Polyethylene (PE) piping for potable water is a replacement product for steel piping and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) drinking water pipes.

PVC water supply pipes can withstand certain pressure, usually requiring the use of PE resins with high molecular weight and good mechanical properties, such as HDPE resins. LDPE resins have poor rigidity, poor dimensional stability during molding and processing, and are difficult to connect, making them unsuitable for water supply pressure pipes. LDPE, especially LLDPE resins, have become commonly used materials for producing drinking water pipes. LDPE and LLDPE resins have low melt viscosity and good fluidity, making them easy to process, and thus offering a wide range of melt index choices, typically between 0.3-3g/10min.

Compared to traditional piping materials, HDPE pipe systems possess a series of characteristics:

1. The polyethylene pipe systems are connected using electric heat fusion.

2. Polyethylene has a low-temperature brittleness temperature, making it usable within a temperature range of -60 to 60°C. During winter construction, it is less prone to pipe cracking.

3. HDPE pipes are resistant to corrosion from a variety of chemicals, and the chemicals present in the soil do not cause degradation to the pipes. Therefore, they are not prone to rotting, rusting, or electrochemical corrosion; in addition, they are also not conducive to the growth of algae, bacteria, or fungi.

4. Excellent Flexibility: The flexibility of HDPE pipes allows for easy bending, enabling the routing to bypass obstacles in engineering. In many cases, this flexibility can reduce the need for fittings and lower installation costs.

5. Low Flow Resistance: HDPE pipes feature a smooth inner surface with a Manning coefficient of 0.009. The smoothness and non-adhesive properties ensure that HDPE pipes have higher conveying capacity than traditional materials, while also reducing pressure loss in the pipeline and water transportation energy consumption.

6. Easy to Handle: HDPE pipes are lighter than concrete pipes, galvanized pipes, and steel pipes, making them easy to transport and install. This requires less labor and equipment, leading to reduced installation costs for projects.

7. Multiple Construction Methods: HDPE pipelines offer various construction techniques, including conventional excavation, as well as non-excavation methods such as jacking, directional drilling, lining, and bursting. This makes them an excellent choice for locations where excavation is not permitted.