Zap the Lead Problem: Cost-effective and Immediate Electrochemical Pipe Scale Accelerator

Author(s): Justin Juwan Yu

The Electrochemical Pipe Scale Accelerator (EPSA) rapidly reduces lead (Pb) concentration in water by up to 99% by electroplating an insoluble and non-conductive lead phosphate or aluminum oxide scale. Twenty-Two million Americans, 120 million Europeans, and 500,000 Canadian households are at risk of lead-contaminated water. Unfortunately, traditional scale passivation can take up to years to form and deteriorate under a chemical change in water (Flint, Michigan, 2014). Replacing pipes can be expensive, costing $250/foot, and the U.S. government up to 47 billion dollars to replace all pipes. The objective was to engineer a low-cost and rapid device that could reduce Pb concentration below the “Lead and Copper rule." Furthermore, the relationship between varying PO_4 concentrations and Pb concentration, Al, concentration, and electricity variables were studied under a chemical change in water. The EPSA consisted of an integrated multimeter, a pre-existing Pb scale anode, an Al cathode wire, and a 1v battery. A 40cm Pb pipe was cut into four pieces, with PO_4 concentration 118-29 mg/L. An 8ml water sample was tested for four weeks using an ICP-OES and pH kit to study Pb leaching. The EPSA reduced Pb concentration by up to 99.14289 % with a concentration of 58 mg/L, taking just under 3 hours. The total cost of the EPSA is 111 times more affordable ($250 vs. $2.25 per foot), providing an affordable solution for low-income residents and immediate protection for vulnerable water systems.

Chemistry, Water, Electrolysis, Lead pipe, Passivation

1. Morkel, V. (2016, December 15). Why the Flint, Michigan, USA water crisis is an urban planning failure. Retrieved June 4, 2022, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0264275116308605
2. Ray, M. (n.d.). Flint water crisis. Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved July 4, 2022, from https://www.britannica.com/event/Flint-water-crisis
3. Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). Lead Service Line Replacement. EPA. Retrieved June 10, 2022, from https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/lead-service-line-replacement
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, December 3). Lead: Exposure limits. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved June 11, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/lead/limits.html
5. Ganim, S. (2016, June 29). 5,300 U.S. water systems are in violation of lead rules. CNN. Retrieved June 21, 2022, from https://www.cnn.com/2016/06/28/us/epa-lead-in-u-s-water-systems/index.html
6. Hayes, C. R., & Skubala, N. D. (2009, December 7). Is there still a problem with lead in drinking water in the European Union? Journal of water and health. Retrieved June 11, 2022, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19590124/
7. House of Commons Canada. (n.d.). Lead in drinking water - ourcommons.ca. Lead in Drinking Water. Retrieved June 25, 2022, from https://www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Committee/421/TRAN/Reports/RP9341762/tranrp21/tranrp21-e.pdf
8. Cecil, K. M., Brubaker, C. J., Adler, C. M., Dietrich, K. N., Altaye, M., Egelhoff, J. C., Wessel, S., Elangovan, I., Hornung, R., Jarvis, K., & Lanphear, B. P. (2008, May 27). Decreased brain volume in adults with childhood lead exposure. PLOS Medicine. Retrieved May 21, 2022, from https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pmed.0050112
9. Pelley, J. (2018, November 21). Cen.acs.org. Retrieved June 23, 2022, from https://cen.acs.org/articles/96/i47/Treatment-lead-drinking-water-evolving.html#
10. Cardew, P. T. (2009, February). Measuring the benefit of orthophosphate treatment on lead in drinking water. Retrieved June 6, 2022, from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/23425471_Measuring_the_Benefit_of_Orthophosphate_Treatment_on_Lead_in_Drinking_Water
11. Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). Strategies to Achieve Full Lead Service Line Replacement. EPA. Retrieved June 6, 2022, from https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/strategies-achieve-full-lead-service-line-replacement
12. Campbell, S., & Wessel, D. (2021, May 13). What would it cost to replace all the nation's lead water pipes? Brookings. Retrieved July 5, 2022, from https://www.brookings.edu/blog/up-front/2021/05/13/what-would-it-cost-to-replace-all-the-nations-lead-water-pipes/
13. Lobo, G. P., Kaylah, B. K., & Gadgil, A. J. (2022, February 5). Electrochemical deposition of amorphous aluminum oxides on lead pipes to prevent lead leaching into the drinking water. Journal of Hazardous Materials. Retrieved June 29, 2022, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304389421021634
14. Pacific Valley Water Commission. (2022, August 19). Lead in water pipes. PVWC. Retrieved June 1, 2022, from https://www.pvwc.com/lead-in-water-pipes/
15. Lanphear, B. P., Hornung, R., Khoury, J., Yolton, K., Baghurst, P., Bellinger, D. C., Canfield, R. L., Dietrich, K. N., Bornschein, R., Greene, T., Rothenberg, S. J., Needleman, H. L., Schnaas, L., Wasserman, G., Graziano, J., & Roberts, R. (2005, July). Low-level environmental lead exposure and children's intellectual function: An international pooled analysis. Environmental health perspectives. Retrieved June 29, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1257652/
16. Seoul Water Works Authority. (n.d.). Arisu.Korea.gov. Retrieved June 17, 2022, from https://arisu.seoul.go.kr/c2/sub6_3.jsp
17. Water quality search. Water Quality Search - Scottish Water. (n.d.). Retrieved May 27, 2022, from https://www.scottishwater.co.uk/your-home/your-water/water-quality/water-quality
18. New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services. (1986). Sodium phosphate DIBASIC – government of New Jersey. Retrieved June 9, 2022, from https://nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb/documents/fs/1723.pdf
19. NHS inform. (n.d.). Lead poisoning. NHS inform. Retrieved June 29, 2022, from https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/lead-poisoning