Transmission lines are the pipes that carry the water from the source to the storage system. Transmission lines are the largest, thickest pipes in the system. When planning a water system, try to keep the treatment and storage tanks close to the water source to reduce the cost of transmission lines.

Distribution Pipes transport the water to the end user. To protect the water from contamination, the potable water pipe should be a minimum of 10 feet from sewer pipes and in separate trenches. The minimum diameter is two inches but lines which service fire hydrants must be at least six inches.

Iron pipe was a lower-cost alternative to copper, before the advent of plastic materials suitable pr portable water. Special non-conductive fittings must be used to join them with other metallic pipes, except for terminal fittings, in order to avoid corrosion owing to electrochemical reactions between dissimilar metals

Wooden Pipes where common in Boston and Monreal in the 1800′s. They where hollowed out logs. The pipes where sealed together with animal fat. They where also used as a substitute material during WWII

For many centuries, lead was the favored material for water pipes, due to its malleability (as a matter of fact the word “plumbing” derives from the Latin word for lead). This was a source of lead-related health problems in the years before the health hazards of ingesting lead were fully understood; among these were stillbirths and high rates of infant mortality. Lead water pipes were still in common use in the early 20th century and remain in many households.

PEX is a cross-linked polyethylene. The material is more durable under extreme temperature changes, chemical exposure, and better resists creep deformation, making PEX an excellent material for hot water and other applications.

Copper Pipes are widely used for potable water plumbing because of their corrosion resistance and safety. They are easy to work with because of it’s malleability and fittings are easily soldered. Copper pipe has sometimes failed due to pinhole leaks a company called CuraFlo has made exceptional strides in rehabilitating copper pipe.

Galvanized Galvanizing is done by the application of molten zinc to pre-formed steel pipes to provide a corrosion resistant coating. Many galvanized pipes in old buildings were manufactured using zinc that probably contained high levels of lead, which is a common impurity in the zinc. It was not until 1986 that the Wheatland Tube Company became the first galvanized pipe manufacturer to be certified to ANSI/NSF Standard 61 for its hot dip galvanized pipe. Galvanized pipes are still common in older homes and many commercial buildings. Galvanized pipes will corrode over time.