AWWA JAW10079

This paper describes the differences found in zinc coatings of galvanized pipes manufactured in the United States, Korea, and Australia. Zinc thickness and finished varied with the type of pipe. The Australian pipe had the most uniform coat, and the US pipe had the least uniform coat. In an ongoing pilot study, these pipes are being exposed to water containing various concentrations of copper in order to determine whether the surface characteristics of these pipes have any correlation with pitting corrosion. Based on the pilot plant results and on the observed pipe surface characteristics, an argument as to the importance of pipe-surface quality in local corrosion will be made. Includes 6 references, tables, figures.