Plastic pipes are very important tools for transporting water. Whether in municipal water supply projects or agricultural irrigation, they play a very important role.
As people pay more attention to the safety of plastic products, the topic of whether plastic pipes affect water quality has also become popular. Water quality safety is a comprehensive issue that includes aspects such as the water source, water transmission pipelines, and water distribution pipelines. Since most pipeline networks use plastic pipes, there is no doubt that they will have an impact on water quality.
The impact of plastic pipes on water quality mainly comes from two aspects: heavy metals and organic matter. This article will explore this in detail.
Heavy Metals in Plastic Pipes
The heavy metals in plastic pipes mainly come from the metal heat stabilizers added during the production process. PE pipes and PP pipes do not require metal heat stabilizers in production, so the heavy metals in plastic pipes that affect water quality mainly come from PVC pipes.
The heat stabilizers used in PVC pipes are usually mixtures of various heavy metal salts, such as Ba, Ca, Mg, Cd, Sn, Fe, and others. Although some of these elements are essential trace elements for the growth of animals and plants, if their amounts are not properly controlled, they may also have negative effects on the human body. Therefore, controlling the dosage during use is very important.
Studies have shown that the acidity and alkalinity of water, as well as the water temperature, can affect the heavy metals in PVC pipes. For example, when the pH value of water increases, the leaching amount of heavy metals (such as Pb and Fe) shows a decreasing trend. If the water quality is weakly acidic, the longer the PVC pipe is used, the more heavy metals are released. In alkaline conditions, the situation is the opposite.
In addition, the intensity of ultraviolet radiation also affects the heavy metals in the pipes, thereby influencing water quality. This effect is especially significant in tropical regions such as Arabia. The stronger the ultraviolet radiation, the higher the leaching amount of heavy metal stabilizers in PVC pipes.
Organic Compounds in Plastic Pipes
The organic compounds in plastic pipes affect the odor and taste of water. Compared with the impact of heavy metals on water quality, the impact of organic compounds is more direct. Therefore, for many residents, the odor and taste of water are the standards for judging whether the water quality is good or bad.
There are many types of organic compounds in plastic pipes, such as plasticizers, antioxidants, aldehydes, ketones, esters, toluene, chlorinated organic compounds, organometallic compounds, and so on. According to research, the amount of organic compounds released into water also differs depending on the material of the plastic pipe. For example, HDPE pipes release more organic compounds than CPVC pipes.
From the perspective of actual use of plastic pipes, the service life of water supply pipelines used in municipal projects is generally several decades. As time goes by, the impact of organic compounds on water quality will become greater. On the other hand, pipelines used in the field of agricultural irrigation do not pay much attention to the impact of organic compounds on water quality.
الخاتمة
Through this article, we know that plastic pipes do have an impact on water quality, mainly coming from heavy metals and organic compounds. By controlling these two factors, water quality can be controlled. Of course, there are many other factors that also affect water quality. If you have other insights, you are welcome to discuss them with us.
