Aggressive Water

What is aggressive water?

Aggressive water is drinking water that can cause corrosion. It is a real and growing problem in many parts of the country. Leaks are developing in homes that are less than 2 years old in some cases. These leaks cause high water bills and structural damage.

Chemists try to adjust the acidity and hardness of the water so that it actually coats the inside of your pipes with a thin scale of calcium carbonate. This scale can protect copper pipes from corrosion by insulating' the copper from the aggressive water. This may be the reason why the pipes in your parents house are not suffering from corrosion. New copper is very susceptible to corrosion, as the protective scale has yet to form.

Many communities in Florida have been experiencing pin-hole leaks in the plumbing of their homes. This failure is now being found in homes only two years old and on municipal water. Studies have shown corrosion beginning in copper in as little as one year.

These leaks, in some cases, are resulting in mold growth on the drywall and other structural damage. The problem exists among multiple builders, copper manufacturers and installers. Once the problem is diagnosed, the building should be repiped. The copper system should be bypassed and replaced with CPVC.

Water chemistry can change. Those parts of the country that are experiencing growth may find out that their municipal water works are either drilling new wells, or sinking existing wells deeper. In either case, aggressive water may be mixed or injected into a previously non-corrosive water system.

For this reason, you may wish to consider plumbing piping which is not affected by aggressive water. CPVC plastic piping is a good choice. This piping has been used by the plumbing industry for over 40 years. It is regularly tested by the National Sanitation Foundation to make sure that it can deliver water which meets all U.S. EPA standards. However, CPVC piping should be used carefully in outdoor underground installations. There have been instances where solvents in polluted ground have actually migrated into the piping. Choose your piping materials carefully.