The spatial distribution of pollutants in pipe-scale of large-diameter pipelines in a drinking water distribution system

Jingqing Liu; Huanyu Chen; Lingdan Yao; Zongyuan Wei; Liping Lou; Yonggui Shan; Sahle-Demessie Endalkachew; Nadagouda Mallikarjuna; Baolan Hu; Xiaoyan Zhou

doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2016.05.048

The spatial distribution of pollutants in pipe-scale of large-diameter pipelines in a drinking water distribution system

J Hazard Mater. 2016 Nov 5:317:27-35. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2016.05.048. Epub 2016 May 17.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ College of Engineering and Architecture, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
² College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Binhai Industrial Technology Research Institute of Zhejiang University, Tianjin 300000, China.
³ College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
⁴ College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China. Electronic address: loulp@zju.edu.cn.
⁵ Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, NRMRL, Cincinnati, OH 45220, USA.
⁶ Shaoxing Water Environmental Science Institute Co. Ltd, Zhejiang 312000, China.

PMID: 27244696
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2016.05.048

Abstract

In large-diameter drinking water pipelines, spatial differences in hydraulic and physiochemical conditions may also result in spatial variations in pipe corrosion, biofilm growth and pollutant accumulation. In this article, the spatial distributions of various metals and organic contaminants in two 19-year-old grey cast iron pipes which had an internal diameter of 600mm (DN600), were investigated and analyzed by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry, Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, Energy Dispersive Spectrometer, X-ray Diffraction, etc. The spatial distribution of heavy metals varied significantly across the pipe section, and iron, manganese, lead, copper, and chromium were highest in concentration in the upper portion pipe-scales. However, the highest aluminum and zinc content was detected in the lower portion pipe-scales. Apart from some common types of hydrocarbons formed by microbial metabolites, there were also some microalgae metabolites and exogenous contaminants accumulated in pipe-scale, which also exhibited high diversity between different spatial locations. The spatial distributions of the physical and chemical properties of pipe-scale and contaminants were quite different in large-diameter pipes. The finding put forward higher requirements on the research method about drinking water distribution system chemical safety. And the scientific community need understand trend and dynamics of drinking water pipe systems better.

Keywords: Drinking water distribution system; Heavy metals; Organic deposit; Pipe-scale.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't