Document RJL102EmjVw2vxKrLQy3nvbez

<S02SJ> E. I. ou Pont oe Nemours 5 Company Wilmington. Delaware 19898 [i.Ortt * CLA^tONS CtAA'.i Cnt -aw* February 4, 1985 lirrt. TPS" ' fokjk.1,1"*11 L. T. FREELM POLYMER FRODUCTS DEPARTMENT BEAUMONT ASBESTOS CEMENT (ACT PIPE FOR WATER LINES This confirms our recent telephone conversation In which I Indicated that the Safety and Occupational Health Division recommends that no new AC pipe be installed for potable water. Some pertinent information which we recognise in making this racommandation iat e Municipal water systems already contain a lot of AC pipe. A 1981 American City and County water main pipe survey reported that the proportion of AC pipe in place was 13.9 percent in 1980. It was estimated that 40 percent of pipe installed in 1980 was AC. e The American Water Works Association standard permits the use of AC pipe except for water which is highly corrosive toward AC. Corrosivity is maasursd by e 'aggressivity index* which is s function of pH, total alkalinity and calcium hardnsas. However, some studies have indicated that the AX la not appropriate for predicting fiber release from AC pipe because other factors, e.g., Iren, silica, manganese end sine may contribute some protection against corrosion. e Deteriorated AC pipe has been found in some municipal water mains. In at least one case, a scraping procedure ueed to clean the pipe interior OUP 0908885 DU 028746 Even though AC pipe foe potable water lines has not been proven to be detrimental to health, we recommend that it not be used in new installations because of the employee relations, public relations and eventual handlinq problems involved. JRM:mmv SAFETY AND OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH DIVISION 2( ? dr~ J. R. Martin, Survey Supervisor DUE 0906897 -3 DU 028747