There are those in the polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe industry who are engaged in efforts to persuade legislators, water authorities, and the general public that PVC pipe is the solution for replacing aging water systems. While advocacy for their product is understandable, their claims are cause for concern.

PVC pipe is a plastic product. It is cheap, weak and produced with components that are toxic to human health and the environment. To replace our critical water infrastructure with a pipeline material that is documented to be hazardous in its production and disposal, and questionable in its reliability and safety, is both a disservice and a danger to the public. Our communities do not need a cheap replacement for essential water infrastructure. They need pipelines that can be trusted to deliver water for everything from drinking to bathing the baby, to cooking, to fire protection and more – for today and generations to come.