Iron release from corroded iron pipes in drinking water distribution systems: effect of dissolved oxygen

Iron release from corroded iron pipes is the principal cause of "colored water" problems in drinking water distribution systems. The corrosion scales present in corroded iron pipes restrict the flow of water, and can also deteriorate the water quality. This research was focused on understanding the effect of dissolved oxygen (DO), a key water quality parameter, on iron release from the old corroded iron pipes. Corrosion scales from 70-year-old galvanized iron pipe were characterized as porous deposits of Fe(III) phases (goethite (alpha-FeOOH), magnetite (Fe(3)O(4)), and maghemite (alpha-Fe(2)O(3))) with a shell-like, dense layer near the top of the scales. High concentrations of readily soluble Fe(II) content was present inside the scales. Iron release from these corroded pipes was investigated for both flow and stagnant water conditions. Our studies confirmed that iron was released to bulk water primarily in the ferrous form. When DO was present in water, higher amounts of iron release was observed during stagnation in comparison to flowing water conditions. Additionally, it was found that increasing the DO concentration in water during stagnation reduced the amount of iron release. Our studies substantiate that increasing the concentration of oxidants in water and maintaining flowing conditions can reduce the amount of iron release from corroded iron pipes. Based on our studies, it is proposed that iron is released from corroded iron pipes by dissolution of corrosion scales, and that the microstructure and composition of corrosion scales are important parameters that can influence the amount of iron released from such systems.     

Effect of pipe corrosion scales on chlorine dioxide consumption in drinking water distribution systems

Previous studies showed that temperature and total organic carbon in drinking water would cause chlorine dioxide (ClO(2)) loss in a water distribution system and affect the efficiency of ClO(2) for Legionella control. However, among the various causes of ClO(2) loss in a drinking water distribution system, the loss of disinfectant due to the reaction with corrosion scales has not been studied in detail. In this study, the corrosion scales from a galvanized iron pipe and a copper pipe that have been in service for more than 10 years were characterized by energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The impact of these corrosion scale materials on ClO(2) decay was investigated in de-ionized water at 25 and 45 degrees C in a batch reactor with floating glass cover. ClO(2) decay was also investigated in a specially designed reactor made from the iron and copper pipes to obtain more realistic reaction rate data. Goethite (alpha-FeOOH) and magnetite (Fe(3)O(4)) were identified as the main components of iron corrosion scale. Cuprite (Cu(2)O) was identified as the major component of copper corrosion scale. The reaction rate of ClO(2) with both iron and copper oxides followed a first-order kinetics. First-order decay rate constants for ClO(2) reactions with iron corrosion scales obtained from the used service pipe and in the iron pipe reactor itself ranged from 0.025 to 0.083 min(-1). The decay rate constant for ClO(2) with Cu(2)O powder and in the copper pipe reactor was much smaller and it ranged from 0.0052 to 0.0062 min(-1). Based on these results, it can be concluded that the corrosion scale will cause much more significant ClO(2) loss in corroded iron pipes of the distribution system than the total organic carbon that may be present in finished water.     

Physico-chemical characteristics of corrosion scales in old iron pipes

Corrosion scales play an important role in modifying water quality in drinking water distribution systems. The corrosion scales from old iron/steel pipes were analyzed for their structure and composition. Scales were studied both before and after drying. and goethite, magnetite and lepidocrocite were identified as the primary constituents of the dried samples. High concentrations of readily soluble ferrous phases were detected in wet-scale samples. The corrosion scales had a shell-like, enveloping layer, covering porous deposits of iron oxide phases. Our studies were able to identify important differences between corrosion scales found in two different water distribution systems. Further studies are needed to establish the role of corrosion scales in the mechanism of iron release from corroded pipes.     

加氯消毒对含盐二级出水及管道系统的影响

铸铁管广泛用于不同水质的输配,但是现存管道的设计并未考虑用于输送加氯消毒后的二级出水.通过现场试验,在一个长为68 m、内径为67 mm的模拟管路内,研究了加氯后管内壁生物膜的生长和脱落情况、消毒副产物THMs和HAA<,5>的生成潜力以及对铸铁管的腐蚀程度.结果表明,管内壁生物膜的生长主要受控于水中有机物的含量;当投氯量增加到5.0 mg/L时,生物膜的生长和脱落不受影响;在投氯量相同的情况下,对污泥龄为5～12 d的二级出水进行加氯消毒,不会产生过多的消毒副产物,其中THMs和HAA<,5>的最大生成量分别为40和10μg/L;加氯消毒对输水铸铁管的腐蚀主要受控于DO值而不是水中余氯的含量;腐蚀速率随氧化剂含量的增加而提高,但随余氯提高的速率要比随DO提高的速率小得多.     

不同离子对Dinoseb氯化降解及消毒副产物生成的影响

以水体中常见的污染物地乐酚(Dinoseb)为研究对象,分析了水中4种不同离子(Br^-、NH4⁺、NO3^-、NO2^-)背景浓度下Dinoseb氯化动力学及生成消毒副产物(DBPs)的情况。结果表明,4种离子对Dinoseb氯化反应的影响顺序为:Br^->NH4⁺>NO2^->NO3^-。产生的消毒副产物主要有三氯甲烷(CF)、三氯硝基甲烷(TCNM)、二氯乙腈(DCAN)、三氯丙酮(TCP)、二氯一溴甲烷(DCBM)等,其中TCNM浓度最高,Dinoseb是TCNM的典型前体物。当水中有Br^-存在时,Dinoseb降解反应非常复杂,降解速率不符合拟一级反应规律,还会产生大量溴代THMs,如二氯一溴甲烷(DCBM)、一氯二溴甲烷(DBCM)、三溴甲烷(TBM)等,它们的浓度均随着Br^-/Cl2值的增加而迅速增加,浓度高低顺序为:DCBM>DBCM>TBM>CF。在相同p H值下,Dinoseb的氯化降解速率随着Br^-浓度的增大而增加;在相同Br^-浓度下,pH值越低,Dinoseb的氯化反应速率越快。与Br^-相比,pH值是更重要的氯化速率影响因素。当水体中有NH4⁺存在时,TCNM产率会提高较多;NO3^-对Dinoseb的氯化反应有一定的抑制作用,各DBPs浓度都有降低;NO2^-可以被水中的次氯酸氧化成NO3^-,消耗水中部分次氯酸,DBPs浓度总体都会降低。     

The effect of advanced treatment on chlorine decay in metallic pipes

Experiments were run to measure what effect advanced treatment might have on the kinetics of chlorine and chloramine decay in metallic pipes that comprise many drinking water distribution systems. A recirculating loop of 6-in diameter unlined ductile iron pipe was used to simulate turbulent flow conditions in a pipe with significant corrosion and tubercle buildup. Conventionally treated test water was subjected to either ozonation, carbon adsorption (GAC), reverse osmosis (RO) or no further treatment before being chlorinated and introduced into the pipeline simulator. Results showed that overall chlorine decay in the simulator was consistently dominated by wall reactions whose first-order rate constants were an order of magnitude higher than those for the bulk water. With free chlorine, the wall rate constants for ozonated and GAC-treated water were about twice those of conventional or RO-treated water. This behavior is believed due to the effect that changes in the organic content of water have on its ability to complex iron and the effect that changes in water conductivity have on pipe wall corrosion. Tests run with chloraminated water showed no statistically significant effect of treatment type and had wall rate constants that were only 40 to 70% as high as those using free chlorine.     

Characterization of elemental and structural composition of corrosion scales and deposits formed in drinking water distribution systems

Corrosion scales and deposits formed within drinking water distribution systems (DWDSs) have the potential to retain inorganic contaminants. The objective of this study was to characterize the elemental and structural composition of extracted pipe solids and hydraulically-mobile deposits originating from representative DWDSs. Goethite (α-FeOOH), magnetite (Fe₃O₄) and siderite (FeCO₃) were the primary crystalline phases identified in most of the selected samples. Among the major constituent elements of the deposits, iron was most prevalent followed, in the order of decreasing prevalence, by sulfur, organic carbon, calcium, inorganic carbon, phosphorus, manganese, magnesium, aluminum and zinc. The cumulative occurrence profiles of iron, sulfur, calcium and phosphorus for pipe specimens and flushed solids were similar. Comparison of relative occurrences of these elements indicates that hydraulic disturbances may have relatively less impact on the release of manganese, aluminum and zinc, but more impact on the release of organic carbon, inorganic carbon, and magnesium.     

不同pH下铁腐蚀产物对铁粉还原硝酸盐的影响

对不同初始pH下铁粉还原硝酸盐时所形成的腐蚀产物进行了试验研究.结果表明:腐蚀产物的主要成分是Fe3O4和FeO(OH),随反应体系初始pH值的降低,Fe3O4的比例逐渐增大;腐蚀产物表面呈多孔疏松结构,对Fe2+具有一定的吸附作用,可在一定程度上促进铁粉对硝酸盐的还原;铁腐蚀产物的形成总体上降低了铁对硝酸盐的还原效果,较低pH值条件下形成的铁腐蚀产物对硝酸盐去除效果的影响较小.     

Coliform culturability in over- versus undersaturated drinking waters

The culturability of Escherichia coli in undersaturated drinking water with respect to CaCO3 (corrosive water) or in oversaturated water (non-corrosive water) was tested in different reactors: glass flasks (batch, "non-reactive" wall); glass reactors (chemostat, "non-reactive" wall) versus a corroded cast iron Propella reactor (chemostat, "reactive" wall) and a 15-year-old distribution system pilot (chemostat, "reactive" wall with 1% corroded cast iron and 99% cement-lined cast iron). The E. coli in E. coli-spiked drinking water was not able to maintain its culturability and colonize the experimental systems. It appears from our results that the optimal pH for maintaining E. coli culturability was around 8.2 or higher. However, in reactors with a reactive wall (corroded cast iron), the decline in E. coli culturability was slower when the pH was adjusted to 7.9 or 7.7 (i.e. a reactor fed with corrosive water; pHpHs). We tentatively deduce that corrosion products coming from chemical reactions driven by corrosive waters on the pipe wall improve E. coli culturability.     

Introduction of the leak-before-break (LBB) concept for cast iron water pipes on the basis of laboratory experiments

Failure of cast iron water mains in Australia is a common occurrence. Water utilities are seeking solutions to optimise the renewal and rehabilitation of ageing cast iron critical water mains (diameter ≥ 300 mm). Failure pressures of three large-diameter cast iron pipe specimens (600 mm in diameter) were tested. A large corrosion patch was machined onto each pipe section to initiate pipe failure. A large corrosion patch and significant reduction (>90%) of pipe wall thickness were needed to fail the tested pipe specimens. All three pipes under test exhibited leaking before bursting, indicating that the concept of leak-before-break (LBB) could be used for pipe failure prevention. In addition, LBB provides valuable information that could be added to the pipe asset database to make better management decisions on repair or replacement along with all other asset information. The study also found that small corrosion patches (<50 mm) with low remaining wall thickness may cause pipe leaks, but are less likely to cause major pipe bursts.     

Formation of carbonaceous and nitrogenous disinfection by-products from the chlorination of Microcystis aeruginosa

Formation of carbonaceous disinfection by-products (C-DBPs), including trihalomethanes (THMs), haloacetic acids (HAAs), haloketones (HKs), chloral hydrate (CH), and nitrogenous disinfection by-products (N-DBPs), including haloacetonitriles (HANs) and trichloronitromethane (TCNM) from chlorination of Microcystis aeruginosa, a blue-green algae, under different conditions was investigated. Factors evaluated include contact time, chlorine dosages, pH, temperature, ammonia concentrations and algae growth stages. Increased reaction time, chlorine dosage and temperature improved the formation of the relatively stable C-DBPs (e.g., THM, HAA, and CH) and TCNM. Formation of dichloroacetonitrile (DCAN) followed an increasing and then decreasing pattern with prolonged reaction time and increased chlorine dosages. pH affected DBP formation differently, with THM increasing, HKs decreasing, and other DBPs having maximum concentrations at certain pH values. The addition of ammonia significantly reduced the formation of most DBPs, but TCNM formation was not affected and 1,1-dichloropropanone (1,1-DCP) formation was higher with the addition of ammonia. Most DBPs increased as the growth period of algal cells increased. Chlorination of algal cells of higher organic nitrogen content generated higher concentrations of N-DBPs (e.g., HANs and TCNM) and CH, comparable DCAA concentration but much lower concentrations of other C-DBPs (e.g., THM, TCAA and HKs) than did natural organic matter (NOM).     

Speciation of trace inorganic contaminants in corrosion scales and deposits formed in drinking water distribution systems

Sequential extractions utilizing the modified Tessier scheme (Krishnamurti et al., 1995) and measurements of soluble and particulate metal released from suspended solids were used in this study to determine the speciation and mobility of inorganic contaminants (As, Cr, V, U, Cd, Ni, and Mn) found in corrosion scales and particles mobilized during hydraulic flushing events. Arsenic, chromium and vanadium are primarily associated with the mobilization-resistant fraction that is resistant to all eluents used in this study and also bound in highly stable crystalline iron oxides. Very low concentrations of these elements were released in resuspension experiments. X-ray absorbance measurements demonstrated that arsenic in the sample with the highest As concentration was dominated by As(V) bound by iron oxides. Significant fractions of uranium and cadmium were associated with carbonate solids. Nickel and manganese were determined to be more mobile and significantly associated with organic fractions. This may indicate that biofilms and natural organic matter in the drinking water distributions systems play an important role in the accumulation and release of these inorganic contaminants.     

Model development for predicting changes in DBP exposure concentrations during indoor handling of tap water

Disinfection by-products (DBPs) in municipal drinking water are a matter of concern because of their possible risks to human health. Risk assessment studies often use measurements of DBPs in water distribution systems, whereas populations are typically exposed to the indoor tap water. Further to this, consumers often employ several indoor strategies to handle tap water (e.g., storing in a refrigerator, boiling, filtering, etc.) prior to use. The indoor handling of municipal water may have implications on DBPs' exposure assessment. This study investigates and develops models to predict the effects of various indoor handling strategies on trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs). Linear and nonlinear models are developed to predict changes in THM and HAA concentrations due to various indoor water manipulation strategies. The models are capable of assessing representative exposure concentrations of THMs and HAAs as a result of indoor handling, which might be useful in gaining a better understanding of exposure and risks from DBPs in municipal drinking water.     

DBP formation kinetics in a simulated distribution system

Little is known about how the growth of halogenated disinfection by-products (DBPs) in drinking water is affected by time spent in a distribution system. Experiments were performed to compare the rate of trihalomethane and haloacetic acid production in a simulated pipe environment to that observed for the same water held in glass bottles. Results showed that although the rate of chlorine consumption in the pipe was much greater than in the bottle, there was no decrease in the amount of haloacetic acids produced and that trihalomethane levels actually increased by an average of 15%. Separate tests confirmed that this increase was due to a reservoir of organic precursor material associated with deposits on the pipe wall. This work suggests that the rate of DBP production in a distribution system will not necessarily be reduced by increased chlorine consumption due to non-DBP producing reactions with deposits on the pipe wall.     

Survival of Mycobacterium avium in a model distribution system

A pilot study was designed to examine the impact of nutrient levels, pipe materials, and disinfection on the survival of M. avium in model drinking water distribution system biofilms. Studies showed that the survival of the organism was dependant upon a complex interaction between pipe surface, nutrient levels, and disinfectants. The findings showed that when no disinfection was applied, M. avium could be recovered from biofilms at nutrient levels of 50microg/L assimilable organic carbon. M. avium concentrations were lower on copper pipe surfaces following disinfection with free chlorine as compared to monochloramine. However, due to the interference of corrosion products, chloramination of iron pipe surfaces controlled M. avium levels better than free chlorine. These data demonstrate the significance of pipe materials on the survival of M. avium complex in biofilms. Elimination of competitive heterotrophic bacteria on copper pipe surfaces by the application of disinfection resulted in a population of nearly 100% M. avium. Heat treatment of M. avium biofilms was affected by the pipe composition and organic content of the water. Effluent temperatures >53 degrees C were required to control the occurrence of M. avium in the pipeline system. Although additional studies are required using improved detection methods, the results of this investigation suggest that reducing the biodegradable organic material in drinking water, control of corrosion, maintenance of an effective disinfectant residual, and management of hot water temperatures can help limit the occurrence of M. avium complex in drinking water biofilms.     

Accounting for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Public Water Supplies

Asset management plans were prepared in 1989 and 1994 by water companies in England and Wales for submission to the Office of Water Services. These plans constituted the financial programming required by water companies to meet specified standards of service, particularly with respect to water quality. Detailed studies have previously established that problems associated with iron from unlined ferrous mains, particularly in soft water areas, is often the main cost 'driver'for water distribution investment. However, many of the so-called unlined iron mains were treated with a coal-tar pitch lining for corrosion protection before installation, and residues of this painted lining can give rise to unsatisfactory levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in drinking water.
The paper describes how desk-study research, followed by the development and application of a modified 'focused downstream series sampling'water-quality modelling technique allowed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to be accounted for in two water company asset management plan submissions. The paper also raises a number of fundamental implications with respect to the occurrence of these carcinogenic compounds in drinking water.     

Minimizing biofilm in the presence of iron oxides and humic substances

Based upon circumstantial evidence linking elevated coliform bacteria counts in drinking water distribution systems with unlined cast iron pipe, it was hypothesized that adsorption of humic substances by iron oxide containing corrosion products (CPs) can stimulate and/or support biofilm development. Using porous media consisting of iron-oxide-coated glass beads (IOCBs) or actual iron CPs, experiments were performed to evaluate the effectiveness of different corrosion control and disinfection treatments in reducing biofilm when humic substances were the carbon source. Free chlorine was the most effective treatment in minimizing biofilm. Addition of phosphate alone did not significantly reduce biofilm using the CPs, but there was weak evidence it did using the IOCBs. The combination of free chlorine and phosphate was more effective at minimizing biofilm than free chlorine alone when CPs were the media. The presence of humic substances was a major factor when considering biofilm minimization based on results of experiments using both types of iron oxide media. The combination of humic substances and CPs led to an increase in biofilm biomass when free chlorine was not present, similar to conditions that could occur at distribution system dead-ends. Treatment to raise the pH to 9 did not reduce biofilm in experiments using both media, and actually increased biofilm in the experiment using CPs under the conditions tested.     

Control of Coliform Growth in Drinking Water Distribution Systems

The occurrence of coliforms in drinking water distribution systems may be explained by (i) inadequate water treatment, (ii) post-treatment contamination, or (iii) coliform growth in the network. In order to confirm the third hypothesis, a 24 h-starved dense suspension of Escherichia coli was injected into an experimental water distribution system. Results from this experiment clearly indicate that E. coli may find ecological conditions in drinking water distribution systems which will allow growth, particularly in the biofilm phase. Chlorination is an appropriate tool to limit coliform much more easily than the total heterotrophic bacterial biomass. However, in all cases, biofilm associated bacteria are more difficult to kill than suspended bacteria, because of chlorine consumption by the pipe material, and because of a diffusion-limited reaction between chlorine and the biofilm.     

某市给水管网铁细菌生长特征调查

给水管网中存在的微生物腐蚀现象会造成管网水水质恶化等一系列问题，因此有必要对给水管网中铁细菌的生长特征进行调查研究。选取某市给水管网，分别采用MPN法和平板计数法对管网水及水厂处理单元出水中铁细菌的数量进行测定。试验结果表明：管网水中的铁细菌含量为0～10^7 CFU／mL，变化范围较大，各处理单元出水中均有铁细菌存在；铁细菌数量与管线长度和温度没有相关性，和余氯值呈明显的负相关；铁细菌数量和管网水中总铁以及溶解性铁含量无明显相关性，但和颗粒性铁含量有一定的相关性。     

Speciation and distribution of vanadium in drinking water iron pipe corrosion by-products

Vanadium (V) when ingested from drinking water in high concentrations (> 15 μg L^− 1) is a potential health risk and is on track to becoming a regulated contaminant. High concentrations of V have been documented in lead corrosion by-products as Pb₅(V⁵⁺O₄)₃Cl (vanadinite) which, in natural deposits is associated with iron oxides/oxyhydroxides, phases common in iron pipe corrosion by-products. The extent of potential reservoirs of V in iron corrosion by-products, its speciation, and mechanism of inclusion however are unknown. The aim of this study is to assess these parameters in iron corrosion by-products, implementing synchrotron-based μ-XRF mapping and μ-XANES along with traditional physiochemical characterization. The morphologies, mineralogies, and chemistry of the samples studied are superficially similar to typical iron corrosion by-products. However, we found V present as discrete grains of Pb₅(V⁵⁺O₄)₃Cl likely embedded in the surface regions of the iron corrosion by-products. Concentrations of V observed in bulk XRF analysis ranged from 35 to 899 mg kg^− 1. We calculate that even in pipes with iron corrosion by-products with low V concentration, 100 mg kg^− 1, as little as 0.0027% of a 0.1-cm thick X 100-cm long section of that corrosion by-product needs to be disturbed to increase V concentrations in the drinking water at the tap to levels well above the 15 μg L^− 1 notification level set by the State of California and could adversely impact human health. In addition, it is likely that large reservoirs of V are associated with iron corrosion by-products in unlined cast iron mains and service branches in numerous drinking water distribution systems.