Vitrified clay pipe

VCP is commonly used in gravity sewer collection mains because of its long life and resistance to almost all domestic and industrial sewage, particularly the sulfuric acid that is generated by hydrogen sulfide, a common component of sewage.

[1] Such wastes would not be permitted to be discharged into a municipal sewage collection system without adequate pretreatment.

But the primary benefit (both environmental and fiscal) of using VCP in sanitary sewers is its long service life.

[7][8] As Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSOs) have become an area of concern for the US EPA and thus a very large potential liability for municipalities, cleaning sewers for condition assessment and maintenance has become a critical factor in system design.

VCP allows for aggressive cleaning methods which prolongs the service life of a sewer line and frequently eliminates the need for expensive dig-ups.