News from the South African water sector (September 2008)

Abstract

Letters Letters to the editor Incorrect water treatment chemistry also causes problems Your article “Cheap Plumbing Imports Wastes Precious Resources” (Water Wheel July/ August 2008) refers. The problem of inferior plumbing is mostly exacerbated by the incorrect water treatment chemistry. Poor pH control at the treatment works, especially of corrosive coastal type waters also causes a major loss of water for the following reasons: Low pH of water (due to the lack of lime addition) will cause ineffective coagulation and flocculation at the works, thus overloading sand filters, which requires more frequent back washing and consequent water losses. This also causes post flocculation in reservoirs, leading to poor water quality. The low pH water will corrode the reticulation system, causing pipe failures and leaks. Refer to the corrosion on the photo of the stand pipe in the article (top left hand on p. 18).

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