Saline water supplies can corrode and shorten the useful lives of water-using appliances such as water heaters, water faucets, dishwashers, clothes washers, evaporative coolers, garbage disposals and toilet flush mechanisms. The useful lives of these appliances and fixtures shorten as TDS levels increase. High salinity also can cause deterioration of water pipes over time. Damage can result from increased corrosion of metals that come in contact with the water and from scaling of contacted surfaces. Pipe damage resulting from salinity occurs mostly in steel or iron pipes.
Damage can occur both in water mains and in domestic piping.
Analysis of corroded pipe samples and interviews with Tucson Water staff after the introduction of CAP water in Tucson indicated that the most troublesome pipe was poor quality galvanized steel pipe that lost its protective zinc coating. This left the steel underneath subject to corrosion. Approximately 25 percent of pipe used in Tucson area homes is estimated to be galvanized steel. Tucson water mains are mostly asbestos cement and galvanized iron. By 1998-99, approximately 140 miles had been replaced.