The problem associated with reverse osmosis produced water is not in the processing, nor in the ability to provide needed quantities of water to supplement current supplies, nor is it in supplying finished water free from toxic contaminants, but it is in supplying finished water which is very corrosive to metal distribution piping. For anyone who does not know, reverse osmosis finished water has a relatively low pH (in the range of 5-6) and little to no alkalinity or hardness to act as a buffer. Thereby, this finished water is quite aggressive on metal distribution piping existing prior to the installation and operation of the RO system. SeaQuest, manufactured by Aqua Smart, Inc. in Atlanta, Ga. (website:www.aquasmartinc.com) has been successful at controlling this aggressive corrosiveness to metal piping and to tap fixtures (which normally could be sites for increased lead and copper levels exceeding USEPA and WHO standards as well as potentially producing discolored water from general corrosion). The NSF and DWI health certified corrosion control sequesterant, at very low treatment rates, puts down a protective monomolecular coating on metal surfaces after slowly removing all pre-existing corrosion/scale build up. This coating acts as a barrier at the interface between the water/pipe layer, preventing further corrosive deposit buildups. As long as the SeaQuest is constantly fed into the finished water supply, distribution piping is safe from the aggression of RO water supplies.
