Water Pipe Failure

Metallurgical failure analysis was requested following a water leak from a corroded copper pipe in a private residence.  Examination revealed interior pipe wall pitting corrosion.  Analysis of the pipe wall perforation and interior pipe deposits determined that the cause of the leak was corrosion caused by the chemistry of the water being delivered to the residence.

Photograph A: Residential copper water pipe cut to reveal the interior pipe surface. Note pitting corrosion resulted in through the wall pipe perforation.