We use cookies to provide you with a better experience. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies in accordance with our Cookie Policy.

logo
  • Engineers & Specifiers
  • Contractors & Installers
  • Wholesalers & Distributors

Follow Us

Newsletter Signups
Magazine Subscriptions
  • The Wholesaler
  • Plumbing Engineer
  • PHC News
Newsletter Signups
Magazine Subscriptions
  • The Wholesaler
  • Plumbing Engineer
  • PHC News
ASK PHCPPROS AI
  • PRODUCTS
    • Bath & Kitchen
    • Fire Protection
    • HVAC
    • Hydronics/Radiant
    • Plumbing
    • PVF
    • Tools
  • PROJECTS
    • Commercial
    • Green Building
    • MRO/Retrofit
    • Remodeling
    • Residential
  • BUSINESS
    • Buying Groups
    • Technology
    • Associations
  • CODES & STANDARDS
    • ANSI
    • ASHRAE
    • ASSE
    • Regulations
    • Green Building
    • IAPMO
    • ICC
    • NFPA
  • RESOURCES
    • PROS REPS
    • Media Kit
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Classifieds
    • Digital Editions
    • Testimonials
    • Subscribe
    • Health & Wellness
    • AHR Expo 2025
  • DIGITAL EDITIONS
ASK PHCPPROS AI
Home » Ten Trade Groups Send Joint Letter to Congress Against ‘Open Competition’ Piping Laws

Ten Trade Groups Send Joint Letter to Congress Against ‘Open Competition’ Piping Laws

July 20, 2017
HDPE Pipe

Ten engineering and water utility organizations, including the American Water Works Association and the National Society of Professional Engineers, sent a joint letter to Congress against so-called “open competition” legislation designed to allow the use of plastic pipe in publically funded water and wastewater projects.

“Efforts to pass this legislation in the states have been uniformly rejected,” the July 5th letter states, “as have previous efforts to pass this legislation in Congress. On behalf of the tens of thousands of water systems throughout the country, the engineers who serve them, and the public served by them, we respectfully urge you to oppose materials preference legislation.”

Members of the 10 trade groups design and manage the nation’s water systems. The letter states the joint effort is “to raise serious concerns over material preference legislation.”

Efforts at the state and national level would “supersede engineering judgment and impose new mandates on communities” solely designed to promote the use of plastic pipe for various water projects, according to the letter.

The groups believe the marketplace for piping and other materials is already open and competitive.

“More importantly, however, technical decisions on materials such as pipe should not be made in the political arena, but rather by professional engineers based on the unique needs of each system, taking into account critical factors such as structural integrity, soil compatibility, maintenance and life cycle costs,” the letter says.

The groups recommend taking a long-term approach to consider such systems that use pipe that has a lower initial cost compared to other materials since they may end up more expensive to install and maintain.

“Imposing new materials mandates not only interferes with sound engineering judgment, but also with the ability of communities to manage their systems as efficiently as possible,” the letter concludes. “Communities should remain free to adopt system-wide best management practices and uniform specifications in the development and maintenance of their water systems to maximize efficiency and control costs, rather than forcing them to comply with more red tape from above.”

The letter was signed by the following groups: American Council of Engineering Companies; American Public Works Association; American Society of Civil Engineers; American Water Works Association; Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies; Association of Regional Water Organizations; National Association of Clean Water Agencies;  National Society of Professional Engineers Rural Water Association; and Water Environment Federation.

Associations Engineers & Specifiers Industry Community News Infrastructure PVF
  • Related Articles

    Two Major Trade Groups Sign MOU to Strengthen Geothermal Industry

    The Free Market Fallacy of Trade Laws

    U.S. Department of Labor, Trade Groups, Unions Partnering to Protect Workers from Hazards in Trenching, Excavation

  • Related Products

    Directory Listing - Premium

  • Related Events

    Ninth Annual Celebrating Women in the Mechanical Trade Industry Luncheon

Most Popular

  • Mid-City Supply Announces New Division Managers

  • PHCP Distributors: How are you using eCommerce?

  • Valve World Americas 2025 Expo & Conference: Bigger, Bolder, and Better Than Ever!

  • Home Repair Solutions Company HomeServe Joins ACCA as Strategic Partner

Featured Video

General video

Root 66 Demo with Steve Landis, Gatti Plumbing

Subscribe & Learn More

  • Tw06 2025 cover
    Subscribe
  • Pe06 2025 cover
    Subscribe
  • Phc06 2025 cover
    Subscribe
  • Digital editions
    Learn More

More from PHCP Pros

  • Editorial Team
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • About
  • Advertise

Follow Us

© 2025 All Rights Reserved

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development | ePublishing