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| January Issue Post Date 1/24/05 | www.mcelroy.com | |
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Note From The Editor They're all talking about it. That is, the editors of trade magazines are talking about polyethylene pipe (PE). Just five to 10 years ago it was rare to see a case study in a trade magazine about water construction that involved PE. In fact, the scarce article was usually about trenchless technology and PE just happened to be the material used. Now, PE is popping up in the pages of engineering, water and construction magazines every month and the editors of these publications are even speaking about polyethylene in their editor's columns. What's more, unexpected forces are bringing to light the environmental and human health benefits of PE and these benefits are starting to outshine PE's reputation of being tough, leak free, and easy to install. At times, the endeavor of trying to break into an industry where traditional materials have a firm grip on the establishment seems daunting at best. But then other cities like Colorado Springs , St Petersburg , San Francisco , Louisville , Jacksonville , Seattle or tiny towns like Ochelata , Oklahoma discover the superior benefits of polyethylene and everyone involved with the project views the pipe as a no-brainer and the way of the future. Polyethylene is head and shoulders above the competition in water conservation as well as its ability to prevent toxins from entering the public's drinking water. This environmental message is getting out with the help of surprise allies in the environmental community and some in the PE industry feel this information is the catalyst that will finally swing decision makers into polyethylene's corner. A growing number of civic leaders and municipalities are joining the "green building" movement that could bring PE into the spotlight as the most environmentally friendly piping material for construction. While the importance of the fused PE joint is paramount to the success of PE, this seems to be the only marketed attribute of PE. It could be argued that the environmental health aspects are very marketable, especially when state and municipal governments are increasingly looking for piping alternatives that support public health. The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has developed LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System® which is a voluntary, national green building standard and measurement. These measurements are designed to reduce or eliminate the negative impacts of buildings and construction on the environment. The USGBC is debating the use of other piping materials and is accepting comments on the subject. The PE industry would be well served to provide comments to USGBC, about PE's superiority as an environmentally sound piping material. Public comments are due on February 15, 2004 and can be sent to http://www.usgbc.org/LEED/tsac/pvcvinyl.asp . Polyethylene is definitely making an impact on the water industry and many of the readers of McElroy Connections have been battling on the front lines to make it happen. Our subscriber base which now reaches almost six thousand people consists of ditch diggers and mayors, and everyone in between. As a start to 2005 I would like to offer a sincere "thank you" to all who are helping to make this happen and also for your efforts in passing along our little publication. State Of The Infrastructure McElroy In The News Case Studies New Addition to our Website
Links North American Society for Trenchless Technology American Water Works Association American Society of Civil Engineers Foundation Newsletter Links Water World - Receive news from WaterWorld, Industrial Waterworld and Water & Wastewater International. Water Tech Online North American Society of Trenchless Technology Insider and Pipeline Newsletter If you would like a link to your newsletter posted in McElroy Connections, contact Drew L. Wilson at 918-831-9286 or McElroy Connections welcomes your feedback, story ideas, tips, or anything else related to PE Pipe and Pipe fusion. Please email your comments and story ideas to: FOR NEW SUBSCRIPTIONS: To subscribe, visit http://www.mcelroy.com/fusion/forms/newsletter.htm McElroy Connections is published by McElroy Manufacturing Inc. The information contained within each issue is meant as a service to our customers, distributors, and those involved with Polyethylene Pipe applications.
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What was once called the richest hill on earth has become the EPA's crown jewel of Superfund sites and is now the most expensive hole on the planet. Over a century of mining, milling and smelting has taken its toll on the environment in the Upper Clark Fork River Basin near Butte Montana and t he many miles of tunnels and tailings left behind face a government mandated multi-million dollar cleanup bill. One of the tools they are using to protect environment and human health in the restoration effort is high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe and of course McElroy fusion equipment. 
