Ductile Iron Pipe Research Association joins Century Club in recognition of 100 year-old cast-iron pipes in drinking water system
by CM staff
The Cast Iron Pipe Century Club was organized in 1947 to publicly recognize water utilities with Cast Iron mains that have provided service for 100 years or more.
Sam Ghosn, M.A.SC, P.Eng- DIRPA Regional Director, Denis Saquet – Manager of Operations for the Town of Neepawa, Canada
BIRMINGHAM — Ductile Iron Pipe Research Association (DIPRA) welcomes the town of Neepawa in Manitoba, Canada, to the Century Club, which celebrates the strength and durability of cast iron water mains.
Neepawa installed the cast iron mains along its Mountain Avenue in 1912. The town is currently in the process of replacing 4-inch mains with larger pipes to aid in fire flow operations, said Operations Manager Denis Saquet. There are also original 6- and 8-inch mains still in operation today.
“The original watermains from 1912 have shown the test of time,” Saquet said. “We are very lucky with ground conditions and corrosion levels.” Saquet said he expects the remaining mains to last for at least 50 more years. “Cast iron pipes have delivered clean, safe drinking water for generations, and we’re excited to welcome Neepawa to the Century Club,” said DIPRA President David Cole. “The fact that the pipes in Neepawa have stood up to Manitoba’swinters for so long is a testament to the strength and durability of the high-quality pipe material. As the modern descendant of cast iron, ductile iron has improved on that strength and resilience to provide communities with peace of mind that their water delivery system is free from volatile chemicals and the pipes are not susceptible to cracking and leaching.”
The Cast Iron Pipe Century Club was organized in 1947 to publicly recognize water utilities with Cast Iron mains that have provided service for 100 years or more. There are over 550 water utilities in the United States and 34 water utilities in Canada that are members of DIPRA’s Century Club.
