WRF Webcast State of the Science: Plastic Pipe · Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Pressure Pipe and Fabricated Fittings, ... and longitudinal bending combined with joint ... PVC Pipe Failure

© 2016 Water Research Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.© 2016 Water Research Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this presentation may be copied, reproduced, or otherwise utilized without permission.

WRF Webcast

State of the Science: Plastic Pipe

September 22, 2016

© 2016 Water Research Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.© 2016 Water Research Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Katherine Martel, PE

Senior Associate

The Cadmus Group

© 2016 Water Research Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Acknowledgements

• WRF Research Manager: Jian Zhang

• Project Advisory Committee:

• Alvin Bautista, LADWP

• Xavier Irias, EBMUD

• David Hughes, American Water

• Josh Vincent, WaterOne


Acknowledgements

• Co-Author: Ken Klewicki, PE, PhD

• Cadmus Staff

• Participating Utilities


Presentation Outline

• Background

• Technical Performance

• Project Planning

• Design

• Construction

• Operations and Maintenance


Research Objective

Document drinking water

utility experiences

with plastic pipe.


Research Approach

• Literature Review

• Utility Case Studies

• Draft White Paper

• Project Workshop

• Draft Final Report

• Final Report

• Outreach


Workshop Participants

• American Water

• Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility

• City of Calgary

• East Bay Municipal Utility District

• EPCOR, city of Edmonton

• Golden State Water Company

• Honolulu Board of Water Supply

• LADWP

• New York City DEP

• Seattle Public Utilities

• WaterOne


Industry Trends

• United States

• Canada

• Europe

• Japan

• China


Utility Experiences

with PVC or HDPE Pipe

Utility Experience

Calgary 36 Years

EPCOR

Edmonton

35 Years

EBMUD >30 years

Anchorage >30 years

LADWP 24 Years


PVC Pipe Background

• Characteristics

• Types of Pipe:

• PVC-U

• PVC-M

• PVC-O

• FPVC

• Korean PVC

• Joint types


Standard

Dimension

Ratio (SDR)

AWWA C900

Pressure

Class (psi)

25 165

18 235

14 305

Selected Pressure Classes

for PVC Pipe

Source: Data from AWWA (American Water Works Association). 2007. ANSI/AWWA Standard C900-07. Polyvinyl Chloride

(PVC) Pressure Pipe and Fabricated Fittings, 4 In. Through 12 In. for Water Transmission and Distribution. Denver, Colo.:

AWWA.


HDPE Pipe Characteristics

• Characteristics

• Types of Pipe:

• PE4710

• PE3408

• Joint types

Photo credit: Bautista, A. 2016. LADWP Experience with Plastic Pipe. Summary Information

Prepared for Project Workshop.


Selected Pressure Classes

for HDPE Pipe

Standard

Dimension

Ratio (SDR)

Pressure Class

for Water at

73 degrees F

(psi)

Recurring

Surge

Pressure

(psi)

Occasional

Surge

Pressure

(psi)

17 125 188 250

13.5 160 240 320

11 200 300 400

Source: Data from Plastics Pipe Institute (PPI). 2016. PPI Position Paper on HDPE (PE4710) Distribution Potable Water Pipe Sizes

and Pressure Classes. Available online at: http://plasticpipe.org/pdf/ppi-position-paper-hdpe-potable-water-pc-pipe-size.pdf.

http://plasticpipe.org/pdf/ppi-position-paper-hdpe-potable-water-pc-pipe-size.pdf


Technical Performance

• Utility Experiences

• Examples of PVC Failure Types

• Examples of HDPE Failure Types

• Earthquake Performance


PVC Failure Types

Reported in Project Workshop

• Over insertion of spigot into bell

• Bedding conditions

• Tapping

• Pressure fluctuations

• Failures on non-PVC appurtenances


Probable causes: over-

insertion of spigot into bell,

soil movement (bedding

conditions), and longitudinal

bending combined with joint

deflection. Photo credit: Dueck, R. 2010. PVC Failures. Presentation at Urban

Development Institute Breakfast Seminar. September 8, 2010.


Probable causes: pipe wall thickness;

tapping saddle; tapping speed; and

tapping location.

PVC Pipe Failure

Photo credit: Hughes, D.M. 2016. American Water Experience with Plastic Pipe. Summary

Information Prepared for Project Workshop.


PVC Pipe Failure

Causative factor: large

pressure fluctuations.

Operating pressure was

90 psi, surge pressures

up to 180 psi.

Photo credit: Bautista, A. 2016. LADWP Experience with Plastic Pipe. Summary



HDPE Failure Types

Reported in Project Workshop

• Butt-fused joint failure

• Leaks on couplings joining different

materials


Photo credit: Seargeant, D. 2016. EPCOR Experience with Plastic Pipe. Summary


Causative factors:

improper butt fusion

method and cold

temperature.

HDPE Pipe Failure


Photo credit: Seargeant, D. 2016. EPCOR Experience with Plastic Pipe.

Summary Information Prepared for Project Workshop.

Restrained mechanical coupling

leak at transition from HDPE to PVC

HDPE Pipe Failure


Pipe Performance

During Recent Earthquakes

• Japan: 1995, 2011

• New Zealand: 1987 to 2014

• California: 1989 and 1994


Project Planning Issues

• Pipe Material Selection Criteria

• Pipeline Route

• Life Cycle Costs

• Pipe Handling Practices

• Industry Forums


Utility Experiences

with Pipe Material Selection

PVC and HDPE are viable options

for many water utilities.

• Golden State: PVC, HDPE, DI

• EBMUD: PVC, HDPE, Steel


Utility Experiences

with Life Cycle Costs

Pipe material cost is incidental

compared to the overall life cycle cost.


Design Issues

• Pressure Classes

• Industry Standards and Guidance

• Utility Specifications

• Seismic Requirements and Guidelines


Installation Methods

• Conventional Open Trench

• Trenchless Technologies

• Horizontal Directional Drilling

• Pipe Bursting

• Sliplining

• Swagelining

• Float-sink

Photo credit: Bautista, A. 2016. LADWP Experience with Plastic Pipe. Summary Information

Prepared for Project Workshop.


Utility Experiences with

Construction Issues

• Pipe Storage or Handling

• Installation Procedures

• Bedding or Pipe Support

• Tapping Practices

Photo credit: Bautista, A. 2016. LADWP Experience with Plastic Pipe. Summary



Utility Experiences with

Resolving Construction Issues

• Project Specifications

• Inspection Practices

• Mandatory Correction of All Errors

• Training


Operations and Maintenance Issues

• Locating Plastic Pipe

• Condition Assessment

• Identify and Repair Leaks

• Pressure Management

• Valve Inspection and Maintenance


Final Report

• Publication expected by Nov. 1, 2016

• Report contains:

—Utility case studies and examples

—Technical performance photos and data

—Results from published utility surveys

—Suggested practices for PVC and HDPE pipe

© 2016 Water Research Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.© 2016 Water Research Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Thank You

Comments or questions, please contact:

[email protected]

[email protected]

For more information visit:

www.waterrf.org

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.waterrf.org/

WRF Webcast State of the Science: Plastic Pipe · Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Pressure Pipe and Fabricated Fittings, ... and longitudinal bending combined with joint ... PVC Pipe Failure

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