Corrosion Control: Less Is More

This article discusses a treatment process used by the Tulsa Public Works Department that eliminates soda ash from corrosion control treatment, and uses only caustic soda to protect its pipes from corrosion. Bringing the water slightly above the point of calcium carbonate saturation creates a calcium carbonate film on internal pipe surfaces that protects the pipe material. The article discusses several options that Tulsa evaluated at its A.B. Jewell Water Treatment Plant, explains the chemistry of caustic soda, provides software model calculations, jar test results, full‐scale testing, and compares costs.