There is varying impact on local corrosion noted from biofilms formed of diverse microbial communities. For instance, when isolating a sample of biofilm from a pipe within the first week of growth, the corrosion of the pipe accelerated, yet by the end of a month, the same biofilm began to act as a protective layer for the pipe. Variation between corrosion in similar environments might be attributed to the local bacterial communities. Biofilms further mediate corrosion by altering the electrochemical processes at the interface of the underlying substrate.