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Technical Note: Electrochemical Generation of Perchlorate in Municipal Drinking Water Systems
Author(s) -
Jackson Andrew,
Arunagiri Sangeetha,
Tock Richard,
Anderson Todd,
Rainwater Ken
Publication year - 2004
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.1551-8833.2004.tb10654.x
Subject(s) - perchlorate , electrochemistry , cathodic protection , environmental science , contamination , environmental chemistry , chemistry , ion , electrode , organic chemistry , ecology , biology
This article documents the first known in situ electrochemical production of perchlorate within a public water distribution system. In this detailed incident, perchlorate (ClO 4 − ) was detected in the distribution system of Levelland, Texas, and was eventually isolated to one elevated storage tank. Theoretical considerations supported the production of ClO 4 − by an electrochemical process within the tank. ClO 4 − was produced (64–113 μg/L in 338 h) in laboratory experiments that simulated the cathodic protection system in place in the storage tank. Because cathodic protection systems are widely used, this research confirms a potentially troubling mechanism of ClO 4 − generation.