Drinking Water Distribution
Course Pack: Water Quality and Corrosion Control
What Is Corrosion?
Course Description
This module provides a comprehensive introduction to corrosion in drinking-water distribution systems, focusing on how corrosion develops, spreads, and impacts both infrastructure and water quality. Learners will explore the fundamental processes that drive corrosion, including electrochemical reactions that occur when water interacts with metal surfaces such as pipes, fittings, and storage systems.
The course covers major types of corrosion commonly found in drinking-water systems, including pitting corrosion, galvanic corrosion, tuberculation, concentration cell corrosion, and impingement corrosion. Each type is explained with real-world relevance to help operators understand how different environmental and chemical conditions contribute to system deterioration.
Participants will also learn how corrosion affects drinking-water quality, including issues such as discoloration, metallic taste, pipe scaling, reduced flow capacity, and the potential release of harmful metals like lead and copper into the water supply. The module emphasizes how early detection of corrosion indicators in the field can prevent long-term infrastructure damage and public health risks.
In addition, the course introduces practical corrosion control strategies, including water chemistry adjustments, pipe material selection, protective coatings, and system maintenance practices. Special attention is given to regulatory compliance, highlighting how corrosion control programs align with the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) requirements to ensure safe and reliable drinking-water delivery.
By the end of this module, learners will be able to identify corrosion problems in the field, understand their root causes, and apply effective control measures to improve system performance, extend infrastructure lifespan, and maintain water safety standards.
Learning Objectives
1) Differentiate common corrosion mechanisms in distribution systems
2) Recognize how water chemistry influences corrosion rate
3) Relate corrosion to regulatory drivers (LCR and toxic metals)
4) Identify indicators and simple field checks
5) Connect corrosion control actions to customer water quality
Agenda
1) Major corrosion types, including uniform, pitting, tuberculation, and galvanic
2) Electrochemical concepts and stray current influences on system metals
3) Water chemistry factors (pH, alkalinity, oxidants) affecting corrosion behavior
4) Lead and Copper Rule considerations in corrosion control
5) Field indicators, observations, and case-based mitigation examples
Target audience
Operators responsible for distribution system water quality
Level
II, III
Learning material and method
Online on-demand
Assessment
Knowledge check and quiz (80% correct and above)
Instructor
Mike Harrington