Cedar Falls rejects PEX for water service lines, citing microplastics and durability risks

Cedar Falls rejects PEX for water service lines, citing microplastics and durability risksThe Iowa municipality has amended its adoption of the 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code to exclude PEX piping for exterior water services, backing the local utility's preference for copper and HDPE despite developer pressure for cheaper alternatives.

City Council approved an amendment limiting approved exterior water service materials to copper, high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and ductile iron.

Cedar Falls Utilities (CFU) pushed back against developer requests to use PEX, citing risks of premature failure, microplastics, and ongoing class-action lawsuits.

The city also awarded a $319,967 contract to Municipal Pipe Tool Co. for the 2026 Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation Project.

The City of Cedar Falls, Iowa, has formally restricted the use of cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) piping for underground water service lines, resolving a discrepancy between local utility standards and the 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC). During its March 16 meeting, the City Council approved an amendment to the city's plumbing code, adopting recommendations from Cedar Falls Utilities (CFU) to limit approved exterior water service materials to copper, high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and ductile iron. The decision follows pressure from developers and contractors who advocated for PEX, citing lower costs, ease of installation, and its acceptance in neighboring communities and the broader 2021 UPC, which lists 15 acceptable materials. However, CFU Gas & Water Operations Manager Jerald Lukensmeyer successfully argued against the inclusion of PEX for lines running from the water main to the meter. Presenting to the council, Lukensmeyer outlined a litany of utility concerns regarding PEX, including a lack of UV resistance, stringent trench preparation and bedding requirements, risks of premature failure, and the potential for microplastics contamination. He also highlighted several class-action lawsuits targeting PEX manufacturers. Under the finalized code amendments, copper will remain the standard for residential service materials, continuing a precedent set in the 1950s. HDPE will be permitted for water services extending more than 100 feet beyond the curb stop, while ductile iron pipe is mandated for fire protection lines and water services exceeding two inches in diameter. The city also amended the UPC to require a thicker 12 AWG tracer wire, up from 14 AWG, to improve longevity and underground locating strength. In separate capital project actions at the March 16 meeting, the council awarded the 2026 Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation Project to Hudson, Iowa-based Municipal Pipe Tool Co. The firm secured the contract with a low bid of $319,967.95, narrowly edging out the engineer's estimate of $318,564.00. The project involves installing cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) lining across 6-inch, 8-inch, and 15-inch sewer lines. The council also formally accepted the certificate of completion for the 2025 Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation Project, executed by Des Moines-based Hydro-Klean, LLC. The 2025 CIPP initiative drew $258,006.47 from the city's Sewer Rental Fund.