David Nicholas Gary Carlylr - Ronus Water ABSTRACT Corrosion of copper plumbing tubes, indicated by either the formation of "blue water" or pitting corriosion, is a phenomenon which randomly affects large parts of the east coast of Australia, as well as New Zealand, USA and Europe. It is characterised by the production of columinous blue/green corrosion products in the tube bores and is primarily associated with cold, soft unbuffered waters of high pH and negligible levels of disinfectant residual. The history and causes for this type of corrosion are described, with some emphasis placed on the various erroneous statements that have been advanced to explain the problem. The corrosion mechanisms whilst by no means well understood, are shown to be associated primarily with water chemistry factors together with a contribution from copper tube surface condition. Management of the corrosion problem is shown to be achievable, using two case studies recently completed from regional NSW. Download the complete story as a Word Document BACK TO