Water pipes are used to move water from a water source or storage reservoir to the water user. They can be:
- larger pipes; called watermains
- smaller pipes that provide water to individual users; called water services
Water in the pipes is pressurized, and the pipes are usually buried in the earth and located along roadways.
Pipe Sizes
Pipes range in size from 13 mm (1/2 in) in diameter for water services to 600 mm (two ft) in diameter for the larger watermains.
Small water systems typically use water pipes that are 300 mm (1 ft ) in diameter or smaller.
Generally, the more water the system is required to deliver, the larger the pipe size.
However, a pipe that is too small can cause significant pressure loss in the system.
Pipe Materials
Historically, pipes have been created from wood (wood stave), cast iron, galvanized steel, and asbestos cement.
Pipes today are commonly made from:
- polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
- ductile iron (DI)
- high density polyethylene (HDPE)
Smaller-diameter water services are usually manufactured from high-density polyethylene (HDPE), copper, or a variety of new composite materials.
Selection of materials is important and should take into consideration:
- working pressure
- pressure surging
- depth that pipe will be buried
- corrosive soils
- earth loading
- ground water
- accessibility
- proximity to other utilities
- potential sources of contamination, such as sewers