Seasonal Variations in Lead Release to Potable Water.

The influence of temperature on the solubility of representative lead solids present in drinking-water systems and the lead release to potable water was examined. Temperature had surprisingly little effect on the dissolution of cerrusite, hydrocerussite, chloropyromorphite, lead orthophosphate, and lead oxide solids; however, in the presence of natural organic matter, lead oxide dissolution was 36 times greater (36 versus 1277 ppb) at 20 °C compared to 4 °C due to accelerated reductive dissolution. The solubility of plumbonacrite was three times higher at 20 °C compared to 4 °C (260 versus 92 ppb).

Cross-sector emergency planning for water supply utilities and healthcare facilities.

The purpose of this article is to outline the criticality of water supply in sustained operations of healthcare facilities, particularly during community emergencies, and to advocate for enhanced cross-sector support from the water utilities in meeting this need. Information and ideas presented here were developed in the course of a regional project sponsored by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) for development of emergency water supply operations plans for critical water uses in the Washington, DC, area.

Impact of galvanic corrosion on lead release from aged lead service lines.

Partial lead service line replacement (PLSLR) may be performed when tap water lead concentrations exceed the action level and in association with water main replacement or other maintenance. Partially replacing lead pipes with copper tubing can create a galvanic couple if the lead and copper are connected by a metal coupling, which can potentially enhance lead release by galvanic corrosion. The effect of two types of couplings, brass and plastic, on lead release after a simulated PLSLR was investigated in a set of laboratory-scale experiments.