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IRON RELEASE AND COLORED WATER FORMATION FROM IRON SCALES
Citation:
Snoeyink, V. L., P. Sarin, AND D A. Lytle*. IRON RELEASE AND COLORED WATER FORMATION FROM IRON SCALES. Presented at 2003 AWWA Annual Conference, Anaheim, CA, 6/15-19/2003.
Description:
Iron corrosion in water distribution networks is of special concern in the drinking water industry because of the large amount of unlined iron pipe that is in use. Corrosion can destroy the pipe, consume oxidants and disinfectants in the water, create scales that increase the energy required to deliver water, support biofilm growth, and produce suspensions of iron particles that give drinking water a dirty appearance. While factors that affect the corrosion of clean iron surfaces have been extensively studied, the chemistry of scales that form on the pipe surface, scale reactions that result in the formation of colored water, and the effect of water chemistry on the properties of the resulting particles are not well understood. The objective of this paper is to present an overview of a conceptual model to describe the formation and growth of iron scales, and their reactions that lead to colored water. It is anticipated that the model will be used as a basis for changing water quality to minimize colored water formation and as a guide for further research. Several aspects of the model require verification by further research.