a method for mitigating initiation or propagation of a crack in a surface of a metal component in a boiling water reactor . the method includes the step of injecting a solution or suspension of a ph - adjusting compound into the bulk water of the reactor . the compound has the property of changing the ph of high - temperature water inside the crack from a value outside a predetermined ph range to a value within the predetermined ph range without causing any significant change of the bulk water ph . the growth rate of the crack when the crack ph is outside the predetermined ph range is greater than the growth rate of the crack when the crack ph is within the predetermined ph range .