The City of Portland's Search for Environmentally Preferable Pipe Materials

Selection of sewer pipe material for a project is traditionally based on engineering principles and cost effectiveness. This approach typically does not factor in the upstream or downstream environmental or human health aspects of the sewer pipe material. Prompted by the City of Portland's Toxics Reduction Strategy (2006), Sustainable Procurement Policy (2008), Healthy Purchasing Initiative (2012), and related sustainability policies, the City's Bureau of Environmental Services (BES, "Bureau") began exploring the implications of including the environmental and human health impacts of pipe material into pipe selection decisions. In 2012 the BES contracted an independent consulting firm to review publicly available sewer pipe life cycle assessments (LCAs) to see if any conclusions could be made regarding which material (reinforced concrete, polyvinyl chloride, or vitrified clay pipe) is environmentally preferable. This paper discusses the findings of this review and how this exploration of the upstream and downstream environmental and human health impacts of sewer pipe material has fostered new discussions within BES regarding pipe material selection.