Technical Blog

Welcome to John’s Blog. Answers to frequently asked questions are periodically posted here. The objective is to share information about PVC pipe with readers as well as with utilities, design engineers and pipe installers. The blog provides the latest information on PVC pipe design, installation, and application for water and wastewater infrastructure projects.

We encourage you to connect to John’s Blog by bookmarking this page or by connecting our Technical Blog to your RSS feed program.

John Houle: Senior Technical Consultant, PVC Pipe Industry

John Houle holds a Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Missouri and an MBA from the University of Oregon. He has more than 25 years of experience in the plastic pipe industry in applications engineering, market development, forensic analysis, technical writing, and standards development.

Looking Back Almost Thirty Years at AWWARF's 1994 Study on PVC Water Pipe Performance

Posted By John Houle on May 14, 2014

In 1994 AWWA's Research Foundation published a report on PVC pipe titled "Evaluation of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Pipe Performance." We have now reached the 29th anniversary of the study - time for a look back to see if the research findings were accurate.

I've tried to keep you in suspense, but the answer is a resounding "Yes." The report's assertions have proven correct and time has reinforced its conclusions. For example:

The allegation that PVC "loses strength with time" has been disproved.
Tapping PVC pipe was not a problem back then and is less so today with improvements in hardware, procedures, and tapping.
UV exposure and chemical permeation of PVC pipe were shown by AWWARF to be non-issues 29 years ago and the passage of time has borne this out.

Click here for my Tech Brief on this subject.

PVC water pipe was in widespread use in North America 29 years ago, but has now become the product of choice - it is a well-engineered product that provides exceptional service for water transmission and distribution systems.