Impact of lead and other metallic solders on water quality

Technical Report · Thu Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1990

OSTI ID:6075524

Murrell, N E

A study of the relationship between water quality at the consumer's taps and the corrosion of lead solder was conducted under actual field conditions in 90 homes supplied by public water in the South Huntington Water District (New York) and at 14 houses supplied by private wells in Suffolk County on Long Island (New York). The study was done in three phases three different pH ranges (5.0-6.8, 7.0-7.4, and 8.0 and greater). The phase I study was preformed without any pH adjustments on the water sources. Phase II and III studies consisted of raising the pH by the addition of caustic soda and maintaining pH for thirty days prior to the sampling. After an overnight period of nonuse, a series of samples were collected at specific time intervals to evaluate the effect of time on the leaching rate of lead. Data were collected on leaching of cadmium and copper and water quality parameters were monitored. In the 2nd part of the investigation, a more controlled, four-pipe loop study was conducted with the same corrosive Long Island water. Each pipe loop consisted of approximately 60 feet of copper pipe with 22 solder joints, each loop having a different type of solder: (1) tin/lead; (2) tin/antimony; (3) silver/copper, and (4) tin/copper. The four loop solder test results indicate the tin/antimony, silver/copper, and tin/copper can be used with only minor metal leaching.

• Research Organization: Holzmacher, McLendon and Murrell, Melville, NY (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6075524
• Report Number(s): PB-91-125724/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ANTIMONY
LEACHING
CADMIUM
COPPER
DRINKING WATER
CONTAMINATION
LEAD
NEW YORK
WATER POLLUTION
SILVER
TIN
MONITORING
PH VALUE
DISSOLUTION
ELEMENTS
FEDERAL REGION II
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
METALS
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
SEPARATION PROCESSES
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
USA
WATER
540320* - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)