Biocorrosion of Copper in Potable Water

Abstract

Copper (Cu) is widely accepted as a durable, corrosion‐resistant conduit for potable water. However, over the past decade, the corrosion of Cu in potable waters has been critically assessed, triggered by tighter regulatory standards for potable water and wastewater, higher consumer expectations, and the recognition of a possible microbiological role in corrosion failures. At least two unusual types of pitting corrosion in hot and cold water systems and several anomalous cases of excessive Cu corrosion by‐product release (“blue water”) have features consistent with microbially influenced corrosion (MIC). Cu corrosion by‐product release has traditionally been considered controlled by inorganic water chemistry. However, recent work has demonstrated that MIC can potentially produce excessive Cu concentrations under optimized water treatment conditions. This article discusses recent developments in understanding the influence of biofilms (microorganisms attached to and growing on a surface) on Cu corrosion.

Culture dependent and independent analyses of bacterial communities involved in copper plumbing corrosion

“…2009) in corrosion by‐products release. However, less usual corrosion types including cold‐water pitting corrosion and ‘blue water’ corrosion, reported worldwide, have been related with microbial activity and biofilm accumulation (Bremer et al. 2001; Critchley et al.…”

“…2007), and biofilms in corroding copper pipes may be composed of different groups of micro‐organisms, as a spatial and chemical heterogeneity has been described in their surfaces (Keevil 2004). Microbial studies in copper plumbing corrosion biofilms has been addressed utilizing culture‐dependent methods (Dutkiewicz and Fallowfield 1998; Bremer et al. 2001; Critchley et al.…”

“…In addition, bacterial effects and biofilm influence on copper corrosion have been inferred indirectly, or by pure bacterial culture (Davidson et al. 1995; Bremer et al. 2001; Critchley et al.…”

Microbial Community Profile of a Lead Service Line Removed from a Drinking Water Distribution System

“…Biofilms have been shown to influence the corrosion behavior of metals, including those used in drinking water pipes (6,7,9,11,48). For example, drinking water isolates of the genera Agrobacterium, Acidovorax, Sphingomonas, and Micrococcus have been reported to increase copper levels in drinking water pipes, with corrosion dependent on microbial activity (9,10,14,23,37).…”

Copper and Copper Alloys

“…Studies published in the first decade of this century on the corrosion of copper and copper alloys in atmospheric environments , in waters [346][347][348][349][350][351][352], and in hightemperature media [353][354][355][356][357][358][359][360][361][362] confirm the scientific/technical/economic importance of this domain of science and engineering. In particular, the mechanisms of pitting corrosion [363][364][365][366][367][368][369][370][371][372], stress corrosion cracking [373][374][375][376][377][378][379][380][381][382][383][384], microbiologically influenced corrosion [385][386][387][388][389][390][391]…”