Potential of Common Well Casing Materials to Influence Aqueous Metal Concentrations

Static leaching and sorption laboratory studies were performed to assess the potential of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and two types of stainless steel (SS 304 and SS 316) well casing materials to influence metal concentrations in ground water solutions with low dissolved oxygen. Overall, PTFE was inert, whereas one or both stainless steels significantly altered the solution concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Fe, and Ni. PVC was generally more reactive than PTFE, but did not significantly alter the solution metal concentrations as often, or as greatly, as either of the stainless casings.