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Quantifying Lead‐Leaching Potential From Plumbing Exposed to Aggressive Waters
Author(s) -
Pieper Kelsey J.,
Krometis LeighAnne,
Edwards Marc
Publication year - 2016
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 - 10.5942/jawwa.2016.108.0125
Subject(s) - leaching (pedology) , galvanization , brass , environmental science , lead (geology) , corrosion , alkalinity , water quality , seawater , environmental engineering , metallurgy , chemistry , materials science , geology , copper , ecology , oceanography , organic chemistry , layer (electronics) , geomorphology , biology , soil science , soil water
Section 9 of NSF International/American National Standards Institute (NSF/ANSI) Standard 61 evaluates lead‐leaching potential from end‐point devices to protect consumer health. However, because the NSF/ANSI protocol stipulates a high pH and alkalinity characteristic of municipal waters, it is not likely generalizable to the aggressive water chemistries more consistent with water quality observed in private systems. To assess lead release from components installed in private systems, this study exposed brass and galvanized steel that meet lead‐free requirements to more aggressive waters. As expected, lead leaching from C36000 brass increased with decreasing pH and alkalinity, but post‐2014 lead‐free brass released nondetectable concentrations when exposed to aggressive conditions. However, post‐2014 lead‐free galvanized steel may still release significant lead in aggressive waters as a result of the sorption of lead to plumbing. Although new lead‐free brass products are more protective of communities dependent on private systems, elevated lead from both legacy materials and galvanized steel remains an issue for systems without corrosion control.