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Desktop guidance for mitigating Pb and Cu corrosion by‐products
Author(s) -
Edwards Marc,
Jacobs Sara,
Dodrill Donna
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
journal ‐ american water works association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.466
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1551-8833
pISSN - 0003-150X
DOI - 10.1002/j.1551-8833.1999.tb08635.x
Subject(s) - corrosion , solubility , alkalinity , environmental science , copper , chloride , chemistry , materials science , metallurgy , organic chemistry
Desktop studies accurately predict trends in corrosion by‐product release. Utility experiences were examined to assess the reliability of solubility models and decision trees in forecasting control of lead (Pb) and copper (Cu) corrosion by‐products. Such approaches cannot quantitatively predict effectiveness of corrosion control. For example, even the best‐fit solubility models explain only about 35 and 18 percent of the quantitative variation in 90th percentile Cu and Pb release, respectively. However, the decision trees and solubility models are qualitatively consistent with utility experience and are thus useful when promising water quality changes are identified to mitigate corrosion by‐product release. Utility experiences confirm that an optimal alkalinity range (20–40 mg/L as CaCO 3 ) exists for Pb corrosion control above pH 8.5, a higher mass ratio of chloride to sulfate tends to worsen Pb by‐product release, and detectable color can signal a natural organic material content that may adversely affect compliance with the Cu action limit.