Ask A Scientist Chemistry Archive

name         Lawrence B.
status       other
age          60s

Question -   Our community is experiencing 20 - 30% of the homes requiring the copper pipes throughout 
the homes to be replaced after only 10 years.  Some authorities are trying to blame it on micro 
organisms.  Eating the pipes?  Others are saying that it is because pure oxygen is used in the 
water purification process and oxygen is highly corrosive but we are not told of this by the 
water company.
Anyone have any information to help us?
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Lawrence,

The micro-organism cause should not be overlooked. Have the water company check out that angle before 
disregarding it.

Is the water acidic or (preferred) alkaline? Is the plumbing system electrically isolated from an earth 
ground? Either or both of these will encourage corrosion of copper plumbing. Acidic water and 
ungrounded pipes can favor corrosion. I discount the "pure oxygen" argument because oxygen is 
not used in the purification process. Ozone -- a highly reactive form of oxygen -- is used in 
some purification plants. However, there should be no residual ozone left in the water by the 
time it reaches the distribution system.

Regards,
ProfHoff 791
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Lawrence,

Please check out the reference listed here. It bears on your situation and
is better information than that which I sent to you yesterday:

Chemical and Engineering News magazine.
August 18, 2003    Page 51

It should be available in any good library.

Regards,
ProfHoff
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