The influence of hard water on domestic water pipes in rural communities in the Northern Territory, Australia

The Northern Territory has a dynamic array of sparsely located indigenous communities and small towns amongst unique tropical and desert eco-systems. The water supply for these communities comes from ground water aquifers. Typically in the northern parts of the NT the ground water is highly acidic, and further south it soon becomes strongly alkaline. Copper and steel water pipes have been in place in established communities for years and are now vastly degraded due to the heavy mineral content in Central Australian water and high hydrogen ion concentration in Top End water. The environment generated within the pipes causes corrosion, blockages and breaks that reduce water pressure and wastes water. The high mineral and hydrogen content can also be harmful to people's heath. This literature review compares existing techniques for dealing with these issues from both a heath and a maintenance perspective.