You know, I’d be a lot more impressed if the head of the PVC manufacturers’ association brought the problems presented by mandatory adoption of PVC pipes to our attention than when the head of the ductile iron pipe manufacturers’ association does.
That’s the problem when these things are decided politically. The interested parties are vitally interested. What is truth?
It seems to me that one argument against mandatory use of PVC pipes is that poly-vinyl chloride is made from oil and we’re importing a lot of that already while ductile iron is mostly made domestically from domestically-sourced materials (there’s a heated argument about the Chinese dumping ductile iron into the U. S. market which they probably are).
I’m a little confused from the piece, because at some points they are talking pipes in the homes, and in others about municipal infrastructure. I’d assume the cost-benefit analysis is completely different. And is copper not used anymore for drinking water lines inside the house?
Copper is rarely used anymore due to expense – the material and installation are both more expensive than alternatives.
The future, for residential at least, is probably PEX tubing.
Thanks, Andy.
Cast iron RUSTS. Do not ever install or buy an on-slab house with cast-iron pipes, and I would suggest you spend the money to have a plumber send the camera down to inspect any type.
Also, iron pipe hangers will rust. The pipes can sag and break.
For an on-slab house, they have to dig under it to replace the pipes, and it ain’t cheap.
It should surprise no one that various application specific engineering and economic considerations inform the correct choice. Like all engineering materials, each of these have Pros and cons, and their place. One thing I will say, the article is flat damned wrong that ductile iron is always more cost effective, short term or total life cycle. I can’t speak to Chinese PVC pipe leaching. But they sure screwed up drywall, so could be.