Hazen Experts Publish Journal AWWA Article on Corrosion Control in Direct Potable Reuse and Desalination

(LOS ANGELES, CA – November 13, 2026) Hazen experts Nicole Blute, PhD, PE, Troy Walker, MIE, and Chris Owen recently co-authored an article in the October 2026 issue of Journal AWWA titled “Advancing a New Corrosion Control Paradigm in Direct Potable Reuse and Desalination.” Written with Dan Giammar, PhD, of Washington University in St. Louis and Anushka Mishrra, PhD, of Duke University, the article examines how water produced by reverse osmosis (RO) can affect corrosion in distribution systems and premise plumbing, and what utilities can do to manage that risk.

As more utilities turn to direct potable reuse (DPR) and desalination to diversify their water supplies, corrosion control is becoming an increasingly important consideration. RO, a common advanced treatment step for producing high-quality, purified water in DPR and desalination systems, produces water that is low in alkalinity and hardness. If it’s not properly stabilized, it can be chemically aggressive toward distribution pipes. Because distribution systems contain a wide range of materials, including legacy lead solder, even well-treated water can trigger unexpected reactions.

The article builds on Water Research Foundation Project 4953, led by Hazen, which found that lead release from copper pipes with lead solder jumped from roughly 40 µg/L to 750 µg/L when pipe loops switched to 100% RO-treated water, even after remineralization. A gradual transition did not reduce the effect. To understand how common this might be, the team reviewed desalination and RO facilities around the world and found that most blend RO-treated water with other sources, which likely helps limit corrosion. Full-scale experience with unblended DPR remains limited.

"Direct potable reuse is a promising path forward for communities that need new water supplies, and getting it right means looking beyond the treatment plant," said Blute. "Every distribution system has its own history and its own mix of pipe materials. By understanding what's in their pipes and testing under real conditions before making a supply change, utilities can protect water quality all the way to the customer's tap."

The authors recommend that utilities considering unblended RO-treated water as part of their DPR or desalination strategies assess legacy lead and other metals in their systems, evaluate existing pipe scale, and conduct pipe loop testing under representative conditions. The full article is available for subscribers on the Journal AWWA website. To learn more about Hazen's work in corrosion control and potable reuse, contact Nicole Blute.