United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
RESEARCH PROJECT
National Risk Management Research Laboratory
Water Supply and Water Resources Division
Treatment Technology Evaluation Branch
IN-HOUSE COPPER AND LEAD SOLUBILITY/CORROSION STUDIES
IMPACT STATEMENT
Understanding and predicting metal release from pipes of all
sizes and types from the treatment plant to the consumer's
tap is critical, specifically for regulatory compliance with the
Lead and Copper Rule, as well as the performance, corrosion
morphology, and longevity of infrastructure materials.
Treatments employed by municipal and other water systems
must be optimized for lead and copper control; however,
these treatments must also not be detrimental to other
materials or water quality.
BACKGROUND:
One of the primary goals of the EPA is to protect the water delivered to consumers. In 2007, EPA initiated a new
program to evaluate and rehabilitate the nation's aging water infrastructure. When the current water infrastructure
system was built, copper and lead were common materials used to construct pipes. Lead is dangerous to human health
because of its toxic effects when concentration in the blood increases. Lead poisoning can have devastating effects on
the neurological, renal, cardiovascular, and reproductive systems.
With many legacy lead pipes still in use in the United States, and widespread historical use of lead-containing solders
and brasses in plumbing devices and materials, lead remains a health concern in drinking water. Copper has been the
material of choice for interior drinking water plumbing and service lines for several decades. This presents an
infrastructural problem because of plumbing failures due to pitting corrosion of copper. Copper also contributes to
adverse health effects and regulatory violations without proper water treatment. EPA is responsible for developing
regulatory guidance documents and providing technical support to both the public and private sectors, which requires
the development and maintenance of state-of-the-art expertise.
DESCRIPTION:
The Office of Research and Development's National Risk Management Research Laboratory has funded this research
project in support of its Aging Water Infrastructure (AWI) Research Program. This project will employ any of several
different laboratory (pilot-scale) test system configurations, such as benchtop precipitations studies, pipe rigs, large
volume recirculation systems, or small volume recirculation systems. The resulting data from the experiments will be
National Risk Management Research Laboratory
Water Supply and Water Resources Division
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used to test, adjust and refine the selection of chemical species and thermodynamic data
for well-documented existing chemical equilibrium models, and thus make it possible to
make quantitative predictions on metal release from corrosion of infrastructure materials,
particularly lead, copper and iron. The current focus of these experiments is on lead and
copper. Metal release is critical both for regulatory compliance, materials performance,
and determining the onset of local corrosion, such as copper pitting.
The resulting data from the experiments will be used to test, adjust and refine the
selection of chemical species and thermodynamic data for well-documented existing
chemical equilibrium models, and thus make it possible to make quantitative predictions
on metal release from corrosion of infrastructure materials, particularly lead, copper and
iron.
EPA GOAL: Goal #2 - Clean & Safe Water, Objective 2.1.1- Water Safe to Drink
ORD MULTI YEAR PLAN: Drinking Water (DW), Long Term Goal - DW-2 Control, Manage, and
Mitigate Health Risks
RESEARCH PARTNERS :
Contractors: Student services contractors; Pegasus Technical Services
LAG: US Geological Survey (Assistance with elemental analysis of pipe deposits and development of standard reference materials for
deposit analysis calibration and quality assurance. Some analytical procedures for scale analyses used by EPA will use synchrotron
facilities operated by the US Department of Energy.)
EXPECTED OUTCOMES AND IMPACTS:
The expected outcomes and impacts include wider compliance with the Lead and Copper Rule; fewer detrimental
secondary impacts of corrosion control treatment; fewer treatment mistakes which cause high metal release episodes;
extended service life and functionality of existing conveyance systems; reduced life cycle cost; improved guidance on
the selection of appropriate plumbing materials for a given water quality or treatment capability; improved
prioritization of critical infrastructure to inspect, monitor and assess the performance of rehabilitation; and reduced
infrastructure failures caused by corrosion.
OUTPUTS:
Current and future outputs of the project will consist of journal articles and conference presentations.
RESOURCES:
Aging Water Infrastructure Research Program: http://www.epa.gov/awi/
Corrosion, Scaling, and Metal Mobility Research: http://www.epa.gov/nrmrl/wswrd/cr/index.html
EPA (1995). "Effect of pH, DIG, Orthophosphate and Sulfate on Drinking Water Cuprosolvency" - Report. (EPA/600/R-
95/085) http://www.epa.gov/ord/NRMRL/pubs/600R95085/effect.pdf
CONTACTS:
Michael Schock, Principal Investigator - (513) 569-7412 or schock.michael@epa.gov
Steven Doub, Media Relations - (513) 569-7503 ordoub.steven@epa.gov
Michelle Latham, Communications - (513) 569-7601 or latham.michelle@epa.gov
National Risk Management Research Laboratory
Water Supply and Water Resources Division
www.epa.gov/nrmrl
EPA/600/F-09/011
October 2009
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