Water distribution infrastructure has historically been considered to be a simple means of transmitting water to the public, but it is a complex system with many interactions among reactive components, including pipe materials, accumulated chemicals, residual disinfectants and biofilms. Much of our existing water infrastructure is near or beyond its design life. Over the next decades, there will be tremendous economic and societal pressure to manage distribution infrastructure effectively. Recent nationwide surveys show that chromium (Cr), arsenic (As), selenium (Se) and vanadium (V) accumulate extensively, reaching concentrations as high as 0.5% in the corrosion scales. This invited presentation will discuss important but poorly understood redox processes governing the in situ release of chromium from water distribution infrastructure. For example, a switch of source water from conventional surface water to reclaimed water can result in an acceleration of the release from corrosion products. In addition, chlorine, a residual disinfectant, can oxidize both zerovalent and trivalent chromium-containing solids accumulated in corrosion products to toxic hexavalent chromium Cr(VI). Strategies to control lead release from distribution system will also be discussed during the presentation.

Managing aging water distribution infrastructure: Control of in situ redox release of accumulated chromium from drinking water distribution systems

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ACS Spring 2023

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