@article{35115,
  keywords = {Lead pipes, Lead in drinking water, Electrochemical treatment, Lead and copper rule, Anodic coating},
  author = {G.P Lobo and B Kalyan and Ashok J Gadgil},
  title = {Electrochemical deposition of amorphous aluminum oxides on lead pipes to prevent lead leaching into the drinking water},
  abstract = {<p>Over 5000 public drinking water systems in the US are out of compliance with the Lead and Copper Rule. Lead<br />leaching from lead pipes is limited by the solubility of a naturally occurring scale. Changes in water quality may<br />cause this scale to become more soluble, releasing lead into the drinking water. We propose a novel electro-<br />chemical method to prevent lead leaching from lead pipes. In this method, an aluminum wire and an alkaline<br />phosphate electrolyte are inserted into the pipes. The pipes are then anodized for 2 h by using an external power<br />supply, resulting in the electrodeposition of an insoluble aluminum oxide layer on top of the preexisting scale.<br />This technology was tested on lead pipes from the EBMUD water distribution systems located in Berkeley, CA,<br />using recirculating synthetic and actual tap water for 120 days. The untreated pipes leached an average of 23 ppb<br />and 38 ppb of lead respectively, when using free chlorine and monochloramine as disinfection residuals. In<br />contrast, the treated pipes leached 3 ppb and 5 ppb respectively. These results suggest that the proposed<br />treatment has the potential to prevent lead leaching regardless of the disinfection residual and thus should be<br />further explored in a field trial.</p>},
  year = {2021},
  journal = {Journal of Hazardous Materials},
  volume = {423},
  month = {09/2021},
  url = {https://www.osti.gov/pages/biblio/1826346},
  doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016},
  language = {eng},
}