Why clay would be the ideal material for drainage if you were to invent it today.

WAVIN Hepworth UK has always believed that for future-proof drainage ‘clay is the way’ – the ultimate sustainable, durable, cost-efficient, and high-performance sewerage solution.

Clay is a readily available natural resource that is sourced locally from quarries within the UK, reducing transport requirements for production. Before undergoing heat treatment in a calciner for pipe production, the clays are meticulously blended to maximize their unique mineralogy. During pipe extrusion, filtered moorland rainwater is used to hydrate the clays, and the driers used to dry the pipes utilize recovered heat from energy-efficient fast-firing roller kilns. These sustainable practices have led to BS EN ISO 14001 certification.

Off-cuts, trimmings, and product testing materials are ground down and reintroduced into the manufacturing process, ensuring no loss of quality, and the vitrified clay used in pipe production is entirely recyclable. The quarries used to source the clay are returned to their natural state as flourishing habitats, and a tree planting program offsets the carbon impact of quarrying activities.

Unlike many construction materials, sustainability is not a pipe dream for Wavin Hepworth UK’s Clay but rather a natural and practical reality. Clay pipes are inert, making them impervious to chemical and physical damage, and vitrified clay's strength means it is resistant to static and dynamic loadings, reducing the need for granular bedding and installation costs.

With low service costs and no need for renovation or repairs, clay pipes are a genuine fit-and-forget solution that will last for generations. The Hepworth hallmark of precision manufacturing ensures consistent quality, standards compliance, complementary jointing performance, and complete service support.

Clay has been used in drainage for over 6,000 years and remains the natural choice for the future of drainage systems.

Contact us to find out more about Wavin Hepworth UK’s SuperSleve Vitrified Clay.