What is typically adjusted in water treatment facilities to control scaling?

What is typically adjusted in water treatment facilities to control scaling?

• A. Temperature
• B. pH and alkalinity
• C. Chlorine concentration
• D. Pressure

Answer: (B)

In water treatment facilities, the adjustment of pH and alkalinity is essential for controlling scaling. Scaling occurs when dissolved minerals, primarily calcium and magnesium, precipitate out of water as solids. When the pH of water is too high or too low, it can lead to increased scaling. Increasing the pH can enhance the solubility of calcium carbonate at higher temperatures, while lowering it can help maintain the balance of dissolved minerals. Alkalinity acts as a buffer, helping to stabilize pH levels. By adjusting both pH and alkalinity, water treatment facilities can effectively reduce the risk of scaling, ensuring the system operates efficiently and maintaining the integrity of infrastructure. Other factors like temperature, chlorine concentration, and pressure can impact water treatment processes, but they do not specifically target the chemical conditions that lead to scaling the way pH and alkalinity adjustments do.

In water treatment facilities, the adjustment of pH and alkalinity is essential for controlling scaling. Scaling occurs when dissolved minerals, primarily calcium and magnesium, precipitate out of water as solids. When the pH of water is too high or too low, it can lead to increased scaling.

Increasing the pH can enhance the solubility of calcium carbonate at higher temperatures, while lowering it can help maintain the balance of dissolved minerals. Alkalinity acts as a buffer, helping to stabilize pH levels. By adjusting both pH and alkalinity, water treatment facilities can effectively reduce the risk of scaling, ensuring the system operates efficiently and maintaining the integrity of infrastructure.

Other factors like temperature, chlorine concentration, and pressure can impact water treatment processes, but they do not specifically target the chemical conditions that lead to scaling the way pH and alkalinity adjustments do.