To combat corrosive water in distribution systems, which type of treatment is generally required?

Corrosion control treatment is essential for managing corrosive water in distribution systems because it specifically addresses the factors that contribute to corrosion, such as the water's pH, alkalinity, and metal content. This type of treatment often includes methods such as adjusting the water's chemistry to create a protective layer on the inside of pipes, thereby preventing deterioration of the pipe material.

Implementing corrosion control treatment can involve adding substances like phosphates or silica, which can help coat the pipes and mitigate corrosion processes. This targeted approach not only helps extend the lifespan of the distribution system infrastructure but also protects water quality from contaminants that can leach from corroding pipes.

While other treatments like filtration, chlorination, and softening serve important functions in water treatment, they do not specifically tackle the corrosiveness of the water itself. Filtration is primarily used for removing physical particulates, chlorination is used as a disinfection process to eliminate harmful pathogens, and softening focuses on reducing hard minerals that cause scale but does not inherently manage corrosion issues. Thus, for addressing corrosion in water distribution systems, corrosion control treatment is the most appropriate and effective method.