Recycling & Environment
Plastic Pipes Conference Association # 2006 Washington DC
Meijering
The possible effects of plastics pipes on drinking water quality are frequently in discussion and require the highest attention of our industry. On one hand, the European Commission (EC) is working already long time to set up a European Acceptance Scheme (EAS), so far without the desired speed. The Plastic Pipe industry is intensively involved in these developments and is concerned on the lack of realism in the draft proposals. New test methods are still under development (Biofilm formation and GC-MS) where Teppfa doubts whether this can anyway result in a workable test procedure with realistic requirements. In this context also the measuring of reaction products (mainly in PE and PEX) is a new issue that will probably be taken on board. Furthermore, existing and frequently used tests showed an unacceptable spread in results between different laboratories. On the other hand, plastics pipes came in negative publicity due to assumed migration of phenols from different origins and other substances. After the publication of professor Arvin in Denmark and the political rumour, a new investigation has been initiated by the Danish industry in co-operation with the authorities, with the aim to verify the detected substances in a realistic field test programme. The results of this study were positive for our products. The Danish study concluded that there is no health risk due to migrating substances from PVC and PE distribution pipes as they are functioning in practise. All substances that were reported by Arvin some years ago, were in practise measured at very low concentrations or even mostly not detectable. Also the focus on biofilm growth and its possible effects on legionella growth are frequently highlighted, suggesting that plastics stimulate its growth where e.g. copper reduces the risks. There is evidence that at long term all pipe materials behave in a similar way, and a recent study even shows that copper performs even worse than plastics.
Related papers
Author(s) : Tiem Meijering, Jeannette Mulder, Günter Dreiling, Heinz Vogt
In this study, it has been demonstrated that a 100 years service-lifetime for non-pressure sewage pipes, solid wall pipes and structured-wall pipes of PE and PP, can be expected provided some basic conditions are met. It has been demonstrated that the resistance to thermo-oxidative degradation of the applied materials...
Author(s) : Meijering
Teppfa and Plastics Europe initiated a comprehensive study to provide quantitative figures of the quality of sewers after long life service of up to 30 years. The overall aim and purpose of the project was to determine which sewer pipe materials better fulfil the requirements of sustainability in its broadest sense,...
Author(s) : Nury, Meijering
After long time of preparation and co-normative research, the new European Acceptance Scheme for Drinking Water quality (EAS) is progressing now very strongly and will become in force as officially expected in 2006. So, besides the legally required CE marking showing the conformity to the Essential Requirements of the...
Author(s) : Meijering, Wolters, Hermkens
One of the options for a low-pressure gas distribution system is the use of ductile PVC pipes and joints. The long-term performance of ductile PVC pipes has been reported in a number of previous studies. In this paper the long-term performance of the socket joints, in which elastomeric (NBR) sealing rings are used, is...
Author(s) : Meijering
In the Netherlands, a gas distribution system of Ductile PVC with elastomeric sealing ring joints and several special features is already operating to full satisfaction during more than 35 years. Today, Ductile PVC is the preferred material in this market. The total length of the gas distribution net is about 110.000...
Author(s) : Meijering
For reasons of environment and energy savings, the sales of High Efficiency Boilers have been stimulated in the last years. The low temperature flue gas emission which is characteristic for these boilers, leads to condensation of the flue gases in the chimney, attacking the masonry. The condensates contain aggressive...
Author(s) : Meijering
A process has been developed to produce bioriented PVC pipes. Due to the biorientation process, the long term strength has been increased by a factor 2. This means that the design stress of bioriented PVC pipes can be twice of normal extruded PVC pipe. The long term stiffness Of the bioriented pipe has been increased...
Members of the Association
