Maryland water agency bans polybutylene pipes

Abstract

A water and sewer agency in Maryland is the most recent government entity in the U.S. to ban use of polybutylene pipes in water distribution systems. Breaks in plastic water pipes costing homeowners thousands of dollars in damage spurred a ban on installation of new polybutylene plumbing, taking effect June 20, by the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission. The commission is a public water and sewer utility serving the suburban Maryland counties of Montgomery and Prince George's, which border the District of Columbia. Marjorie L. Johnson, commission communications director, believes her utility may be the first on the East Coast to ban polybutylene. A handful of Texas and California municipalities already have bans in effect, she notes. Her commission's ban extends to all underground, aboveground, and in-wall uses of polybutylene water pipes. Unlike copper—which may crimp, reducing water pressure, or develop pinholes, causing small leaks—polybutylene pipe fails catastrophically, splitting or breaking sud...