Public Health Protection and Vinyl Pipe

Treated drinking water travels through miles of underground pipe from the water treatment plant to the consumer's tap. Pipes that comprise the drinking water distribution system can include cast iron (CI) or asbestos-cement (AC) pipes, which are still in use today but are no longer installed. Also in use are cast ductile iron (DI) pipes and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or vinyl pipes. Water distribution pipes that corrode or break may cause contamination of the drinking water supply and subsequent outbreaks of waterborne diseases.

A study of the causes of waterborne disease outbreaks in the United States from 1971 to 1992 found that in community water systems contamination of distribution systems was a significant factor.

A National Research Council of Canada (NRC) study of the performance and durability of the various types of pipes in Canadian municipal water utilities found that PVC pipes demonstrated the lowest failure rate. The NRC estimate of the average annual "break rates" for water distribution pipe per every 62 miles of pipeline is 0.5 breaks for vinyl pipes compared with 32.6 breaks for CI pipes and 7.9 breaks for DI pipes. Also, unlike CI and DI pipes, vinyl pipe is noncorroding and does not rust, scale or pit.

Canadian municipalities estimated annual water losses of $650 million, primarily through broken mains, plus expenditures of $82 million a year on repairs.

Unlike metal or cement pipe, PVC does not chemically react with even the most aggressive water. It is also flexible enough that it can bend without breaking, making it able to endure an impact or earth movement. When properly designed and installed, PVC has an estimated life span of more than 100 years, with little or no loss of strength. Fortunately, vinyl accounts for most of the water distribution pipe currently being installed in North America.

In addition to water distribution, PVC pipe has been used in residential construction since 1959, with over two billion feet installed in homes throughout the United States, Europe and Latin America. Its durability and flexibility make it an ideal material for home installation.