In the United States each year, there are an estimated 250,000 pipe breaks.  The trends shown in recent ruptures lead to the implication that product specification has been based on short-term, low-cost solutions and less on the sustainability of our infrastructure and ultimately our country.  Whole lifecycle cost assessment is important for all products, and must be backed by evidence and science.  What we are seeing is continued use – and failure – of products that aren’t adequate.  Now we are finding that such pipe products for stormwater and wastewater management aren’t being properly tested and some are defective before being put in the ground.
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