(Georgia) County’s water loss reduced to 16%
by Sarah Fay Campbell; Newnan Times-Herald, GA; 7 Jan 09
The Coweta County Water and Sewerage Authority embarked on a systematic replacement of faulty polybutylene pipe with copper. The replacement of faulty pipe in subdivisions is about 90 percent complete.
http://www.times-herald.com

Long Island man blames officials for agreeing to substandard piping in '77, leading to leaks that flooded his yard
by Susana Enriquez; Newsday, NY; 4 Jan 2009
A type of plastic, typically used for irrigation systems that is a lesser grade than that approved to carry drinking water, is the source of leaking water pipe at a private home in Woodbury.
http://www.newsday.com

Researcher shows plumbing materials may taint your tap water
by Lynn Nystrom; Insciences Organisation, Switzerland; 6 Jan 09
Andrea Dietrich, professor at Virginia Tech, conducts research focused on determining which pipes are to blame for funny tasting tap water. Her research group studies how different plumbing materials affect the odor and taste of drinking water. The National Science Foundation sponsored Dietrich’s research regarding leaching in various types of polymer pipes.  Chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (cPVC) ranked as the polymer least likely to give drinking water an offensive odor. Copper pipe consumed nearly all the residual disinfectants. All other polymer materials imparted distinct odors and organic chemicals to water and consumed residual disinfectant.
http://insciences.org

Plumbers caught between copper quality, higher cost
Metal Bulletin, UK; 9 Jan 09 [article access requires subscription]
Plumber Tom Gasperetti knows that plastic tubing is the product of choice in the residential building sector, but when it came time to remodel his own bathroom, he opted for traditional copper tubing. "(Plastic tubing) rubbed me the wrong way…I've got 30 years in the industry, and we were taught to make things straight and square and plumb and true. With PEX (cross-linked polyethylene) tubing, it just looks like spaghetti in a wall."
http://www.metalbulletin.com

Phila. may permit PVC pipes
by Natalie Kostelni; Philadelphia Business Journal, PA; 16 Jan 09
The legislation has its detractors, mainly the plumbing unions, who believe cast iron and copper are superior to PVC.
http://philadelphia.bizjournals.com

Pipe work begins in homes involved in Kitec lawsuit
by Jeff Pope; Las Vegas Sun, NV; 22 Jan 09
Hundreds of homes in the Silverado area are undergoing repairs in a preemptive strike against faulty plastic plumbing that's at the heart of a multimillion dollar class action lawsuit.
http://www.lasvegassun.com