Boooooooooooooooooooooooo!
Why is Flint River water more corrosive compared to Detroit water? Flint River water has about 8 times more chloride (Cl–) in it than Detroit water. Chloride is generally considered to be very corrosive to iron. For instance, chloride present in road salts (sodium chloride = NaCl = Na+ Cl-) applied in the winter causes iron (Fe^3+) in cars and bridges to rust. Detroit also adds a corrosion inhibitor chemical (orthophosphate) (click here) to their water that helps to reduce corrosion of metals such as iron and lead. So, current Flint water is not only more corrosive, but there is also no corrosion inhibitor present....
The problem is not ONLY the lead!
...To illustrate how iron corrosion is problematic for maintaining a chlorine residual, we collected a sample of Flint water. We put some of that sample into a clean glass container, (the glass does not interact with the water's contents, so whatever reaction is occurring is ONLY between the water and the piece of iron) and some more of it into an identical container with a piece of iron to simulate the effect of water on iron pipes in Flint. We then measured the decay of chlorine over time (Figure 1). The initial level of chlorine was 1.15 milligrams per liter (mg/L), and it stayed pretty high when it was in a glass container. It only dropped to 0.95 mg/L over 12 hours (blue line). Thus, if Flint had a glass (or plastic or concrete) pipe system, chlorine would stay high as it was transported to homes. But when we did the same test with iron present, the chlorine dropped faster due to the corrosion, and was all gone after only 12 hours (red line). After 6 days of doing the test, the chlorine dropped even faster, and was below the minimum required chlorine residual of 0.2 mg/L in just about 1 hour in our test system (green line). The key point is that Flint River water is corroding iron pipes, and that will cause the chlorine to disappear very quickly....
The lead contamination is too high to treat effectively. The Flint River water is so densely contaminated it removes the chlorine 100% and the water is vulnerable to other contamination that chlorine would normally defeat.
...Conclusion: The high rates of iron corrosion from using Flint River water as a drinking water source are damaging the Flint distribution system. The corrosion is also causing chlorine to disappear quickly, which may make it more likely for harmful bacteria to grow in the water. Furthermore, it is possible that with the existing unlined iron pipe system in Flint, and the relatively low water demand (due to declining population, loss of GM – which used a lot of water – as a water customer, and high rates), that it will very difficult to meet Federal standards for minimum chlorine levels no matter what is done to treat the water.
The Flint River is so contaminated it is IMPOSSIBLE to make safe for human consumption. In Michigan, the Department of Environmental Quality (click here)
The largest user of the Detroit water was GM. The large volume of water used by GM created a form of flushing that created legal or better water quality. The Flint River will be absent of that form of large flushing on a regular basis and will never be absolutely clear enough with legal levels of chlorine that PROVES the potential contaminates are all DEFEATED in sustaining levels that will make people sick.
One of the reasons people don't trust government is because the government does what is convenient to THEIR BUDGET. The Flint River will NEVER be safe to drink or bath in even after the new pipes are put in place. The pipes still have to be changed out, but, the source of water has to go back to Detroit.
This is a prime example of the failure of government while still cooperating with Snyder's Financial Manager economic plan for Flint. The Emergency Manager under Snyder is still ineffective. The Flint River is PERMANENTLY contaminated. PERMANENTLY CONTAMINATED. The sediment in the Flint River contains the contamination as well. The contents of the Flint River REACTIONS with the pipes will never end because the river is permanently contaminated. It will never be clean enough. It is impossible to achieve drinkable quality water from a cesspool.
The PREMISE of the idea the Flint River can be made clean is "W"rong!
Cooper pipes are the safest.
...Ductile iron, vinyl and reinforced concrete represent the bulk of pipelines currently being used in the U.S. and Canada to deliver safe drinking water. However, cast iron and ductile iron distribution pipes are the most susceptible to corrosion and breakage. In fact, each year, thousands of water lines are removed for replacement -- most suffering from severe deterioration caused by corrosion....
...These problems are ever-present, costly and health-threatening. According to a recent survey conducted by the Canadian National Research Council, cast iron pipes are rupturing at a rate of 35.9 breaks for every 100 kilometers of pipe in service. And newer ductile iron pipes are averaging about 9.5 breaks per 100 kilometers. These numbers are significant because they translate into over 200,000 breaks every year in the U.S. and Canada....
...Most state agencies (click here) require mortar and concrete products used in drinking water systems to be certified. Producers of these products may in turn require their materials, such as cement, to be certified. It is often advantageous for cement producers to have their cement certified since certified cement is effectively “pre-qualified”, meaning product manufacturers can switch among brands and types of certified cements and still maintain end product certification.
Why is Flint River water more corrosive compared to Detroit water? Flint River water has about 8 times more chloride (Cl–) in it than Detroit water. Chloride is generally considered to be very corrosive to iron. For instance, chloride present in road salts (sodium chloride = NaCl = Na+ Cl-) applied in the winter causes iron (Fe^3+) in cars and bridges to rust. Detroit also adds a corrosion inhibitor chemical (orthophosphate) (click here) to their water that helps to reduce corrosion of metals such as iron and lead. So, current Flint water is not only more corrosive, but there is also no corrosion inhibitor present....
The problem is not ONLY the lead!
...To illustrate how iron corrosion is problematic for maintaining a chlorine residual, we collected a sample of Flint water. We put some of that sample into a clean glass container, (the glass does not interact with the water's contents, so whatever reaction is occurring is ONLY between the water and the piece of iron) and some more of it into an identical container with a piece of iron to simulate the effect of water on iron pipes in Flint. We then measured the decay of chlorine over time (Figure 1). The initial level of chlorine was 1.15 milligrams per liter (mg/L), and it stayed pretty high when it was in a glass container. It only dropped to 0.95 mg/L over 12 hours (blue line). Thus, if Flint had a glass (or plastic or concrete) pipe system, chlorine would stay high as it was transported to homes. But when we did the same test with iron present, the chlorine dropped faster due to the corrosion, and was all gone after only 12 hours (red line). After 6 days of doing the test, the chlorine dropped even faster, and was below the minimum required chlorine residual of 0.2 mg/L in just about 1 hour in our test system (green line). The key point is that Flint River water is corroding iron pipes, and that will cause the chlorine to disappear very quickly....
The lead contamination is too high to treat effectively. The Flint River water is so densely contaminated it removes the chlorine 100% and the water is vulnerable to other contamination that chlorine would normally defeat.
...Conclusion: The high rates of iron corrosion from using Flint River water as a drinking water source are damaging the Flint distribution system. The corrosion is also causing chlorine to disappear quickly, which may make it more likely for harmful bacteria to grow in the water. Furthermore, it is possible that with the existing unlined iron pipe system in Flint, and the relatively low water demand (due to declining population, loss of GM – which used a lot of water – as a water customer, and high rates), that it will very difficult to meet Federal standards for minimum chlorine levels no matter what is done to treat the water.
Primary Author: Dr. Marc A. Edwards
The Flint River is so contaminated it is IMPOSSIBLE to make safe for human consumption. In Michigan, the Department of Environmental Quality (click here)
FREQUENTLY uses FLUSHING of rivers and tributaries to remove contaminates. The contaminates are not necessarily removed from the water, but, the flushing DILUTES the contamination to CREATE a water supply that falls into legal levels of contaminants.
The largest user of the Detroit water was GM. The large volume of water used by GM created a form of flushing that created legal or better water quality. The Flint River will be absent of that form of large flushing on a regular basis and will never be absolutely clear enough with legal levels of chlorine that PROVES the potential contaminates are all DEFEATED in sustaining levels that will make people sick.
One of the reasons people don't trust government is because the government does what is convenient to THEIR BUDGET. The Flint River will NEVER be safe to drink or bath in even after the new pipes are put in place. The pipes still have to be changed out, but, the source of water has to go back to Detroit.
This is a prime example of the failure of government while still cooperating with Snyder's Financial Manager economic plan for Flint. The Emergency Manager under Snyder is still ineffective. The Flint River is PERMANENTLY contaminated. PERMANENTLY CONTAMINATED. The sediment in the Flint River contains the contamination as well. The contents of the Flint River REACTIONS with the pipes will never end because the river is permanently contaminated. It will never be clean enough. It is impossible to achieve drinkable quality water from a cesspool.
The PREMISE of the idea the Flint River can be made clean is "W"rong!
Cooper pipes are the safest.
...Ductile iron, vinyl and reinforced concrete represent the bulk of pipelines currently being used in the U.S. and Canada to deliver safe drinking water. However, cast iron and ductile iron distribution pipes are the most susceptible to corrosion and breakage. In fact, each year, thousands of water lines are removed for replacement -- most suffering from severe deterioration caused by corrosion....
...These problems are ever-present, costly and health-threatening. According to a recent survey conducted by the Canadian National Research Council, cast iron pipes are rupturing at a rate of 35.9 breaks for every 100 kilometers of pipe in service. And newer ductile iron pipes are averaging about 9.5 breaks per 100 kilometers. These numbers are significant because they translate into over 200,000 breaks every year in the U.S. and Canada....
...The threat of excessive microbial growth along the interior walls of drinking water distribution pipes is another health concern of water distribution officials. Biofouling -- the development of an organic bacterial community, also commonly known as biofilm -- is composed of microorganisms and their secretions. It is present in almost every water distribution system, and when uncontrolled may present a threat to public health....
The biofouling has to be defeated with legal levels of chlorine that remains in the water for this purpose alone. There is no type of pipe that is exempt from biofouling. It happens, but, it is defeated when legal levels of chlorine are present.
Concrete Pipes are certified and safe to use.
...Most state agencies (click here) require mortar and concrete products used in drinking water systems to be certified. Producers of these products may in turn require their materials, such as cement, to be certified. It is often advantageous for cement producers to have their cement certified since certified cement is effectively “pre-qualified”, meaning product manufacturers can switch among brands and types of certified cements and still maintain end product certification.
Some states also regulate the cement itself, depending on its particular use in the drinking water system. Certified cement producers have the benefit of the “NSF” (NSF International) or “UL” (Underwriters Laboratories) mark on the product, indicating the cement has passed rigorous testing and is safe for use in drinking water systems. The product will be also be listed in the NSF or UL directory of approved products, which can be viewed at their websites: www.nsf.org and www.ul.com. The cement certification process is summarized below. For further information on Standard 61 background and certification process, see References 1, 2, 3, and 4....
