PVC pipe corrosion
PVC pipe corrosion
(OP)
I have a drainage force main that will carry vehicle wash water and possibly oils or fuel mixed in the water. It's also likely that the pipe will be installed in fuel contaminated soil. My memory is a bit fuzzy at the moment but I thought PVC has issues with corrosion in this kind of an environment. Is this true or is my memory playing tricks on me again?





RE: PVC pipe corrosion
RE: PVC pipe corrosion
RE: PVC pipe corrosion
You may wish to get the opinion of the specific pipe manufacturer for the specific service/exposure conditions you envision.
RE: PVC pipe corrosion
Madmary said that the pipe in question will carry vehicle wash water and possibly oils or fuel mixed in the water.
Here is a direct quote from the article that you quoted:
"No material which is acceptable under authority regulations for transmission to their sewers will have any detrimental effect whatsoever on PVC pipe."
It is doubtful that there will enough pollutants in permitted wastewater or stormwater to harm PVC pipe.
RE: PVC pipe corrosion
Perception, after all, is reality
RE: PVC pipe corrosion
"...the pipe should not be installed in areas where there is known soil contamination by high concentrations of low molecular weight organic solvents or where potential exists for high concentrations of organic solvents to leach into the soil, because the solvents could permeate the pipe, contaminating the water, and eventually soften the plastic pipe. Pipe gaskets are also vulnerable to high-concentration organic solvents."
RE: PVC pipe corrosion
I would agree with your logic if you are installing and guaranteeing a 150-psig rated potable water line through a site with a high concentration of organics.
However, it sounds like madmarv is working on a site drainage issue at a fuel depot with de minimus fuel spillage.
There is little or no concern for internal degradation of the PVC pipe as your first reference points out:
"No material which is acceptable under authority regulations for transmission to their sewers will have any detrimental effect whatsoever on PVC pipe."
As to the external pipe degradation, that is an old-fashioned spitting contest as to how much contamination exists. Madmarv has not specified the level of contamination. However, if a significant spill of organics into the soil had already occurred, madmarv would be investigating remediation rather than drainage.
RE: PVC pipe corrosion
I guess the only other thing I would say concerning these matters is that all prudent safety precautions (regarding breathing atmosphere et al) should be employed when installing or otherwise working around any sort of piping in contaminated soil areas.