There are many "moving parts," as water professionals know, in the operation of a water system. The intricacies of not only supplying customers with a safe water supply but assuring that supply is adequate, including paramount necessities such as fire protection, many times create an ever-changing balance of key parameters within the water system. When the system operator affects such changes, there should be no concern by the operator regarding the transmission and distribution system to accommodate these changes. This article will highlight two system components that can be directly affected by material selected for system underground infrastructure.
Cast iron pipe was introduced to the United States in 1816. Since then, numerous other piping materials have been offered and utilized. None were able to supplant cast iron as the leading performer until Ductile iron pipe became available. The introduction of Ductile iron pipe (DI pipe) to the marketplace in 1955 remains among the most significant advancements in the history of the pressure pipe industry. It was quickly recognized as a pipe material with all the established durability of gray cast iron, yet with added strength and resiliency from its innate and lasting flexibility. It was first used for special and severe conditions of high pressure, such as where water hammer and excessive external loads might have existed.
In the spring of 1993, I was 12 years old when a sudden illness swept through my family. It started with a subtle discomfort in my stomach, but within days, it escalated into a sickness that left us bedridden for over a week. Our entire neighborhood seemed to be ill.
Unknown to us, our proximity to the Howard Water Treatment Facility, one of Milwaukee's primary water treatment plants, was the source of our suffering. The news broke too late, revealing that the water flowing from this facility was contaminated with Cryptosporidium, resulting in an “Estimated 403,000 people falling ill” (The New England Journal of Medicine, 1994). Due to this experience, I know firsthand the importance of ensuring clean water is supplied throughout our nation’s distribution networks.
To learn more about this outbreak in Milwaukee, click here to be redirected to an interactive presentation.
In our often-frantic daily routines, we rarely stop to think about something as simple as the water we consume daily. How does water get to our home? How do we know the water is clean and safe? Who’s responsible for providing this critical need? With May 7th through the 13th, 2023, being Drinking Water Week, this #IronStrong Blog highlights the importance of water workers and simply sends a much-deserved thank you!
Anyone who has ever studied or just skimmed the pages of the AWWA M41 Manual (M41) knows it helps to be of an engineering mindset to understand most of what’s within it. What if you could turn this indispensable reference into a simplified, easy-to-access tool that fits your pocket? Well, the McWane Pocket Engineer does just that! In this Iron Strong Blog, we will discuss the many Pocket Engineer (PE) components and how this real-time application utilizes important aspects of the M41 Manual to simplify life for you, the water professional.
The landscapes and environments in which we live are constantly changing, and ensuring that resilient infrastructure is in place to support local communities is a priority for all cities. In regions where natural disasters occur and pose significant threats, such as wildfires and earthquakes, and as seen most recently in areas such as Lahaina, Hawaii, and the Palisades in the Santa Monica Mountains of Los Angeles County, California, Ductile iron pipe (DI pipe) has proven to be a durable and reliable choice for water infrastructure. This article will discuss why selecting the proper material for underground infrastructure is crucial in combating natural disasters and enabling communities to respond more effectively with a reliable source of potable water and vital fire protection.
Jerry, Sept 24, 2022; I'm sitting on the beach near the northern tip of Captiva Island, Florida. I’m on vacation with my wife, enjoying the warm sun, dolphins playing, and birds feeding as if there was no care in the world. Admittedly, most people in the area were already aware of the tropical storm developing in the Caribbean Sea and wondered, will the storm become a hurricane?
There are several methods for restraining Ductile Iron Pipe joints, and a common question from our customers is, “Which method of restraint is best—locking gaskets or boltless restrained joints?” Both methods are effective, but the best choice for your project depends on the type of installation, the operating pressure of the line, and the diameter of the Ductile iron pipe being used. In this #IronStrong Blog, we will compare two common restraint options offered by McWane Ductile: Sure Stop 350® Gaskets and TR Flex® Pipe.
Ductile iron pipe (DIP) is one of the most widely used pipe materials in North America. The Design Life is second to no other pipe material due to its robust design. This pipe material is the strongest and most resilient available for water and wastewater utilities providing unparalleled Life-Cycle value.
In many areas, utilities need to consider how to protect these valuable pipelines from corrosive soils. The question is “How can we economically protect these pipelines to meet or exceed the 105-110 year average design life of DIP?”
“Why should I use Ductile iron pipe?”
The question is ostensibly meant to include “instead of other types of piping material.” Well, the reasons are vast and vary depending on project requirements. Since we aren’t talking about a specific project, we’ll look at the general overriding reasons Ductile iron pipe is the best choice for your piping projects.
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Looking for answers to your DI pipe questions? Find decades of Ductile iron expertise with installation guides, videos, tip sheets, training resources, and more in our Learning Center.
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