Seasonal Fluctuations in Nitrate Levels Can Trigger Lead Solder Corrosion Problems in Drinking Water

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dc.contributor.authorLopez, Kathryn G.en
dc.contributor.authorXiao, Jinghuaen
dc.contributor.authorCrockett, Christopheren
dc.contributor.authorLytle, Christianen
dc.contributor.authorGrubbs, Haleyen
dc.contributor.authorEdwards, Marc A.en
dc.date.accessioned2023-02-07T19:30:55Zen
dc.date.available2023-02-07T19:30:55Zen
dc.date.issued2023-01-10en
dc.date.updated2023-02-07T17:20:08Zen
dc.description.abstractAfter a utility switched its source water from ground to surface water in 2017, first draw water lead levels spiked due to increased lead solder corrosion that could not be explained by existing knowledge. When lead release was not adequately reduced with a 90:10 orthophosphate/polyphosphate corrosion inhibitor blend or even high levels of 100% orthophosphate, an in-depth investigation of possible causes revealed a strong correlation between 90th percentile lead and seasonal fluctuations in surface water nitrate levels. Complementary bench-scale studies that tested new copper coupons with lead solder and harvested pipes from a worst case home verified a strong relationship between nitrate and elevated lead. Lead release in the presence of nitrate became increasingly erratic with time, resulting in the spalling of large lead solder particulates up to 7 mm in length into the water. Lead levels were occasionally >1000 ppb in homes and >100000 ppb in the bench experiments with harvested pipe. Orthophosphate was unable to sufficiently reduce lead levels below the action level during periods with high nitrate levels in the bench studies. Water utilities and regulators should proactively consider possible unintended consequences of higher nitrate levels on lead release when changing source waters or during seasonal runoff events.en
dc.description.versionPublished versionen
dc.format.extentPages 21-26en
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.1021/acs.estlett.2c00581en
dc.identifier.eissn2328-8930en
dc.identifier.issn2328-8930en
dc.identifier.issue1en
dc.identifier.orcidEdwards, Marc [0000-0002-1889-1193]en
dc.identifier.otherPMC9835880en
dc.identifier.pmid36643386en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/113710en
dc.identifier.volume10en
dc.language.isoenen
dc.publisherAmerican Chemical Societyen
dc.relation.urihttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/36643386en
dc.rightsCreative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 Internationalen
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/en
dc.titleSeasonal Fluctuations in Nitrate Levels Can Trigger Lead Solder Corrosion Problems in Drinking Wateren
dc.title.serialEnvironmental Science and Technology Lettersen
dc.typeArticle - Refereeden
dc.type.dcmitypeTexten
dc.type.otherJournal Articleen
dcterms.dateAccepted2022-11-21en
pubs.organisational-group/Virginia Techen
pubs.organisational-group/Virginia Tech/Engineeringen
pubs.organisational-group/Virginia Tech/Engineering/Civil & Environmental Engineeringen
pubs.organisational-group/Virginia Tech/University Distinguished Professorsen
pubs.organisational-group/Virginia Tech/All T&R Facultyen
pubs.organisational-group/Virginia Tech/Engineering/COE T&R Facultyen

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