Effect of Aluminum on Lead Release to Drinking Water from Scales of Corrosion Products

The occurrence of aluminum in scales on lead pipes is common. This study aimed to identify factors that influence Al accumulation on oxidized lead surfaces and to determine whether the presence of Al impacts Pb release from corrosion products to water. Al accumulation and Pb release were monitored both with and without the addition of phosphate as a corrosion inhibitor. Pb coupons with corrosion scales were exposed to chlorinated water for up to 198 days to investigate Al accumulation and Pb release. Al accumulation was facilitated by Pb corrosion products, but its accumulation was inhibited by phosphate addition. During the study period, the formation of Al deposits did not affect Pb release when phosphate was absent. In an Al-free system, the addition of 1.0 mg/L phosphate (as P) lowered the dissolved Pb concentration below 1.0 μg/L. In a system containing 200 μg/L Al, the emergence of phosphate's effect on Pb control was delayed, and the dissolved Pb concentration decreased but stabilized at a higher value (10-12 μg/L) than in the Al-free system. Phosphohedyphane (Ca 2 Pb 3 (PO 4 ) 3 Cl) was formed in all phosphate-containing systems, and PbO 2 was formed independent of phosphate addition. The effect of Al on Pb release was probably related to its influence on the composition and morphology of Pb-containing minerals on coupon surfaces. The laboratory study has unavoidable limitations in its ability to simulate all conditions in real lead service lines, but this study still highlights the importance of considering the influence of Al when designing Pb corrosion control strategies.