United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Water Engineering
Research Laboratory
Cincinnati OH 45268
Research and Development
                                   EPA/600/S2-85/042  Sept. 1985
Project  Summary

Controlling Asbestos  Loss from
Asbestos-Cement Pipe  in
Aggressive  Waters
 Carol H. Tate, Brian L. Ramaley,
 John J. Vasconcelos, and Bruce M. Chow
   A project was undertaken to evaluate
 measures for controlling the loss of
 asbestos fibers from asbestos-cement
 (A/C) water distribution pipe under
 aggressive water conditions. The pro-
 ject was divided into two phases:  (1)
 data collection and pilot tests of alter-
 native control strategies, and (2) field
 testing of the most effective control
 strategy.
   During  Phase 1, water quality data
 were analyzed for the existing distribu-
 tion system of the  City of  Bellevue,
 Washington, which receives its drink-
 ing water from Seattle Water Depart-
 ment's Tolt and Cedar River systems.
 Samples  were  collected at monthly
 intervals for 1 year from both sources
 before and after exposure to A/C pipe.
 Both sources were shown to be aggres-
 sive  to A/C  pipe,  as  evidenced by
 higher asbestos fiber counts, pH, cal-
 cium  and alkalinity  after exposure to
 the pipe. The Tolt supply was the more
 agressive of the two sources and was
 therefore studied further.
   The pilot tests in Phase 1 evaluated
 eight  alternative control strategies for
 curtailing pipe deterioration, including
 pH adjustment and  addition of zinc
 chloride, sodium metasilicate, or ferric
 chloride. The zinc chloride/pH adjust-
 ment strategy performed best and was
 chosen for the Phase 2  field test.
    Phase  1 testing  also involved  the
 selection of quantitative measures to
 determine the  hardness of A/C pipe
 before and after exposure to aggressive
 water, both in the pilot tests and in the
 distribution system. The Shore D  and
 Rockwell L hardness tests were found
 useful in quantifying pipe hardness.
  Selection of control measures was
 complicated by the fact that the Seattle
 Water Department had recently com-
 pleted a corrosion study and was plan-
 ning  to  institute  its own  corrosion
 control program of pH adjustment for
 both the Tolt and Cedar supplies. The
 pilot tests, therefore, assumed the pro-
 posed Seattle Corrosion Control Pro-
 gram as a baseline.
  In Phase 2, a test and a control loop
 were established in the distribution sys-
 tem, with samples collected before and
 after exposure to A/C pipe at monthly
 intervals for 1 year. The test strategy
 was to add 0.6 mg/L zinc chloride at a
 point in Clyde Hill, an isolated pressure
 zone within Bellevue. The control sec-
 tion was in the northeastern portion of
 the Bellevue 520 zone. Both locations
 received water from the Tolt system.
 Immediately  before the Phase 2 field
 test, the Seattle Water Department
 began its full-scale  corrosion control
 program, so both  sections received
 water that had been adjusted upward in
 pH and alkalinity, complicating the abil-
 ity to  separate the effects of zinc from
 the  effects   of pH and   alkalinity
 adjustment.
    The field test in Phase 2 did not show
 conclusively  whether the zinc chloride
 addition  effectively prevented pipe
 deterioration  and fiber loss. Results
 over time  from the test section with
 zinc chloride and the  control section
 were similar, suggesting that the alka-
 linity and pH increases in effect at the
 time of the field test may have acted to
 protect  the  pipe from deterioration.
 Further  testing  of  6  to  12 months
 appears to be necessary to reach a

-------
 firmer conclusion about the effect of
 the zinc addition.

   This  Project Summary  was  deve-
 loped by EPA's  Water  Engineering
 Research Laboratory, Cincinnati, OH,
 to announce  key  findings  of  the
 research project that is fully  docu-
 mented in a separate report of the same
 title (see Project Report ordering infor-
 mation at back).

 Introduction
   The City  of  Bellevue, Washington,
 located  near the Metropolitan Seattle
 area, began using asbestos cement (A/C)
 pipe for  its water distribution system in
 the 1940's. A/C pipe makes up approxi-
 mately 90 percent, or about 483 km (300
 miles), of the city's distribution system.
 Bellevue receives its water from the City
 of  Seattle. Because  of its location, Bel-
 levue generally receives  primarily Tolt
 River water in the northern portion of the
 city and primarily Cedar  water in the
 south.
   Both water supplies are low in mineral
 content, with total dissolved solids (IDS)
 values typically lower than 30 mg/L, and
 alkalinity values of about 16 mg/Lforthe
 Cedar River  supply and 5 mg/L for the
 Tolt supply.  Cedar  River  pH  averages
 about 7.4, and Tolt  River pH averages
 about 5.7. As a consequence of this low
 mineral content and pH, the  Langelier
 Index is as low as -5  for Tolt River water
 and -2 for Cedar River water.
  This study  was instituted to evaluate
 different methods of controlling asbestos
 fiber loss. Both pilot plant and field tests
 were  conducted.  Phase 1 involved the
 study of  a distribution  system and pilot
 plant testing,  and Phase 2 consisted of a
 field test to evaluate the most promising
 control strategy found in the pilot test.
  Between Phases 1 and  2 of the Bel-
 levue study,  the City of Seattle imple-
 mented  a  corrosion control  program
 consisting of  pH adjustment for Tolt and
 Cedar waters and alkalinity adjustment
 for Tolt water.

 Methods

 Methods of Analysis
  Whenever possible, standard methods
 of  analysis  were used.  The  interim
 method (counting asbestos fibers under a
 transmission  electron microscope) was
 used to determine the asbestos fiber con-
 centrations in water. The detection limits
are variable and dependonthe amount of
total paniculate matter in the sample as
well as the contamination level in the
 laboratory environment. Under favorable
 circumstances, detection  limits  of 0.01
 million fibers  per liter (MFL)  can be
 obtained.

 Samp/ing Methods
   Asbestos samples were taken in clean,
 1 -L polyethylene bottles. Except for two
 locations, the sampling sites were set up
 for continuous flow to assure representa-
 tive samples. The exceptions were two
 sites at the inlet to the Clyde Hill system
 in Phase 2 of this study. In those instan-
 ces, the port was opened and allowed to
 run before sampling. The sample bottles
 were filled about one quarter full and
 rinsed with the sample water. This rins-
 ing  step was repeated before a  sample
 was taken.  Finally, the bottle was filled,
 allowing 2 in. of air space in the bottle for
 shaking. No preservatives  were used.

 Hardness  Tests
     Hardness tests borrowed from the
 material science field were used to pro-
 vide  reproducible and  objective  mea-
 sures of  the conditions  of  the inner
 surfaces of the A/C pipe. Hardness was
 measured as the resistance to indenta-
 tion by a hard ball or cone under a given
 static load. Since the release of asbestos
 fibers and the  general  deterioration of
 A/C pipe in water is related to the deteri-
 oration of the cement matrix, the hard-
 ness or spongmess of the remaining A/C
 pipe material should be a measure of its
 condition. Two tests were found suitable
 for use on AC pipe. The first was the
 Shore D test, a member  of a class of
 durometer tests normally  used for hard
 rubbers or plastics. The second, the Rock-
 well L test, is generally used on harder
 materials  such  as metals. The Shore D
 tests consist of a calibrated spring that
 forces a sharp point into the material. The
 Shore D range goes from  100 (which is
 the hardest) to 0 (which is the softest) and
 corresponds to a 0.25-cm (0.1-in.) maxi-
 mum indentation. The Rockwell L test is
 one of a series of Rockwell tests that use
 a steel ball or a diamond cone to pene-
 trate the material. For the Rockwell Ltest,
 a minor load of 10kg is first used to set an
 initial indentation, after which an addi-
 tional major  load of 60  kg is applied to
 make the  final  indentation. A 0.64-cm
 (0.25-in.) steel ball  is used in this test. As
 with the Shore D test, the range in hard-
 ness is from 100 (indicating a very hard
 material) to 0 (indicating a very soft mate-
 rial). The Shore  D and Rockwell L test
 results do not necessarily correspond or
correlate with each other.  In both tests,
three separate readings are taken on a
single sample and  then averaged into a
single result for that sample.
   To test the appropriateness of the
 Shore D and Rockwell L hardness tests,
 coupons of A/C pipe measuring 5 by 5 cm
 (2 by 2in.) were analyzed. The results of
 these tests are shown in Table 1. Both
 test procedures yielded the same relative
 order, from softest to hardest, for all three
 pipe samples. In  addition, the spread of
 values obtained for each pipe section was
 relatively  narrow.  Thus  it  could  be
 expected that results  may be reproduci-
 ble  and  show good  relative  hardness
 results  from one  sample to the next.
   One other concern  that needed to be
 satisfied was the effect of moisture on
 the  hardness tests for the A/C test cou-
 pons. Hardness tests were run on A/C
 pipe coupons after  removal from water,
 after drying for 24 hr, 36 hr, 4 days, and 8
 days, and after 8  hours of drying plus 48
 h'r in an oven at 100°F. Test results indi-
 cated that the hardness changed only 5 to
 10 percent despite the variation of drying
 times and procedures. Therefore it was
 concluded that either air-dried or oven-
 dried A/C pipe coupons could be sub-
 jected to hardness testing.
  Scanning electron  microscope anal-
 yses were also applied to the  A/C pipe
 coupons to determine (1) the surface
 composition of the A/C pipe, and (2) the
 degree  to which  calcium had leached
 from the pipe  matrix.


 Phase  1A: Characterization of
 the Distribution System
   In anticipation of the field test using a
 corrosion control  strategy from the pilot
 test, it was necessary  to characterize the
 Bellevue distribution system to (1) docu-
 ment the changes  in  the water quality
 throughout the distribution system, and
 (2) assess the A/C pipe condition after 30
 to 40 years of exposure to both Tolt and
 Cedar River waters.  Samples taken  in
 this phase of the study were taken before
 the  Seattle  Corrosion Control Program
 went into effect.
  The most notable aspects of Tolt water
 are its low pH (generally averaging about
 5.7)  and its low  mineral content (with
 calcium at 7.4 mg/L, alkalinity at 5.1
 mg/L, silica at 5.5 mg/L, and an overall
 TDS of about 14 mg/L). Changes in water
 quality conditions generally supporting
 the deterioration of A/C pipe and found
 to be significant  at the 5 percent level
 using T-test analysis were  chrysotile
 concentrations,   alkalinity,  Langelier
 Index, pH, TDS, and silica. Also, a notable
decrease was found in  the Tolt water zinc
 level, which possibly indicates protective
action on A/C pipe.

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Table 1.    Initial Hardness Test Results for A/C Coupons (3/25 81)*
Sample Number
A-1
A-2
A-3
A -4
Average
Std. Dev.
B-1
B-2
B-3
B-4
Average
Std. Dev.
C-1
C-2
C-3
C-4
Average
Std. Dev.
Description
6" A/C Pipe
9200 NE 34th




6" A/C Pipe
Unknown
Location



8" A/C Pipe
New, Uninstalled
Pipe



Shore "D '
Hardness
67
65
66
64
65.5
1.29
68
74
67
73
70.5
3.51
79
81
82
78
80.0
1.83
                                                             Rockwell "L"
                                                            Hardness Scale
                                                                   7
                                                                  10
                                                                   5
                                                                  14

                                                                   9.0
                                                                   3.92
                                                                  64
                                                                  60
                                                                  65
                                                                  56
                                                                  61.5
                                                                   4.11
                                                                  99
                                                                 100
                                                                  98
                                                                  98
                                                                  98.7
                                                                   0.96
 'Tests performed by Northwest Laboratories of Seattle, Inc.
  The mineral content of Cedar River
 water is generally higher  but neverthe-
 less  low  compared  with  that of other
 water supplies.  IDS  levels were  35
 mg/L, with calcium at 6.99 mg/L, alka-
 linity at 16.5 mg/L, silica  at 9.74 mg/L,
 and a Langelier Index ranging from -0.53
 to -3.14. Again,  statistically significant
 increases were found in  the chrysotile
 concentration, Langelier Index, alkalin-
 ity, pH, and calcium and silica concentra-
 tions. These  increases  support  the
 conclusion that Cedar River water is also
 aggressive with respect to A/C pipe. The
 decrease in  zinc  concentration  in the
 Cedar portion of  the  system was not
 found to be statistically significant. The
 differences found between the Toll and
 Cedar River water supplies were consist-
 ent throughout the  year of monitoring.
 Water entering the Seattle and Bellevue
 distribution systems from the Tolt River
 was  higher in chrysotile  concentration
 and lower in pH,  alkalinity, calcium, and
 silica. The Tolt water supply was also
 more negative in  Langelier Index.
   Samples of A/C pipe were also taken
 for conducting the Shore D and the Rock-
 well  L hardness tests. The results  for
 these tests are summarized in  Table 2.
 Samples designated 300  and 400 were
 new, unused  A/C pipe and served as a
 reference point for used A/C pipe. Sam-
 ples  designated 500 through 510 were
 taken from the distribution system. The
 results indicate that, on the average, the
 Shore  D  hardness  changed  approxi-
 mately 0.5 point  per year, whereas the
 Rockwell  hardness  changed  approxi-
mately  2 points per  year.  All  pipes
showed evidence of softening through-
out their 30- to 40-year service periods.

Phase 1 B:    Recirculation
Experiments
  Six corrosion control strategies were
tested on a pilot scale in this part of Phase
1.  The tests lasted 48 weeks and were
conducted in  eight separate 378-L(100
gal) systems. Two of the systems were
used  as controls  A/C coupons were
placed in special holders and placed in
line with the recirculation loop. Control
strategies and  results are presented in
Table 3.
  All   tanks  showed  an  increase  in
chrysotile fibers as would be expected,
but the zinc strategies showed the best
inhibition of fiber release.
  All coupons showed some signs of sof-
tening. Although differences in hardness
were small, the zinc strategies appeared
to  be  the;  best  for  preventing
deterioration.
  Calcium loss analyses were conducted
by  the U.S  Environmental  Protection
Agency (EPA) using a scanning electron
microscope with an energy-dispersive X-
ray (EDX) device. This analysis measured
the depth to  which calcium had  been
leached  from  the cement matrix of the
pipe; results ranged from undetected lev-
els to 0.3 mm The zinc strategies showed
the least amount of calcium leaching.
   Based on all of the results put together,
zinc was concluded to be the  best corro-
sion inhibition strategy, so the field test
added zinc chloride to the water supply.
Phase 2: Field Test
  The field tests of zinc chloride began
immediately  after  the  startup  period
ended  for the Seattle corrosion control
program. The field test site was chosen in
an area receiving exclusively Tolt River
water.  After  the startup of the Seattle
corrosion control program, lime addition
for the Tolt supply was set to maintain a
pH of 8.2, and soda ash addition was set
to add 7 mg/Lof alkalinity tothatexisting
in the Tolt water.
  Site selection involved sixbasic criteria
for the actual test site:
 1. The site  must  receive  Tolt water
   exclusively.
 2. The area must  be isolated to avoid
   affecting surrounding areas.
 3. The area must  be small  enough to
   minimize chemical costs.
 4. The test area  must provide a deten-
   tion time of approximately 15 to 20 hr
   between the chemical  addition point
   and the final sampling point to match
   the detention times used in Phase 1 A.
 5. A control area with the same water
   supply and a  similar detention time
   must be available.
 6. The site must have a structure availa-
   ble for housing the chemical feed sys-
   tem  and  must  also  have  a  flow
   metering system that can be used to
   pace the chemical feed into the water
   supply lines.
  The test area chosen was the Clyde Hill
 zone directly northwest of the Bellevue
 Civic Center. Sampling  points  on the
 Clyde Hill distribution network were then
 assigned (Figure 1). A sampling site just
 upstream of  the chemical  addition point
 was labeled  CH1, and a point near the
 end  of the system and representing 16 to
 18 hr of detention time was labeled CH2.
 A sampling point just after the chemical
 addition,  labeled  CH1A,  was used to
 verify the zinc dose. Two dead-end points
 on the system, labeled CHS and  CH4,
 were used to detect any buildup of panic-
 ulate zinc. Finally, two sewage sampling
 points that  drain the Clyde Hill system
 were designated  S1 and S2. These two
 points were used to estimate the amount
 of zinc leaving the system.
   The  control area chosen was the same
 as that used in  Phase 1A  for the Tolt
 water  and is located directly east of the
 Clyde  Hill area.  The original sampling
 location designations, D3 and D4, were
 kept during the field test. The detention
 time in the control system was approxi-
 mately  15  to  25  hr  under average
 conditions.
   Water quality sampling was scheduled
 on a  monthly basis for asbestos fibers

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Table 2.    Hardness Testing Results for Coupons Removed from the Distribution System
Sample
Number
300
400
500
501
502
503
504
505
506
507
508
509
510
Location
—
....
16240 SE 9th
NE 2nd at Overtake Dr.
1 66th at DW 35th
3440 NE 78th
8015 NE 28th
4315 SE 134th
92 Ave NE at NE 34th
91stNE 10
Overtake Dr. at Upland
2515-86 Ave NE
31 04-1 24th SE
Shore "D" /
Hardness H
89
91
57
55
68
66
69
76
77
70
68
72
79
                                                        Rockwell "L"
                                                       Hardness Scale   Remarks
                                                            108        new pipe (unused)
                                                            104        new pipe (unused)
                                                            37        rust-red deposits, smooth interior
                                                            51         installed 1948. reddish-brown, rough
                                                            39        some brown deposits, smooth interior
                                                            45        some red deposits, smooth interior
                                                            41         installed 1943, dark brown
                                                            65        light tan, some roughness
                                                           -7 Of        brown, smooth
                                                            22        dark brown
                                                            61         very dark brown, smooth
                                                            64        rough, white interior
                                                            85        rough, white interior
* All analyses performed by Northwest Laboratories of Seattle.
t Tapered end of pipe interfered with test.
All results are average of 3 readings.
Table 3.    Selected Water Quality and Hardness Test Results for Recirculation Tank Corrosion Control Experiments

                                                            Water Quality Results                       Hardness Results
Tank Conditions
1 Cedar Control




2 Toft Control




3 Tolt; Seattle Corrosion
Control Program (SCCP);
pH = 8.0
4 Tolt; SCCP; Add'l lime;
pH = 9.0

5 Tolt; SCCP; 0.3 mg/L In;
pH = 8.5

6 Tolt; SCCP; 0.6 mg/L Zn;
pH = 8.0

7 Tolt; SCCP; 12. 7 mg/L Sio2;
pH = 8.0

8 Tolt; SCCP; 0.2 mg/L Fe;
pH = 8.0
«• All 1 t • i
Exposure
Time (Wks)
0
12
24
36
48
0
12
24
36
48
0
48
48
0
48
48
0
48
48
0
48
48
0
48
48
0
48
48
Chrysotile
Concentration
MFL
5.7

50,9
--
60.9
24.6

54.5
--
69.3
10.7
82

17.3
166

9.7
23.7

8.4
34.9
...
12.5
39.7

3.1
170
-
Calcium
Increase
mg/L

-.
--
--
4
__
-.
--
--
4
._
2
--
__
2
--
_.
1.5
--
..
1.5
--
--
2
--
..
2
--
Silica
Increase
mg/L

..
--
--
4

..
.-
..
4

2
-
..
2
-.

;
--
..
7
--
-.
/
--

7
-
Coupon
No.

T1-1
T1-2
T1-3
T1-4

72-7
72-2
72-3
72-4

73-7
73-2

74-1
T4-2

T5-1
75-2

T6-1
T6-2
..
77-7
77-2

T8-1
78-2
Shore "D"

88
88
80
84

88
88
81
87

85
82

85
85

87
86

86
85
„
83
82

82
82
Rockwell "L"

102
97
98
93

101
100
98
91

89
93

97
92

92
95

95
98

90
90

91
92

-------
                                                       Toll Supply
Scale

305m
         1000ft

Figure 1.    Clyde Hill 465 Zone pipe network.

and 20 other water quality parameters
especially those  associated  with  the
deterioration of A/C pipes, such as cal-
cium and silica. In addition, particulate
and total zinc samples were taken at the
deadends (CHS and CH4) on a quarterly
basis. The zinc chloride dose was chosen
to be 0.6 mg/L as zinc. The recirculation
tests of Phase 1B showed that the zinc
solubility at pH 8 was nearly the same as
that at pH 8.5—that is, approximately 0.1
mg/L as zinc. The goal of adding zinc at a
concentration of 0.6 mg/L was to exceed
                              the soluble amount and precipitate zinc
                              onto the A/C pipes to form a protective
                              coating. Another concern was to main-
                              tain the zinc concentrations throughout
                              the test area, a procedure very much
                              analogous to  maintaining a  chlorine
                              residual in the distribution system.
                                Zinc chloride was added to the distribu-
                              tion system  through  a  metering pump
                              that was fed by a 65-percent zinc chloride
                              stock solution A special control system
                              paced the metering pump speed with the
                              water flows into the Clyde Hill system.
  In addition to the chemical feed sys-
tem, 0.9-m (3 ft) lengths of A/C pipe sec-
tions were installed at locations CH1A,
CH2, D3, and D4.  Mortar-lined A/C pipe
sections   of  the   same  length  were
installed at locations CH1 A, CH2, and D3.
All  of these  test  sections were placed
directly in-line (that is, no  special side
loops were  created).  The  purpose for
these special sections of pipe was to
remove them at the end of the study and
test them  for hardness.
  Test results showed that in the first few
months of the field tests fewer asbestos
fibers were released from the zinc chlo-
ride test section than from the control.
However, later behavior of the control
section (D3 to D4) indicates that the Seat-
tle corrosion control program maybe pro-
viding some protection for the A/C pipes.
This effect can be seen in the asbestos
results some 7 months into the field test.
  Because a  reduction in asbestos fiber
counts occurred in both the control and
test sections of the field test, the affect of
the zinc chloride treatment  is uncertain.
The control area experienced  conditions
similar to those in the recirculation tests
of Tanks  3 and 4. Both  of these tanks
experienced a reduction in  calcium and
silica pickup relative to the  untreated
control. Thus it may  be reasonable to
assume that the Seattle corrosion control
program  is protecting the A/C pipe.
  After  12 months of  field testing, the
short sections of  A/C  pipe and mortar-
lined A/C pipe were removed. Coupons
were cut from these pipes and subjected
to the calcium loss analysis and physical
hardness testing. The calcium  loss analy-
sis was conducted by EPA as in Phase 1B
of this study. With a precision of approxi-
mately 0.1 mm, no appreciable calcium
loss could be detected on either the cou-
pons subjected to zinc chloride  or the
coupons in the control area. In contrast,
the  recirculation  tests  of  Phase  18
showed  no appreciable loss of calcium
only in the zinc chloride addition tanks
(Tanks 5 and  6). The range of calcium loss
in the other tanks was between 0.2 and
0.3  mm.  These results further suggest
that the water quality changes resulting
from the Seattle  corrosion control  pro-
gram may be protecting the A/C pipe by
virtue of  the increase in the Langelier
Index.
  Hardness  testing using the  Shore D
and Rockwell L tests on the pipe sections
removed from the test and control areas
failed  to  produce  any  differences
between them.
  Another question posed by this project
was whether or not the added  zinc was

-------
deposited inside the Clyde Hill pipe net-
work. Zinc concentration at the end of the
network was approximately 50 percent of
the original dose, which indicates some
accumulation in the system.
  Evidence exists that both precipitation
and  deposition  were occurring in  the
Clyde Hill network, but the actual propor-
tion of zinc going to one or the other pro-
cess could not be established. Analysis
for total and soluble zinc at the deadends
of the system (CH3 and CH4) indicated
that particulatezinc wasformingatthese
locations. This result indicates that if zinc
is to  be added to  the Bellevue system,
flushing of deadends would be necessary
at various  intervals. Evidence that zinc
may form a coating on A/C  pipe comes
from X-ray analysis that detected zinc on
the surfaces of the A/C pipe sections
removed from the field test  sites. Zinc
deposition  was  also  evident  on  the
mortar-lined A/C pipe sections.
  A brief cost comparison was conducted
to gain perspective on how zinc chloride
treatment compares with other options
available to the City of Bellevue. The capi-
tal cost estimate included eight separate
chemical feed stations determined on the
simplifying  assumption  that Bellevue
could be conveniently divided up as such.
Other  items included were buildings to
house the  equipment,  labor to build it,
water meters,  and metering pumps. The
buildings were assumed to  be built  on
land  owned  by the City of  Bellevue.
Annual costs were divided into chemical
costs for zinc chloride (approximately
$12.50/100 Ib) and operating and main-
tenance  costs,  which included  labor,
power, and replacement parts. Convert-
ing  the annual  costs to an  equivalent
present value gives a total value of nearly
$1 million.
  Pipe  replacement and  pipe  relining
work were the only alternatives to chemi-
cal  treatment  considered,  since they
represent the conventional ways of deal-
ing  with  pipe  deterioration  problems.
Replacing the A/C pipe with steel or duc-
tile iron pipe costs similar amounts, each
totaling about  $35.6 million.  Both steel
and ductile iron pipe were assumed to be
mortar-lined and mortar-coated.
Replacement with PVC Class 150 pipe
costs approximately 10 percent less than
steel or ductile iron, but PVC  pipe is only
available in diameters up to 30 cm (12
in.). For larger  diameters, steel pipe was
used. All replacement costs assumed (6-
ft) cover and no allowance  for service
connections.
  Relining consists of scraping the inside
surface of  existing A/C pipe and then
coating  it with a mortar lining. Mortar
lining can be accomplished in place on
pipes having diameters of 10 cm (4 in.)
and larger. The total cost of relining is
nearly $20 million, or approximately 60
percent  of the  cost of replacing the A/C
pipe.
Conclusions
  1.  Monitoring  presents  strong  evi-
     dence that portions of the A/C pipe
     matrix  were  dissolving  into the
     supply  water. This condition  was
     indicated by increased water  con-
     centrations of components  most
     associated  with  pipe dissolution:
     calcium, silica, chrysotile fibers, pH,
     and alkalinity. Water  from the Tolt
     supply (before alkalinity and pH con-
     trol was initiated) was more aggres-
     sive toward the pipe matrix  than
     was the Cedar supply.
  2.  Although a natural background  of
     chrysotile fibers exists in the water
     supply,  monitoring results and pilot
     studies indicated that the A/C pipes
     do  release these fibers into the
     water.
  3.  Hardness tests such as the Shore D
     and the Rockwell  L are  useful for
     determining the condition of  A/C
     pipe; however, the natural variabil-
     ity  in  the  samples  and method
     results  suggests that time periods
     greater than 1 year are required for
     determining statistically  whether
     any  changes  in  hardness  have
     occurred  The Shore D test can  be
     conducted in the field with a small,
     handheld durometer.
  4.  Older A/C pipes removed from the
     Bellevue network show softening as
     measured by the Shore D and Rock-
     well L.  tests. These tests might  be
     used to determine a priority system
     for a planned replacement program.
  5.  Though zinc chloride  was found to
     be effective in controlling A/C pipe
     corrosion in the pilot test, it could
     not be determined whether the zinc
     chloride was  effective under  field
     test  conditions. This uncertainty
     may  have been the  result of the
     alkalinity  and pH  control recently
     initiated  by  the   Seattle Water
     Department for the source  water
     supply.
  6.  The alkalinity and pH control may  be
     protecting the A/C pipe or at least
     slowing down the deterioration. Evi-
     dence of this is seen in the chryso-
     tile data for the field test. Both the
     control  area and the test area (with
     zinc  chloride added) behaved the
     same, showing a decrease in fiber
     pickup over the course of the field
     test.
  7. Evidence from the field test sug-
     gests that the zinc accumulated in
     the test area as both particulate and
     deposited zinc.
  The full  report was submitted in fulfill-
ment of  Cooperative  Agreement  No.
CR807789010  by James M.  Montgo-
mery Consulting  Engineers, Inc.  under
the sponsorship of the U.S. Environmen-
tal Protection Agency.
                                                                         . S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1985/559-111/20682

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     CarolH. Tate, Brian L. Ramaley, JohnJ. Vasconcelos, and Bruce M. Chow are with
       James M. Montgomery Consulting Engineers, Inc., Pasadena, CA 91101.
     Gary S. Logsdon is the EPA Project Officer (see below).
     The complete report, entitled "Controlling Asbestos Loss from Asbestos-Cement
       Pipe in Aggressive Waters," (Order No. PB 85-191 690/AS; Cost: $20.50,
       subject to change) will be available only from:
             National Technical Information Service
             5285 Port Royal Road
             Springfield, VA 22161
             Telephone: 703-487-4650
     The EPA Project Officer can be contacted at:
             Water Engineering Research Laboratory
             U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
             Cincinnati, OH 45268
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Center for Environmental Research
Information
Cincinnati OH 45268
     BULK RATE
POSTAGE & FEES PAID
        EPA
   PERMIT No. G-35
Official Business
Penalty for Private Use $300
EPA/600/S2-85/042

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