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STAFF REPORT <br />DATE:April 7, 2026 <br />REGULAR <br />TO: City Council <br />FROM: Nate Stanley, City Engineer <br />Pete Tholen, Public Works Director <br />AGENDA ITEM: City Standards for Watermain <br />REVIEWED BY: Nicole Miller, City Administrator <br /> Chad Isakson, Assistant City Engineer <br />CORE STRATEGIES: <br />☐ Vibrant, inclusive, connected community ☒ Efficient, reliable, innovative services <br />☐ Responsive, transparent, adaptive governance ☐ Balanced Finances now and future <br />☐ Managed Growth ☒ Resilient Infrastructure <br />BACKGROUND: During discussion of the Highpoint Crossing development at the February 17, 2026 <br />City Council meeting, a request was made by the developer to deviate from the City Standard material for <br />watermain which is Ductile Iron Pipe (DIP) and use Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) pipe, as recently use of <br />PVC pipe has been less expensive. Rather than allow one-off deviations from the City Standard, Council <br />directed staff to review the changing the standard for watermain material to see if it would be prudent <br />moving forward. Public Works and Engineering staff have completed an in-depth review, comparing the <br />materials from an ownership perspective. <br />ISSUE BEFORE COUNCIL: Should the City Council change the City Standard for open-cut installed <br />watermain pipe material to PVC? <br />PROPOSAL DETAILS/ANALYSIS: A comparison of DIP and PVC pipe installed by method of open- <br />cutting was completed based on several factors which are detailed in the attached memorandum. The <br />investigation was based on a developer request to use an alternative material for watermain pipe in a new <br />residential subdivision, which would presumably cost less to install. However, from an ownership <br />perspective there are several other factors to consider based on operation and maintenance of the system, <br />including strength and pressure capacity, the ability to locate pipe reliably, leak prevention and detection, <br />system continuity, corrosion resistance, and cold-weather performance. While cost is an important factor, <br />changing the material standard can present operational and risk-management issues. <br />FISCAL IMPACT: No fiscal impact. <br />OPTIONS: Approve the staff recommendation or Table the item and provide further staff direction. <br />RECOMMENDATION: Staff is recommending that the City Standard for watermain pipe remain DIP.