Science Inventory

Benzene Uptake and Release from Plastic Drinking Water Pipes Affected by Wildfires

Citation:

Haupert, L. AND M. Magnuson. Benzene Uptake and Release from Plastic Drinking Water Pipes Affected by Wildfires. Environmental and Water Resources Congress, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, May 23 - 26, 2021.

Impact/Purpose:

Over the past few years, the state of California has experienced some of the worst wildfires in recent history. Several communities affected by these wildfires have experienced persistent benzene contamination in their drinking water distribution systems. While the exact mechanism for the benzene contamination is still under investigation, one contributing factor to the benzene persistence is likely permeation of plastic infrastructure. Polyethylene pipes in water distribution networks and building water systems are vulnerable to permeation by organic chemicals; however, the kinetics governing sorption and desorption of benzene from polyethylene drinking water pipes are largely unstudied. In this work, experimental results and numerical methods are used to model the kinetics of uptake and release of benzene from plastic drinking water pipes. Predictions based on modeling results have important implications for selection of remediation and sampling strategies for affected infrastructure. Specifically, understanding desorption kinetics from permeated plastic pipes is essential for determining decontamination criteria, selecting a pre-sampling stagnation period, and interpreting sampling results with respect to decontamination goals. Given the rising use of plastic components in drinking water infrastructure, the results of this study are expected to provide important resources for decision-makers responding to future contamination incidents.

Description:

Over the past few years, the state of California has experienced some of the worst wildfires in recent history. Several communities affected by these wildfires have experienced persistent benzene contamination in their drinking water distribution systems. While the exact mechanism for the benzene contamination is still under investigation, one contributing factor to the benzene persistence is likely permeation of plastic infrastructure. Polyethylene pipes in water distribution networks and building water systems are vulnerable to permeation by organic chemicals; however, the kinetics governing sorption and desorption of benzene from polyethylene drinking water pipes are largely unstudied. In this work, experimental results and numerical methods are used to model the kinetics of uptake and release of benzene from plastic drinking water pipes. Predictions based on modeling results have important implications for selection of remediation and sampling strategies for affected infrastructure. Specifically, understanding desorption kinetics from permeated plastic pipes is essential for determining decontamination criteria, selecting a pre-sampling stagnation period, and interpreting sampling results with respect to decontamination goals. Given the rising use of plastic components in drinking water infrastructure, the results of this study are expected to provide important resources for decision-makers responding to future contamination incidents.

URLs/Downloads:

BENZENE UPTAKE AND RELEASE FROM PLASTIC DRINKING WATER PIPES.PDF  (PDF, NA pp,  2377.25  KB,  about PDF)

Record Details:

Record Type:DOCUMENT( PRESENTATION/ SLIDE)
Product Published Date:05/26/2021
Record Last Revised:05/27/2021
OMB Category:Other
Record ID: 351786