Hdpe pipe in Kenya

HDPE pipes are widely recognized as an alternative to metal piping in modern-day agriculture.  Up to 90% of the piping systems used in farming are HDPE pipes.

The plastic compound used to manufacture these pipes ensures durability from extreme environmental conditions, corrosion resistance, and protection from ultraviolet sun rays.

Why you should be using HDPE pipes in your irrigation system.

HDPE pipe has a smooth bore which ensures a higher flow of water through the pipe because of minimum resistance. The material is generally strong and can handle high pressure and temperatures up to 140 Degrees Celsius.

This reduces the clogging of pipes making them maintenance-free and guaranteeing a long life.

Materials used to make HDPE pipes.

The plastic compound used in molding the HDPE is non-biodegradable which protects the pipes from corrosion by chemicals and attacks by other living organisms.

Fertilizer can be mixed with water from the source and distributed on the farm through irrigation by using HDPE pipes.

Advantages of using HDPE pipes.

• HDPE pipes are hard, flexible, and light in weight making them easy to transport and handle.
• The thermoplastic material can also be cut or molded into different shapes and sizes, adjusting them to fit into other pipes of different sizes, valves, or joints.
• Plastic glue can be used in the process to prevent the leaking of water.
• When not in use, the pipes can be easily dismantled and kept in a shade for future use.
• The pipes come in different lengths, widths, and thicknesses depending on the intended use, volume, and pressure of water being transported.
• Pipes used to convey water with high pressure have thicker walls compared to those conveying water with low pressure. In agriculture, most pipes are used for plumbing, irrigation, and suction purposes.

How are HDPE pipes used?

1. For plumbing purposes, HDPE pipes are designed to handle high pressure for the distribution of water in a farm, sewerage, or underground drainage. They have a standard length of 5 meters, are available in diameters between 20 to 50milimeters with an average wall thickness varying between 3.3 to 4.3milimeters in size.
2. Irrigation systems such as drip irrigation and splash irrigation require a piping system to operate. In this system, lateral pipes manufactured from polythene is used. They have lengths of up to 100meters and diameters of 1 to 3milimeters. They are durable, highly flexible, ultraviolet resistant, and can handle water with high pressure.
3. In flood irrigation, pipes with bigger diameters are preferred to discharge large volumes of water.
4. Suction hoses are designed for heavy-duty suction, discharge services, dewatering, and handling sewerage and wastewater. The design of the pipe makes it flexible and can be coiled to assume different shapes. The pipes have a length of 30 meters and are available in sizes of diameters between 20 to 50milimeters in size. They are green, black, blue, or red in color.

More Advantages of HDPE pipes

• Pipes are stronger, corrosion and chemical resistant ensuring long life
• They are market available, cost-effective, and have a low maintenance cost
• Pipes are ultraviolet resistant and can handle temperatures up to 140 Degrees Celsius
• HDPE pipes are lightweight for easy transportation and easy to installation
• The internal surface of the pipes is smoother, ensuring low friction and better flow of water
• HDPE is leakproof
• Easy to customize to fit into joints and valves

Uses of used HDPE.

Used HDPE combined with PVC is used in the creation of vertical and hydroponic gardens. This has revolutionized modern farming and has been considered environmentally friendly.

Worn-out HDPE pipes are also recycled. They are industrially ground into small chippings and remolded into new pipes then sold back to the market.