Sustainability in Pipeline Materials

Water distribution systems are vital in delivering water to a large population. When choosing a pipeline material, sustainability should be considered on top of the direct cost as public entities strive to lessen their environmental impact. This paper provides a life cycle analysis of three different pipeline materials: ductile iron, polyvinyl chloride, and high-density polyethylene. Carbon dioxide emissions are used as the metric for environmental impact and sustainability, because they are known to be a major contributor to climate change. The life cycle of the pipeline material for this analysis consists of fabrication, transportation, installation, and operational use. The analysis indicates that the carbon dioxide emissions range from 420 to 570 pounds of carbon dioxide per foot of 8-in. pipe depending on the pipeline material. High-density polyethylene pipe had the lowest carbon dioxide emissions and ductile iron had the highest with the given parameters outlined in this paper.