<p><strong>Abstract.</strong> The water supply industry is faced with three phenomena of great importance: the aggressiveness, corrosion, and incrustation of water distribution systems (WDS), which are primarily due to the low alkalinity of water sources and the addition of chemicals used in water treatment processes, which require pH adjustments during the last stage of the treatment process before going into the WDS. This article presents the results of using Ca(OH)<sub>2</sub> and NaOH with doses between 2 and 20 mg L<sup>−1</sup> and NaHCO<sub>3</sub> and Na<sub>2</sub>CO<sub>3</sub> between 10 and 250 mg L<sup>−1</sup> to adjust the pH of water treated from the Cauca River, which is located in Cali, Colombia, using stabilisation indices normally used in water treatment plants for pH monitoring processes and to better predict the behaviour of water in the WDS. The results indicate that for the case of the surface water source studied, which exhibits low alkalinity levels, the evaluated alkalising agents, with the exception of NaHCO<sub>3</sub>, can create conditions that lead to the precipitation of a~protective calcium carbonate film. Because the pH values that guarantee an adequate pH adjustment are higher (8.7–9.0) than those specified by the Colombian water code and because other international rules indicate that these values do not compromise the health of consumers, it is advisable to review and adjust the code in this respect.</p>
Las cuencas de abastecimiento son la primera y principal barrera de los sistemas de abastecimiento de agua potable (SAAP) y, por lo tanto, la identificación de peligros es un instrumento clave para apoyar la evaluación y gestión de los riesgos que puedan comprometer la calidad del agua potable. Este estudio identificó los peligros químicos presentes en la cuenca alta del río Cauca (Colombia), apoyándose en la construcción de matrices de priorización y en la caracterización de agua y sedimentos. De acuerdo con los usos del suelo se identificaron cinco sustancias prioritarias a controlar y 14 plaguicidas. La caracterización de los peligros químicos en agua y sedimentos mostró la presencia de algunos metales pesados y sustancias de interés sanitario que podrían representar riesgos a la salud, si los SAAP que se abastecen de esta fuente en el tramo evaluado, no cuentan con barreras de tratamiento adecuadas. Palabras clave: calidad del agua, evaluación del riesgo, gestión de cuencas, identificación de peligros, sedimentos, sistema de abastecimiento de agua potable.
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