Selecting the right pipe material is essential for the longevity and success of any water infrastructure project. While Ductile iron pipe (DI pipe) and High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) each offer distinct benefits, their differences in strength, performance, and long-term cost are significant. This article serves as a refresh of our previously published article in November 2019. It outlines key comparisons to help engineers and specifiers make informed decisions based on project-specific conditions, such as soil type, pressure, and environmental factors.
In regions prone to seismic activity, the resilience of critical infrastructure plays a pivotal role in public safety. Among essential systems, water distribution networks are particularly vulnerable during catastrophic earthquakes, where ground movement and soil liquefaction can cause widespread pipe failure. Ductile iron pipe (DI pipe), however, has emerged as a highly reliable material due to its superior properties, joint flexibility, and proven performance in past seismic events. This #IronStrong Blog examines how the unique design and strength characteristics of DI pipes contribute to their remarkable ability to withstand the intense stresses of major earthquakes, ensuring continuity of service when it is needed most.
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.
Sustainability and Resiliency are today's buzzwords, especially concerning water and wastewater systems, but what does this really mean to you, the designer, manager and/or operator? Utility people today are bombarded with the answer to this question, and we believe that there is no one answer because every system is unique and experiences different priorities and different challenges.
Over the course of my 30+ year career with McWane Ductile, I’ve had the opportunity to be a part of some remarkably interesting and detailed water pipeline projects. Several of these projects have required a partnership between the community, awarding authority, contractor, water works distributor, and material manufacturer to ensure the projects were installed efficiently and correctly. However, few have matched the scale, complexity, and collaborative effort of the Saugus River crossing—part of the massive Belden Bly Bridge Replacement Project in Massachusetts. This project stands out not only for its technical challenges but also for the preparation, planning, and collaboration of key partners that brought it to a successful conclusion. In this #IronStrong Blog, you’ll hear the when, why, who, and how of this complex and intricate Ductile iron pipe (DI pipe) waterway crossing.
Gaskets Are Great
Rubber gaskets are the reliable workhorse of any Ductile iron pipe (DI pipe) joint. They provide long-lasting flexibility and a watertight seal against internal pressures upwards of 1,000 psi.
What they don’t do, however, is bind the joint longitudinally against such forces. In fact, without assistance from other variables, a push-on or mechanical joint of any diameter would calmly separate lengthwise against pressures as low as 50 psi.
When choosing an appropriate utility piping material for your water or wastewater project, there is so much more to consider than just the purchase price alone. This comparison between two popular piping materials – HDPE and Ductile iron pipe – demonstrates the need for more than just a cursory review or habitual choice. At McWane Ductile, we are always available to run through the matrix with you. Some installations or conditions do favor alternate materials, yet it’s hardly ever a cut-and-dried deal. Let’s take a closer look to find out why.
Can McWane Ductile provide bonded coatings? A good question recently posed and more frequently asked due to a greater recognition of potential corrosive environments. To correctly address this question, some other questions need to be answered first.
Although McWane Ductile loves highlighting major waterworks projects, sometimes it is seeing water professionals work together to solve a utility's problem that deserves recognition. Our valued partners at Northwest Arkansas Winwater called us on Monday, April 27, 2020, with a customer in need — Benton Washington Regional Public Water Authority (BWRPWA).
The more than 75 years of ongoing research on iron pipe corrosion and the use of polyethylene encasement has led to this type of corrosion mediation becoming the accepted industry practice for protecting ductile iron pipe. So, the question many may ask is; “Since I had such success with standard polyethylene encasement, why should I now use V-Bio Polyethylene Encasement instead?” To best answer this, it’s imperative to look at what specifically V-Bio provides that is not available with standard polyethylene encasement.
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