Lead & Copper

A comprehensive literature review was conducted in order to identify new technologies capable of discriminating the buried metals, a vendor investigation has been completed, and more.

October 2017-March 2018 - The technique identified is the resistance measurement of a pipe.

January-March 2019 - After conclusive experimentation in the laboratory, testing in the field has begun. The equipment used for laboratory experiments was modified for usage in the field.

Field studies are being conducted or have been completed at 10 public water systems in the United States and Canada.

Determine baseline occurrence of Legionella throughout the Passaic Valley Water Commission (PVWC) water distribution system.

The objectives of this project are to evaluate technologies and to develop a prototype capable of identifying service line materials.

During this project period, the research team conducted two literature surveys, selected detection techniques for evaluation, initiated sample volume and collection optimization studies, and developed a request for water quality data for use in monitoring location selection studies.

Two sets of lead pipes are being conditioned for use in studying the timing and mechanisms for orthophosphate to effectively control lead concentrations.

The new lead pipes have now been conditioned to a stage at which a substantial scale of lead(IV) oxide (PbO2, plattnerite) has been developed and is maintaining both total and dissolved lead concentrations at consistently low levels.

Data assessment studies are now underway and are providing interesting preliminary outputs. It is anticipated that research products will begin to emerge in the next reporting cycle.