Many of you may have had the opportunity to attend the AWWA/ACE 18 Conference held in Las Vegas just a few weeks ago. Among the many highlights of that show is the Annual Pipe Tapping Contest.
The participants consist of both US and International teams that are selected through a qualifying process where they would have competed in various regional or sectional events held throughout the preceding year.
The contest pits the skills of these teams in a race to complete a successful service line tap on a pressurized, or “hot”, line consisting of a piece of 6” CL350 Ductile Iron pipe. It also showcases the various methods that other utilities may use, particularly the International teams, to complete this process.
McWane Ductile, as this year’s material sponsor for the event, was extremely fortunate to be provided an opportunity to get up close to the action and capture some amazing images of the proud men and women that compete. These participants give it their all to try and win the top prize as the fastest team.
McWane Ductile would like to salute the men and women who participated in the event, and in doing so exhibited an Iron Strong spirit of resilience and toughness that embodies the many waterworks professionals who help bring our communities and families the precious resource of water that we so depend on and expect every day.
A special congratulation is due to the winners of this year’s competition. For the women, it was the Big D Lady Tappers form Dallas, TX. And for the men, the Birmingham Waterworks Board from Birmingham, Alabama.
You can visit AWWA for more information on the competition, as well as a full list of this year's participants.
2018 in Las Vegas, Nev.
Men's 1st - Birmingham (Ala.) Water Works, 1:16:34
2nd - SADM Apodaca, 1:18.0
3rd - Spotsylvania County (Pa.) Utilities, 1:19.85
4th - SADM Guadalupe, 1:20.65
Women's
1st - Big D Lady Tappers, Dallas Water Utilities, 2:26.38
2nd - Lansing (Mich) Board of Water & Light, 2:30.28
3rd - Pretty Tough Tappers, City of Raleigh, N.C. Public Utilities, 2:50.65
Make sure to check out DIPRA for more information on pipe tapping, as well.
