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The Largest Gathering of PVC Pipe and Fitting Manufacturers in the World
Each year the Uni-Bell PVC Pipe Association members gather for our Annual Meeting – the largest gathering of PVC pipe and fitting manufacturers in the world.
Presentations cover topics ranging from market assessments for PVC pipe, vinyl resin and related chemicals, to sustainability, technology, legislative affairs and product certification. Participants come from around the world, and their ranks include pipe and fitting manufacturers, resin and additive providers, equipment manufacturers, affiliated associations, and non-profit certification agencies. Speakers include academics, business analysts, engineers, municipal officials, taxpayer advocates, public affairs specialists, etc.
52nd Annual Meeting March 16-18, 2026 The Ritz Carlton Amelia Island, FL
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Sunday, March 15
Monday, March 16
Tuesday, March 17
Wednesday, March 18
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
Keynote Speaker
Peter St. Onge holds a Ph.D. in Economics from George Mason University and is a former Professor of International Business at Taiwan's prestigious Feng Chia University. He has held executive positions at Japanese and American multinationals in telecoms infrastructure and consumer goods, and has been a Fellow at the Ludwig von Mises Institute, Montreal Economic Institute, and the Heritage Foundation, where he was the Mark Kolokotrones Fellow in Economic Freedom. Peter’s articles have been published in the Wall Street Journal, Globe and Mail, and the Eurasia Review, and he is a frequent guest on TV including Charles Payne, Jesse Watters, and Maria Bartiromo. Mr. St. Onge produces daily videos on economics and freedom on X that get millions of views with 270,000 followers including Elon Musk. He speaks five languages and can still make a drinkable Long Island Iced Tea. Visit Peter at x.com/profstonge and www.linkedin.com/in/peterstonge.
We're at an Inflection Point in the American Economy Peter St. Onge, Ph.D., Economist, Professor, and former Bartender Since 1913 the American economy has undergone a long coup by unelected bureaucrats and their crony sponsors. This half-killed the Golden Goose that used to make every generation unimaginably more prosperous than their parents. And it saddled American business and innovation with challenges our major competitors do not face – and they ran with it. We now have an administration that wants to smash that status quo to unleash American workers, business, and innovation. If President Trump succeeds, this levels the playing field and opens immense opportunities for PVC pipe given its overwhelming technological advantages versus competing old technology water infrastructure in an environment where government is no longer picking winners.
Special Guest Speaker
Steven J. Milloy is an American lawyer, biostatistician, author, and former Fox News commentator. Milloy is the founder and editor of the blog JunkScience.com where he publishes articles that refute misinformation from environmental activists and expose faulty scientific data and analysis. Steve has worked for a number of think tanks: he was Director of The Advancement of Sound Science Center; an Adjunct Scholar at both the Cato Institute and Competitive Enterprise Institute; and served on the board of the Heartland Institute. Milloy is the author of "Scare Pollution: Why and How to Fix the EPA," which debunks many of the EPA’s claims and exposes them as rank scientific fraud, but also offers a roadmap for fixing the rogue and out-of-control EPA. Today Steve is a Senior Policy Advisor with the Energy & Environment Legal Institute (E&E Legal), which promotes free market environmentalism and served as key advisors on President Trump’s transition team. Steve’s insights into how to reform the EPA are being used at E&E Legal to help ensure the Administration’s agenda is realized, such as returning sound and transparent science to EPA rulemaking. Milloy holds a B.A. in Natural Sciences from Johns Hopkins University, a Master of Health Sciences in Biostatistics from the Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health, a Juris Doctor from the University of Baltimore, and a Master of Laws from the Georgetown University Law Center.
Correcting EPA’s Statements on Alleged Vinyl Chloride Monomer Leaching and Benzene Contamination from PVC Pipes Steven J. Milloy, Lawyer, biostatistician, author, and former Fox News commentator 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). Yet false claims from environmental activists and competitive pipe materials persist. It is not helpful when the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has incorrect information on its website about PVC water pipe allegedly leaching vinyl chloride monomer or that it is a potential source of benzene contamination after wildfire events. As new scares about PFAS and microplastics become all the rage, it has never been more important to have a game plan to set the record straight with the EPA.
PRESENTATIONS
PVC Pipe: More than 50 Years of Use in Dallas, Texas in Water and Wastewater Applications Tony Almeida, P.E., Retired, Halff Associates / Dallas Water Utilities New U.S. federal regulations and industry standards in the 1970s enabled the change from rigid pipe to flexible pipe systems to take place. Initially Dallas Water Utilities (DWU) relied on cast iron, later ductile iron and even asbestos cement pipes for water distribution and clay and concrete for wastewater collection systems. These materials were used across the U.S. due to their strength, but they were prone to corrosion, leaking, and required costly maintenance to comply with the new federal regulations. PVC pipe usage by DWU evolved gradually as part of broader national trends in water infrastructure modernization and compliance with regulatory mandates. DWU began incorporating PVC pipe in non-pressure applications in the 1960’s before gradually expanding its use to pressure pipes, especially in new developments and replacements in the early 1970s. Today, DWU manages over 5,000 miles of water mains and 4000 miles wastewater pipelines, and PVC is the standard material for much of these systems due to its corrosion resistance, durability, lower cost, ease of installation and joint integrity.
Research on PVC Pipe and Associated PVC Microplastics in Drinking Water Systems Steven L. Barfuss, P.E., Research Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Utah State University A summary of microplastic sampling and microplastic analysis conducted on a PVC pipe test loop in a laboratory as well as from drinking water utilities across the United States. Water samples were collected from participating utilities which were selected based on varying percentages of PVC pipe and other pipe materials in each system. Levels of PVC microplastics in collected water samples were then correlated to the actual pipe materials in the water system from which the samples were taken.
LCA and EPDs: Driving Circular and Sustainable Infrastructure Cindy Bray, Executive General Manager, Plastics Industry Pipe Association of Australia (PIPA) Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) and Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for infrastructure products have become widely available as the focus on circularity and sustainability grows and governments as well as environmental agencies increasingly require this information for water and sewer pipeline projects. While LCAs and EPDs can also help manufacturers to better understand the environmental impact of their products, their increased availability has also led to unverified and often incorrect material comparisons. To address this, PIPA undertook an LCA examining infrastructure pipe materials. The study compared plastic pipes – PE, PVC-M, and PVC-O – with traditional ductile iron cement-lined (DICL) pipes in water applications, using consistent functional performance criteria and Australia-specific data. By analysing key indicators such as carbon emissions, water use, and waste generation, environmental data can be correctly applied to help utilities make more informed, sustainable infrastructure decisions.
New EU Environmental Datasets for Recycled PVC Micronized and Flake Powder Ludo Debever, General Manager, The European Plastics Pipes and Fittings Association (TEPPFA) TEPPFA’s latest report shows that recycled rigid PVC can provide an 80-90% CO₂ savings compared to virgin PVC. The calculations cover both micronized and granulated recycled material and can be directly applied in Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs). The presentation will outline the methodology followed, present the main Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) indicators for both r-PVC grades, and make the connection with EPDs.
The Water Research Foundation: Delivering Actionable Water Research to Build Resilient Communities Peter Grevatt, Ph.D., CEO, The Water Research Foundation (WRF) Highlights from the latest WRF research, with a focus on priority topics addressing water distribution and collection.
Housing Market Outlook Fan-Yu Kuo, Senior Economist, National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) The housing market is an important sector which helps drive PVC water and sewer pipe demand. This session will provide an overview of the macroeconomy, housing market conditions, industry-level details on supply-side headwinds for housing, and the 2025 NAHB forecast for single-family and multifamily construction.
PVC: Key Drivers and Trends, Feedstock’s Outlook and Worldwide Economic Factors Ana Lopez, Executive Director of Americas Vinyls and Global Sodium Sulfate, Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS, a Dow Jones Company A look at capacity and demand in the global inorganics marketplace, with special emphasis on North America.
The Success of PVC Water Mains in U.S. Rural Water Systems Bill Teichmiller, CEO, EJ Water Cooperative, Inc. EJ Water Cooperative is now celebrating its 36th year of operations and installs only PVC pipe in its system of over 3,200+ miles of water mains stretching over 3,700 square miles – comparable in size to the largest municipal utilities. Some of its PVC pipelines are more than 60 years old. When comparing to other materials, the choice was clear many years ago because PVC pipe is easier and less expensive to install, has the lowest break rate, and lasts more than 100 years. Asset management and life cycle costing show that PVC is the most sustainable and affordable water pipe. It is also safer than other materials because microbial film does not collect on its walls, which means less chemicals are needed to treat water carried through PVC pipelines, which also lowers costs. Find out about PVC pipe’s role in making EJ Water and other rural water systems the most efficient in the country.
The Science of Microplastics: Facts, Gaps, and Frontiers Dr. Kimberly Wise White, Vice President, Regulatory and Scientific Affairs, American Chemistry Council Join us for a dive into the complex and evolving science behind microplastics. This presentation will discuss the research and science, offering a look at what we know – and what we still need to learn.
SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES
Tony Almeida, P.E., Retired, Halff Associates / Dallas Water Utilities has over 50 years of experience in the water and wastewater industry, both in municipal engineering and private consulting. He started his career at Dallas Water Utilities (DWU) following his graduation from Texas Tech in 1971. Tony’s experience at DWU was in operations and ranged from planning, budgeting, contracts, design and construction for both facilities and pipelines. In 2000 he joined Halff Associates where he managed large utility projects and programs for many north Texas cities. Tony is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, Water Environmental Federation, Water Pollution Control Federation, and the American Water Works Association and serves on numerous committees. He has one U.S. patent and two under review, has published articles in several professional journals and has received several awards including the ASTM Fellow 1997 Paul Finn Award; American Society of Testing Materials International 2001 Award of Merit; and the 2014 Reinhart-Kuhlmann Award.
Steven L. Barfuss, P.E., is a Research Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Utah State University (USU) in Logan, Utah, and Associate Director of the Utah Water Research Laboratory (UWRL). Steve has been employed at UWRL at USU since 1987. His research includes the physical and numerical modeling of hydraulic structures, understanding and solving flow measurement problems, and the evaluation and documentation of pipe friction, pipe failure, and pipe material sustainability. Steve has authored over 1,500 research reports and more than 50 peer-reviewed articles in technical journals while employed as a researcher at USU.
Cindy Bray is Executive General Manager of the Plastics Industry Pipe Association of Australia (PIPA) and has over 23 years of experience in the plastics pipe sector. PIPA represents manufacturers, suppliers, fabricators, installers, and certification bodies for plastic piping in Australia and conducts research, education, and advocacy on behalf of the industry. Previously, Cindy was Product and Category Marketing Manager at Iplex, one of Australia’s largest manufacturers of PVC, PE, PP, PE-X, and GRP pipeline products, where she led technical marketing, product development, and communications initiatives. Cindy holds an Executive MBA, a degree in Marketing and Communications and is one of Australia’s foremost experts on the sustainability attributes of plastic piping systems.
Ludo Debever is General Manager of the The European Plastics Pipes and Fittings Association (TEPPFA), which focuses on water resilience, circular economy, and long-life, high-quality plastic pipe solutions. He has served the vinyl industry for more than 35 years in various international management roles including operations, marketing, risk management, communications, and finance at a leading global vinyl manufacturer, Deceuninck. From 2001 to 2003 Ludo was General Manager of the European PVC Window Profiles and Related Building Products Association (EPPA) where he set up collection and recycling initiatives throughout Europe to help the voluntary vinyl value chain initiative, VinylPlus, reach its recycling objectives. In April 2017 Ludo joined the European multi-material plastic pipe association, TEPPFA, as General Manager.
Peter Grevatt, Ph.D., is CEO of The Water Research Foundation (WRF), the leading research organization advancing the science of all water to meet the evolving needs of its 1,000+ subscribers and the water sector. WRF conducts research on the technology, operation, and management of drinking water, wastewater, reuse, and stormwater systems to help ensure water quality and improve water services to the public. Dr. Grevatt previously served as Director of the EPA’s National Drinking Water Program, Senior Advisor to the EPA’s Administrator for Children’s Environmental Health and held leadership roles in EPA’s water quality and national hazardous waste cleanup programs.
Fan-Yu Kuo is a Senior Economist at the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), specializing in comprehensive economic research with a focus on macroeconomics and forecasting. She regularly delivers economic updates and forecasts. Her research covers housing market trends, economic indicators, and their impact on the housing industry. She holds a master's degree in international economics and finance from Johns Hopkins University.
Ana Lopez is Executive Director of Americas Vinyls and Global Sodium Sulfate at Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS, a Dow Jones Company, and has more than 20 years of experience analyzing petrochemical commodities markets. During her time with the company, she has worked in a wide variety of roles within polyolefins, chlor-alkali, and vinyls. Mrs. Lopez is a key resource for understanding and insight into the chlor-alkali and vinyls sectors of the petrochemical industry.
Bill Teichmiller is CEO of EJ Water Cooperative, Inc., the largest regional water cooperative system in Illinois, with more than 3200 miles of pipelines covering over 3,700 square miles, serving a population of 75,000. To keep water rates affordable, Bill developed ways to generate non-water revenues by contracting services like construction/maintenance, water testing, billing as well as accounting and other support to 23 neighboring water and wastewater systems. These partnerships are helping many rural communities in Illinois grow because of the cost reductions realized through regionalization of water systems. Mr. Teichmiller is a nationally and internationally recognized speaker due to his unique leadership approach and collaborative ways of operating a utility. He served as President of the Association of Regional Water Organizations and has spoken at the White House on the importance and positive impact of regionalization on rural communities.
Dr. Kimberly Wise White is Vice President, Regulatory and Scientific Affairs at the American Chemistry Council (ACC) when she oversees the development of ACC’s policy positions in response to regulatory and legislative proposals. Kimberly leads a staff of experts who identify, analyze, and create technical and policy materials to support ACC’s activities. Dr. White has more than ten years of experience in the chemical industry, focused on managing science policy issues, scientific research, and product stewardship programs to inform regulatory decision-making. She also served as Senior Director for ACC’s Chemical Products and Technology Division, provided testimony to the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate Committees, and worked as a Scientific Advisor for the oil and gas industry. Kimberly has a Master of Science in Biology and a Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Toxicology from Texas Southern University.
51st Annual Meeting March 24-26, 2025 Fairmont Grand Del Mar San Diego, CA
2025 Annual Meeting Program