Progress and Goals

Innovative research within the Drinking Water Distribution Systems Corrosion Research Program (which falls under the larger Drinking Water Research Program) has produced several corrosion control strategies that use various combinations of materials selection, materials removal, metal solubility, and chemical water treatment. Chemical water treatment programs consist of either manipulating the general water chemistry or adding a chemical to the water to produce a less corrosive water quality.

Annual performance goals (APGs) are used to track the progress of the program, and each APG is designed to yield research products:

Research Products Listed by Annual Performance Goal
Research Products Listed by Product Type

Goals

The goals of the Drinking Water Distribution Systems Corrosion Research Program are to reduce human exposure to contaminated drinking water within distribution systems and to preserve the structural integrity of drinking water distribution systems by investigating the interactions between drinking water and distribution system materials. The program uses field, bench-scale, and pilot studies, and a variety of solids and water analysis tools, to understand the nature of various types of corrosion, corrosion by-products, and scales in relation to metal contaminant release. The research supports current rules and regulations, and provides the scientific basis for making new rules.

Research Products Listed by Annual Performance Goal

APG: Provide the Office of Water, states, local authorities, and utilities with data and tools for characterizing and managing chemical and microbial contaminants in distribution systems.

• Collect and interpret data to assess the stability of arsenic in water distribution systems
• Report the effect of oxidizing conditions on metal releases, corrosion rate, and scale properties of distribution system materials
• Report the characterization and prediction of scale formation (including aluminum) in distribution systems
• Report the detection of opportunistic pathogens (Escherichia coli, Aeromonas, and Mycobacterium) in biofilms, using molecular detection techniques
• Collect and interpret data on treatment conditions that might enhance the solubilization of arsenic-containing iron oxides within the distribution system
• Report on corrosion chemistry relationships and treatment approaches
• Report on the association of arsenic with iron particles, corrosion by-products, and sediment in drinking water distribution systems

APG: Provide the Office of Water and other stakeholders with new data and tools for monitoring, designing, managing, and understanding the risks associated with contamination of distribution systems.

• Report on the link between the distribution system and Mycobacterium avium complex found in clinical cases
• Report on studies evaluating distribution system variables associated with microbial health effects
• Conduct comparison studies of Mycobacterium disease isolates and distribution system isolates
• Report on biofilm and regrowth issues associated with nontuberculous mycobacteria
• Report on the characterization and prediction of disinfection by-products (DBPs) in distribution systems
• Report on the performance and net cost targets for remote, on-line structural integrity monitoring for drinking water distribution systems
• Create a synthesis document: a state-of-the-science report on management and control of water quality in distribution systems (Note: A synthesis document more effectively communicates research results to clients.)

Research Products Listed by Product Type

Data and Databases

• Data to assess the stability of arsenic in water distribution systems
• Data on the treatment conditions that might enhance the solubilization of arsenic-containing iron oxides within the distribution system

Reports, Documents, Manuals, and Reviews

• Report on the effect of oxidizing conditions on metal releases, corrosion rates, and scale properties of distribution system materials
• Report on the characterization and prediction of scale formation (including aluminum) in distribution systems
• Report on corrosion chemistry relationships and treatment approaches
• Report on the association of arsenic with iron particles, corrosion by-products, and sediment in drinking water distribution systems
• Interim report on management and control of water quality in distribution systems
• Report on the link between the distribution system and Mycobacterium avium complex found in clinical cases
• Report on studies evaluating distribution system variables associated with microbial health effects
• Report on biofilm and regrowth issues associated with nontuberculous mycobacteria
• Report on the characterization and prediction of DBPs in distribution systems
• Report on the performance and net cost targets for remote, on-line structural integrity monitoring for drinking water distribution systems
• Synthesis document: a state-of-the-science report on management and control of water quality in distribution systems (Note: A synthesis document more effectively communicates research results to clients.)

Comparison of Mycobacterium disease isolates and distribution system isolates

Technical Contact:

Darren Lytle (513) 569-7432
Michael Schock (513) 569-7412