Drinking Water Distribution - the Effect of Natural Organic Matter (NOM) on the Corrosion of Iron and Copper

Abstract

The objective was to study the influence of natural organic matter (NOM) on the corrosion and by-product release of iron and copper. The corrosion was studied using potentiodynamic sweeps, coupon tests and field measurements in different Swedish municipalities. For iron it was found that the corrosion rate decreases in the presence of NOM. The results are explained in terms of surface complexation and a good correlation is found between theoretical calculations and experimental results. In the case of copper it was found that NOM both increases the corrosion rate and the content of copper in the water after one night of stagnation. The results are compared with equilibrium calculations and a good correlation is achieved.