By Anne Austin Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plays a critical role in modern infrastructure and everyday life. Used safely for nearly a century, PVC provides essential benefits in applications ranging from water and sewer systems to medical devices, flooring and even automotive components, where it helpsRead More

In July, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed to designate five chemicals as High-Priority Substances for risk evaluation under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) including vinyl chloride, primarily used in the manufacturing and processing of plastic materials such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe.Read More

Photos and charts courtesy of Utah State University. Analyzing Utah State University’s Third Study Examining Break Rates For all the out-of-sight, out-of-mind infrastructure we talk about in the water utility sector, water main breaks may be one of the more visible events that remind theRead More

Utah State University (USU) has published new research on water main breaks in the United States and Canada, examining break rates and related factors such as pipe material and diameter. It is the third such study conducted by USU with previous versions in 2012 andRead More

The Municipal Advisory Board (MAB) of the Plastics Pipe Institute (PPI) recently celebrated its 15-year anniversary. Formed in May 2008, the MAB serves as an independent, non-commercial adviser to the Municipal & Industrial Division of PPI, and is made up of industry experts who volunteerRead More

To gain more recognition for the work of Utility Engineering & Surveying Institute (UESI) members, the organization has launched its Project of the Year and Younger Member of the Year awards. The two new UESI awards will be presented at UESI’s Pipelines 2023 Conference inRead More

| By Gregory M. Baird Cities across the United States are struggling with maintaining existing infrastructure with supply chain disruptions and rising costs of equipment, manpower and supplies. Likewise, developers are faced with many challenges to plan, finance and build basic infrastructure and housing unitsRead More

How Best Practices Discussed in ASCE’s MOP 134 Are Essential to Both Condition Assessment and Asset Management Personnel By George Ruchti In the early morning hours of August 19, 2000, a natural gas transmission pipeline ruptured and ignited in New Mexico killing 12 people campingRead More

The Plastics Pipe Institute, Inc. (PPI), has announced that Douglas Keller, Technical Lead – Americas for Equistar Chemical’s Pipe Resins, is now the chair of its board of directors, a two-year appointment. Keller, who has been a member of PPI for 12 years, moves to theRead More

The Plastics Pipe Institute, Inc. (PPI) is celebrating its 70th year. Formed in 1950 as the Thermoplastic Pipe Division of the Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI), PPI is now the leading North American trade association representing all segments of the plastic pipe industry, andRead More