SWACHH BHARAT, JAL JEEVAN MISSION to boost PVC PIPES MARKET.

Rapid urbanization and thrust on smart cities has reinforced the need to have effective and sustainable water supply system in place. In addition to this, the government initiatives are expected to further accelerate the demand for PVC pipes and fittings market. Prajakta Karnik speaks to industry experts who believe the Indian PVC pipe market is poised to grow at a 4.5 per cent CAGR by 2027.

Market Dynamics

As India crawls back on the path of economic recovery from the Covid pandemic, experts believe there is a need to have effective tools that equip the country with clean and safe drinking water and efficient sewer infrastructure for safe and sustainable development.

The government has already undertaken various initiatives such as the Jal Jeevan Mission Urban scheme, under which the government aims at a universal water supply in all 4378 urban local bodies with 2.86 crore household tap connections, as well as liquid waste management in 500 AMRUT cities.

The government is also focusing on the Swach Bharat Mission 2.0 which intends to focus on complete faecal sludge management and waste water treatment, among others by effectively managing waste from construction-and-demolition activities and bio-remediation of all legacy dump sites.

In her third Union Budget, Finance Minister NirmalaSitharaman proposed the Urban Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0, which will be implemented with a total financial allocation of Rs1.41 lakhcrore over a period of 5 years from 2021-2026.

“As the Covid pandemic has underlined the need for sustainable infrastructure, the piping products for water management, sanitation, sewage treatment etc. will find more demand. Many new applications like fire protection systems, piped gas supply, rainwater harvesting are expected to emerge at large. Besides this, the Government's various ambitious programs like 'Make in India' and the new 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' initiatives will also be the key drivers for future growth,” Supreme Industries Sr. General Manager (Innovation & Technology) GS Dikondawar said.

According to Rajesh Pajnoo, CEO - Pipes Division, Brilloca, the up skilling in the irrigation sector and building construction industry paired with the government's increased focus on rural water management, has driven the Indian PVC market. “Considering all the factors into account, the plastic pipe market is currently a Rs 25,000 crore industry that has been growing at 12 per cent CAGR till 2019-2020. Around 50 per cent of the major contribution is derived from the unorganized or very small players,” he added.

Freek Crum, President, Wavin APAC noted that the government has taken commendable initiatives that bring various stakeholders together to ensuring sustainability of water supply systems- water source and water supply infrastructure.

“Schemes such as Jal Jeevan Mission, which emphasises on augmenting local water sources and recharge existing sources, and Jal Shakti Abhiyaan, which integrates demand and supply-side management of water at the local level including creation of local infrastructure, are aimed at meeting the collective goal of efficient water management systems,” he added.

Convenience & Durability

Over the years, the industry has understood the conveyance and management of water for the survival of mankind. Various advanced plastics piping systems are developed with alternate materials to reduce the compensations to the environment.

“We at TRUFLO by Hindware have always strived in the transition from conventional to advance plastic piping systems in the country and proudly present several path-breaking piping products. TRUFLO by Hindware's range of PVC pipes and fittings assure that the flow rates are far superior to any conventional pipes/plumbing system, thus providing enhanced efficiency, light yet sturdy, resulting in power saving during pumping,” Pajnoo said.

According to Alok Agarwal, Sr Vice President- Contracts & Planning Adhiraj Constructions, the use of PVC pipes have increased mainly because of its qualities of durability and convenience to install. “With urbanization picking pace, there is a need to have an effective and sustainable water supply system. Thus, PVC pipes have gained momentum. Not only in terms of durability, but on cost front, PVC pipes are efficient and cost effective.”

PVC pipes jointing is solvent cement based which provides convenient workmanship and reduces working man-hours. In this case, the repair or modification is far easier as compared to conventional solutions.

“The conventional piping products are known for various problems like poor resistance to corrosion and chemicals, sedimentation, short and uncertain life span, repeated maintenance requirements as well as cumbersome installation. On the other side, advanced plastic piping systems are not only free from these problems but offer many other advantages and are widely getting used for different applications. Plastic is a sustainable and eco-friendly material because of its simple processing, reprocessing, low power consumption in manufacturing, durability and minimal maintenance requirements,” Dikondawar said.

Since pipe work is like the arteries in a building, an efficient and leak-free drainage system is essential for the life of the walls encapsulating it and the mental peace of the occupants, both ensure lasting occupancy of the building.

“Water and waste of varying bio & chemical nature is best drained via PVC piping systems. Various manufacturers have also engineered easy, effective, water-tight, and leakage-free joineries. Being poly in composition makes it highly resistant to corrosion, maintaining a healthy, non-deteriorating coronary system for a long-lasting building. Ease of manufacturing and inexpensive raw material makes it a highly economical choice in the construction industry,” Debaditya Goswami Co-Founders and Principal Architect at Studio Crypt said.

Going Forward

According to market reports, the Indian PVC pipes market is projected to be worth USD 5,209.4 million by 2027 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.5 per cent during the forecast period.

Given the growth opportunity, the PVC pipes industry is geared up to increase its capacity to meet the future demand.

“Our products have been well accepted, and our channel partner's reach has pushed us to expand further at a faster pace.

The production pace required is increasing and we already look forward to commissioning additional capacity. We are a growing business house and are aggressively looking forward to expansions in the same category as well as in the synergic domain. Our recent addition being column pipes for borewell application and water tanks in select markets is a testimony to the same. We are increasing categories of pipes and adding up SKUs,” Pajnoo said.

Many new applications like fire protection systems, piped gas supply, rainwater harvesting are expected to emerge at large. Besides this, the Government's various ambitious programs like 'Make in India' and the new 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' initiatives will also be the key drivers for future growth.

Tomohiko Okada, Managing Director, Toshiba India noted that the JalJeevan Mission initiative calls for countrywide wastewater treatment infrastructure. “Through our subsidiary Toshiba Water Solution, we
will be happy to utilize our strengths in providing water and wastewater treatment solutions and support the government's aim,” he said.

The industry also expects the government to consider replacing the existing open gutter drainage system with advanced plastic underground drainage and sewer systems.

As Dikondawar sums up, the treatment of sewage using STP's can be considered to improve the overall sanitation scenario and to reuse the waste water, which will be a long-term solution to the age-old problems to get rid of soil and water pollution, unhygienic and filthy atmosphere and its consequences on the health of the society.

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