Idaho Town Turns to HDPE with Future Growth in Mind
When the Mayor of Cascade, Idaho, set into motion his plan to improve his community, he knew that a top priority would be a basic need – water. Not that the town was running out of water, it’s just that its infrastructure was in need of major repair. His solution: Replace the city’s entire water and wastewater system with high density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe.
"The secret is out and people understand that Idaho is a marvelous place to live," said Mayor R.W. Carter about the population explosion that is taking place in southern Idaho. “We have all the amenities that go with recreational areas like Vail, Park City and other resort communities,” said Carter. "It's bringing people who want to live in an aesthetically stunning place with outdoor adventure, and the thing that will support every facet of the community’s impending growth is water."
Cascade is a small lumber mill town that is trying to bring its piping infrastructure into the 21st century. Cascade’s piping infrastructure was similar to a lot of towns across the country –under funded and neglected. The history of the public works department was one of buying whatever pipe was the cheapest at the time of needed expansion or repair. "Every kind of pipe ever invented over the years has found its way into our system," said Carter.