This article addresses the cause and control of corrosion of metals commonly found in cooling water systems. The pipes, tubes, coils, water boxes, and cooling tower must be protected from corrosion. Each cooling water system has a unique combination of metals, water flow, temperatures, and makeup water quality that must be considered before selecting a corrosion control program. The first step in selecting this treatment is to identify all metals in the system. Then, we must know the limitations of the corrosion inhibitors. Finally, cost-effective corrosion inhibitors can be selected. However, first we need to understand corrosion.

Article appeared in the Practical Guide to Water Treatment, which was included with the vol. 41, no. 5, May 1999 issue.