Always secure drinking water with ductile iron pipes

For us, it is normal to have drinking water coming out of the tap, but it is not so obvious at all. According to Esther Lindeman, managing director at Saint-Gobain PAM, there is a whole process involved. "The pipe network must be able to withstand all kinds of external stresses. SG PAM's pipes are therefore insensitive to everything that happens underground, from climate change to earthquakes."

SG PAM makes pipes from ductile iron, an iron-carbon alloy that receives magnesium treatment at the factory. This makes the material stronger and more flexible. Extremely suitable for pipes, in other words! A corrosion-resistant coating makes the pipes reliable for more than 100 years. "These pipes are more than a simple component in the drinking water and wastewater network, it is a guarantee of safety," Lindeman says. "For our customers, preventing leaks is incredibly important. This robust and durable material is therefore a real godsend."

Sustainability first

According to Lindeman, it is high time to use limited resources responsibly and sustainably. "One of the main focal points within our theme of sustainability is longevity. Products made from non-renewable raw materials must last as long as possible, and the material must not only be recyclable afterwards, but also fit within a circular economy."

Take plastic, for example. A material we can hardly think away from our daily lives. "We are learning more and more about the growing risks of plastic to people and our environment. And recycled plastic doesn't lend itself to making drinking water pipes. That's why we chose ductile iron, because this material is as 100% recyclable without loss of quality."

Sponsor City

Global warming is best felt in cities. "A city full of concrete and asphalt neither cools down nor can it get rid of water. So you create heat islands in the summer and flooded basements during heavy rainfall." That's not only unpleasant for people living in the city, it's also just plain unhealthy and dangerous. 

Fortunately, there is a solution, called the Sponge City. This city design leaves plenty of space in the ground for rainwater and for trees. Green not only provides cooling, but also helps with water runoff. "However, more greenery in the city requires quite a lot of space underground. Trees have a lot of roots and you don't want a spill every week." Ductile iron pipes with flexible joints and cement mortar coating are root resistant and thus can play a major role in modern city development. "By laying the pipes in pipe trenches, the roots of trees are given enough room to grow."

Choosing for the long term

By building a water system with pipes that last, you remove many short-term concerns. "Ductile iron is a long-term choice. The pipes themselves last more than a hundred years, and reuse is not a problem. That means for years, almost generations, you hardly have to look back at your water supply system."