Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Building a dam PVC vs Steel Pipe for Spillway

My NRCS design calls for a 120' length of 6 inch pipe sloping down through the dam. It specifics 3/16 wall welded steel pipe, but then they also attached Code 378.

Code 378 states it can be made of corrugated metal pipe, PVC 1120/1220, PVC C900, or welded steel. My initial thought would be welded steel would be best, but perhaps one of the PVC grades would be fine. I assume I could join the lengths of PVC together myself, rather than hiring a welder to come join steel sections.

What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of PVC vs steel?

Advantages of PVC is that it's lighter in weight and easily moved. Gluing larger diameters is tricky, you have to use slower setting glue and really have to force the pieces together, and hold them together until the glue sets. It helps to use a marker to know how far you have to shove the fitting on the PVC pipe. PVC won't rust out like steel.(especially the corrugated stuff)

PVC might or might not have UV inhibitors in it. So, the stuff exposed to the sun might get brittle over time. Some people here have been known to mistake the PVC pipe for a muskrat and shoot it..... I should say a particular person, as he's the only one that I've known to do it.

If PVC freezes it might split easier than steel pipe. It won't turn rusty brown, so it won't blend into the background as easily.

I used 8" pvc on my small pond and id say it works well. When we turned the pipe up in the pond I poured four yards of concrete around the 90. 1. for strength and 2. to act as a antiseep collar.

On my big pond I used 22" x 1/4" thick steel pipe. with 2 4x8 sheets of 1/4" plate for anti seep collars.

10 acre pond was a much larger investment, therefore I didn't want to skimp on my spillway Pipe and cause problems later.

And good luck