Water with a good pH balance is vital for public health, industrial operations, and healthy ecosystems. Although treatment procedures like filtration and disinfection help maintain safe water quality, they can only be effective at the right pH level.
pH is a figure that identifies an aqueous substance’s acidity or alkalinity following a scale of 0 to 14. Water with a pH of seven is neutral and considered safe to drink. Levels of six and below are too acidic, while levels above seven are considered basic or alkaline.
How pH Affects Treatment Processes
When purifying water, operators must ensure that the water’s pH is within 6.3 to 7.6. After all, pH values affect the way water interacts with plumbing systems and responds to chemicals in varying treatment stages, such as:
- Coagulation and Flocculation: These methods for removing particles from water work only within a specific pH range, generally around six to eight. Performing these processes in water with pH outside that range can disrupt flocculation, cause poor sedimentation, and render subsequent filtration ineffective.
- Disinfection: Eliminating dangerous microorganisms and organic matter is crucial for drinking water and wastewater. Operators often use chlorine-based disinfectants, which work best in pH levels between 5.5 and 7.6. The disinfectants are less effective in water beyond that range and may form byproducts like trihalomethanes (THMs), interfering with proper sanitation.
Wastewater Collection and Distribution: Various industries treat their wastewater before discharging it as part of standard compliance. Acidic wastewater can corrode pipes, risking contamination by metals like copper and lead. If the water is too alkaline, minerals can accumulate and impact the condition of pipes and fixtures.
Additionally, controlling the water’s pH reduces the required chemicals and waste generated in treatments. It also prevents acidic and alkaline water from leaching into natural water bodies, helping to protect aquatic ecosystems and minimize our environmental impact.
Monitoring and Adjusting pH
Another critical aspect of water treatment is regularly checking the water’s pH and identifying fluctuations or deviations. Operators use pH sensors, meters, indicators, and similar equipment to measure and analyze the pH. If the pH level is outside the ideal range, they can adjust it by neutralizing the water by adding acids or bases, depending on the detected pH value.
The operators may inject carbon dioxide gas directly into the water to decrease high pH levels. Other methods include aeration, wherein water is exposed to air or oxygen to increase pH, and degasification, which removes dissolved acidic or alkaline gases from water.
Protect Your Investment With Proper pH Control
Water with a good pH balance is essential in treatment processes, as it impacts human and environmental health and infrastructure longevity. Ensure your water is within safe and effective pH parameters with Adams Water Conditioning’s expertise. Call us today for an appointment or a free water analysis in Ocala, FL.
