Replacing your sewer line and need to know what type of pipe to use? In certain situations, ductile iron pipe provides a wide array of advantages. Unlike cast iron pipes, ductile iron pipes are made with various coatings and linings that have been designed to prevent rusting and corrosion. Generally, ductile iron pipes are used for the distribution and transmission of potable water. However, because of its unique properties, it is sometimes the material of choice for house sewer replacement work. For instance, ductile iron has the ability to bend or flex without causing any breaking. This is unlike cast iron soil pipe.
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At one point, extra heavy cast iron pipe was the latest and greatest advancement. However, the life expectancy of ductile iron pipes could be far greater depending on a variety of factors. Today, one of the most reliable and dependable pipes that can be used is ductile iron pipe. Due to the unique qualities and the spheroidal form of ductile iron pipes, it has proven to be superior to cast iron pipes. Another factor is the cost, as it does cost more then cast iron pipe. In addition, it requires greater skill and time to install. With that said, these 3 factors do add to the overall cost of sewer work when utilizing ductile iron pipe.
To restate the benefits, the additional strength and toughness that exists in ductile iron pipe makes it more dependable than cast iron pipes. Both cast iron and ductile iron types of pipes have the unique qualities that make them an attractive option. However, ductile iron has more architectural processes and essential casting improvements.
In many communities there is a recurring issue: there is no water and this is not the first time. Why is there no water again? Well, it could be because the water pipes in the community were installed as long ago as . The pipes are not rusting, but they are breaking up into small parts due to impact and decay. Take a minute and just think about this; water pipes that are needed in a community and are used on a daily basis could have been installed well over a hundred years ago.
Who will suffer in the community because of the old infrastructure? Everyone will suffer. Teachers and students may have to leave school early, businesses may have to close early. Homeowners’ daily routines will be interrupted, and they will be at risk for illnesses if they use the unclean water. Of even more concern, is the affect this disruption will have on medical facilities and their patients.
When a plumbing team begins to dig and find the source of the problem, it is not uncommon to simply touch some of the old pipes and watch it fall apart right in front of you. This is particularly true when orangeburg pipe is encountered. Generally, the only reason many old pipes are still together is because of the rusting, or the surrounding soil holding them together. After realizing that there is a major problem with the pipes, decisions have to be made. In most cases someone makes the decision to go a different route, and replace the old pipes with a different material.
There are various reasons why ductile iron pipes have become the best choice for piping. Here are some of the reasons why many piping projects will include ductile iron pipes:
Sewer systems are always facing a significant amount of pressure, but ductile iron pipes are still able to move water with no hiccups. The strength of ductile iron pipes ensures that there will not be as many leaks and other problems that were occurring with other pipes. This is because the joints are held together by retaining glands, which resist leaks that other materials do not. Communities that make the decision to use ductile iron pipes will discover that they will not have the same problems and frustrations they had when the lower quality pipes were installed.
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 (DI pipe) is the best choice for your piping projects.
First, ask yourself the following questions:
If you answered yes to any of these -- and as a utility or consulting engineer, you probably would -- then you have already answered that Ductile iron pipe is the right choice for you. Let’s look a little further into why this is so.
Who wouldn’t be when it comes to designing utility systems?
Ductile iron pipe can provide over 100 years of unrelenting, high-level performance! Proof of this performance is provided by more than 560 utilities throughout North America that have iron pipe still in service that are over 100 years old, as well as many over 150 years old. Additionally, iron pipe served the Fountains of Versailles, France for over 300 years.
Furthermore, the American Water Works Association’s (AWWA’s) publication “Buried No Longer: Confronting America’s Water Infrastructure Challenge” shows Ductile iron pipe not only outlasts any other piping material but is expected to last over 100 years throughout North America.
How can DI pipe be so durable? In viewing information on long-term performance, unlike other materials, DI pipe is not subject to weakness or degradation over time. Some materials suffer from what is known as “creep” and “stress regression” which cause those materials to degrade and lose strength over time.
These performance losses are often accelerated by changes in temperature, pressure, and other performance factors. DI pipe is not affected in this manner, assuring that the pipe you install today will be the pipe you rely on for decades to come.
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If you do, Ductile iron pipe will save you operating costs in several ways including pumping costs, tapping costs, and possible damage from other construction, causing failure and the cost to repair in general.
On pumping costs, DI pipe is more energy efficient than other competing pipeline materials due to its oversized inside diameter. This reduces the force needed to push water or other liquids through the pipe. This can be easily calculated using the Energy Savings Calculator on the McWane Ductile Pocket Engineer. Check out our informative blog titled Can Using Ductile Iron Pipe In Your Water System Save You Money On Your Electric Bill? which addresses using DI pipe in your water system to save you money on your electric bill.
Tapping costs for services or future connections is done most economically and reliably on Ductile iron pipe because of the iron’s inherent strength. This strength allows services to be tapped and threaded directly into the pipe wall itself without the need for expensive saddles which require additional material and labor costs.
Additionally, DI pipe can be easily and quickly tapped with minimal equipment wear and tear due to the graphite content in the iron matrix.
Repairs to Ductile iron pipe are generally much easier to complete. When issues occur, they are typically point source repairs that can easily be remedied with the installation of a stainless steel repair clamp or a spool piece of pipe and a couple of restrained Mechanical Joint sleeves. These materials are usually readily available from local supply house yards. The advantage of using DI pipe in both repair cost and repair frequency is documented in a University of Michigan research report published in .
Read “Modern McWane’s The 18-Inch Transmission Main Story,” where Bert Weiss, retired from the City of Hayward, attests to the availability of DI pipe which helped to turn what could have been a very bad day into an easy fix.
As we now know, today’s cost of material can often be insignificant compared to the total cost of ownership over its life. We consider this lifecycle cost when we make purchasing decisions on everything from cars to appliances and electronics, to our homes.
When it comes to Ductile iron pipe, lifecycle cost is one of its greatest benefits. Since it lasts for generations, is economical to operate, and is easily and efficiently installed and operated, its long-term or lifecycle cost is easily lower than any other material. The earlier referenced University of Michigan also addresses pipe lifecycle cost.
When it comes to the environment, Ductile iron pipe is always the best choice. Ductile Iron Pipe is manufactured from up to 95 percent recycled scrap metal. It is easily recycled itself as it is not made from any toxic materials. Because of its manufacturing process as well as the production of its raw materials, DI pipe has a smaller carbon footprint than other materials.
Because of these attributes, DI pipe is the only pressure pipe available with SMaRT certification from the Institute for Market Transformation to Sustainability (MTS). MTS awarded DI pipe its Gold Level Certification. This means using Ductile iron pipe can contribute to your project’s score in earning Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) or ENVISION certification.
To see how Ductile iron pipe from McWane Ductile can help you meet your environmental and sustainability goals contact one of our ENVISION Accredited Professionals.
These are just a few of the highlights of why you should use Ductile iron pipe for your piping needs. If you have any questions regarding your water or wastewater infrastructure project, be sure to reach out to your local McWane Ductile representative. We have team members who've managed small and large water utility systems, served in engineering consulting firms, and bring decades of experience in solving field issues involving pipeline construction and operation. From design to submittal, to installation, we strive to provide education and assistance to water professionals throughout the water and wastewater industry.
Roy Mundy, P.E., ENV SP, Assoc. DBIA currently serves as Senior Regional Engineer for McWane Ductile, assisting utilities and engineering firms with value engineering of pipeline projects, educating them in pipeline material selection, and assisting them with specification development and updating. Roy has a BS in Civil Engineering from West Virginia Institute of Technology and an MS in Engineering Management from West Virginia University College of Graduate Studies. He is a registered professional engineer in six states and an ENVISION Sustainability Professional. Before McWane Ductile, Roy served as Lead Executive with the American Water System, retiring as President/CEO of Kentucky-American Water Co. Roy has served as Section Chair and on several national committees of AWWA, Board of Directors, and national committees of NAWC, Chair of ORSANCO, member of Kentucky Infrastructure Authority. He currently serves on AWWA – Business Practices Standards Committee, the KY/TN Section Management Committee, and the Water/Wastewater and Legislative Committees of DBIA. Roy is a member of AWWA, NSPE, KSPE, ASCE, DBIA, and KYRWA.
"I joined McWane Ductile in after spending most of my career in the water industry in the private water utility sector," said Mundy. "I enjoy the opportunity to work with engineering firms and utilities to assist with value engineering projects and provide education on the various aspects of our products. I enjoy restoring classic cars, but foremost enjoy time with my family traveling and working around our small farm in Kentucky."
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