Please
see below 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.
DALLAS, TX – 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
their sustainability and environmental impacts," said SSC President Tad
Radzinski. "This is welcome information for both policy makers 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 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.
“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. 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,” said PVCPA Executive Director Bruce Hollands.
Some of the key findings from the study include:
- When evaluating the sustainability of piping
products for life cycle design, it is important to understand and review the
life cycle 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, 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.
- Traditional definitions of pipe service life
should be re-evaluated. For much of the time that iron and concrete pipes are
considered “in service,” they in fact are not, since they often do not perform
as designed. For a good portion of the time they are in use, iron and concrete
pipes are prone to breaks, water loss and water quality issues, as well as
higher maintenance and operating costs due to corrosion, which significantly
affects pumping efficiency.
- PVC pipe is a low initial cost option and
provides long-term savings because of its superior pumping efficiency,
corrosion resistance and longevity.
-
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 than equivalent PVC pipe.
-
66% of water supply pipes in the U.S. are 8-inches or
smaller. Nationally, using PVC instead of ductile iron pipe in this size range
could save $21 billion in pumping costs over 100 years. If PVC were used
instead of HDPE pipe, $37 billion could be saved.
- Water and wastewater utilities often represent
as much as 40% 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 that require more pumping energy over time
due to corrosion, leaks and internal degradation.
- Corrosive soils affect 75% of water utilities.
The durability and corrosion resistance of a pipe greatly affects life cycle
impacts. Ductile iron pipe may last as little as 11-14 years in moderately
corrosive soils, requiring numerous replacements over 100 years.
- For equivalent 8-inch pipes, it takes up to
54% more energy to pump water through ductile iron (DI) pipes than through PVC
pipes, and 100% more energy to pump water through polyethylene (HDPE) pipes
than PVC pipes.
- Of the competing pipe materials, including
iron, concrete, and HDPE pipes, PVC pipe is the most favorable alternative
when considering the products’ energy consumption and carbon footprint from
cradle-to-grave in a public water system.
- Recycled material is only a single attribute
of a pipe’s life cycle environmental impacts. For example, more energy is
required to process the recycled metals to manufacture ductile iron pipe than
in PVC pipe production. As well, producing iron pipe with recycled scrap iron
emits more toxins than pipe made from virgin iron ore.
To view the report, including the full set of key findings
and its methodology,
click here.
“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. “Since PVC pipe can be up to 70 % less
expensive than iron pipe, lasts longer with greater pumping efficiency, it’s the
best choice to replace America’s drinking water systems.”
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.
“This study shows that PVC pipe is the safest pipe material available. Water
utilities aren’t sacrificing safety, longevity, or system performance when they
choose PVC pipe—in fact, they are getting the biggest bang for their buck when
they do,” said Hollands.
Based on the results of this study, PVC pipe provides a competitive
environmental and economic advantage for its 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.
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” 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 over 25,000 jobs.
Regards,
Bruce Hollands
Executive
Director | Uni-Bell PVC Pipe Association
2711 LBJ Freeway, Suite
1000 | Dallas, TX 75234
T. 972.243.3902 ext. 1019 | F.
972.243.3907
www.uni-bell.org
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