What is the chemical composition of CuraPoxy? How safe is it to drink water from pipe lined with this as compared to other plastic pipes and water containers?

-Gerry

Gerry, while I can’t disclose the chemical composition of CuraFlo’s epoxy, CuraPoxy®, I can tell you that it’s certified to meet ANSI/NSF Standard 61 which is the U.S. government’s standard for safe drinking water. This standard has been in place since 1988 and has been used to certify over 12,000 products. To find out about the safe for drinking water certifications on plastic pipes and bottles I recommend you contact their specific manufacturers directly. 

-Dr. Dave

Does CuraFlo lining contain BPA?

-Roberta

Roberta, CuraFlo’s epoxy, CuraPoxy^® is certified to ANSI/NSF Standard 61 –the established governmental safety standard for drinking water system components. That certification ensures products are free of unsafe levels of contaminants such as BPA (bisphenol-A). For more information about how epoxy and polycarbonate products (water bottles) differ, please refer to this previous post of mine on this very topic.

-Dr. Dave

Does the PEX plastic tubing used for plumbing contain bisphenol-A (BPA)?

-Debbie

We have Pex plastic pipes in our house supplying water to our bathrooms. Does Pex pipes contain BPA or any other toxic chemical?

-Barry

Debbie and Barry, I don’t have the first hand experience with PEX to directly speak to its chemical composition. However, I can tell you that if it is ANSI/NSF 61 certified, it meets the U.S. government’s strict standards for safe drinking water safety. This standard has been in place since 1988 and has been used to certify over 12,000 products. You can get more information about the ANSI/NSF 61 standard by visiting NSF International’s website and CuraFlo’s website.

-Dr. Dave

Does copper kill fungus or Bacteria? What is the effect of epoxy lining on Bacteria?

-Don

Don, copper won’t kill bacteria or fungus –in fact, in both copper and galvanized steel pipes, bacteria and other microscopic organisms grow in encrustation on the corroded pipe wall or on the corroded areas themselves. Epoxy pipe lining prevents corrosion and encrustation by creating a barrier between the pipe and water. The bacteria and other organisms will no longer be present to cause bad tasting or smelling water.

-Dr. Dave

I’m wondering if ABS pipes will leach chemicals into water or soil if they are in contact with them for awhile (i.e a month) and if these chemicals will react with nitrate, ammonia and/or phosphate (or nitrogen and phosphorus in general). The pipe and soil will be kept at room temperature or colder and distilled water will be used, although the water will pick up other compounds as it passes through the soil. This is for a master’s project studying leaching of fertilizer through soil samples taken with sections of ABS pipe.

–Miranda

Miranda, There is a possibility of leaching small amounts of styrene monomer from ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) when in contact with water for a long time, but I would expect it to be at very low levels, so unlikely to interfere with the fertilizers. To get the the least amount of leaching try to get ABS pipe that meets ANSI/NSF Standard 61.

-Dr. Dave

Why does brown water come out of our pipes after we haven’t used the water for a couple of days? (Plumbing is only 3 years old).

-Jake

Jake, colored water (brown in your case) coming out of a faucet or tap is a result of high levels of dissolved or suspended corrosion by-products (e.g. rust or lime-like) caused by a reaction between the metal of the pipe and the water. When a solid forms and settles on the wall of the pipes, it’s called tuberculation. This happens mostly with galvanized and as water sits in this pipe when you’re not using it (even only a couple days) it becomes discolored. Since your plumbing is only three years old, it would seem to indicate that the water in your area may be chemically aggressive towards the metal your pipes are made out of. To deal with tuberculation, you could repipe (replace your pipes) or you could have the pipes cleaned out and epoxy lined (as is done with CuraFlo’s system) –this would take care of your immediate problem and prevent it from coming back.

-Brian

Your water is probably safe to drink, but it can stain your laundry. It’s recommended that discolored water be tested so that you know what kind of contaminants you’re dealing with and if they’re safe to consume. You might also want to contact your local water supplier to get more information about the water in your area and if anyone else is experiencing what you are.

-Dr. Dave

I have read lately about a cancer causing chemical called BPA in baby bottles and water bottles. These articles say that epoxy also includes this chemical. Is putting an epoxy lining in my pipes safe for me and my children?

-Jordan

Jordan, bisphenol-A (BPA) is the chemical you’re referring to. Testing has suggested that BPA in polycarbonate plastic bottles can leach into liquids held in them, posing a health risk. Recently Canadian authorities have taken steps to ban the sale of baby bottles made with polycarbonate and some retail outlets in the US and Canada have removed or plan to remove polycarbonate baby bottles and sports water bottles from their shelves.

Unlike polycarbonate bottles, epoxies like CuraFlo’s CuraPoxy^® which is used as a barrier coating in potable (drinking) water pipes, are certified to ANSI/NSF Standard 61 (the established governmental safety standard for drinking water system components), which ensures the product is free of unsafe levels of contaminants such as BPA.

While epoxy products are based on BPA, epoxy and polycarbonate products have vastly different chemical compositions. Unlike polycarbonate bottles, epoxies such as CuraFlo’s CuraPoxy can’t degrade to produce BPA contamination. The chemical bonds in polycarbonates are very different from those in epoxy resins. While bisphenol-A is a ‘base’ chemical used to manufacture both polycarbonates and epoxies, a polycarbonate plastic, under the right conditions, can degrade to produce BPA that can end up in liquids contained in polycarbonate bottles. In contrast, CuraPoxy (and other epoxies) will not revert back to BPA.

–Dr. Dave

I live in a house built in 1917. I don’t have any leaks, my water flow seems good, and I haven’t noticed any red or brown water. But: recently, I read an article in the New York Times saying I should not drink hot water from my tap because of the possibility of lead poisoning. Would an epoxy lining process allow me to use hot tap water without fear of lead poisoning? Are there any other water quality advantages from epoxy lining my pipes?

-Jim

Jim, you’re right to be concerned - one of the most serious (if not frequent) problems caused by pipe corrosion is lead contamination. And what makes it even worse is that you can’t see that there is a problem, as you often do with other plumbing problems. Your first step should be to get your water tested. You can find general information about lead contamination and how to test for it on the EPA’s website.

Epoxy lining does protect against lead leaching into drinking water. Because the epoxy lining creates a barrier between the metal pipe and the water coming in contact with it, it stops the chemical reaction that causes corrosion. It eliminates and prevents from reoccurring a host of poor water quality issues such as:
• discolored water (red, brown, blue or yellow)
• leaching of lead and other metals into the water
• metallic taste (caused by zinc or iron leeching in galvanized pipes)
• water odor or bad taste (caused by bacteria)

Both the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Navy have documented their use of epoxy pipe lining to prevent lead and other contaminants from leaching into drinking water. The Army report is available as a PDF here and the Navy report is available as a PDF here. And CuraPoxy®, CuraFlo’s epoxy, is certified to meet ANSI/NSF Standard 61 - the U.S. government’s standard for safe drinking water. This means that it’s certified for use in potable (drinking) water pipes up to 180° Fahrenheit (82.2° Celsius).

If you do have lead contamination, it’s most likely because of one or more of the following:
• lead service line pipe(s) connecting your house to the municipal water main
• lead-based solder (used to join copper pipes)
• brass or chrome-plated brass faucets.

Lead pipes are no longer used, but in older buildings and homes like yours, the service line from the municipal water main to the house may be a lead pipe - something you should confirm. Unless your piping has been upgraded in the past 40 years, it is probably galvanized pipe (iron with a zinc coating) which does not require lead solder to join the pipe. You may already know if your faucets are brass or chrome-plated, but if not, you might want to consult with a licensed plumber or take them with you to a local hardware store. If you’re interested in learning more about the history of lead materials in water pipes, the CuraFlo website has a brief discussion here.

-Dr. Dave

Our galvanized pipe system is slowly leaking rust at the front faucet, my husband is concerned that our system could blow anywhere in the walls and we wouldn’t know it until we had a mess. Would Curaflo[’s] method help with the structural integrity of our pipes? We’ve almost agreed to re-piping with copper L 1″ super quality pipes in our 30 yr old here in Orange County, Calif.

-Janice (Orange County, CA)

Janice, rusty water coming out of galvanized pipes is an obvious symptom of “tuberculation” –dissolved minerals in your water reacting with the metal of the pipe, causing corrosion and buildup on the wall of the pipe. Reduced flow (the buildup reduces the inside diameter of the pipe) and low water pressure are also typical symptoms of this condition. The buildup doesn’t necessarily mean your pipes are leaking or will leak, but typically they will. Leaks usually start small, but can spread or evolve into major leaks.

CuraFlo’s process eliminates the need to repipe your entire system. The first part of CuraFlo’s epoxy pipe lining process cleans out the rusty mineral buildup, stopping the rusty water you’re seeing. Any section that is too weak to be lined is replaced. Then CuraFlo’s safe-for-drinking-water epoxy pipe lining is applied; this keeps the metal of the pipe from coming into contact with water –preventing buildup from forming and corrosion from happening again. Pipes are restored to better-than-new condition.

Pipe replacement is an option, but it often takes longer and includes the mess and disruption of cutting open walls and removing pipes. Once done, you’ll need to replace walls (or tiles or floors) and make cosmetic repairs. In addition, water will still be coming in contact with the metal of your pipes – it’s a matter of time before corrosion happens again.

You can get in touch with a CuraFlo professional near you, who can help you assess your problem by visiting www.curaflo.com, or calling 1-888-4CuraFlo.

-Brian