The choice of materials in water infrastructure is crucial in ensuring the system's durability and reliability and influencing operational costs. Water and wastewater treatment plants are typically the largest energy consumers for municipalities, accounting for 30 to 40% of total energy consumption. To protect their systems from overload, energy companies must implement rolling blackouts during extreme weather. This #IronStrong Blog discusses the benefits of using Ductile iron pipe (DI pipe) in your utility water system and how its key advantages can save you money compared to other materials.
During a recent business trip, I noticed water being used randomly to combat the summer heat at various locations, construction sites, local sporting and recreational activities, fire safety, and public welfare. As I observed these activities, I wondered if the public understands how water gets from nature to human use and consumption. Most Americans can easily access a disinfected drinking water supply at home and the workplace. However, many do not know how public water treatment works before it reaches their glass. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Safe Drinking Water Act, a federal law enacted in 1974 to protect drinking water quality in the United States. This act is crucial in ensuring that our water is safe and clean. To celebrate this milestone, I'm sharing this #IronStrong Blog, which explains water sources in general terms, the treatment of water, the public water distribution system, and the role Ductile iron pipe plays.
In a recent #IronStrong Blog published in September 2024, we discussed, in detail, how to measure horizontal distances between offsets within a Ductile iron (DI) pipeline segment. This blog will continue that discussion by addressing how to calculate the vertical distance between DI pipeline offsets.
Straight-line distances can sometimes be deceiving when examining a set of plans for a water or sewer project. This #IronStrong Blog will address how to determine the exact amount of Ductile iron pipe (DI pipe) needed when a change of direction due to horizontal offset fittings occurs.
In today's competitive business world, talent development strategies are essential for growing a skilled workforce. Cooperative education programs, or Co-Ops, stand out as proactive initiatives that bridge the gap between academic learning and industry experience for many students who will eventually earn degrees and become job seekers. This #IronStrong blog explores the Co-Op program at McWane Ductile, a forward-thinking organization committed to nurturing talent. By examining this program's structure, benefits, and outcomes, this blog highlights how McWane Ductile integrates classroom theory with hands-on learning opportunities, preparing students for successful careers while attracting potential job candidates to the company.
Jimmy texts Bill, "I can't get into the virtual meeting." Bill replies, "You need to click on the link I sent you." Jimmy responds, "Where is the link?" A frustrated Bill answers, "In the email about the meeting." A confused Jimmy asks, "On my computer? Bill answers again, "Yes! Is your computer on?" Jimmy fumbles to turn on his computer and texts Bill again, "OK, it is now. How do I get to the meeting?" Does this situation sound familiar to you? Have you ever explained something to someone only to realize that they knew less about the subject than you had previously assumed? In this episode of Iron Strong, we'll cover how to use an OD (Outside Diameter) Tape when measuring Ductile iron pipe.
In my previous experience, I’ve spent many hours operating numerous types of saws in various settings, such as felling a tree during seasonal work in my college years or emergency tree removal work in the aftermath of destructive storms while serving on a right-of-way crew. Whether you’re trimming a tree or cutting a piece of Ductile iron pipe (DI pipe), they share similarities, such as analyzing the situation, safety first, measuring twice, and cutting once.
Is every piece of Ductile iron pipe (DI pipe) round? The short answer is no, but most of the time, a piece of pipe may be so slightly oval that it is not even noticeable to the end user. In fact, the way pipe is manufactured today, out-of-round issues are rarely a concern. At our foundries, there are quality assurance procedures in place that help safeguard this from occurring. However, there are occasions when you may encounter a piece of pipe in the field, typically on a field cut, that is too oval to facilitate an easy assembly. This #IronStrong Blog provides step-by-step instructions on how to round an oval ductile iron pipe using a field rounding kit.
The water industry in the United States has experienced many challenges throughout the years. The good news is that these challenges have been met head-on by experienced, dedicated professionals who continue to provide their customers with clean, safe drinking water even though the bar of excellence continues to rise. One measure depicting the priority of these challenges is the State of the Water Industry Survey, conducted annually by the American Water Works Association. “AWWA’s State of the Water Industry (SOTWI) Survey is designed to identify water sector challenges and investigate possible underlying causes and drivers. In November 2022, when the survey closed, 4,123 water professionals had shared their opinions by responding to the survey—our highest number of responses yet!”(1)
After completing my continuing education lunch presentation on restrained joints and horizontal directional drilling for a civil engineering office and reminding the group to sign the sign-in sheet to verify their attendance, I had a younger engineer approach me to ask a question. The question was whether I knew how many continuing education hours his state required and what information he needed to confirm his attendance for the continuing education activity. Those questions are relatively common, and this #IronStrong Blog will focus on answering what continuing education hours are, why civil engineers need them, and how they get them.
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