Water Main Break Rates in the USA and Canada
Utah State University, Utah Water Research Laboratory
Major Findings:
- PVC pipe has the lowest break rate when compared to cast iron, ductile iron, steel, and asbestos cement pipes.
- A total of 75% of utilities reported corrosive soil conditions
- Ductile iron pipe has over six times more failures in highly corrosive soils compared to low corrosive soils.
- The percentage of utilities approving ductile iron pipe has decreased from 86% to 78% in 2023, a reduction of 8% in reported acceptance.
Water Pipe Break Rates, 2012-2018-2023
Pipe Material Distribution and Most Common Material by Region (2023)
