Drought highlights
need for efficient
water delivery
In September 2011 it was reported that the state of Texas was
suffering its worst drought in recorded history. Municipalities
across the state were losing millions of dollars worth of one
of the public’s most valuable resources: water. In the city of
Houston alone, more than 700 breaches and breaks a day were
being reported in the city’s municipal water system.
The continued loss of water by municipal water delivery systems
is causing lawmakers and city managers to re-examine the design
of pipe systems and the pipe materials being used in those
systems. The city of Houston is losing 57mn gallons a day to failed
infrastructure.
“Drought wreaks havoc on underground pipes,” said Steve
Shur, executive director of the Alliance for PE Pipe. “When
the ground dries up, the pipes torque, which leads to failure.
It becomes a question of materials. Municipal leaders need to
consider these factors when choosing what kind of pipes to use
in their system.”
High density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe is flexible and will not fail
if the ground shifts or due to extreme drought conditions. It is
strong, durable, flexible, corrosion free and chemical resistant.
Mr Shur continued, “The average water loss for a municipal
water system in the US is about 10%. In Texas, we know there
are systems that lose over 40% of the water pumped. The
solution for pipe breaks and water loss is available. The biggest
hindrance to the solution being implemented is education and
awareness. Many communities in Texas are using HDPE already.
It’s just a matter of time before everyone realises that a flexible,
durable, leak-free system is achievable with HDPE piping.”
Alliance for PE Pipe
– USA
Parnon Gathering, Inc, a wholly owned subsidiary of Parnon
Holdings, Inc, has announced the construction of a crude
oil pipeline in Central Oklahoma. The project includes laying
approximately 109 miles of new 8" pipeline from Cherokee,
Oklahoma to Cushing, Oklahoma, and is designed to move
18,000 barrels of crude oil per day, with an option to increase
to 35,000 barrels per day. The pipeline, to be named Great
Salt Plains Pipeline, will transport production from Central and
Western Oklahoma and interconnect with Parnon’s crude oil
tanks located at Cushing.
Parnon Gathering, Inc
– USA
Oklahoma pipeline
