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The Largest Gathering of PVC Pipe and Fitting Manufacturers in the World
Each year the Uni-Bell PVC Pipe Association members gather for our Annual Meeting – the largest gathering of PVC pipe and fitting manufacturers in the world.
Presentations cover topics ranging from market assessments for PVC pipe, vinyl resin and related chemicals, to sustainability, technology, legislative affairs and product certification. Participants come from around the world, and their ranks include pipe and fitting manufacturers, resin and additive providers, equipment manufacturers, affiliated associations, and non-profit certification agencies. Speakers include academics, business analysts, engineers, municipal officials, taxpayer advocates, public affairs specialists, etc.
SCHEDULE SUMMARY
Sunday, March 15
Monday, March 16
Tuesday, March 17
Wednesday, March 18
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
Keynote
We're at an Inflection Point in the American Economy Peter St. Onge, Ph.D., Economist, Professor, and former Bartender Since 1913 the American economy has undergone a long coup by unelected bureaucrats and their crony sponsors. This half-killed the Golden Goose that used to make every generation unimaginably more prosperous than their parents. And it saddled American business and innovation with challenges our major competitors do not face – and they ran with it. We now have an administration that wants to smash that status quo to unleash American workers, business, and innovation. If President Trump succeeds, this levels the playing field and opens immense opportunities for PVC pipe given its overwhelming technological advantages versus competing old technology water infrastructure in an environment where government is no longer picking winners.
Peter St. Onge holds a Ph.D. in Economics from George Mason University and is a former Professor of International Business at Taiwan's prestigious Feng Chia University. He has held executive positions at Japanese and American multinationals in telecoms infrastructure and consumer goods, and has been a Fellow at the Ludwig von Mises Institute, Montreal Economic Institute, and the Heritage Foundation, where he was the Mark Kolokotrones Fellow in Economic Freedom. Peter’s articles have been published in the Wall Street Journal, Globe and Mail, and the Eurasia Review, and he is a frequent guest on TV including Charles Payne, Jesse Watters, and Maria Bartiromo. Mr. St. Onge produces daily videos on economics and freedom on X that get millions of views with 270,000 followers including Elon Musk. He speaks five languages and can still make a drinkable Long Island Iced Tea. Visit Peter at x.com/profstonge and www.linkedin.com/in/peterstonge.
Special Guest Speaker
Correcting EPA’s Statements on Alleged Vinyl Chloride Monomer Leaching and Benzene Contamination from PVC Pipes Steven J. Milloy, Lawyer, biostatistician, author, and former Fox News commentator. The safety of PVC piping has been thoroughly evaluated for more than 70 years by federal regulatory agencies, independent certification organizations, and scientific studies. U.S.-made PVC pipe consistently meets or exceeds rigorous safety standards established by groups like the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Yet false claims from environmental activists and competitive pipe materials persist. It is not helpful when the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has incorrect information on its website about PVC water pipe allegedly leaching vinyl chloride monomer or that it is a potential source of benzene contamination after wildfire events. As new scares about PFAS and microplastics become all the rage, it has never been more important to have a game plan to set the record straight with the EPA.
Steven J. Milloy is an American lawyer, biostatistician, author, and former Fox News commentator. Milloy is the founder and editor of the blog JunkScience.com where he publishes articles that refute misinformation from environmental activists and expose faulty scientific data and analysis. Steve has worked for a number of think tanks: he was Director of The Advancement of Sound Science Center; an Adjunct Scholar at both the Cato Institute and Competitive Enterprise Institute; and served on the board of the Heartland Institute. Malloy is the author of “Scare Pollution: Why and How to Fix the EPA,” which debunks many of the EPA’s claims and exposes them as rank scientific fraud, but also offers a roadmap for fixing the rogue and out-of-control EPA. Today Steve is a Senior Policy Advisor with the Energy & Environment Legal Institute (E&E Legal), which promotes free market environmentalism and served as key advisors on President Trump’s transition team. Steve’s insights into how to reform the EPA are being used at E&E Legal to help ensure the Administration’s agenda is realized, such as returning sound and transparent science to EPA rulemaking. Milloy holds a B.A. in Natural Sciences from Johns Hopkins University, a Master of Health Sciences in Biostatistics from the Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health, a Juris Doctor from the University of Baltimore, and a Master of Laws from the Georgetown University Law Center.
Presentations
PVC Pipe: More than 50 Years of Use in Dallas, Texas in Water and Wastewater Applications Tony Almeida, P.E., Retired, Halff Associates / Dallas Water Utilities New U.S. federal regulations and industry standards in the 1970s enabled the change from rigid pipe to flexible pipe systems to take place. Initially Dallas Water Utilities (DWU) relied on cast iron, later ductile iron and even asbestos cement pipes for water distribution and clay and concrete for wastewater collection systems. These materials were used across the U.S. due to their strength, but they were prone to corrosion, leaking, and required costly maintenance to comply with the new federal regulations. PVC pipe usage by DWU evolved gradually as part of broader national trends in water infrastructure modernization and compliance with regulatory mandates. DWU began incorporating PVC pipe in non-pressure applications in the 1960’s before gradually expanding its use to pressure pipes, especially in new developments and replacements in the early 1970s. Today, DWU manages over 5,000 miles of water mains and 4000 miles wastewater pipelines, and PVC is the standard material for much of these systems due to its corrosion resistance, durability, lower cost, ease of installation and joint integrity.
Research on PVC Pipe and Associated PVC Microplastics in Drinking Water Systems Steven L. Barfuss, P.E., Research Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Utah State University A summary of microplastic sampling and microplastic analysis conducted on a PVC pipe test loop in a laboratory as well as from drinking water utilities across the United States. Water samples were collected from participating utilities which were selected based on varying percentages of PVC pipe and other pipe materials in each system. Levels of PVC microplastics in collected water samples were then correlated to the actual pipe materials in the water system from which the samples were taken.
LCA and EPDs: Driving Circular and Sustainable Infrastructure Cindy Bray, Executive General Manager, Plastics Industry Pipe Association of Australia (PIPA) Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) and Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for infrastructure products have become widely available as the focus on circularity and sustainability grows and governments as well as environmental agencies increasingly require this information for water and sewer pipeline projects. While LCAs and EPDs can also help manufacturers to better understand the environmental impact of their products, their increased availability has also led to unverified and often incorrect material comparisons. To address this, PIPA undertook an LCA examining infrastructure pipe materials. The study compared plastic pipes—PE, PVC-M, and PVC-O—with traditional ductile iron cement-lined (DICL) pipes in water applications, using consistent functional performance criteria and Australia-specific data. By analysing key indicators such as carbon emissions, water use, and waste generation, environmental data can be correctly applied to help utilities make more informed, sustainable infrastructure decisions.
The Water Research Foundation (WRF): Delivering Actionable Water Research to Build Resilient Communities Peter Grevatt, Ph.D., CEO, The Water Research Foundation (WRF) Highlights from the latest WRF research, with a focus on priority topics addressing water distribution and collection.
Housing Market Outlook Fan-Yu Kuo, Senior Economist, National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) The housing market is an important sector which helps drive PVC water and sewer pipe demand. This session will provide an overview of the macroeconomy, housing market conditions, industry-level details on supply-side headwinds for housing, and the 2025 NAHB forecast for single-family and multifamily construction.
PVC: Key Drivers and Trends, Feedstock’s Outlook and Worldwide Economic Factors Ana Lopez, Executive Director of Americas Vinyls and Global Sodium Sulfate, Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS, a Dow Jones Company The housing market is an important sector which helps drive PVC water and sewer pipe demand. This session will provide an overview of the macroeconomy, housing market conditions, industry-level details on supply-side headwinds for housing, and the 2025 NAHB forecast for single-family and multifamily construction.
The Science of Microplastics: Facts, Gaps, and Frontiers Dr. Kimberly Wise White, Vice President, Regulatory and Scientific Affairs, American Chemistry Council Join us for a dive into the complex and evolving science behind microplastics. This presentation will discuss the research and science, offering a look at what we know—and what we still need to learn.
SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES
Tony Almeida, P.E., Retired, Halff Associates / Dallas Water Utilities has over 50 years of experience in the water and wastewater industry, both in municipal engineering and private consulting. He started his career at Dallas Water Utilities (DWU) following his graduation from Texas Tech in 1971. Tony’s experience at DWU was in operations and ranged from planning, budgeting, contracts, design and construction for both facilities and pipelines. In 2000 he joined Halff Associates where he managed large utility projects and programs for many north Texas cities. Tony is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, Water Environmental Federation, Water Pollution Control Federation, and the American Water Works Association and serves on numerous committees. He has one U.S. patent and two under review, has published articles in several professional journals and has received several awards including the ASTM Fellow 1997 Paul Finn Award; American Society of Testing Materials International 2001 Award of Merit; and the 2014 Reinhart-Kuhlmann Award.
Steven L. Barfuss, P.E., is a Research Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Utah State University (USU) in Logan, Utah, and Associate Director of the Utah Water Research Laboratory (UWRL). Steve has been employed at UWRL at USU since 1987. His research includes the physical and numerical modeling of hydraulic structures, understanding and solving flow measurement problems, and the evaluation and documentation of pipe friction, pipe failure, and pipe material sustainability. Steve has authored over 1,500 research reports and more than 50 peer-reviewed articles in technical journals while employed as a researcher at USU.
Cindy Bray is Executive General Manager of the Plastics Industry Pipe Association of Australia (PIPA) and has over 23 years of experience in the plastics pipe sector. PIPA represents manufacturers, suppliers, fabricators, installers, and certification bodies for plastic piping in Australia and conducts research, education, and advocacy on behalf of the industry. Previously, Cindy was Product and Category Marketing Manager at Iplex, one of Australia’s largest manufacturers of PVC, PE, PP, PE-X, and GRP pipeline products, where she led technical marketing, product development, and communications initiatives. Cindy holds an Executive MBA, a degree in Marketing and Communications and is one of Australia’s foremost experts on the sustainability attributes of plastic piping systems.
Peter Grevatt, Ph.D., is President of America’s Plastic Makers™ at the American Chemistry Council (ACC) where he oversees a self-funded group of 30 ACC Plastics Division member companies who are working together to maximize the value and minimize the waste of one of the earth’s most versatile materials. Ross also leads ACC’s state, federal, and global plastics advocacy, working across party lines to achieve a more circular and sustainable solution for plastics in society. Previously, Mr. Eisenberg served as ACC V.P. of Federal Affairs, leading the association’s federal advocacy on major legislation including passage of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, the Inflation Reduction Act, and permitting reform.
Fan-Yu Kuo is a Senior Economist at the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), specializing in comprehensive economic research with a focus on macroeconomics and forecasting. She regularly delivers economic updates and forecasts. Her research covers housing market trends, economic indicators, and their impact on the housing industry. She holds a master's degree in international economics and finance from Johns Hopkins University.
Ana Lopez is Executive Director of Americas Vinyls and Global Sodium Sulfate at Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS, a Dow Jones Company, and has more than 20 years of experience analyzing petrochemical commodities markets. During her time with the company, she has worked in a wide variety of roles within polyolefins, chlor-alkali, and vinyls. Mrs. Lopez is a key resource for understanding and insight into the chlor-alkali and vinyls sectors of the petrochemical industry. Dr. Kimberly Wise White is Vice President, Regulatory and Scientific Affairs at the American Chemistry Council (ACC) when she oversees the development of ACC’s policy positions in response to regulatory and legislative proposals. Kimberly leads a staff of experts who identify, analyze, and create technical and policy materials to support ACC’s activities. Dr. White has more than ten years of experience in the chemical industry, focused on managing science policy issues, scientific research, and product stewardship programs to inform regulatory decision-making. She also served as Senior Director for ACC’s Chemical Products and Technology Division, provided testimony to the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate Committees, and worked as a Scientific Advisor for the oil and gas industry. Kimberly has a Master of Science in Biology and a Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Toxicology from Texas Southern University.
The Path to a Brighter Future for North America’s Underground Infrastructure 49th Annual Meeting March 20-22, 2023 Casa Marina Key West, Curio Collection by Hilton Key West, FL
2023 Annual Meeting Program
2022 and Beyond: Setting our Sights on the Next Decade of Growth 48th Annual Meeting April 4-6, 2022 Ponte Vedra Inn & Club Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
2022 Annual Meeting Program
PVC Pipe in North America: Celebrating More Than Sixty Years of Success 47th Annual Meeting March 11-13, 2019 Fairmont Grand Del Mar San Diego, CA
2019 Annual Meeting Program
PVC Pipe: At the Forefront as New Forces Reshape the Municipal Pipe Market 46th Annual Meeting March 12-14, 2018 Casa Marina, A Waldorf Astoria Resort Key West, FL
2018 Annual Meeting Program
Improving Water Quality, Durability and Safety in Post-Flint America with PVC Pipe 45th Annual Meeting February 27 - March 1, 2017 Scottsdale Marriott at McDowell Mountains Scottsdale, AZ
2017 Annual Meeting Program
Rebuilding America with PVC Pipe: A New Threshold for Pipe Performance and Sustainability 44th Annual Meeting February 22-24, 2016 Key Largo Bay Marriott Beach Resort Key Largo, FL
2016 Annual Meeting Program
The Tipping Point: PVC Pipe in the Age of Replacement 43rd Annual Meeting February 23 - 25, 2015 Los Suenos Marriott Ocean & Golf Resort Playa Herradura, Costa Rica
2015 Annual Meeting Program
The Future is PVC Pipe 42nd Annual Meeting March 10-12, 2014 Harbor Beach Marriott Resort & Spa Fort Lauderdale, Florida
2014 Annual Meeting Program
Building A Greener World with PVC Pipe 41st Annual Meeting April 22-24, 2013 The Resort at Pelican Hill Newport Beach, California
2013 Annual Meeting Program
Unleashing American Innovation with PVC Pipe: The Sustainable Solution for Corroding Water & Sewer Systems 40th Annual Meeting April 23-25, 2012 Marriott Key West Beachside Hotel Key West, Florida
2012 Annual Meeting Program
Smarter Spending For Challenging Times: Rebuilding America's Water/Wastewater Infrastructure with PVC Pipe 39th Annual Meeting April 18-20, 2011 Loews Ventana Canyon Resort Tucson, Arizona
2011 Annual Meeting Program
Fighting Back: Gaining Ground in Tough Economic Times - The World's Largest Gathering of PVC Pipe & Fitting Manufacturers 38th Annual Meeting April 19-21, 2010 Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort, Golf Club & Spa Marco Island, FL
2010 Annual Meeting Program