Flint has demonstrated the consequences of America’s failing water infrastructure. In the past, legacy unlined iron pipe was considered a nuisance that caused rusty, distasteful water, and wasted resources via leaks. But this pipe is now contributing to problems with lead, lost disinfectant residuals, and higher incidence of waterborne disease such as that caused by Legionella in buildings. Fixing pipes on failure is not only costly, but might also contribution to health risks, by dislodging biofilms and introducing contaminants to water.  The emerging linkage between decrepit infrastructure and health disparities will increase the impetus to invest in modern distribution systems that includes water mains and service lines. Corrosion control helps to mask and reduce these problems, via manipulation of chemistry, but given that upgrading water infrastructure and replacing lead pipes will take decades, better understanding this problem will be critically important to extend the lifetime of these assets while protecting public health.<br/>

Origins of the Flint water crisis

254th National Meeting (2017)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.