Document xdQyx2ZOMrMMQJrJMd9ZKnmJ6

IThe 'Vinyl Institute A Division of The Society of The Plastics Industry, Inc. Roy T. Gottesman Executive Director October 11. 1991 To: Pipe Resource Organization (PRO) RE: Letter to Editor of AWWA Journal I believe you will be interested in the letter on the following pages which was sent via telefax to the Editor of the AWWA Journal today. By copy of this memo, I want to thank Dan Stanowick for his draft of the letter and Don Goodman and Bob Walker for their review and suggestions which were incorporated into the final version. cc: Donald Goodman, Oxychem Dan Stanowick, Edward Howard & Co CTL026964 Wayne Interchange Plaza II 155 Route 46 West Wayne, NJ 07470 (201) 890-9299 A Division of The Society of The Plastics Industry, Inc. Roy T. Gottesman Executive Director October 11, 1991 Ms. Nancy M. Zeilig Editor AWWA Journal 6666 W. Quincy Ave. Denver, CO 80235 Dear Ms. Zeilig: A recent issue of AWWA Journal contained an article citing several extreme examples where potable water conveyed by plastic pipe had been contaminated by the permeation of certain chemicals. PVC was not cited in those examples. Nevertheless, it was reported to have been implicated in a few other incidents, and as a result, I am concerned that doubts may have been raised about PVC's true performance properties relating to water quality. The fact is that PVC pipe has long been known throughout the water industry for consistently delivering water without affecting quality and purity. Extensive studies in this country and abroad - results of which have been published in AWWA Journal over the years -- confirm that PVC pipe can be safely used without harming those who consume water transported by it. Notable among these studies are the works of Dr. A1 Berens, formerly with BFGoodrich, and of the Dutch government's scientific task force, KIWA, both of which showed no permeation over the applied life of PVC pipe. Another significant study was carried out in 1983 for the Vinyl Institute by Battelle Memorial Institute, which undertook a series of tests to compare the susceptibility to permeation of ductile iron, PVC and asbestos cement piping. In the case of all three materials, permeation was found to occur, but only at pipe joints, not through pipe walls, demonstrating that any gasketed pipe system -- including metal -- is vulnerable to extreme concentrations of soil contaminates. Further, additional testing showed that ungasketed PVC pipe was highly resistant to permeation. CTL026965 Wayne Interchange Plaza II 755 Route 46 West Wayne, NJ 07470 (201) 890-9299 2- In terms of additional water quality properties, it is generally recognized that PVC pipe imparts no taste or odor to the water it transports. Nor is it susceptible to the leaching of chemical contaminants associated with other pipe materials. PVC does not chemically react even with the most aggressive water or soil conditions. Any of your readers who would like additional information about PVC pipe's water quality properties may request a copy of a recently updated technical bulletin on the subject from our offices at (201) 890-9299. Sincerely yours RTG/bg CTL026966