The Fusion/Electrofusion of HDPE Water Piping Systems Program, sponsored by the Municipal Advisory Board (MAB), is providing critical benefits to participating communities, including eliminating water loss due to pipeline leaks and corrosion, reducing emergency water main breaks, and advancing career opportunities for the local infrastructure workforce. The program trains utility technicians, operators, inspectors, and engineers in proper fusion methods for high-density polyethylene (HDPE) piping systems used in potable and wastewater applications. Heat fusion creates seamless pipeline connections that produce leak-free HDPE pipelines and eliminate joint failures common in traditional piping systems.
Since its inception in 2021, the program has graduated nearly 150 utility professionals and college students from 22 cities across the country. Camille George Rubeiz, P.E., co-chair of the MAB and vice president for the Municipal & Industrial Division of the Plastics Pipe Institute, Inc. (PPI), noted the program's rapid growth: "We have attendees ranging from Maine to California, and have increased the number of sessions to four a year." The program has expanded to include college students preparing for infrastructure careers. Carly Wilkerson, a construction engineering student at Purdue University (Class of 2026), praised the hands-on approach: "The best way to learn was through hands-on experiences. The team aspect of the training was extremely vital in our continuous improvement throughout the process."
HDPE piping systems offer significant advantages over aging traditional infrastructure. The corrosion-proof material eliminates rust-related failures, while heat-fused connections create leak-free joints that prevent loss of non-revenue water—treated water that escapes the system before reaching customers. Additionally, HDPE's flexibility allows for both traditional open cut and trenchless installation methods, minimizing property damage and road disruption during infrastructure upgrades. The training is held at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC) in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and is led by NWTC's expert instructors and staff. The 11th training class, held in summer 2025, included special guests from the City of Green Bay. Mayor Eric Genrich accepted a certificate of appreciation recognizing the city's support for workforce development programs serving water utility professionals nationwide.
Rubeiz emphasized the program's impact: "Not only is this program training a community's infrastructure workforce, but it is also gratifying to hear feedback from participants that consistently reconfirms the program's high quality." Trainees cite 'hands-on training with instructors who have 25+ years of experience' and note that the curriculum is 'informational and fun at the same time.' When asked how to improve the class, trainees responded 'nothing' and 'in my opinion nothing needs to change.' MAB and its members will continue this initiative to save communities water, reduce water breaks, add skills to grow the local workforce, and build resilient water systems. More information about the 2026 training schedule is available at www.plasticpipe.org/mabpubs.
