Challenges and Opportunities for Innovation in the Public Works ...

Test Water Quality at Minimal Cost
Pipe Loop Solves Problem of Multiple Benefits
Difficult and Expensive Testing
* Determines overall effect of water quali-
The potable water supply at every Army ty on distribution systems
installation is different. Corrosive elements in
the water can cause severe deterioration of @ Operates with minimal supervision
pipes without chemical treatment. The Pipe
Loop System, developed by the U.S. Army 9 Allows side-by-side tests with chemicals
Construction Engineering Research Laboratory to determine optimal amount of chemi-
(USACERL), allows water plant personnel to cal additive, thereby improving the
test the amount and effects of various water water quality and extending the life of
treatments on different pipe materials at specific the water distribution system
sites with minimal effort and expense.
e Helps installations meet evaluation cri-
A Pipe Loop System can be built using off- teria of environmental regulations:
the-shelf materials and mounted on a 3-foot x
4-foot board on a wall. The water flow * National Interim Primary Drinking
through the system can be easily controlled and Water Regulation (NIPDWR)
quantified. Pipe material samples in the form
of pipe inserts and coupons are easily removed * Safe Drinking Water Act
and evaluated.
• Copper and Lead Rules of the Clean
The design allows distribution system mate- Water Act
rials to be placed in direct contact with water
under conditions simulating typical operation.
It also allows water chemical treatments to be Available Through Exclusive
tested before actual use. The chemical treat- Ucensing Agreement
ments may be tested individually or in side-byside
comparisons. USACERL Technical Report N-88/12 (1988)
describes the development and evaluation of the
Pipe Loop System. Installations can purchase a
Pipe Loop System Widely system through Evans Machine & Tool Co., 410
Demonstrated Summit Ave., Perth Amboy, NJ, (908) 442-
1144, with whom USACERL has an exclusive
The Pipe Loop System was demonstrated at licensing agreement.
five Army installations. At Aberdeen Proving
Ground's Edgewood water treatment plant, the
Pipe Loop System was used to develop an
optimal water treatment for reducing lead dis- Points of Contact
solution. The testing represents a protocol for
meeting the testing requirements proposed by Richard Scholze, U.S. Army Construc-
EPA in 1988 for evaluating options that reduce tion Engineering Research, Laboratory,
lead and copper dissolution from household P.O. Box 4005, Champaign, IL 61824plumbing.
4005, COMM 217-373-6743; or Malcolm
McLeod, U.S. Army Engineering and
The Pipe Loop System at Fort Bragg, NC, Housing Support Center (USAEHSC),
is saving the installation money. Not counting Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-5516, COMM
the potential maintenance savings, Fort Bragg 703-355-2003
estimates that they have saved approximately
$15,000/year by determining the optimal water
treatment using the Pipe Loop System. Without
sacrificing water quality, the amount of
chemical additives was reduced, thereby lowering
chemical and labor costs.
Issued by USAEHSC, Fort Belvoir, VA, LAW 25-30. Additional copies are available from the
FEAP Information Center, P.O. Box 4005, Champaign, IL 61824-4005, phone 217-352-6511 x386
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