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)
With the turn of the calendar into a new year, many people have already started planning for the coming months. Whether planning that warm weather vacation to take a mental break from the snow and ice many of us are experiencing or planning our grocery list for the week ahead, good planning leads to successful outcomes. This preparation is also the case with water utility projects.
In the realm of Ductile iron pipe (DI pipe) joints, standard SBR (Styrene Butadiene) gaskets are the traditional watertight sealing solution. However, did you know these gaskets are not intended for all applications? When dealing with unique jobs, selecting the proper gasket material catering to specific operational demands is essential. There are specialized gaskets, distinct in composition and functionality, that transcend the conventional capabilities of SBR gaskets. Each gasket described below is made for specific purposes based on factors like soil conditions, fluid temperature, or powerful industrial forces. These gaskets utilize modern elastomers to withstand the demands of any given project. In this #IronStrong Blog, we will closely examine each gasket available for your pipeline project.
Today’s modern push-on gaskets are comprised of different types of rubber compounds, and the development of the push-on gasket has proven to be instrumental to the success of the leak-free water and sewer joint. Let's take a closer look at each specialty gasket available on the market today.
In 2021, President Biden signed into law the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which included the Build America, Buy America Act (BABA); however, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) only recently (August 2023) published final guidance implementing BABA, which went into effect October 23, 2023, and can be found on the Federal Register website here. In this #IronStrong Blog, we will navigate through BABA and discuss how it applies to Ductile iron products made in the USA.
November 8 is National STEM/STEAM Day, highlighting the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics in children’s education. The manufacturing of Ductile iron pipe (DI pipe) and constructing pipelines for water and wastewater infrastructure are complex processes that rely heavily on STEM principles. In this #IronStrong Blog, we will explore the intricate connections between these fields and their significance in ensuring safe and efficient water and wastewater management now and in the future.
Did you know October 14 is World Standards Day? So, why does that matter, you ask? Establishing international standards, including consumer safety, environmental protection, technological advancement, and economic growth, is vital to our lives. In this #IronStrong Blog, and with the help of two of my colleagues, Hal Eddings, McWane Ductile - New Jersey Technical Director, and Jeremy Stewart, McWane Ductile - Utah Quality Assurance Manager, we’ll discuss why standardization is critical when manufacturing Ductile iron (DI) products and what it means for consumers.
Each year, National Manufacturing Day is held on the first Friday in October, with events throughout the month to celebrate the manufacturers who make the products that keep us safe, enrich our lives, strengthen our economic and national security, and provide countless opportunities for our communities and workforce. It is also an opportunity to show students, parents, and the public what modern manufacturing is all about.
October 4th is National Truckers Appreciation Day, founded in 2020 by Bill Stearnes, a used truck salesman from Memphis, Tennessee. It was established to honor the trucking industry and the deserving group of hard-working, dedicated drivers who have one of the country's most challenging, essential jobs yet often go unnoticed and underappreciated. Truck drivers are vital to keeping the economy moving and delivering goods safely, securely, and on time.
Have you ever been asked what lining or coating your Ductile iron pipe material needs to have? Does all pipe in a water or sewer application system need some protective measure to keep the service life of the pipe constant? Ductile iron has been a reliable material for transporting water and wastewater nationwide for many years. Many variations of linings and coating have developed over time, but ceramic-enhanced epoxy and/or (porcelain enamel) glass linings have become the typically specified options. The remainder of this #IronStrong Blog compares these two protective lining options.
Oxidation and rust are related, yet they are not equal nor interchangeable as words or concepts. Both are a form of corrosion, although varying by many degrees and measures. Quite simply, and although early in this article, here's the bottom line – oxidation results in and typically stalls at "surface discoloration," a largely cosmetic effect often referred to as patina. Rust results in a loss of metal mass. Keep reading this Iron Strong Blog for more details of the difference.
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