Pinhole leaks in copper plumbing are a widespread problem that affects property owners throughout the United States and elsewhere in the world.

FAQs about Copper Pipe Corrosion

If your home has experienced pinhole leaks, we want to hear from you. Take our online survey now.

Copper Corrosion Customer Survey

Although much research has been conducted around the issue, no definitive cause has been determined.  Because the leaks were discovered in our area, Sarasota County Utilities established a local task force to research the problem and potential solutions.

Task force representatives include residents of affected housing developments, professional engineers from Carollo Engineers and Sarasota County Utilities.

To work with the task force examining area issues and recommending solutions, Utilities has engaged Dr. Marc A. Edwards of Virginia Polytechnic Institute, an expert with 14 years’ experience conducting research in the field of copper corrosion.  Another expert engaged is Dr. Edward Singley, a retired Professor of Environmental Engineering from University of Florida, whose career included extensive research into copper corrosion throughout Florida.

Edwards has tracked pinhole leak occurrences in Alaska, California, Massachusetts, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee and Washington, D.C., as well as in Florida.

Sarasota County Utilities is collecting data relating to pinhole leaks. If you receive water and wastewater service by Sarasota County Utilities, call 941-861-5000 and ask about pinhole leaks. The more information we are able to gather, the better base we will have to understand trends and to isolate or rule out conditions that seem to favor pinhole leaks.