Iron release and iron form of pipe scale in water distribution system under the coupling influence of fulvic acid, sulfate and alkalinity

FAN Ming-zhou; ZHANG Hui; WANG Long; ZHANG Shan; JIA Pei-xin; FENG Yong-jia; WAN Tao; JI Yi-meng; ZHU Jing-yu

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China Environmental Science ›› 2026, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (1) : 168-177.

Iron release and iron form of pipe scale in water distribution system under the coupling influence of fulvic acid, sulfate and alkalinity

FAN Ming-zhou¹, ZHANG Hui¹, WANG Long¹, ZHANG Shan², JIA Pei-xin¹, FENG Yong-jia¹, WAN Tao³, JI Yi-meng¹, ZHU Jing-yu¹

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Abstract

The release of iron in drinking water distribution systems (DWDSs) poses a severe threat to water supply safety. By establishing a static simulation experimental system to systematically investigate the coupled effects of fulvic acid (FA), sulfate ions (SO₄^2-), and alkalinity (Alk) on iron release in DWDSs and the changes of pipe scale micromorphology, crystalline composition, and elemental speciation. Based on principal component analysis (PCA), a prediction model for iron release was developed, quantitatively characterizing the relative importance of various influencing factors and their interaction intensities. Results showed that under conditions of FA=4mg/L, SO₄^2-=240mg/L, and Alk =100mg/L CaCO₃, iron release reached the maximum of 4.82 and 3.60mg/L for steel and cast iron pipes, respectively. SO₄^2- and FA were positively correlated with iron release, while alkalinity showed negative correlations. The relative influences of these factors followed the order: alkalinity > SO₄^2- > FA.

Key words

drinking water distribution system / iron release / water quality parameters / coupled effect / pipe scale stability

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FAN Ming-zhou, ZHANG Hui, WANG Long, ZHANG Shan, JIA Pei-xin, FENG Yong-jia, WAN Tao, JI Yi-meng, ZHU Jing-yu. Iron release and iron form of pipe scale in water distribution system under the coupling influence of fulvic acid, sulfate and alkalinity[J]. China Environmental Science. 2026, 46(1): 168-177

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