Modified Larsons Ratio Incorporating Temperature, Water Age, and Electroneutrality Effects on Red Water Release

Abstract

Corrosion indices have a historical as well as practical relevance in drinking water treatment. The development of reliable indicators of corrosion related problems, like red water, is an ongoing process in the drinking water industry. Due to the complexity of interaction among the physical, chemical, and biological reactions taking place within a typical distribution system, mechanistic models are difficult to formulate. Even if such a model was available, fitting it to actual field conditions would still be an empirical process. Corrosion indices give simplistic generalizations to complex corrosion phenomena. A modified form of the Larson Ratio that includes the effects of temperature and hydraulic retention time is proposed based on apparent color release data available from a 2 year pilot distribution system study.