The presence of Legionella pneumophilia in hot and cold water systems inside any building is
to be expected although it usually occurs only in small quantities. People become infected
by legionnaires disease when two circumstances coincide: first, when the concentration of the
bacteria in the water is relatively high; and, second, the water becomes vaporised so that
water droplets can be inhaled. This can occur, for example, in cooling towers, humidifiers
and showers. The most vulnerable individuals are normally the elderly, or those already
weakened by sickness or disease.
It is well known that Legionella occurs in all types of piping materials. The likelihood of
Legionella forming in pipes in long-term service is no different whether the pipes are copper
or plastic. It is the design of the system and the conditions under which it is operated that
are the real influential factors.
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Energy Consumption – GUA Study
A comprehensive study carried out by PlasticsEurope and GUA, an Austrian environmental consultancy
has important implications for the use of plastic products and hence plastic pipe systems. The study found
that substituting plastics where possible by more traditional materials throughout Western Europe would
require additional energy equivalent to 22.4 million tons of crude oil. The result in additional
greenhouse gas emissions would be 97 million tons, equivalent to 30% of the EU-15 Kyoto target for the
period 2000 – 2012.
Read more… GUA Summary, GUA Full Study (2MB)
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Life Cycle Assessment Studies of Pipes
The Vienna Institute of Environmental Management compared different pipe materials used for
water supply and sewer applications. More commonly known as the Windsperger Study, this
critical study published in 1999 examined the various aspects of Life Cycle Assessment as
applied to plastic pipes and comparative materials. Its conclusion that “no distinct
inferiority against other materials can be justified with existing LCA-studies” is
fundamental in terms of the environmental contribution provided by plastic pipe systems.
Read more… Windsperger Study
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