Technical Blog

Welcome to John’s Blog. Answers to frequently asked questions are periodically posted here. The objective is to share information about PVC pipe with readers as well as with utilities, design engineers and pipe installers. The blog provides the latest information on PVC pipe design, installation, and application for water and wastewater infrastructure projects.

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John Houle: Senior Technical Consultant, PVC Pipe Industry

John Houle holds a Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Missouri and an MBA from the University of Oregon. He has more than 25 years of experience in the plastic pipe industry in applications engineering, market development, forensic analysis, technical writing, and standards development.

PVCPA Municipal Case Study Webinar Videos

Posted By John Houle on Apr 1, 2026

The Uni-Bell PVC Pipe Association (PVCPA) is providing a series of case studies on PVC pipe. These free on-demand webinars highlight projects where large-diameter gasketed PVC pipe was installed. Project types included are municipal water, gravity sewer, and pressure sewer. Presentations are given by leading water and sewer utility pipeline experts. Brief descriptions of the video presentations are as follows:

WaterOne — Kansas City, KS (Water Distribution)
Prior to 2009, the utility installed only ductile iron pipe. Because of problems with corrosion, WaterOne turned to PVC pipe in 2009. The use of PVC pipe has increased ever since. In this video, the CEO of WaterOne covers a wide range of topics on making the change from ductile iron pipe to PVC pipe.
City of Jackson, MS (Water Distribution)
In 2022 Jackson’s municipal water system failed. A group of partners quickly coalesced to respond to the short-term emergency as well as to make needed longer-term improvements in the system. Jackson was a city that “had been very dedicated to ductile iron,” so no plastic pipe had been installed in their municipal water system.
Regina, SK (Sewer Force Main)
In this video, engineers discuss the design elements required for this 60-inch PVC force main project, including analysis of transient pressures and confined buckling pressures.
Joliet, IL (Gravity Sewer)
In 2019 the utility decided to replace clay sewers with 24-inch PVC pipe. The project was very complicated because of upsizing requirements and the necessity for pipeline relocation. Innovative solutions to construction issues were required for rough terrain, tight corridors, and congested areas.
Bentonville, AR (Gravity Sewer)
Fiberglass pipe (FRP) installed in 2010 experienced multiple failures a few years after being put into service. The utility decided to replace more than 40,000 feet of 30- and 36-inch FRP pipe with PVC. The video discusses reasons for the failures of FRP as well as design and installation challenges for the replacement project.
Westmoreland County — Pittsburgh, PA (Water Transmission/Distribution)
The utility currently has more than 800 miles of 4- through 36-inch PVC pipe. One major point made in this video is that PVC pipe failures are rare and are limited to installation issues and construction damage.