Ontario is home to 15 million people with endless numbers of homes, businesses and supporting infrastructure that rely on sustainable water systems.
High-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipes play key roles throughout Ontario in many applications, but most importantly in our water systems. HDPE pipes help to reduce the risk of costly and disruptive pipe bursts, offer longevity that steel and PVC can’t compete with, and create a reliable solution for Ontario’s growing water infrastructure needs.
Sandale Ontario is Ontario’s leader in supplying and installing HDPE pipes, and understands the significance of using sustainable materials that ensure longevity and resilience.
Preventing Pipe Bursts is a Key Benefit of HDPE Pipes
One of the most significant advantages of Sandale’s HDPE pipes is their ability to prevent pipe bursts. When a pipe bursts, there is frequently severe damage to the infrastructure and the space it occupies. Often there is sudden water loss, significant unscheduled repair costs and long-term frustrations for everyone involved.
Unlike concrete and iron pipes, which can corrode, crack, or break over time, HDPE pipes are resistant to corrosion, fatigue and chemical reactions. HDPE water systems can have a lifespan of over 100 years if designed and installed correctly, significantly reducing the risk of failure.
If Sustainability is Your Goal, Concrete Pipe Failure is Not an Option
All too common in Ontario and across North America is a headline about pipe failures disrupting water systems and the people who rely on them.
For example: “Nearly 150,000 Montreal homes were put under a boil water advisory on Friday after a broken water main erupted into a ‘geyser’ that transformed streets into streams, paralyzed traffic and forced people to evacuate from flooded buildings.”
There is also the story of how a concrete water main burst in Houston 20 years before its end of life, causing a major event.
Even Calgary had a major emergency water main break that resulted in one million people being forced to conserve water and a neighbourhood ordered to boil water.
Nanaimo, too had a major break with their 43-year-old concrete water main, which resulted in 22 million litres of water lost. Fortunately, the new $55-million system replacing it used HDPE pipe, which is “flexible, earthquake resistant and, at 25 million litres of water per day, has greater capacity than the old main to handle Nanaimo’s anticipated growth,” according to Bill Sims, general manager of engineering and public works for Nanaimo.
Understanding the Failure of Iron Pipes
Although the above examples involve concrete, similar failures are frequent with iron pipes. As the age of the systems increases, so do the chances of failure, as experienced in Odessa, Hanover, Grand Rapids and many others.
One of the reasons for iron pipe failure is an increase in friction. The Hazen–Williams equation is a standard way to understand the flow of water in a pipe due to the physical properties of the pipe and the pressure drop caused by friction. As seen in the chart below, HDPE value begins the day the water is turned on and continues far beyond the end of iron’s lifespan.
HDPE Pipes are Designed to Make Water Systems More Sustainable
To further ensure that your system is built on reliability and sustainability, Sandale Ontario’s HDPE pipes are available in many different sizes and specs, depending on your unique water application.
Here are some of our most popular pipe types that will help to ensure your system is sustainable, reliable and durable:
Standard HDPE Pipes
Your basic HDPE pipe is a flexible thermoplastic used in monolithic leak-free pipeline systems with a life expectancy of 100 years. They are strong in low- and high-pressure pipelines that are flexible, corrosion-resistant, and impact-resistant.
Corrugated HDPE Pipes
Sandale Ontario has a comprehensive line of corrugated HDPE pipe products of varying sizes and lengths. The lightweight bell and spigot design of corrugated HDPE pipe has made it an ideal product for stormwater collection, retention and detention.
Dual Containment HDPE Pipes
This is one of the most economical and reliable methods for protecting against leaks of corrosive or hazardous fluids from primary piping. HDPE dual containment piping systems have the same features as our standard HDPE pipes, with double containment added. HDPE pipe is chemically inert, lightweight, corrosion- and abrasion-resistant.
PE-RT (Polyethylene of Raised Temperature Resistance) Pipes
Designed for high-temperature applications, PE-RT pipes can handle continuous operations up to 82.2°C and intermittent temperatures up to 95°C. They are ideal for district energy systems, industrial applications, and other settings where elevated temperatures are common.
Here is a breakdown of some key benefits of PE-RT, PEX (crosslinked polyethylene), FRP (fibre-reinforced plastic) and steel.
FlexSteel HDPE-Lined Steel Pipes
Combining the flow characteristics of thermoplastics with the pressure rating of steel, FlexSteel pipes are used in high-pressure applications, including oil and gas transportation, injection lines, and gathering pipelines. They offer a corrosion-resistant solution that minimizes the need for costly maintenance.
Weholite HDPE Pipes
These large-diameter, profile-wall pipes are used for gravity and low-pressure applications such as stormwater management and wastewater systems. Weholite pipes are lightweight, impact-resistant, and chemically inert, making them an excellent choice for harsh environments.
PP-RCT (Polypropylene Random Copolymer with Modified Temperature Resistance)
This type of pipe offers enhanced temperature resistance, making it suitable for high-temperature water systems.
HDPE Pipe Reliability is Possible Through Advanced Fusion and Joining Methods
Healthy and ever-flowing HDPE pipe systems require specialized joining techniques to ensure leak-free connections and robust systems that last for decades.
Sandale Ontario specializes in all fusion techniques to ensure your system is properly installed, including:
Butt Fusion – This involves heating the ends of two HDPE pipes and pressing them together to form a single, continuous piece. This method is ideal for creating long, straight sections of pipe.
Saddle Fusion – This is used to connect a smaller pipe to a larger one by fusing a ‘saddle’ onto the main line, allowing for branch connections.
Electrofusion – Uses specially designed fittings that have built-in electric heating elements. When current is applied, the fitting and pipe melt together, creating a strong bond.
Mechanical couplings and moulded fittings are also available for situations where fusion techniques may not be feasible, offering flexibility in system design and installation.
All materials needed for pipe joining, including fusion equipment as well as couplings are fittings are available through Sandale Ontario.
Moulded Fittings
Mechanical Couplings
The Environmental, Maintenance and Economic Benefits of HDPE Pipes
By supporting HDPE, we are all helping to reduce our carbon footprint, support recycling, and understand that more resilient materials will reduce maintenance and impact our natural world.
HDPE pipes have a lower carbon footprint compared to traditional materials like concrete and steel, especially when considering the energy required for production, transportation, and installation. HDPE pipes’ long lifespan reduces the need for maintenance and frequent replacements, which translates to fewer natural materials used over time. If things do go awry, HDPE is 100% recyclable.
These benefits lead to serious economic advantages. HDPE pipes offer a lower cost of ownership by reducing the expenses associated with supply, operations, construction and long-term maintenance.
Source: The Plastic Pipes Institute
Sandale Ontario is Committed to Ontario’s Sustainable Water Systems
We believe in delivering water system solutions that not only meet today’s needs but also anticipate challenges a century from now.
Reach out to Sandale Ontario to learn more about how we’re at the forefront of water system resilience, cost-effectiveness and environmental-friendliness.