In light of looming water scarcity in South Africa, plastic-piping solutions provider Marley Pipe Systems is constantly exploring ways of conserving water, wherever possible.

“In South Africa, excess rain can cause floods on roads and in certain low-lying areas. Attenuation is carried out when excess water is taken out from these areas and stored. This process is being explored through the Weholite pipe product offering. We provide flexible plastic Weholite pipes that can send excess rainwater to storage; and are also suitable for dolomitic areas commonly found in most parts of Gauteng,” says Marley Pipe Systems specialised projects manager Pranesh Maniraj.

Marley Pipe Systems is the South African licensee of the Weholite pipework system, a large diameter gravity or low-pressure high-density polyethylene pipe. Weholite is manufactured in a range of ring stiffness’s and large pipe sizes ranging from 280 mm up to 3 500 mm. Features include being virtually leakproof, corrosion resistant, flexible, and lightweight weld ability. Some applications include irrigation, sanitary sewers, culverts, drainage and stormwater.

The Weholite pipes are particularly suited to dolomitic areas, as they are not easily damaged and can sustain the wear and tear associated with hard-rock dolomitic areas.

The company believes that plastic-piping solutions could be the future of piping in South Africa, as these polyethylene pipes are abrasion-, scratch-, sun- and wear-resistant, says Marley Pipe Systems. It adds that the South African industry does, however, seem reluctant to explore the real benefits of plastic and is remaining loyal to conventional piping systems made from concrete and steel, as these materials have been used for many years.

“People generally opt for steel or concrete in piping applications, but have generally been resistant to adapt to using plastic for the same applications, as they believe that it is not durable or strong enough,” says Maniraj, adding that the potential water scarcity is prompting companies to explore alternative piping solutions.

“High-density polyethylene pipes (HDPE) are structured yet flexible, making them strong and suitable for various applications. The piping is also lightweight and easy to transport. Marley Pipe Systems can manufacture pipes of any length, as long as they are transportable,” says Maniraj.

HDPE pressure range from 16 bar to 20 bar and can be manufactured in any length. Marley Pipe Systems manufactures HDPE pipes that range from 280 cm to 1 200 mm in diameter.

HDPE pipes can be recycled five to six times and could then be used for the production of similar products, such as support walls. The plastic is rigorously tested and all products are made to strict specifications.

The Weholite range, which is made from HDPE, is a fairly new product in South Africa. “South Africans are generally more conser-vative in their approach to civil engineering, and their acceptance of the Weholite HDPE has been slow, but is growing,” he says.

According to the European Plastic Pipe and Fitting Association, HDPE exceeds the durability of any other product.

The Weholite HDPE pipes are being used for sewerage and stormwater systems. “The Waterkloof airbase, for example, is situated on a dolomitic area, which requires that the base use stronger pipes that do not leak, therefore, making Weholite HDPE suitable,” says Maniraj.

Further, the company notes that the piping solutions foster community involvement in projects, not only to support local skills devel-opment, but also because the pipes are easy to carry. “The piping system is easy to put together and we encourage community involvement whenever we install piping solutions in rural areas,” he says.

Marley Pipe Systems says that, from a labour perspective, the lightweight Weholite piping solution is much easier to operate, compared with alternative piping solutions, as they are less labour intensive. He adds that the lightweight pipes mean that two people can transport a 9 m Weholite pipe.

Maniraj further highlights that Marley’s products have a 50-year design life but can last up to 100 years, owing to the types of materials and technologies used during manufacturing.

“We make piping that can be handled on site with fewer joints in the system, meaning that one long pipe – rather than various pipes that require joining to one another – can be produced,” says Maniraj.

Education and Training
The company says it is transferring knowledge to workers at project sites. The plastic pipes are supplied to companies with training materials attached. Marley also offers trained staff to go on site and assist workers for larger projects.

“Knowledge is key and the more knowledge we can impart to customers, the more they can make informed decisions,” says Maniraj.

Marley Pipes is targeting young South African engineers at universities or aspiring engineers at schools in the country by providing them with educational material demonstrating the benefits of plastic piping.

Marley Pipe Systems is encouraging engi-neering university students to consider the potential of plastic applications because the company believes that the biggest issue facing the sector is the lack of awareness.

Civilution
Marley Pipe Systems attended the Civilution engineering congress, which was held from
April 6 to 8 at Emperors Palace, in Johannesburg.

“It was important for Marley to attend Civilution as the people who participate in the event are target audiences for the company, and we are always open to exploring partnerships,” says Maniraj.

These partnerships can include partnering with other companies, such as construction firms, to deliver the best solution to clients. “We are specialists in what we do and are always interested to work with specialists in other fields, so that we create one solid solution for a client.”

Maniraj adds that Civilution offered the company a platform to showcase its services and transfer knowledge.