Model for estimation of copper release to drinking water from copper pipes

► The model helped understand the importance of some key variables of the processes. ► The model developed has allowed correlation with a broad compilation of data. ► The development of the model allowed achieve the most conclusive collection of mechanistic considerations. ► Correlations are very reasonable for a broad range of waters considering the quality of the data. Modelling and prediction of the copper concentration released from copper plumbing tubes due to corrosion, dissolution, precipitation and other processes has not previously been successful. The model presented here is based on a set of dissolution and precipitation reactions, equilibrium between species in solution and solids, mass balance, kinetic expressions, adsorption isotherms, and surface area coverage by precipitates. The model developed has created two major outputs: first; it is the most conclusive collection of mechanistic considerations to date; and second; reasonable correlations between the model and actual data have been obtained for a broad range of waters.