ABSTRACT
Copper and its alloys are rightly considered noble metals, with a wide range of environmental applications that take advantage of its unique antimicrobial, physical, and metallurgical properties. In some environments accelerated degradation can occur, which can be counteracted, in most cases, by using corrosion-resistant alloys or changing the water chemistry. In other unusual situations resulting from exposure to water with very low pH, extremely high water velocities (>2 m/s), high levels of hydrogen sulde or SRB activity, and other unusual circumstances, hybrid materials or other metals should be used.
