For the various smoking devices, see hookah or bong. A hookah (हुक़्क़ा حقّہ hukkah) is a single or multi-stemmed (often glass-based water pipe for Smoking. See also Bong (disambiguation A bong, also commonly known as a water pipe, is a smoking device generally used to smoke cannabis, Tobacco For other uses, see pipe.

A system of copper water tubes used in a radiator heating system. Copper (ˈkɒpɚ is a Chemical element with the symbol Cu (cuprum and Atomic number 29 Tubing is a Pipe or hollow cylinder for the conveyance of fluids (liquids or gases Radiators and convectors are types of Heat exchangers designed to transfer Thermal energy from one medium to another for the purpose of cooling

Water pipes are pipes or tubes, frequently made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC/uPVC), ductile iron, polyethylene, or copper, that carry pressurized and treated fresh water to buildings (as part of a municipal water system), as well as inside the building. A pipe is a tube or hollow cylinder used to convey materials or as a structural component Tubing is a Pipe or hollow cylinder for the conveyance of fluids (liquids or gases Ductile iron, also called ductile cast iron, spheroidal graphite iron, or nodular cast iron, is a type of Cast iron invented in 1943 by Polyethylene or polythene ( IUPAC name poly(ethene) is a Thermoplastic commodity heavily used in consumer products (notably the Copper (ˈkɒpɚ is a Chemical element with the symbol Cu (cuprum and Atomic number 29 Pressure (symbol 'p' is the force per unit Area applied to an object in a direction perpendicular to the surface Water purification is the process of removing contaminants and other harmful microorganisms from a raw water source Freshwater is a word that refers to bodies of water such as Ponds lakes rivers and streams containing low concentrations of dissolved Salts and other Total dissolved A water supply network is a system of engineered Hydrologic and Hydraulic components including the watershed or geographic area that collects

An original Roman lead pipe with a folded seam, at the Roman Baths in Bath, UK. For Roman baths in general see Thermae. The Roman Baths complex is a site of historical interest in the English city of Bath Bath is a city in Somerset in the south west of England It is situated west of London and south-east of Bristol.

For many centuries, lead was the favored material for water pipes, due to its malleability (this use was so common that the word "plumbing" derives from the Latin word for lead). Characteristics Lead has a dull luster and is a dense, Ductile, very soft highly Plumbing, from the Latin plumbum for Lead, is the skilled trade of working with pipes, tubing and Plumbing fixtures for Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. This was a source of lead related health problems in the years before the health hazards of ingesting lead were fully understood; among these were stillbirth and high rates of infant mortality. A stillbirth occurs when a Fetus which has died in the Uterus or during labor or delivery exits a Woman 's body Infant mortality is defined as the number of deaths of Infants (one year of age or younger per 1000 live births Lead water pipes were still in common use in the early 20th century and remain in many households. The twentieth century of the Common Era began on Lead-tin alloy solder was commonly used to join copper pipes, but modern practice uses tin-antimony alloy solder to join copper in order to eliminate lead hazards. A solder is a fusible metal Alloy with a melting point or melting range of 90 to 450 ° C (200 to 840 ° F) used in a process called

Wooden pipes were often used in Montreal and Boston in the 1800s. The pipes were hollowed out logs, which were tapered at the end with a small hole in which the water would pass through. The multiple pipes were then sealed together with hot animal fat.

A rusted water pipe due for replacement.

Iron pipe was long a lower cost alternative to copper, before the advent of durable plastic materials but special non-conductive fittings must be used where transitions are to be made to other metallic pipes, except for terminal fittings, in order to avoid corrosion owing to electrochemical reactions between dissimilar metals (see galvanic cell). Iron (ˈаɪɚn is a Chemical element with the symbol Fe (ferrum and Atomic number 26 The Galvanic cell, named after Luigi Galvani, consists of two different metals connected by a Salt bridge or a porous disk between the individual half-cells

Bronze fittings and short pipe segments are commonly used in combination with various materials. Bronze is any of a broad range of Copper alloys, usually with Tin as the main additive but sometimes with other elements such as Phosphorus

Pipe vs. Tube

Typical PVC municipal water main being installed in Ontario, Canada

Monument for water pipe in Mytishchi (Russia)

The difference between pipe and tube is simply in the way it is sized. Mytishchi (Мыти́щи mɨ'tʲiɕɕi is the second-largest city (according to the 2002 census) in Moscow Oblast, Russia, adjacent to PVC pipe for plumbing applications and galvanized steel pipe for instance, are measured in IPS (iron pipe size). Copper tube, CPVC, PeX and other tubing is measured nominally, which is basically an average diameter. These sizing schemes allow for universal adaptation of transitional fittings. For instance, 1/2" PeX tubing is the same size as 1/2" copper tubing. 1/2" PVC on the other hand is not the same size as 1/2" tubing, and therefor requires either a threaded male or female adapter to connect them.

Piping is available in rigid "joints", which come in various lengths depending on the material. Tubing, in particular copper, comes in rigid hard tempered "joints" or soft tempered (annealed) rolls. PeX and CPVC tubing also comes in rigid "joints" or flexible rolls. The temper of the copper, that is whether it is a rigid "joint" or flexible roll, does not affect the sizing.

The thicknesses of the water pipe and tube walls can vary. Pipe wall thickness is denoted by various schedules. Pipe wall thickness increases with schedule, and is available in schedules 20, 40, 80 and higher in special cases. The schedule is largely determined by the operating pressure of the system with higher pressures commanding greater thickness. Copper tubing is available in three wall thicknesses. Type 'M' (thinnest; typically only allowed as drain pipe by IPC code), Type 'L' (thicker, standard duty for water lines and water service), and Type 'K' (thickest, typically used underground between the main and the meter). Because piping and tubing are commodities, having a greater wall thickness implies higher initial cost. Thicker walled pipe generally implies greater durability and higher pressure tolerances.

Wall thickness does not affect pipe or tubing size. 1/2" L copper has the same outer diameter as 1/2" K or M copper. The same applies to pipe schedules. As a result, a slight increase in pressure losses is realized due to a decrease in flowpath as wall thickness is increased. In other words, 1 foot of 1/2" L copper has slightly less volume than 1 foot of 1/2 M copper.

Demand for copper products have fallen due to the dramatic increase in the price of copper, resulting in increased demand for alternative products including PEX and stainless steel, however numerous PEX failures have been reported and rumored across the US, leading to many to question the quality of this type of alternative system.

See also

• Pipeline transport
• Pipe (material)
• Domestic water system
• Plastic Pressure Pipe Systems

External links

• Lead Water Pipes and Infant Mortality in Turn-of-the-Century Massachusetts
• Case Studies in Environmental Medicine - Lead Toxicity
• ToxFAQs™: Lead