Corrosion is not Sustainable
Sustainability is the capacity to endure. In large measure, the longer something lasts, the more sustainable it is. Therefore, the less we have to replace infrastructure over time, the fewer greenhouse gases emitted from construction, the fewer resources consumed, etc. This is not the case with piping materials that corrode.
The North American PVC pipe industry is very serious about the environment. That’s why it’s spent so much time and effort developing the toughest corrosion-proof piping compounds made in the world, as well as producing the most durable pipes available.
Saving Energy
But it doesn’t end there. Not only is corrosion-proof PVC ideal for long-term use in underground infrastructure because of its unsurpassed longevity, it also requires less energy and fewer resources to manufacture than corrosion-prone, old-technology materials, and its productions creates no debris and little pollution. It takes four times less energy to make than concrete pipe, and half that used for iron pipe.
Conserving Water
PVC pipe’s ultra-smooth surface reduces pumping costs, and its leak-free joints eliminate water loss – which can be up to 40 per cent in some old-technology piping networks. The American Society of Civil Engineers estimates that 2.6 trillion gallons of potable water are lost every year through leaking, corrosion-prone pipes – or 17 per cent of all water pumped in the U.S.
Saving Money
There is a financial component to sustainability too. The longer something lasts and the more efficiently it functions, the smaller the human footprint and the more affordable it is over the long term. The result: public finances can be directed towards schools and other critical infrastructure like roads and bridges, which are all essential to our competiveness and quality of life.
Good for the Environment
Using PVC pipe for water and sewer infrastructure is good for the environment and the bottom line as well. Cities that use PVC pipe recognize this and that’s why we want to recognize their efforts.