Document QMypqmpGZMJ17EYJvg3d1q255

-Edward Howard C C .j o Public Rclaliuns ( .iiiidm I Founded l`K>r> One Cascade 1`la/a. 19th Flom Akron, Ohio H30K-I121 (216)376-6500 Fax: 376-0370 TO: PRO Members FROM: Dan Stanowick SUBJECT: Publicity DATE: September 10,1992 COPIES: Pat Benkner Bob Burnett Nora Jacobs Dave Meeker I thought you would be interested in seeing two significant new publicity scores. One is from the July issue of Water Engineering & Management. The other is from the September issue of Public Works. Both feature our Fargo, North Dakota PVC pipe case history. As always, let me know if you have any questions. I look forward to seeing you later this month in Cleveland. OlTicr* in CIcxH.inri, ALmn. Qiltnntms .mrt |).u mu CTL029097 I'ltoiiiicrc \fi Pipe Fights Great Plains City's Corrosive Soil n the Great Plains region of the IU.S. and in cities there like Fargo, North Dakota, the economy is largely fueled by agriculture, mining, and livestock industries. The land and its soil is a way of life for evervone The soil also can cause problems, however, particularly when water pipe is involved. The same soil that produces valuable minerals and crops also can be particularly cor rosive to the piping used tor water mains and distribution lines. This has caused major leaks and big problems for city officials. According to Fargo City Engi neer Robert Whelton, that was the case with his city's water piping system until it began to have PVC pipe installed. "Back in 1970, we liad some serious difficulties with old cast-iron pipe. Because the soil is so corrosive, the pipe had be come pitted, corroded and porous, causing major leaking difficulties. There was much replacement work to be done, and we had to consider other alternatives tor new distribu tion svstems as well." Fargo's switch to PVC pipe was not immediate. At the tune the problems with the old pipe ap peared, PVC was still a new, unpro ven product. The city tried it along with other pipe materials In 1980, convinced of PVC's con sistent performance in comparison to other pipe materials, Fargo offi cially made the switch, and the city has used nothing but AWWA C-900 PVC and C-905 pipe -- in sizes from 4--lb in. --in new and replacement water distribution svstems since To date, the city has installed more than 45 miles ot PVC pipe in these svstems. The material does not cost as much, is geneiullv easier to install and tap, and produces less friction k>ss and better flow that alternative pipe materials, according to Welton He continued, "We wanted a product that we could put in the ground and forget about. PVC pipe letjuires little, it any, maintenuiKo. and we haven't had one bleak in U) wars " I oi more information on lln> siik/ci t. ionic m 8b7 on the icndci si / one uin# 26 WATRlr\gineenng & Management JULY IMS2 CTL029098 t Prepared by Clayton H. Billings Editorial Consultant Flavor Profile Analysis Data Flavor profile analysis (FPA) has been adapted for use in taste and odor moni toring of water supplies in several large water systems in the U.S., including those of the City of Philadelphia. While it has been evaluated as a standard method, it has not yet seen adoption. To optimize the FPA method, quality assessment and quality control protocols were studied. FPA data for influent and effluent water samples from two Philadelphia treatment plants were evaluated. The quality of FPA data for influent description and quantitative response for each organo leptic descriptor (like chlorinous, musty, earthy) was determined. A quality assess ment method was established from the qualitative descriptors and quantitative measurements of the FPA data for ex amining the performance of the sensory panel. To evaluate responses of the panel, quality assessment tasks were defined for individual panelists and for the whole panel for general statistics, qualitative descriptions, and quantitative responses. Parameters for general statistics were numbers of samples, numbers of tests, numbers of replicates, and numbers of panelists. The parameters for evaluating qualitative descriptions were classified as selectivity and consistency. Selectivity in dicates not only how often each descrip tor was used, but which panelist used it. Consistency would show reproducibility of the test results. When the consistency within the panel is being examined, a term "other note-to-descripior ratio" (ON/D) is defined A descriptor is any single iden tifiable characteristic perceived when a sample is tested. A "note" is a qualnaiise descriptor reported by at least half the panel. An "other note" is a descriptor reported by less than half the panel. The higher the ON/D of a panelist, the more the panelist's perception was not con firmed by the rest of the panel. It could mean the panelist was unusually sensitive or it could mean he or she was unfamiliar with the descriptor meanings Two types of errors are used in qualitative analysis A Ty pe A error occurs when a descriptor is reported the first time a sample is run but not in a replicate. A Type B error oc curs when a descriptor is reported in a sec ond sample but not in the first. The latter is significant when substantial time sep arates the testing. If the two samples are tested in the same session, the errors Pipe Keeps Water Flowing THE land plays a vital role in the lives of the people who live in the Great cities like Fargo, North Dakota, the economy is largely fueled by agriculture, Plains region of the United States. In mining, and livestock industries. There, the soil is a way of life for everyone. However, the soil can also cause prob lems, particularly when waver pipe is in volved. The same soil that produces valuable minerals and crops also can cor rode the piping used for water mains and distribution lines, causing major leaks and big problems for city officials. According to Fargo City Engineer Robert Welton, that was the case with hts city's water piping system until it began to use PVC. Back in 1970, Fargo had some serious difficulties with its water pipe. "Because our soil is corrosive, the pipe had become pitted, corroded, and por ous, causing major leaking difficulties. There was a lot of replacement work to be done, and we had to consider other alternatives for our new distribution systems as well." LIGHTWEIGHT PVC has proven to be reliable lor use in the corrosive soils found in Fargo, North Dakota. The switch to PVC pipe was not an im mediate one though. "At the time we were having problems with our pipe, PVC was still a new, unproven product. We did use ,t. but we also tried other pipe materials too," he said. In 1980, convinced of PVC's consis tent. reliable performance, Fargo official ly made the switch. The city has used nothing but AWWA C-900 PVC and C-905 pipe--in sizes from 4 to 16 in.--in its new and replacement water distribu tion systems since. To date, Fargo has in stalled more than 45 miles of PVC pipe. Welton explained that it is cost-effective, easy to install and tap, and generates less friction and better water flow than alter native pipe materials. "\ke wanted a product that we could just put in the ground and forget about. PVC pipe requires little, if any, mainte nance. We haven't had one break in any of the PVC pipe that we've installed in ten years," he explained. The job in Fargo is not over vet. In the last three years alone. 400 to 600 breaks have been reported in pipe that had been installed before the switch to PVC and that has not yet been replaced. However, Welton is confident that PVC pipe will keep the city's water flowing smoothly without problems. 84 CTL029099 I'L B1 1C WORKS tor September, IV92