Case Study: Dow & Partners Donate HDPE Pipe
Installing durable and long-lasting water pipe in three Texas towns
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.
Dow donates 42,000 feet of HDPE pipe
Watch this video to see how Dow stepped up to help by donating 42,000 feet of HDPE pipe.
Dow collaborates with industry partners
Dow worked with Pipeline Plastics and Modern Dispersions to donate 42,000 feet of leak-and-corrosion-resistant high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe formulated with CONTINUUM™ Bimodal Polyethylene Resins. In addition to having a major impact on these communities for decades to come, the project was recognized with a Project of the Year Award from the Plastics Pipe Institute, a Municipal Leadership Award from the Alliance for PE Pipe, and a gold Stevie Award in the Marketing Campaign of the Year category in the International Business Awards. For additional coverage of this campaign, read these features by Sustainable Brands, and Waste and Water Digest.
CONTINUUM™ Bimodal Polyethylene Resins
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.
CONTINUUM™ DGDA-2490 BK Bimodal Polyethylene Resin
Hydrostatic strength for municipal and sewage water service lines, industrial piping, natural gas distribution pipes and mining.
CONTINUUM™ DGDA-2490 BL Bimodal Polyethylene Resin
Long-term hydrostatic strength combined with outstanding resistance to slow crack growth and rapid crack propagation.
CONTINUUM™ DGDC-2502 BK Bimodal Polyethylene Resin
Durable for large diameter piping resistant to chlorinated water and cracking with a high melt strength.
CONTINUUM™ DGDA-2490 NT Bimodal Polyethylene Resins
Produced using UNIPOL™ II process technology for applications requiring maximum sag resistance for thick-walled pipes.
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.
Explore the details behind how Dow helped restore burst pipes in three Texan towns on Google Stories.
Listen in on America’s Plastic Makers interview with Dell Doyle, Senior TS&D Scientist at Dow, as part of their Change Maker’s series.
Discover how CONTINUUM™ Resins enable durable and leak-resistant water pipelines.
Find out how innovation and collaboration can reduce water loss and contribute to more resilient communities.
Explore Dow’s high performance municipal and industrial water pipe products.
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.
Partners
- Pipeline Plastics
- Modern Dispersions
- McElroy Manufacturing
- Plastic Pipe Institute
- Alliance for PE Pipe
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