Understanding Corrosion Control Strategies for Lead

This article reviews the factors that should be considered by individual utilities in developing a lead‐solubility control program based on the adjustment of pH, dissolved inorganic carbonate, and orthophosphate. Because of the lack of fundamental and applied corrosion control research and the complexity of the chemical interactions involved, the recommendations included are only best estimates—which can be updated as new data become available. A flow chart is provided to aid in the selection of the best treatment scheme; it is based on the philosophy that chemical models are a useful qualitative guide to the impact of water chemistry on lead solubility but that levels of adjustment should be determined by feedback from pilot testing.