Corrosion
Acid Water Neutralizer Filters

Phosphate Filters

There are many methods and treatment approaches to solve corrosion problems, and many of the systems we suppy, are not currently listed in our online catalog due to the specific and technical nature of the systems. For more information, please contact our technical staff.

Corrosion of distribution lines, home plumbing and fixtures has been estimated to cost the public hundreds of millions of dollars per year. Lead and cadmium, both toxic metals occur in tap water almost solely due to corrosion.

Three other metals, usually found in high concentrations due to corrosion of piping systems are copper, iron, and zinc. Copper causes blue staining and imparts a metallic bitter taste. Iron corrosion cause reddish or brown water and also imparts a metallic taste. Zinc corrosion does not usually discolor the water, but can also cause a metallic taste.

All waters are corrosive to some degree, and a water's corrosive character depends on its physical and chemical constituents. The type of material the water comes in contact with also affects the "corrosivity". For instance, water that may corrode iron pipe may not be as corrosive to copper pipe.

In our area, the most commons causes of corrosion of plumbing systems on municipally treated water is from "electrolysis" or electrically induced corrosion. This is often due to improper grounding of electrical systems to water pipes, or by the creation of "galvanic corrosion cells" in home systems due to the dual use of iron and copper piping in the same system.

This "electrically-induced" corrosion is aggravated by waters high in total dissolved solids (TDS), making the water more conductive.

On private water systems, the most common cause of corrosion is from low pH (acidic - less than 7.0 pH) waters. Often these waters are of high quality and are low in buffering calcium minerals, but are high in dissolved carbon-dioxide gas, which can cause the low pH or acidity. Treatment is accomplished by neutralizing the water with the use of an automatic neutralizer. These water filter tanks are filled with a blend of calcium and magnesium carbonates made from naturally occurring minerals, which dissolve into the water, making it less corrosive. Other methods commonly used are pH adjustment by injecting soda ash or a sodium hydroxide solution into the water upstream of a holding or retention tank. Also see Acid Water.

Corrosion can often be treated by raising the pH of the water, by adding phosphate in various forms into the water to seal off the corroding piping, or by using cathodic protection. Corrosion can be complicated to treat, especially if the water does not appear to be corrosive from a chemistry standpoint. If you are trying to treat for corrosion, it is important to get an accurate water analysis. You can also fill out an online technical request form and one of our water technicians will assist you in trying to identify the cause of the problem and recommend a solution.