Gray Iron and Ductile Iron Pipe—Some Historical Benchmarks Impacting Condition Assessment

The history and performance of iron pipe is reflected in the successful growth of great cities worldwide. No other product used in our cities' infrastructure has played such a fundamental role in the development of these population centers. Iron pipe carried the water and wastewater that allowed the metamorphosis from rural farming communities to urban centers of commerce and set the stage for public health improvements, financial strength, and growth. History has shown that iron pipe has been, and continues to be, a valuable asset in municipal infrastructure. Iron pipe is believed to have been used for the first time circa 1455, in Siegerland, Germany, where an unknown size and quantity of iron pipe was installed to provide water service to Dillenberg Castle. Records indicate that approximately two centuries later, and 690 kilometers (429 miles) to the east, Louis XIV ordered the construction of a 24-kilomoter (15-mile) pipeline to serve the city and fountains of Versailles, France. This iron pipeline provided continuous service for more than 330 years. Use of iron pipe for water service in the United States began in Philadelphia when, "in a major construction project lasting almost 30 years and ending in 1848, city engineers laid a network of cast-iron pipes." (Kramek and Loh, 2007). Some of the first iron pipe installed in Philadelphia was imported from England, because there was no domestic manufacturer until the 1834 establishment of a pipe foundry in Millville, New Jersey. Recent reports from the Environmental Protection Agency indicate gray and ductile cast iron pipes now comprise roughly two-thirds of the United States' massive water infrastructure. This paper will continue the discussion of iron pipe history by focusing on the evolution of the domestic pipe industry and the changes that are recognized as major product development benchmarks. This will include detailed descriptions of developments in manufacturing processes, metallurgy, joints, and corrosion control. Wherever applicable, the paper will provide details and explanations of pipe features that impact utility owners' ability to more accurately assess the condition of their buried iron pipe infrastructure.