| The history of pipe is the history of civilization. No other single product has contributed so much to the health and comfort of the people of the great cities of the world. Beginning with the crude clay pipe of early Babylonian days, 4000 B.C., there has been a constant effort to reach the ideal -- a pipe that could be economically made and which would endure underground.
Iron was known to man in prehistoric ages, and there are many evidences of its use in early history. The earliest authentic date of the casting of iron on a major scale in Western Europe was 1313 with the manufacture of cast iron cannons in the city of Ghent, Germany. There is no documentation of the time or place of the adoption of cast iron for use in pipe-making, but it is reasonable to assume that cast iron pipe was produced coincidentally with the casting of the cannon.
The first authentically recorded cast iron pipe was laid in Germany in 1455 and carried water to the Dillenberg Castle. Sometime between 1664 and 1688, the French laid an approximate 400mm diameter cast iron pipeline about 8000m long to supply water to the city of Versailles. The first cast iron pipe to be installed in London was laid around the year 1746. In the United States, Philadelphia seems to have used the first cast iron for water pipe in 1804. Earlier pipelines were of wood. The iron pipe used in Philadelphia came from England, had bell and spigot joints, and was in 3m lengths.
From the origination of cast iron pipe, its development for underground service has shown a sure, steady growth. Today, it is found in all parts of the world. In the leading countries of Europe and in America, the larger cities contain thousands of kilometers of cast iron pipe.
The manufacture of cast iron pipe has progressed from the early, crude pit-cast method to the modern deLavaud centrifugal process.
The most significant event in recent pipe history was the development of ductile iron in 1948. In a relatively short time, ductile iron pipe gained widespread acceptance. The specifying of ductile iron increased to where all iron piping installed for the past several years has been ductile, and gray iron pressure pipe is no longer manufactured. Improvements in casting methods, processing, and metallurgical technology are continually producing superior-quality pipe, capable of satisfying the specific piping needs of the 20th century and beyond.
Over 500 North American cities are currently being served by cast iron mains that were installed more than 100 years ago. At least 12 cities have cast iron pipe in service that is over 150 years old. These mains are indicative of the strength, inherent corrosion resistance, durability, and reliability of cast iron pipe. The commercial introduction of ductile iron pipe in 1955 provided the utility industry with a pipe possessing those same characteristics, plus increased strength and flexibility. |
Section of cast iron water main in excellent condition after serving Richmond, Virginia, since 1830. |
