AWWA JAW10140

In response to the article "Tetrachloroethylene Leached From Lined Asbestos-Cement Pipe Into Drinking Water" by Charles D. Larson et al (JOURNAL AWWA April 1983), this author discusses the importance of the drinking water industry's responsibility to protect public health. Also discussed is a sampling program conducted by the American Water Works Service Company in New England during 1980. The sampling program sampled more than 75 locations and found that in only two cases were tetrachloroethylene (PCE) levels above 40 ug/L. In addition, the rate of leaching at these two sites was studied. With installation of a blowoff, a water flow of only 0.2 L\s (3 gpm)/305m (1000 ft) of pipe was needed to keep PCE levels below 10 ug/L. The author cautions that it cannot be said with any confidence that two to three years is the predictable leaching period for PCE, because in some cases PCE has not been found in newer installations, while at older installations leaching of PCE is still occurring after five years.