An industry training program continues to provide 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 Fusion/Electrofusion of HDPE Water Piping Systems Program teaches utility technicians, operators, inspectors, and engineers proper methods for fusion and electrofusion of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) piping systems for potable and wastewater applications. Heat fusion creates seamless pipeline connections that produce leak-free HDPE pipelines and eliminate the joint failures that plague traditional piping systems.
Sponsored by the Municipal Advisory Board (MAB), an independent, non-commercial adviser to the Municipal & Industrial Division of the Plastics Pipe Institute, Inc., the training program has graduated nearly 150 utility professionals plus college students from 22 cities across the country. According to Camille George Rubeiz, P.E., co-chair of the MAB and vice president for PPI's Municipal & Industrial Division, the first training session was in 2021 and has grown quickly, now offering four sessions per year with attendees from Maine to California.
The program has expanded beyond utility professionals 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.'
Rubeiz highlighted the advantages of HDPE piping systems 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, led by NWTC's expert instructors and staff. The 11th training class was held during the summer of 2025 and had 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 that serve water utility professionals nationwide.
Rubeiz noted that feedback from participants 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 said 'nothing' and 'in my opinion nothing needs to change from what I experienced.'
MAB and its members will continue this initiative to save communities water, defeat numerous water breaks, add skills to grow the local workforce, and build a resilient water system. They provide technical information, field reports, and expertise from cities across the country to help in the design and installation of resilient and sustainable HDPE water piping systems. Utility operators, inspectors, and engineers interested in the 2026 training schedule for the Fusion/Electrofusion of HDPE Water Piping Systems Program can find additional information at www.plasticpipe.org/mabpubs.
