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  • Why PVC is Inadequate for Fire Protection in Distribution Systems

    Why PVC is Inadequate for Fire Protection in Distribution Systems

    By McWane Ductile   10/31/2020  In Environmental & Safety product Technical

    Today, most water systems serve the public in two ways: by providing potable drinking water and enabling fire protection for the community. Fire protection provides more than just the obvious public safety benefits. It also enhances community property values and provides residents with lower home and property insurance rates.

  • Handling Ductile Iron Pipe: From Truck to Trench

    Handling Ductile Iron Pipe: From Truck to Trench

    By Dan Flaig   09/12/2020  In Installation Technical

    At McWane Ductile, we are proud to manufacture the strongest, most durable, and most flexible piping material available to the waterworks industry. Even with these great attributes, we still take great care when handling Ductile iron pipe (DI pipe). In this Iron Strong Blog, we’ll cover some key tips to safely handling your DI pipe once it arrives at your job site and throughout the construction or your pipeline project.

  • What Are The Advantages of Ductile Iron Pipe Over PVC Pipe?

    What Are The Advantages of Ductile Iron Pipe Over PVC Pipe?

    By Jerry Regula, ENV SP, AMPP CT   06/18/2020  In Installation Products Technical

    Question – What is the difference between Ductile Iron and Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)? 
    Answer – Many things, but some groups may attempt to “muddy the waters” with inaccurate information regarding the two materials.

    With the information that follows, we will take a closer look at what really separates Ductile Iron from PVC and why it matters.

  • Ductile Iron Pipe - Fact or Fiction?

    Ductile Iron Pipe - Fact or Fiction?

    By Roy Mundy, P.E., ENV SP, Assoc. DBIA   01/18/2020  In Products Technical

    McWane Ductile is committed to offering educational resources based upon sound engineering data to our clients and potential clients. One of these resources includes banners that display certain information about our product. 

    While attending a recent conference, we were challenged on the information these banners contained. In fact, one unknown individual walked by the booth and shouted, “Lies... that information is lies!” without the courtesy of stopping to discuss why he felt that way or what exactly was his objection.

  • What Are The Benefits of DI Pipe vs. Concrete Cylinder Pipe?

    What Are The Benefits of DI Pipe vs. Concrete Cylinder Pipe?

    By Clinton CJ Fowler   09/02/2020  In Products

    Prestressed Concrete Cylinder Pipe (PCCP) has been used in water and wastewater applications for nearly 80 years. The thought process behind PCCP was sound, in that it would combine concrete's high compressive strength with steel's high tensile strength. However, like many products, PCCP has continued to fall short in the following years in many comparative categories to Ductile iron.

  • Sustainability & Resiliency – The Impact of Recycling and Using Recycled Products

    Sustainability & Resiliency – The Impact of Recycling and Using Recycled Products

    By Stuart Liddell   06/05/2020  In Environmental & Safety Products

    In this second installment of our Iron Strong Blog on Sustainability and Resiliency,  we will focus on recycling and the recyclability of various pipe materials. As you may know, Ductile iron pipe is made from recycled iron and steel scrap, making it not only a recycled product but a recyclable product.

    Okay, since that fact has been stated, why read further? Well, besides being the only primary full-size-range piping product made from recycled material, you should know why this is important to you, me, and everyone else. We will look at the impact of recycling on cities and towns as well as countries and the planet.

  • How is Ductile Iron Pipe a Highly Adaptable Option for Waterworks Infrastructure?

    How is Ductile Iron Pipe a Highly Adaptable Option for Waterworks Infrastructure?

    By Stuart Liddell   08/15/2024 

    As a Sales Operations Manager in the waterworks industry, I recently attended the American Water Works Association's Annual Conference and Exhibition (ACE24) in Anaheim, California. This annual conference focuses on product innovations and the latest technological advancements in water infrastructure. 

  • Why Are the AWWA Standards Important to Ductile Iron Pipe?

    Why Are the AWWA Standards Important to Ductile Iron Pipe?

    By Dan Flaig Shawn Smith   10/14/2022  In Products Technical

    Have you ever wondered what’s behind the AWWA standards? What do they mean? And why do we need them? They’re listed all the time in specifications, mysterious numbers on plans. Have you ever reviewed them to know why they are important for working with Ductile iron pipe (DI pipe)? In this Iron Strong Blog, we will briefly cover some of the applicable standards for DI pipe and how they help you complete your job safely, successfully, and on time.

  • How Do the Trench and Backfill Protect the Pipe?

    How Do the Trench and Backfill Protect the Pipe?

    By John Simpson P.E., ENV SP, AMPP CT   12/02/2021  In Installation Technical

    Utility pipelines provide for some of the most basic needs within our society. Essential services, such as supplying potable drinking water to our homes and businesses or sending wastewater away, are possible because of a network of buried pipelines. Whatever pipeline materials are used, they are expected to meet minimum service qualities such as withstanding leakage. This resiliency to leakage eliminates waste of our precious drinking water and prevents polluted soils from wastewater in the pipeline's proximity.

  • How Does Proper Bedding Allow a Pipe to “Sleep Well?"

    How Does Proper Bedding Allow a Pipe to “Sleep Well?"

    By Ken Rickvalsky, ENV SP, AMPP CT   01/22/2021  In Installation Technical

    Did you know the mattress industry is one of the oldest continuous industries in the world? The first mattresses were believed to have been manufactured in 37 BC in Persia. Today, more than 35 million mattresses are shipped world-wide to replace those that have been in service for an average of seven years. So, what does this have to do with Ductile iron pipe (DI pipe), you ask? This article will discuss how setting improper bedding in a pipe trench can cause sleepless nights for the water company and its crews due to pipe failures, seemingly always at night — as it is my experience that most large main breaks typically occur after dark!

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Latest Posts

  • The Future Is Now: How the Water Industry Is Revolutionizing
    The Future Is Now: How the Water Industry Is Revolutionizing By Jacob Lovin, ENV SP 01/29/2026  In Products Technical Technology Training
  • What is Ceramawrap Epoxy and When Should You Specify It for Ductile Iron Pipe?
    What is Ceramawrap Epoxy and When Should You Specify It for Ductile Iron Pipe? By Isabella DiCristofaro Jerry Regula, ENV SP, AMPP CT 01/28/2026  In Products Technical
  • How to Repair Ceramawrap Coating on Ductile Iron Pipe in the Field
    How to Repair Ceramawrap Coating on Ductile Iron Pipe in the Field By Jerry Regula, ENV SP, AMPP CT 01/28/2026  In How To Products Technical
  • Developing an Asset Management Plan for Your Future Utility or Engineering Organization
    Developing an Asset Management Plan for Your Future Utility or Engineering Organization By Roy Mundy, P.E., ENV SP, Assoc. DBIA 12/04/2025  In Comparisons Industry
  • Submittal Builder

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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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Products
  • Products
  • Ductile Iron Pipe
    • Tyton® Joint Pipe
    • TR Flex® Restrained Joint Pipe
    • Mechanical Joint Pipe
    • Mechanical Joint Lock Joint Pipe
    • Fabricated Flange and Wall Pipe
    • Ball and Socket Joint Pipe
    • Long-Span Pipe
    • Permaloy™ Pipe
    • Seismic Flex Coupling™
  • Gaskets
    • Tyton® Gaskets
    • Mechanical Joint Gaskets
    • Flange Gaskets
    • Sure Stop 350® Gasket
    • Specialty Gaskets Service & Usage
  • Fabrication
    • Fabricated Flange and Wall Pipe
    • Grooved Pipe
    • Welded Outlet Pipe
    • Thread-o-Lets
    • Weld-On Boss
  • Fittings and Accessories
    • Bronze Wedge
    • Cable Bond
    • Pipe Joint Lubricant
    • Mechanical Joint Accessories
    • Seismic Flex Coupling™
    • TR Flex® Accessories
    • TR Flex® Fittings
    • V-Bio® Encasement
  • Linings
    • Cement-Mortar Lining
    • Glass Lining
    • Protecto 401™ Lining
    • Ceramapure™ PL90 Lining
  • Coatings
    • Asphaltic Coating
    • Zinc-Coating
    • Ceramawrap Coating
    • V-Bio® Enhanced Polyethylene Encasement
  • Technical Bulletins
  • Specifications
  • Certifications
  • Submittal Builder
  • Product Warranty
Learning Center
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  • Ditch Doctor/FAQ
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