Water Treatment Chemicals

Many water treatment systems employ the use of chemicals in order to improve the quality of water. In this article, you will find a list of some of the common water treatment chemicals used, along with a description of each.

Algicide

Algicide refers to a group of water treatment chemicals that can kill algae and blue-green algae that grow in water supplies. Some common algicides used in water treatment systems are:

* Copper sulphate
* Chelated copper-based products
* Benzalkonium chloride
* Simazine

Although algicides are highly effective in reducing algae, it is now, however, recommended for constant use. The reason is that this particular type of water treatment chemical can have damaging effects on the environment. As such, it should only be used for emergency purposes and should not be considered as a long-term solution for problems involving algae.

When using algicides to treat your water, be sure to wait until all several months after its introduction. By this time, all the toxins that result from the break down of algal cells by the algicides as well as the odors would have degraded, making the water safe for drinking.

Chlorine

Chlorine is actually a form of bleach. It is made from sodium chloride (or the common table salt) and water. Small quantities of it are added in water as a disinfectant. However, it should be noted that this particular water treatment chemical has been linked with cancer. There are studies that tag chlorine as a known carcinogen, or cancer-causing agent, especially when combined with naturally occurring acids.

However, the uses of chlorine are far too many to simply disregard its significance. Besides being used as a disinfectant and water treatment chemical, chlorine is also used in plastics and polymers, solvents, agrochemicals, as well as pharmaceuticals.

Clarifiers

Clarifiers are water treatment chemicals primarily used in sewage treatment. This group of chemicals help slow down the flow of wastewater as they pass through the sewage system. In so doing, they allow the solids to settle outside of the wastewater, making it easier to remove them.
Filter Cleanser

This particular water treatment chemical is acid-based. Its granular formulation is especially effective in cleaning and unclogging sand and cartridge filters that are often blocked due to the accumulation of grease, oils, and sludge.

Dry or Muriatic Acid

Muriatic acid is a type of water treatment chemical that is useful in decreasing the pH level of water. If your water has too much alkalinity, then you can add small amounts of muriatic acid in order to even out the scale. Note, however, that you should only use this according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Otherwise, you could end up with water with too high acidic pH level.