Scale formation and prevention in small water supplies reliant on groundwater

Some remote and regional areas of Australia rely on groundwater. A problem with this is that naturally occurring salts, such as calcium carbonate, make the water ‘hard’ and cause scale deposition on the elements used to heat water. Scale also blocks taps and showerheads. This research examined different methods for predicting the amount of scale that a groundwater might form and also considered the pro’s and con’s of various treatment technologies which prevent scale formation. The consideration of community size and the chemical characteristics of different groundwaters was incorporated into this assessment and recommendation for scale prevention.