Discussion: Article, “Bursting Pipes Lead to a Legal Battle”

Geez, those pesky pipe breaks! What’s a plumber to do? Interestingly enough, I am working on a project as we speak in which we have developed an excellent way to heat fuse polyethylene pipe and construct it so it is bullet proof and economical and lasts, but the county doesn’t seem to be able to approve it or figure it out and so the county is blocking progress by causing grief over it. Shouldn’t the county know by now that it just doesn’t get much better than heat fused polyethylene pipe that is chemical resistant, doesn’t crack and harden like PVC, and moves with the earth and stays together. Not to mention it can be repaired, reused, altered, recycled, and cleaned better! It’s all a painful learning curve. (The learning curve on composting toilets may be a bit impacted as well. )

Lloyd

Based on some of the recent local pipe breaks, on what were considered ‘newish’ pipes, such as – Camp Meeker’s water line & Sebastopol’s wastewater line, etc., this article made me wonder if they were using pipes from this company??
It was my understanding that the Camp Meeker break appeared to have been from a defective pipe that ripped along a seam…?

I don’t know if either of the above mentioned breaks were from PVC pipes or not?? Anyone out there know?

According to the article -“40 water authorities in California” are taking part in the lawsuit!!! Which ones? Any that are local?

Brock

Bursting Pipes Lead to a Legal Battle

By MARY WILLIAMS WALSH
Published: February 11, 2010

State and local governments across the country may have to replace their water systems because of defective pipes, according to a whistle-blower lawsuit unsealed this week.

The whistle-blower, John Hendrix, accuses his former employer, one of the world’s largest pipe manufacturers, of falsifying test results about the quality of its products. Pipes that should last 50 years are in some cases rupturing in their very first year, according to Mr. Hendrix and some state documents. This can lead to explosions, leaks, fires and other dangers.

Officials of the company, JM Eagle, dispute the allegations and say that the tests were done correctly…

…Some states, cities and water districts have already experienced leaking, cracking and exploding pipes made of PVC, or polyvinyl chloride. Many are now joining Mr. Hendrix’s lawsuit, filed in United States District Court for the Central District of California.

Nevada, Virginia, Delaware, Tennessee and more than 40 water authorities in California have decided to take part….

Read on: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/12/business/12pipes.html?scp=1&sq=Whistle-Blower%20Hopes%20He%20is%20Heard%20Hendrix&st=cse