products.”
The report contains a robust set of data that utility officials and engineers can use for their asset management plans and life-cycle cost assessments for water and sewer piping. The 100-year LCA methodology also helps utilities assess and minimize water quality risks, as well as reduce operations, maintenance and repair costs. More than 200 sources and studies were examined to provide the most up-to-date and thorough industry review of the health, safety, performance characteristics and sustainability attributes of the different pipe materials available.
Important data
“This study provides critical information for federal, state and local policy makers as they look to modern piping materials to help rebuild the nation’s crumbling underground infrastructure,” said PVCPA Executive Director Bruce Hollands. “Clean water was identified as a high priority by President Trump, and this report confirms that safer, more cost-effective and more durable PVC pipe is key to upgrading America’s drinking water and wastewater systems.”
Other findings from the study include:
When evaluating the sustainability of piping products for life-
cycle design, it’s important to understand and review the impacts of all materials used in the piping system, including replacements, support materials, corrosion mitigation, maintenance efforts and water quality treatments required during the service life of pipes.
Based on more than 60 years of field experience, dig ups and laboratory testing; and given its immunity to corrosion and low break rate, a service life in excess of 100 years was confirmed for PVC pipe.
PVC does not serve as nutrient for bacterial growth and pathogens.
Keeping pipes in use past their useful service lives results in higher operating and maintenance costs. Internal pipe wall degradation may begin almost immediately after ductile iron and concrete pipes are installed.
Metallic and concrete pipes require chemical additives (phosphates) in the drinking water to help reduce pipe wall corrosion. Phosphates increase the chances of bio-growth (such as algae blooms) in drinking water sources, lakes and rivers.
Ductile iron pipe produces up to nine times more carbon emissions during raw materials processing, manufacturing, transportation and installation, compared to equivalent PVC pipe.
66 percent of water supply pipes in the U.S. are 8 inches or smaller in diameter.
Water and wastewater utilities often represent as much as 40 percent of a municipality’s total energy consumption. The energy required to pump water through a pressurized pipe system over the life of the pipe is a significant source of potential environmental impacts.
The energy required to pump water through PVC pipe over a 100-year design life remains constant because its smooth walls do not roughen over time. This generates overall life-cycle cost savings compared to ductile iron and concrete pipes, which require more pumping energy over time due to corrosion, leaks and internal degradation.
Corrosive soils affect 75 percent of water utilities. The durability and corrosion resistance of a pipe greatly affects life-cycle impacts.
Recycled material is only a single attribute of a pipe’s life-cycle environmental impacts.
Dollars
“The federal government is committed to spending $1 trillion to upgrade the nation’s infrastructure, yet it’s estimated that $2 trillion is needed for new water and sewer pipes alone,” said Hollands.
The Life Cycle Assessment of PVC Water and Sewer Pipe and Comparative Sustainability Analysis of Pipe Materials report also makes reference to the 2015 Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for PVC pipe, which complies with ISO 14025 standards and was independently certified by global health organization NSF International.
Based on the results of this study, PVC pipe provides a competitive environmental and economic advantage for use in a variety of water and sewer infrastructure projects, including life-cycle cost advantages and the opportunity to substantially reduce GHGs compared to other materials. “PVC pipe addresses affordability concerns and enables communities to work towards meeting their sustainable infrastructure goals because of its durability, low break rate, corrosion resistance and long-lasting performance,” added Hollands.
The Uni-Bell PVC Pipe Association is a non-profit organization that serves the engineering, regulatory, public health and standardization communities. The PVC pipe represented in the study is manufactured in the U.S. and Canada for drinking water, sanitary sewer and storm sewer piping covering the 4- to 60-inch rigid PVC pipe market, uses a tin-based stabilizer, and does not contain phthalates, lead or cadmium. PVC pipe producers contribute in excess of $14 billion to the U.S. economy and support more than 25,000 jobs.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Uni-Bell PVC Pipe Association
(972) 243-3902, uni-bell.org
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