What pH level must corrosive pollutants not fall below according to regulations?

Corrosive pollutants are defined by regulatory frameworks to prevent endangerment to human health and the environment, particularly in terms of water quality. The correct cutoff for pH levels that corrosive pollutants must not fall below is a pH of 5.

A pH of 5 indicates a level of acidity that is concerning; below this level, substances can be harmful to aquatic life, such as fish and invertebrates, as well as to human health. The rationale for establishing this pH threshold is grounded in the understanding that greater acidity can lead to corrosion of infrastructure, harm ecosystem balance, and could potentially result in leaching of heavy metals into water systems.

Given that pH levels lower than 5 can significantly disrupt aquatic habitats and contribute to the degradation of water quality, regulations maintain that pH must be at or above this level to ensure protection from such corrosive effects. Thus, maintaining a minimum pH of 5 helps safeguard both environmental and public health.