The city of Carlsbad, California, has planned construction
of an ocean desalination plant capable of producing
up to 50 mgd of potable drinking water. A
six-month pilot study was conducted to determine
the potential corrosion effect on distribution system
materials when the city replaces a portion of its current
imported, treated surface water with reverse
osmosis (RO) permeate. Testing evaluated the effect
of both water sources on distribution system and
residential plumbing materials such as copper pipe,
brass meters, cement-mortar-lined pipe, and cast-iron
distribution system gate valves.
Results indicated that after a brief period of conditioning,
the water quality of the desalinated seawater supply
was comparable to that of the current supply. Findings
from this study provide both a blueprint for evaluating the
effect of changes in water quality on corrosion outcomes
and evidence of how a desalinated water supply can be
treated to avoid corrosion problems when the water is
introduced into an existing distribution system. Includes 51 references, tables, figures.