When selecting materials for drinking water pipes, especially in areas with potential soil contamination, diffusion resistance through the pipe wall is a critical factor.
Diffusion through the pipe wall is lower for PVC compared to Polyolefins (PO). This property is of particular importance for drinking water pipes installed in contaminated soil, specifically in areas known as 'brown fields,' which are often old industrial sites.
This inherent property of lower diffusion makes PVC pipes a favorable choice for safeguarding drinking water quality in potentially contaminated ground conditions, minimizing the risk of external contaminants migrating through the pipe wall into the potable water supply.