Pipe Comparison

Armin Poly-pipe

Aluminum

Pipe size, unit length

12-inch, 10 mil., 1320/ft. roll

12-inch, pressure rated, 40/ft. lengths

Conveyance/gated pipe

19,000-ft/7,000-ft; 21 rolls

675 sections

Weight

200-lb./roll=4,200-lbs. total

200-lb./section=135,000-lbs. total

Predicted service

one irrigation season

10-15 years

Installation design

none; annual change easy

engineering study; $3,000.

Type of installation

unroll and lay in earth ditch

excavate and place on pad above ground

Installation equipment

truck; 1 helper

truck, backhoe, dozer, 2+ helpers

Maintenance

repair with knife & rubber cord

675 gaskets seals every 5 yr=$2,000.

Sediment removal/Cost

cut, dry, remove, discard/$0.00

remove, clean 675 sectionsX$3.=$2,000.

Frequency of removal

annually; flow 100%; 0 friction

5-yr; flows reduced 10%/yr; friction loss

Affect on earth ditch

none; remove pipe and use

destroyed; remove pipe and reconstruct

Action/Cost to remove pipe

cut, dry, remove, discard/$ 0.00

reverse of installation/$3.-ft.=$81,000.

Cost to restore

earth ditch none

$5.-ft.=$135,000.

Nature of installation

temporary

permanent

Responsibility to maintain

no; remove without damage

yes; remove with cost to restore

Flexibility of use

change size=max. flow; low cost

none without additional costs

Convey to gated/visa versa

punch holes/seal holes

no/close gates

Turn-out box

attach in/out with bungee cord

special coupling for in/out/$50. each

Turn-out location

anywhere with moveable box

40-ft distances with moveable box

Initial cost, design, install

21-rollsX$334.=$7014. (.25/ft.)

675-sec.X$400.=$273,000. ($10./ft.)

5-yr + maintenance

$7014.X5=$35,070.

$277,000. (gaskets & cleaning)

10-yr + maintenance

$70,140.00

$281,000. (gaskets/cleaning X 2)

20-yr + maintenance

$140,280.00

$289,000. (exceeds life expectancy)

40-yr.+ maintenance

$280,500. (not inflation adj.)

$289,000. + $273,000. (reinstall)

Avg. cost for 5 users

$1,400. (realistic cost)

$54,600. (unrealistic cost)

Summary of advantages

low cost, low maintenance, easy size

one time installation with 10-15 yr life,

change results in lower cost, no

above ground (compared to buried PIP),

damage to ditch, no sediment

turn-out valves easily moved

buildup, turn-outs easy to make

Summary of disadvantages

remove in Fall, install in Spring,

high cost to purchase, install, replace,

annual expense

maintain, restore ditch, sediment/friction buildup, liability to maintain, costly

valves, hard to clean

Price Information (1-14-00):

Size Cost/ft. Cost/roll Wt/roll

All sizes 10 mil. thickness

*5" .10 $132.00 76 lb.

except noted noted by *. Also

*9" .14 $185.00 104 lb.

available in 15 mil. thickness.

10" .20 $265.00 150 lb.

Plugs & gates available.

12" .24 $317.00 200 lb.

Quantity and rancher discounts

15" .30 $396.00 253 lb.

may apply. All prices subject to

*18" .36 $475.00 266 lb.

change without notice.

22" .23 $607.00 370 lb.