Water in an old building tested recently, showed high copper and iron content, and low pH levels. A water reading taken 20 years before, showed low pH levels and only minimal traces of copper and iron. If none of the new buildings on the same street showed signs of metallic contaminants, but all reported lower than normal pH readings, how might these readings be explained? (where could the metal come from?)

Question

Advanced Placement (AP)

Damon Sawyer

14 April, 20:34

Water in an old building tested recently, showed high copper and iron content, and low pH levels. A water reading taken 20 years before, showed low pH levels and only minimal traces of copper and iron. If none of the new buildings on the same street showed signs of metallic contaminants, but all reported lower than normal pH readings, how might these readings be explained? (where could the metal come from?)

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Dorian Mcgee · Answer 1

The older buildings have older pipes. When the pipes get older, they get rusty and corroded. The rusty and corroded pipes release the cooper and iron contaminants into the water supply of the old building. The newer buildings have newer pipes, so there is no copper or iron in trace because the pipes have not rusted or corroded due to age.