Virginia Beach Public Utilities Earns National Recognition for Long-term, Reliable Water System

Since 1924, water has flowed continuously through a 16-mile portion of our City’s water distribution system, delivering drinking water to Virginia Beach residents. This section of cast iron pipe, which is among the oldest in the city, has been maintained over the years by the employees of our Public Utilities Department. They work each day to ensure that our water system is safe, reliable and durable.  

Those employees recently gathered to accept the department’s membership into the Ductile Iron Pipe Research Association’s (DIPRA) Century Club, which recognizes cities with cast iron underground water mains in continuous service for at least 100 years. 

The section of water main that is the focus of the Century Club’s induction is about 16 miles of water main running underneath Virginia Beach Boulevard. The water main was installed in 1924 and still remains in service. 

"It is an honor to be recognized by the Century Club," said Director of Virginia Beach Public Utilities Bob Montague. “We are proud of the work our employees put in each day to ensure safe and reliable water service is provided to our customers 24/7.”  

Virginia Beach Public Utilities has a strong maintenance program that supports the long-term reliability of the 1,675 miles of pipes in the City’s water distribution system. With continued investment into these essential systems, the department expects this water main to provide several more years of service to the surrounding community. 

DIPRA is a non-profit association supported by all Ductile iron pressure pipe manufacturers in North America. From its inception more than 100 years ago, the Ductile Iron Pipe Research Association (DIPRA) has provided accurate, reliable, and essential engineering information about cast iron – and now Ductile iron – pipe to a wide variety of utilities and consulting engineers.