January 14, 2026
Please find below excerpts from an article by Shaun Pietig, P.E., General Manager of WaterOne, serving Johnson County, Kansas, that was featured in the December 2025 issue of Water Finance & Management. Resilient Infrastructure Through Informed Decisions: WaterOne’s Pipe Journey
“Prior to 2008, WaterOne installed ductile iron pipe (DIP) exclusively for distribution mains and predominantly for transmission mains…We used polywrap and sacrificial anode cathodic protection to mitigate corrosion, but over time, field data revealed a troubling trend: premature corrosion in our highly corrosive soils, even with protective measures in place.” “In 2008, our engineering department conducted a comprehensive analysis of pipe performance. The findings were clear. PVC pipe offered a longer expected service life — over 100 years — even in our soil conditions. It was lighter, easier to install and more cost-effective. Importantly, it had the same outside diameter as DIP, allowing for compatibility with existing fittings and infrastructure.” “As the nation faces a $452 billion funding shortfall for water main replacement, utilities must make informed choices about materials and practices. PVC pipe offers a safe, durable, and cost-effective solution. It’s not just a pipe—it’s a pathway to resilience.” Read the article on WaterOne’s data-driven transition from ductile iron to PVC pipe. WaterOne and the National PVC Trend Additionally, Water Finance & Management highlighted the findings of Utah State University’s water main break report in an article by Greg M. Baird, MPA, former utility CFO, and Principal Utility Financial Consultant with Black & Veatch. “WaterOne’s transition from ductile iron to PVC pipe mirrors a broader national trend toward modern, corrosion-resistant materials. As shown in the regional maps from the 2012, 2018, and 2023 USU studies, utilities across the U.S. and Canada are increasingly adopting PVC — especially in Regions 3, 4, 5, 7, and 9. These areas now report PVC as the predominant pipe material, replacing legacy materials like cast iron and asbestos cement.” “WaterOne’s data-driven approach — beginning in 2008 and reaffirmed in 2020 — demonstrates the same motivations driving national change: lower break rates, corrosion immunity, ease of installation, and long-term cost savings. The utility’s internal data showing PVC C900 with break rates as low as 3.1 per 100 miles per year aligns with the national average of 2.9, reinforcing PVC’s reliability.” “This alignment between WaterOne’s local experience and national trends underscores the value of PVC as a resilient, sustainable infrastructure material. As utilities face aging systems and funding shortfalls, PVC offers a proven path forward." Read the analysis examining national water main break trends and the growing adoption of PVC pipe across the U.S. and Canada. Commentary: Americans Deserve Accurate Information about PVC Pipe for Drinking Water Finally, in January 2025 Water Finance & Management published an article on the safety of PVC pipe by Anne Austin, environmental health and safety attorney who served as Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. “For drinking water systems in particular, PVC pipe has proven to be a safe, durable, and cost-effective choice, making it a cornerstone of modern water infrastructure. In fact, there are an estimated 2.5 million miles of PVC water and sewer pipelines in the United States and Canada.” “The safety of PVC piping has been thoroughly evaluated for more than 70 years by federal regulatory agencies, independent certification organizations, and scientific studies. U.S.-made PVC pipe consistently meets or exceeds rigorous safety standards established by groups like the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).” “Additionally, more than 10 million water-quality tests conducted on water transported through PVC pipes have confirmed its safety, with “non-detect” levels of VCM consistently reported by NSF and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).” Read the commentary addressing the safety, regulatory review, and long-standing performance of PVC pipe in drinking water systems. For more information, see The Health, Safety, and Environmental Performance of PVC Pipe.
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Discover updates, industry news, and highlights from the PVC Pipe Association.
January 14, 2026 – Water Finance & Management featured WaterOne’s data-driven transition from ductile iron to PVC pipe, highlighting improved durability, lower water main break rates, and alignment with national trends toward corrosion-resistant materials, while reaffirming PVC pipe’s long-established safety and reliability for drinking water systems.
May 2025 – Included are excerpts from the press release by Utah State University (USU) regarding their recent water main break study as well as a link to the report, which enables utilities to benchmark pipe material performance.
October 2017 – Though water and sewer rates have increased 5.7 percent annually over the past five years, outpacing average annual inflation of 1.9 percent, their impact is expected to continue falling short of infrastructure needs – so utilities will increasingly be forced to look for ways to save more money.
June 2017 – Please see a press release issued by the PVC Pipe Association last week regarding a new study of interest to water utility professionals, policy makers and local lawmakers which compares the health, safety, performance characteristics, and sustainability attributes of different water and sewer pipe materials.
May 2017 – This month we feature Mayor John Marchand, City of Livermore, CA whose article was published in Mayors Water Council, newsletter of the U.S. Conference of Mayors Water Council. Mayor Marchand is a water quality expert and explains why his municipality has built a science-based, high water quality sustainable water system with PVC pipe.