During the decades in which I have managed large and small water utilities throughout the country, I have experienced several challenging scenarios. Whether it was a major oil spill in the river that provided our raw water supply, a winter with sub-zero temperatures and no snow cover where small water mains were frozen solid in the ground, or the total transitioning from a groundwater source to a surface water source with all the different treatment methodology involved, I had never considered the terminology “the new normal.”
With a storied history involving faults, earthquakes and piping, the city of Hayward, California sits just across the bay from San Francisco (SF), south of Oakland. The first notable seismic event was recorded here in 1868, when an earthquake with an estimated 6.7 magnitude struck, causing significant damage and deaths. Hayward rebuilt, remaining an agricultural community in the early 20th century, then grew quickly, becoming the sixth-largest city in the SF Bay Area.
Anyone who has ever studied or just skimmed the pages of the AWWA M41 Manual (M41) knows it helps to be of an engineering mindset to understand most of what’s within it. What if you could turn this indispensable reference into a simplified, easy-to-access tool that fits your pocket? Well, the McWane Pocket Engineer does just that! In this Iron Strong Blog, we will discuss the many Pocket Engineer (PE) components and how this real-time application utilizes important aspects of the M41 Manual to simplify life for you, the water professional.
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.
Welcome to our Halloween edition of #IronStrong," where we’ve compiled the spooky challenges haunting construction builders and pipeline contractors. From tricky terrain to mysterious leaks and unforeseen obstacles, we’re here to illuminate the “scary” aspects of water pipeline installations that can send chills down a project manager's spine.
See the “Ditch Doctor” advice column and a link to our blog, “Exorcising Restraint." We dissect a few daunting issues and present real-world solutions and insights to help brave contractors turn their nightmares into success stories. Grab your flashlight (and tools) as we guide you through the shadows, ensuring your next project is well-prepared to face any “frightening” twist that may lie ahead.
Misleading information has recently circulated regarding the availability of TR Flex® restrained joint pipe and fittings, creating a flurry of questions and uncertainty for engineers and utilities about its service performance and integrity. How can an engineer design a project without knowing the facts? After reviewing the information in this #IronStrong Blog, one can better understand future expectations.
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.
There are various methods available for restraining Ductile Iron Pipe joints, and a common question our customers ask us is, “Which method of restraint is best – locking gaskets or boltless restrained joints?”
Both methods work very well, but the “best” method of restraint for your project can vary depending on the type of installation, the pressure the line will operate under, and the size (diameter) of the ductile iron pipe that is being used.
In this article, we will compare two common restraint options supplied by McWane Ductile - Sure Stop 350® Gaskets and TR Flex® pipe.
Ductile iron pipe (DIP) is one of the most widely used pipe materials in North America. The Design Life is second to no other pipe material due to its robust design. This pipe material is the strongest and most resilient available for water and wastewater utilities providing unparalleled Life-Cycle value.
In many areas, utilities need to consider how to protect these valuable pipelines from corrosive soils. The question is “How can we economically protect these pipelines to meet or exceed the 105-110 year average design life of DIP?”
Have you ever been so taken aback by the structure of a question that your first thought is, “say what? Did they really just ask me that?” In the vernacular-sensitive world of utility pipelines, it happens more often than you might think.
In a continuous effort to make your job easier, we have developed an online submittal builder to quickly and neatly package your personalized presentation.
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Looking for answers to your DI pipe questions? Find decades of Ductile iron expertise with installation guides, videos, tip sheets, training resources, and more in our Learning Center.
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Stop struggling with those hard-to-figure field calculations and put ease and efficiency right at your fingertips with our Pocket Engineer for mobile and desktop devices.
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