Advanced Drainage Systems was founded in 1966 by engineers Ron Martin and Marty Sixt, who recognized early the potential for plastic corrugated pipe to transform drainage and water management solutions. Over the years, the company scaled through internal growth, acquisitions, and investments, ultimately going public in 2014. Its journey has involved expanding both the breadth of its product lines and its geographic footprint, enabling it to serve new markets while building on its core drainage expertise.
ADS specializes in the design, manufacture, and marketing of a suite of water management products with a particular strength in thermoplastic corrugated pipe. Its product portfolio includes single, double, and triple-wall corrugated polypropylene and polyethylene pipes, plastic leachfield chambers and systems, septic tanks, stormwater detention and retention systems, and water quality structures. The company distributes through national and independent waterworks distributors, retailers, and specialized channels and supports end markets in residential, non-residential, infrastructure, agriculture, and stormwater sectors.
ADS’s is a leading, innovative provider of stormwater and onsite septic wastewater solutions—emphasizing durability, performance, sustainability, and lifecycle water management. Its scale—with dozens of manufacturing plants and many distribution centers—supports broad coverage, and its commitment to using recycled materials gives it both environmental and cost advantages. In recent years, the company has pursued strategic acquisitions (e.g., Cultec, Orenco, River Valley Pipe) to extend its product lines, deepen its market reach, and reinforce its leadership in adjacent water technologies.