Water industry corrosion : material testing, compatibility and qualification
The French Corrosion Institute is the reference laboratory for water industry corrosion. We support drinking water network operators, water treatment stakeholders, and hydraulic equipment manufacturers in qualifying their materials. Our laboratories assess the compatibility of metals, alloys, polymers, and coatings in contact with drinking water, chlorinated, fluorinated, disinfected, process, or wastewater. Our goal: ensuring installation durability, regulatory compliance, and user health safety.
Context
The production, treatment, and distribution of water continuously subject materials to varied environments: drinking water, wastewater, treated or disinfected water, and domestic hot water. Water industry corrosion represents a major public health, economic, and environmental challenge for distribution networks and treatment equipment. The French Corrosion Institute supports stakeholders in the water cycle across three areas: material durability assessment, protection system qualification, and contamination risk prevention.
Our missions
- Assess the compatibility and durability of materials in contact with drinking water, industrial water, and effluents.
- Identify corrosion mechanisms specific to treated aqueous environments (chlorinated, fluorinated, disinfected).
- Support the qualification of materials and coatings used in distribution networks and treatment equipment.
- Contribute to preventing health risks related to corrosion (metal release, biofilm formation).
Our services
- Corrosion testing by immersion in simulated or real aqueous environments, in accordance with EN 15664
- Material/fluid compatibility testing: metals, alloys, polymers, coatings
- Electrochemical testing to characterize behavior in aqueous environments
- Evaluation of the performance of internal coatings in pipelines and storage tanks
- Failure analysis on hydraulic equipment
- Consulting on material selection for drinking water and industrial water applications
- Participation in collaborative R&D projects
Activities of the MRC “Corrosion in brines and process water”
The French Corrosion Institute coordinates, within the ARCOR association, cost-shared projects bringing together major stakeholders in the water treatment industry: Alleima, Industeel (ArcelorMittal), Aperam, Outokumpu Stainless AB, EDF, SIAAP, and Veolia Environnement.
This MRC aims to improve understanding and prediction of alloy behavior in aggressive aqueous environments, particularly those rich in chlorides. It relies on a combination of existing data analysis and long-term testing to provide reliable material selection tools, reducing uncertainties and costs in industrial water-related applications.
Do you have a water industry project ? Contact us
Email : brest@institut-corrosion.fr
F.A.Q
1. What materials do you test for the water industry ?
We test metals, alloys (stainless steels, copper, cast iron), polymers, and coatings in contact with drinking water, industrial water, or wastewater, in chlorinated, fluorinated, or disinfected environments. → Contact us
2. Can you assess material compatibility with drinking water ?
Yes. We carry out immersion testing in simulated or real water, electrochemical testing, and metal release analysis. → Our corrosion expertise
3. Do you work on corrosion in distribution networks ?
Yes. We support operators in qualifying internal coatings for pipelines and storage tanks, and in failure analysis on hydraulic equipment. → Contact us
4. Do you participate in R&D projects in the water sector ?
Yes. Within the ARCOR association, we coordinate the MRC “Corrosion in brines and process water” with major water treatment industry stakeholders. → Learn more about ARCOR