| |
|
Note From The Editor
Greetings Discerning Readers,
Greetings Discerning Readers, (As appeared in December, 2006 Trenchless Technology “POINT OF VIEW” column)
When Forbes Magazine tagged water, ‘The Oil of the 21st Century,’ investors perked up and shined their mighty light on what Adam Sandler called “high quality H20” in the movie “The Waterboy”.
The publicity has been good for those who work to build and manage water systems for a public that all too often  takes it for granted until something spurts out of their tap that is the color of Grandma’s sun-tea. Many professionals in the water industry think the tagline is a sad understatement, and have long been frustrated that the oil topic is a major part of political speeches grabbing more headlines than the occupation of Iraq while the real story of water and the nation’s infrastructure is largely unknown.
There are countless numbers of bright individuals developing new energy technologies while pondering, speculating and philosophizing about what the world will do if its oil reserves are on the downward slope. It is certain that eventually science and technology will replace oil with another form of energy yet any rational analysis of water can only lead one to the understanding that water is mandatory for life, and has no replacement.
If the notion of running out of clean water seems implausible, consider that the Colorado River, once the mightiest of rivers, now arrives a mere trickle at its delta in the Gulf of California. Low flow levels are afflicting almost all of the rivers in the West and now similar problems are occurring in other parts of the country that have seldom seen these troubles before. Our Aquifers are in no better shape and the Ogallala – the Granddaddy of all aquifers – is being depleted at ten times the rate of natural recharge.
What’s more, population growth and pollution are working together to further strain limited water supplies. The global population is growing and the amount of fresh water on the planet is fixed. Almost half of U.S. waters do not meet the standards of the Clean Water Act and the number of beach closings due to pollution at America’s coasts, bays, lakeshores and rivers are increasing every year. Granted, the water problems in the U.S. pale in comparison to the rest of the world where there are roughly two million child deaths a year as a result of not having access to clean water, but it is time to take serious water conservation measures and the polyethylene industry says their pipe is a tool that can make a big impact on the problem.
Polyethylene (PE) pipelines with heat fused joints don’t leak. It is the primary benefit PE proponents have been touting in hopes of swaying water managers to try their pipe. Almost one-third of treated water is lost before it reaches the consumer, and the main culprit is leaky pipes.  The infrastructure problems are the result of neglect and age but it is hard to place the blame on water managers who have the daunting task of taking care of water systems that leak like a pasta colander with little or no funding. It’s difficult to imagine running any business with a 30% scrap ratio from the outset and the PE folks say the 2.5 to 4.5-billion gal of treated water that is lost every day through leaks should be viewed as an untapped, already treated resource that can go a long way in solving some of the shortage issues.
PE is rapidly gaining market share in the water industry due in large part to trenchless methods of construction. The entire PE industry is ramping up to serve the impending boon but nobody was prepared for the huge spike of 2004 when sales of PE water pipe over 3-inches in diameter climbed 54% above 2003 numbers. Contractors and engineers are discovering more ways to use the pipe than there are ways of eating peanut butter and engineers who have a PE pilot project under their belt say the trend is here to stay.
An industry indicator of PE’s growth in the water industry is the new PE manuals published by the American Water Works Association (AWWA). They are intended to help engineers design polyethylene water systems.
Another is the number of independent polyethylene pipe manufacturers popping up across the country along with PE pipe distributors who are expanding by adding stocking and sales locations. These expansions are more prevalent in areas where the tough groundwork of getting municipalities to try PE in a pilot project has already been done.
A further sign of polyethylene’s market growth is that McElroy Manufacturing, the leading manufacturer of polyethylene pipe fusion equipment, has doubled the size of its manufacturing facility this year following several years of record growth that company officials believe, in large part, is coming from the water industry’s growing use of PE.
It is a tough decision for an engineer to take on the perceived risk of switching to a different piping material. It requires taking a time-out to enroll in the new school of polyethylene 101 but the process is far from rocket science and the pipe has a proven track record. It is crucial that water be treated and transported as the precious commodity that it is, and the PE industry says their pipe can do it better than any other.
Drew L. Wilson;
Editor
(918) 831-9286
|
Country Club Uses HDPE to Solve Irrigation Troubles |
West Palm Beach, FL – When the snowbirds show up this winter at Palm Beach Country Club, they’ll be chasing golf balls over pristine landscape that is the result of a new state of the art irrigation system.  More than 78,000 feet of High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) pipe was heat fused together to replace the old irrigation system which had corroded badly and was in dire need of replacement. The engineering aspects of the project are receiving attention from golf course managers with similar problems and municipal water managers alike.
To avoid water restrictions, Palm Beach Country Club gathers its water supply from its own deep well. The water is brackish and must be treated through reverse osmosis before it can be used. The process of treating water through reverse osmosis makes the water highly aggressive to metals. This presented officials at the club with a unique set of circumstances and they knew they would need help with the design of the new system. They hired Irrigation Consultant Jim Schumacher with Aquaturf International to design a cost-effective system that would hold up to the damaging affects of the harsh water.
Initially, PVC pipe was considered because most contractors that install irrigation for golf courses are familiar with the material. Schumacher knew that a system free of metal components was needed to provide longevity. If PVC were used, all of the Ductile Iron fittings needed for the system would have to be epoxy coated inside and outside for protection from the aggressive water. This can be very costly. Additionally, the PVC pipe would require joint restraints at each fitting. Schumacher contacted Jim Kirchdorfer, Sr. of ISCO Industries for his expertise in the use of High Density Polyethylene (HDPE).
“I got my start in golf irrigation so I understand the needs of golf course managers,” said Kirchdorfer. “I also understand pipeline infrastructure and there’s no reason the golf industry shouldn’t be using the best technology available.” Kirchdorfer is Founder and Chairman of ISCO based in Louisville, KY. ISCO is the largest HDPE distributor in the U.S. and an expert in the McElroy but fusion process. Kirchdorfer assisted Aquaturf in designing a set of plans for using HDPE and the price was almost identical to PVC estimates.
“Once we saw that the HDPE system was the same cost as a PVC system the material became very intriguing,” said Paul Crawford, Superintendent of Palm Beach Country Club. “We decided to learn all that we could about HDPE.”
Crawford’s major concern after the price issue was the lack of knowledge and information on HDPE. Kirchdorfer eased his fears by showing him the 40 year history the pipe has in the gas industry and more recently the adoption of the material for the water industry.
The natural gas industry adopted polyethylene pipe over40 years ago and it is still the material of choice for distribution systems across the US and Canada. It has proven to be the long-term answer to the decaying infrastructure problem because of its 100 year life, non-corrosion characteristics, ease of installation, low life cycle cost and leak-free qualities.
Now the potable water industry, with its failing infrastructure, is growing in its acceptance of HDPE for the same reasons. The concept of a leak free system is new to the industry that has grown to accept a 15% to 30% loss of treated water because of leaky joints and corrosion failures.
An HDPE piping system is leak free mainly because the pipe joints are butt fused together creating one homogeneous pipeline with no opportunity for leakage at the connection. Water shortages are a major concern nationwide and HDPE is the only pipe that is proven to be leak free. It is a trend that many in the water industry say is here to stay and distributors like Kirchdorfer are ramping up to serve the impending boon.
“HDPE is a natural for golf course irrigation systems because of its ability to diminish water hammer,” said Kirchdorfer. “All fittings are HDPE eliminating metal within the system. Even the valves are fused and contain no metal. This irrigation system is the most efficient water piping system technology has to offer and I’m glad ISCO could be a part of it.”
“The best part about the new system is that we can now forget about it for a very long time,” said Crawford. “It’s the kind of permanent fix we were looking for.”
|
| State Of the Infrastructure |
The Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) has been the primary source of federal funding for clean water since it was established in 1987. More than $47 billion has been made available in loans through this program to help communities repair and replace aging treatment plants and pipes.
Despite its popularity and effectiveness, the CWSRF has been slashed by 33 percent since 2003 and is targeted to be phased out completely by 2011.
- Federal funding for clean water has declined by over 70 percent since 1980.
- The Administration's 2006 budget cut the CWSRF by about 17 percent -- or $190 million (from $1.09 billion to $900 million).
- The Administration's 2005 budget cut the CWSRF $260 million (from $1.35 billion to $1.09 billion).
- In 2007, the Administration is proposing to cut the CWSRF by an additional $200 million.
- Overall, this represents a 50 percent cut -- $662 million -- to the remaining federal investment in clean water since 2004!
These budget cuts mark a disturbing trend considering the massive water infrastructure funding gap threatening our water quality.
The Clean Water Trust Act of 2005 (H.R. 4560) was introduced by Chairman John J. Duncan, Jr. of the House Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
This historic legislation will provide nearly $38 billion over 5 years to improve and protect the health of America's waterways. That is a 700% increase over what the federal government currently spends on water quality programs. Not only will the Act provide a dedicated and sustainable source of funding, it will also create hundreds of thousands of jobs and revitalize communities nationwide.
Please take a minute to sign the on-line petition set up by Clean Water America to support federal clean water funding and H.R. 4560
Click here to read more |
| Oil of the 21 st Century |
Water is trucked to isolated community
NAVAJO MOUNTAIN, Utah -- Trucks have been delivering water to an isolated, mountainous American Indian community near the Arizona border, and officials...
Click here to read the entire story! |
Court upholds Pecos River settlement
SANTA FE -- A settlement of water rights along the Pecos River was upheld by the state Court of Appeals. The court, in a unanimous ruling, said the settlement did...
Click here to read the entire story! |
Drought creates water crisis around Lone Chimney Lake
GLENCOE, Okla. -- A lake that provides water for thousands of Oklahomans in four counties will cease supplying drinkable water around Jan. 1 unless the region...
Click here to read the entire story! |
Las Vegas agency says it doesn't want Elko County water
LAS VEGAS -- Water officials have taken official action to show plans to deliver water to Las Vegas through a 250-mile network of pipelines that officials estimate could cost $2 billion and could provide 200,000 acre feet of water a year.
Click here to read the entire story! |
| Free McElroy Training |
Now, when you register McElroy equipment, on behalf of your customers, you are giving them a gift of up to $600.
To help introduce the new 2007 curriculum of McElroy University Classes and Certification Options, McElroy is offering free or half-price classes (a discount of $600 or $300) for your customers that purchase a McElroy Fusion Machine.
Your customers that purchase a hydraulic machine from a 28 series or larger, will receive a class of their choosing for free (i.e. a $600 discount). Your customers that purchase a manual machine size No.14 and below will receive 50% off a class of their choosing (i.e. a discount of $300).
Please note: the discount only applies to class tuition. Those opting for any certification will still be responsible for the $150 testing fee.
Eligibility
To receive the discount:
- The machine must be purchased after 1/1/2007
- The distributor must register the machine with McElroy via the product registration section on the McElroy Distributor Website
- Upon proper registration, a letter will be sent to the contact person listed on the registration with a discount code specific to each machine registered (codes can only be used for one time)
- During registration, your customer will need to enter the discount code, model number, and serial number of the machine for verification
- Customers will initially be charged for the full price of the class but upon verfication, their account will be credited with the appropriate discount
- All other rules and guidelines for McElroy University (such as cancellation policy) will still apply
- This promotion is offered on a limited time basis and can be cancelled at any time
If you have questions or would like more information, please contact your McElroy Regional Sales Manager (RSM) or Customer Service Representative (CSR) |
| Links |
Plastics Pipe Institute Inc. (PPI)
Founded in 1950, The Plastics Pipe Institute Inc. (PPI) is the major trade association representing all segments of the plastics piping industry. PPI members share a common interest in broadening market opportunities that make effective use of plastics piping for water and gas distribution, sewer and wastewater, oil and gas production, industrial and mining uses, power and communications, duct and irrigation.
http://www.plasticpipe.org/index01.php |
North American Society for Trenchless Technology
The North American Society for Trenchless Technology is a multiple disciplinary society of individuals and organizations with professional, utilitarian or environmental interests in Trenchless Technology. It was founded and incorporated as a non-profit organization in June 1990.
http://www.nastt.org/ |
American Water Works Association
Established in 1881, AWWA is the oldest and largest nonprofit scientific and educational organization dedicated to safe drinking water in North America . AWWA has more than 57,000 members worldwide and its 4,700 utility members serve 80 percent of America 's population.
http://www.awwa.org |
American Society of Civil Engineers Foundation
Assists ASCE with resource development and the enhancement of its programs through the philanthropy of its membership and the wider public.
http://www.asce.org/foundation/ |
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.
|
