Copper vs. PVC water services

[ptmoss]

Is there any consensus as to what type of pipe might be better for service lines between a ductile iron water main and structures the main serves?

My particular case is a new main serving a half dozen residential care buildings (small, 5-20 resident children and staff per building). I'm going back and forth with the water operator on what material he wants to use for the building services. These services would be no larger than 1 or 2". (Fire protection piping is a separate system).

If anyone has any advice or bias one way or another I'd love to hear it.

Thanks, Pete

 

[kclim]

My initial thoughts are that the plastic pipe would be cheaper, easier to work with and exhibit better corrosion resistance than the copper piping (ductile iron/copper couple looks ripe for galvanic corrosion).

Then again, copper doesn't corrode very readily. I suspect copper would be better in respect to mechanical properties (strength, temperature resistance etc). If the piping is exposed, copper may be more resistant to the environment than PVC (thinking resistance to UV rad here).

If you can find PVC piping which will meet your requirements/local codes, I'd say go with that over copper piping.

 

[PUMPDESIGNER]

Many water purveyors use heavy walled HDPE pipe for taps into CI mains. Big labor saver over copper and PVC, more resistant to installation errors by field crews, much better resistance to freeze problems than either PVC or copper.

PUMPDESIGNER

 

[KRSServices]

I perfer plastic (municipal tubing, Kitec, etc.) over copper any day. Copper corrodes very quickly in hot soils. In addition, copper is very unforgiving if not installed properly . Take this from someone whom had to budget about $75,000 to $50,000 per year to repair services in our municipality.

KRS Services

http://www.krs-services.com

 

[ptmoss]

Thanks for your comments. The water operator wants to use plastic if he can, primarily because he's worried that copper might become an issue with his quarterly water quality samples he has to submit to the State. There's no requirements that prohibit the use of PVC.

I've spoken with a couple of municipal water superintendents in my region and they both allow only type "K" copper but neither had clearly defined reasoning other than they didn't trust contractors to take the extra care necessary to put in PVC. But from what you're saying KRS you've had the opposite experience?

What make of PVC or HDPE do you folks use?

 

[KRSServices]

I've seen both, to be honest, but to be honest, copper is very unforgiving. I've had staff replace coppers that were only five years old but due to a kink or improper installtion, had worn right through CC or mainstops, or blown right through the weak piont (or kink) in the copper pipe. Type K was always specified.

I've found that plastic is a little more forgiving, but crews do not like them because it is something that they are quite often not used to. Mind you, my last two crews have been converted completely to the use of Kitec piping. Now that there are some very competant alternatives, I would not recommend use of copper, both due to cost per meter, installation care and susceptibility to hot soils.



KRS Services

http://www.krs-services.com

 

[PUMPDESIGNER]

These Links are good:

http://www.cpchem.com/performancepipe/products/products.asp

http://www.vanguardpipe.com/index.html

http://www.pwpipe.com

http://www.ipexinc.com/index.htm

Above link is for Kitec pipe

PUMPDESIGNER