Case Study: Dow & Partners Donate HDPE Pipe

The “once-in-a-century” Texas freeze in February 2021 caused sections of the water piping systems to burst in the small rural towns of Aspermont, Carey and Northfield, cutting off water to residents and businesses. 

PE4710 pipes made from bimodal resins – like the CONTINUUM™ DGDC-2502 NT Bimodal Polyethylene Resins donated by Dow – have a 100+ year design life when used in municipal potable water systems like those in Aspermont, Carey and Northfield.

Dow resins meet or exceed all industry performance standards and offer the longest lifecycle of any potable water pipe in virtually any climate. They are the best material for reliable, consistent extrusion and trenchless installation, with the ability to resist many stresses and abuses.  

For example, the newly installed Texas lines will allow Aspermont, Carey and Northfield to avoid an estimated 3.5 million gallons of annual water loss due to water line breaks and required repairs. Other sustainability benefits include material reduction/downgauging potential, lower life cycle costs, less disruptive installation, the ability to use horizontal directional drilling (HHD) installation techniques and more.

In North America alone, hundreds of thousands of miles of water pipe need to be replaced. Intended to last 40 to 50 years, many of the water piping systems made of steel, cast iron, wood, lead and reinforced concrete are nearing the end of their serviceable life. And with significant temperature swings and extreme weather, many pipes have been pushed over their limit.  

_{This project was made possible due to the active involvement of associations and organizations throughout the pipe value chain, including the Plastics Pipe Institute (PPI) and Alliance for PE Pipe.} 

• Pipeline Plastics
• Modern Dispersions
• McElroy Manufacturing
• Plastic Pipe Institute 
• Alliance for PE Pipe