Continuous assessment of a drinking water PVC pipe

Abstract

A PVC 250 mm drinking water pipe that supplies water to ca. 1250 customers has been permanently monitored for almost 10 months. The gathered data covers strain registered on pipes and joints, temperature registered next to these appurtenances and strain registered on coupons of PVC isolated and installed also next to the pipe. The data show an expected positive correlation between temperature and strain on PVC. It also shows that such setup is able to detected daily water pattern use and episodes of water-hammer (due to valve use). Until the coldest weeks of the monitored period the pipe was found to contract more than 5 mm.