Gilbert North Water Treatment Plant Facility Upgrades and Reconstruction

Co-contractors PCL and Sundt are utilizing a Kynar® PVDF piping system to safely and effectively handle sulfuric acid streams as part of an expansion to increase the capacity of the Gilbert North Water Treatment Plant in Arizona.

The Kynar® PVDF piping system provided by Simtech Process Systems includes 1/2” to 8” pipe with both single & double wall configurations.  Double containment piping is mainly located outside of the tank farm and in grate covered trenches.  The total Kynar® PVDF pipe length is over two miles for this project.

This piping system is mainly for 93% to 96% sulfuric acid that is used for pH control and alkalinity adjustments in the water treatment plant.

Installation of the Kynar® PVDF piping for this project started in 2025 with upgrades and extensions to the piping system throughout 2026.

Simtech provided certified training for socket and butt welding of the Kynar® PVDF piping system for many people on the jobsite at the start of the project.

The reasons that Kynar® PVDF piping was specified and selected for this project include the following:

• Excellent chemical resistance to 93% to 96% sulfuric acid
• Meets size and pressure requirements
• All pipe fusion is socket and butt welds, so no pipe cement needed
• Quick and easy to weld pipes and fittings with fusion equipment provided by Simtech
• Pipe fittings are molded pieces for optimal flow characteristics, pressure rating, and ease of welding & installation