Acidic water supply?

[bejay]

[quote user="trees"]

Now we have quite a lot of new copper piping in the extension, and last visit, I noted that the shower stall, the bidet, and the sink in the shower room, all white, were showing signs of turning blue[8-)]

[/quote]

There seems little doubt that normally aquired acidic water can cause this problem. If I have understood your post correctly it is the new pipework that is causing the difficulty. It does appear that new pipework together with standing water can build up corrosion products to above normal levels which would not be reached if the system were in continuous use.

I think the best advice is still, at least in the first instance, to enquire locally to find out if it is a general problem in the area and work from there.

bj

[trees]

We aren't back there until the start of April, so will look again at the problem then. Probably have another water bill by then, there seems to be at least one bill each time we go, and the French seem to have got the English socialist idea of raising bills by an amount greater than inflation (is supposed to be)[;-)]

I'll start at the Mairie and the neighbours, and perhaps move on to an independent test. COULD be €60 well spent, but could also end up a waste of money, we'll see what the Mairie say first. Maybe last year was a one-off? They certainly pointed it out on the water bill, so............?

I'm thinking maybe copper carbonate, then, carried out by the flowing water, which, once it evaporates, leaves a coating? If that's right, an application of white vinegar ought to see frothing as the carbon dioxide is released and the formation of copper acetate? Maybe, once the pipes have received THEIR coating, the problem will stop? We DON'T seem to have this on the older sanitary ware. In fact, to start with, I thought it was cheap French loos etc[Www]

I sincerely hope that none of this is detrimental to our fosse.

[andyh4]

Copper carbonate is green, not blue, and is very poorly soluble in water

[trees]

[quote user="andyh4"]Copper carbonate is green, not blue, and is very poorly soluble in water[/quote]

Hmmmm, back to the drawing board, then.

Looks like I need to find out what acid is present so I can identify it's salt?

[Gluestick]

As I said before, Trees, it can be blue or green.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copper(II)_carbonate

In all probability, you actually have a mixture of copper compounds, since it is very doubtful that your water would be affected by Carbonic Acid only.

It's all suppose!

Get that water sample properly analysed, ASAP!

[:)]

 

[bejay]

The most significant thing about basic copper(II) carbonate in this context is its possible absence.

Interested parties should read this link below:

http://www.fwr.org/copper.pdf

It is written by people who understand this subject in depth  and in my opinion is a much better source than lucky dipping in wikipedia.

bj

[Gluestick]

You might "Lucky Dip" in Wikipedia, BJ.

Well, your web ref has really assisted the OP!

That's another problem solved then.............

[Www]

[Caussenarde]

Excellent, some real facts at last !

So the problem is not acidic water at all, rather the inverse.

Nonetheless, bads news for OP's copper piping.

[Gluestick]

http://www.awa.asn.au/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Copper_Blue_Water_in_Pipes

More "Facts"............

Still, I'm sure the Australians are totally wrong: after all, they are all descended from crims and conmen...........................

[Www]