Plastic pipe is a relatively new product, and manufacturers have always faced tough competition from traditional materials, including concrete, steel and ductile iron. One question that's been tough to answer has been durability -- how will plastic pipe hold up in the field, where it's expected to work without fail for decades at a time?

Advanced Drainage Systems Inc., a Hilliard, Ohio-based manufacturer of high density polyethlyene pipe, recently got some first-hand information about how its pipe is doing, when it examined hundreds of feet of pipe that was installed in Ocean City, Md., as part of a storm water drainage project in 1987.

According to a news release from the company, the inspection revealed that the original pipe was still in excellent condition, even in this demanding application where it is subjected to saltwater, sandy soil and heavy vehicle traffic.

"The inspection definitively concluded that after the initial 20 years of service life, the ADS N-12 HDPE pipe installed in Ocean City is still performing as originally designed with no visual signs of deflection or other defects,” said Nathan Jovanelly, ADS regional engineer.

For more information how plastic pipe holds up, check out this 2007 story from Michigan Contractor & Builder.