INTRODUCTION

Raw water through conveying mains after its treatment reaches the consumer through a vast network system of pipelines. There is no doubt that these pipelines serve as lifelines due to the fact that system of pipeline network is responsible for supplying safe water with adequate quantity and pressure on a sustainable basis to the consumer throughout the design period of the network.

Pipelines constitute major investment covering 70 to 80% of the water supply projects and as constitute a major part of the assets of water authorities and therefore are of particular importance.
So the pipe materials shall be judicially selected not only from the point of view of durability, life and overall cost which includes besides the pipe cost, the installation and maintenance costs necessary to ensure the required function and performance of the pipelines the throughout the designed life time.

By and large the types of pipes can be broadly classified as metallic and non-metallic
the determination of suitability in all respects of the pipes or joints for any work is a matter of judicious selection by the engineer concerned on the basis of requirements of the schemes.

While selecting pipe materials several factors have to be borne in mind viz. Carrying capacity, internal and external pressures roughness coefficient hydraulic and and operating conditions, maximum permissible diameter of pipes, internal and external corrosion problems, transportation, handling, laying and jointing under different topography, hydro-geological conditions, life, durability and availability of different sizes etc.

The policy of giving emphasis on only economical considerations while selecting the pipe material is wrong. As discussed earlier several factors govern the selection of pipe material so judicious decision must be taken.
Economy has to view from cost effectiveness and long-term sustainability.

Mere reduction of cost pipelines without giving due weight age to other factors engineers may encounter various problems at a later date in maintaining the distribution system.

And therefore in order to avoid unforeseen problems once the distribution system is laid every effort be made to give equal importance to all the factors to be considered while selecting the pipe material by way of preparing a matrix, which should give all the merits and demerits of each and every pipe material by way of preparing a matrix which should give all the merits and demerits of each and every pipe material and thereafter the pipe material should be judiciously selected.

A pipe material analysis highlighting the principal advantages and limitations done by the UKWIR is illustrated here .