Comparative ​Analysis And ​​Review Of ​Underground ​Piping

Sustainable Solutions Corporation (SSC) has released the first comprehensive environmental review of underground piping systems in North America.

The review is titled 'Life Cycle Assessment of PVC Water and Sewer Pipe and Comparative Sustainability Analysis of Pipe Materials'

Based on a 100-year life cycle assessment methodology, the review includes a study of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe conducted according to life cycle assessment (LCA) standards ISO 14040 series. The life cycle analysis used in the report was peer-reviewed by an international panel of experts for ISO 14040 series compliance. The review also makes reference to the 2015  Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for PVC Pipe , which complies with ISO 14025 standards and was independently certified by global health organization NSF International.

At a time when aging piping infrastructure, underground corroded pipe materials, and water quality issues are at the forefront, the intention of this report is to help to address significant issues with the national water and wastewater infrastructure.

Based on the results of this study, PVC pipe provides both environmental and economic advantages to solving the water infrastructure needs for utilities and municipal projects. PVC pipe is shown to have fewer environmental impacts from a life cycle and carbon footprint perspective when compared to alternative materials, including lower embodied energy, lower use-phase energy, and longer life attributes.

The report synthesizes complex sustainability information in order to provide information in regard to piping systems. Among its many findings, the study shows that the energy required to pump water through PVC pipe over a 100-year design life remains constant because PVC pipe walls are smooth and do not roughen over time.

This generates overall life cycle cost savings and a lower carbon footprint compared to alternative materials that require more pumping energy over time due to corrosion, leaks and internal degradation. SSC encourages municipal officials and other stakeholders to consider this report when evaluating the life cycle costing of water infrastructure and making sustainable piping decisions.

Read more at PR Newswire and download review at Sustainable Solution Corporation