scope:

PURPOSE OF THIS MANUAL

Internal corrosion of drinking water distribution and home plumbing systems has long been a recognized issue facing the drinking water industry-one that has many health, water quality, and economic implications.

This manual was written with the intent to provide a practical overview of internal corrosion issues, to identify appropriate corrosion response and control methods, and to develop corrosion control monitoring programs. It is not intended to provide detailed summaries of corrosion chemistry. References to additional resources are given where the reader might find more detailed information useful.

Although this manual briefly touches on internal corrosion of nonmetallic pipe surfaces, such as asbestos-cement and cement mortar-lined ductile- or cast-iron pipe, it primarily focuses on corrosion of metal pipe surfaces, solders, and plumbing fixtures, such as those composed of lead, copper, and iron. For the purposes of this manual, the term corrosion refers not only to the electrochemical phenomenon that causes metal loss from pipe surfaces but also to the dissolution of existing pipe scales and corrosion by-products. Internal corrosion-that is, corrosion on the interior surface of metal pipes and fixtures- is the focus of this manual because of the potential for metal release to adversely impact distributed water quality.