Volume 100, Issue 11     November 2008    ISSN 1551-8833

Utilities face new challenges as they strive to comply with multiple, simultaneous regulations aimed at enhancing drinking water quality. For example, many utilities must comply with regulations for both corrosion control and residual disinfection. Today utilities are considering converting from free chlorine to chloramines for greater residual stability and better compliance with the Total Coliform Rule as well as the more stringent requirements of the Disinfectants/Disinfection Byproducts Rule. This article identifies several key issues for predicting the effects of disinfectant change on lead and copper corrosion and release into drinking water supplies based on information currently available in the literature. The key issues associated with a change in disinfectant that potentially could affect corrosion and lead and copper release in drinking water systems are identified in order to provide a better understanding of potential water quality effects associated with a change in disinfectant. This information can help utilities assess their systems' potential risk of lead and copper release after implementing a change in disinfectant.—MKK