Amherst honoured for using iron water pipes

BIRMINGHAM, ALA. – The Ductile Iron Pipe Research Association (DIPRA) has announced the induction of the Town of Amherst, N.S. into its Century Club, honouring the town’s longstanding use of cast iron water pipes.

Amherst has more than 12 miles of cast iron pipes that were installed in 1906 and remain in service today, delivering drinking water, stated a Dec. 6 release.

The town uses ductile iron when aging cast iron pipes need to be replaced.

The Cast Iron Pipe Century Club was organized in 1947 to publicly recognize water utilities with cast iron mains that have provided service for 100 years or more.

There are more than 550 water utilities in the United States and 34 water utilities in Canada that are members of DIPRA’s Century Club.

DIPRA also sponsors a Sesquicentennial Club, of which 25 utilities in the U.S. and four in Canada are known to have enjoyed cast iron pipelines in service for more than 150 years.

“We’re so excited to welcome the Town of Amherst to the Century Club,” said DIPRA president David Cole. “Cast iron pipes have provided a strong and resilient foundation for drinking water systems in many municipalities in Canada and the United States for more than 100 years. Ductile iron is the descendant of cast iron, and the member companies of DIPRA proudly innovate to make their products stronger, more resilient, and more durable so that our communities can be assured of clean, safe drinking water for generations.”