shower drain scale deposit 1

[WILL21]

OUR MUNICIPAL WATER SYSTEM TREATS THE WATER WITH SODIUM HYPOCHLORITE FOR DISINFECTION AND A POLY-ORTHOPHOSPHATE (0.9 MG/L DOSE)TO SEAQUESTER IRON AND MAGANESE AND TO ENABLE LEAD AND COPPER CONTROL. pH IS 7.2 WITH LANGLIER INDEX OF -1.0.

A NEW AND VERY EXPENSIVE HOME HAS LIMESTONE FLOORS IN THE SHOWER STALLS. THE SHOWER STREAM IS 10-20 GPM DELUGE. THE WEEP HOLES FOR PAN DRAINAGE ON THE BRASS DRAIN FITTING ARE PLUGGING WITH CLOUDY WHITE HARD DEPOSIT AND HAS LINED THE INSIDE WALLS OF THE 3" DRAIN FITTING WITH 1/2" THICK DEPOSIT.


IS THE POLY-ORTHOPHOSPHATE CHEMICALLY REACTING WITH THE LIMESTONE TO CAUSE LEACHING AND DEPOSIT?

OR ARE THERE OTHER WATER QUALITY PARAMENTERS THAT WILL HAVE THIS EFFECT ON LIMESTONE?

 

[bimr]

Not sure what the marble flooring material is actually fabricated from. Here is a typical care guide for a "limestone floor":

Limestone
Composition: Calcite, Calcium Carbonate
Hardness : Soft
Absorption : Oil, Water
Limitations : Absorbs oils and other liquids, easily scratched, acid sensitive, polished-interior use only
Sealer : Penetrating type siloxane/fluoropolymer
Cleaner: Natural Soap or Neutral pH detergent
Finish: Polished - liquid Paste wax ; others: none
Notes: Most true limestone types are porous and absorbent. Some limestone is semi-metamorphic and will have physical properties similar to metamorphic marble. If the limestone is metamorphic it is "Marble". For our purposes here, LIMESTONE is the chalky porous type typical of most French and Spanish limestone. Non-reflective finishes are practical as flooring but require sealing to minimize stains. Dense, low absorbent varieties of limestone can be suitable in shower areas but beware of using too soft a limestone in high stress areas. Sealing is normally recommended for both interior and exterior locations.

Limestone flooring does not sound like a good application for a shower, but it is probably unlikely that the limestone flooring would be dissolving in the short time it takes for a shower.

It is probably more likely the deposit is soap reacting with the water hardness.

You need to get a water analysis. Specifically, you want to look at the hardness, alkalinity and pH. Your question can not be fully answered without this information.

The only thing that can be said now with the information that you have provided is that your water pH of 7.2 is slightly on the low side. And, low pH is indicative of a water that will tend to be more corrosive.