AWWA JAW10081

This paper describes a program established to monitor and control corrosion of lead pipe in the Boston, Massachusetts, metropolitan area. The program analyzes three samples taken from customers' homes, which are serviced with lead pipe. Each sample is taken from the customer's kitchen faucet at different times during the day. Sample one represents the interior plumbing water, sample two represents water in the service line, and sample three is the water main sample. Samples, which are collected over a five year period, were tested for trace metals to assess the effectiveness of any treatment employed to reduce lead corrosion. A six-month trial using zinc orthophosphate did not reduce the concentration of lead below 0.05 mg/L. Sodium hydroxide was then tested and proved to reduce lead concentrations below 0.05 mg/L. Copper levels from copper pipe corrosion have also decreased significantly. Includes 13 references, tables, figures.