Does pH always affect calcium carbonate deposition?

[Awsamb]

For instance, say one were to have a waterpark in Texas and the waterpark runs off well water, so there is very high calcium hardness. And there are features in this waterpark such as sprayers, slides, etc. And the waterpark has a 1ft deep pool area enclosing everything. And the temperature in the summer is very hot (over 100 degrees F), and there is this hard water coming out of sprayers and impacting all the surfaces around it. I know that keeping the pH lower keeps the calcium dissolved in the water, however, if the water evaporates on the other surfaces before it gets back down to the "pool" part of the water, does the pH value have any effect on if calcium will be deposited on the surfaces that are sprayed with this hard water?

 

[JoyfulNoise]

For instance, say one were to have a waterpark in Texas and the waterpark runs off well water, so there is very high calcium hardness. And there are features in this waterpark such as sprayers, slides, etc. And the waterpark has a 1ft deep pool area enclosing everything. And the temperature in the summer is very hot (over 100 degrees F), and there is this hard water coming out of sprayers and impacting all the surfaces around it. I know that keeping the pH lower keeps the calcium dissolved in the water, however, if the water evaporates on the other surfaces before it gets back down to the "pool" part of the water, does the pH value have any effect on if calcium will be deposited on the surfaces that are sprayed with this hard water?

Short answer is No. Misting coolers are used all over the place here in Arizona as evaporative cooling. You can stand outside a restaurant under the misters and the air will feel 10°F cooler … look up at every spray head and they are absolutely crusted over with calcium scale to the point of growing stalactites. Doesn’t matter what the pH of the water is or how much anti-scaling chemicals you add, they will always form a crust.

 

[Awsamb]

Short answer is No. Misting coolers are used all over the place here in Arizona as evaporative cooling. You can stand outside a restaurant under the misters and the air will feel 10°F cooler … look up at every spray head and they are absolutely crusted over with calcium scale to the point of growing stalactites. Doesn’t matter what the pH of the water is or how much anti-scaling chemicals you add, they will always form a crust.

Okay that makes sense. I know keeping the pH lower keeps the calcium dissolved but I guess once the water evaporates it doesn't really matter what the pH was, the calcium gets left behind

 

[JamesW]

Get a water softener.

Run the calcium as low as possible.

Manage the CSI by keeping the pH and TA higher.

Use carbon dioxide to manage the pH without lowering the TA.

Keep the pH as high as you are legally allowed.

Don't go too high with the TA.

Finding the best balance will be tricky.

Avoid phosphates and sulfates as they contribute to scale that does not come off easily.

 

[JamesW]

What is the normal range for the calcium hardness?

What are all of the normal ranges for all chemistry readings?

Try to keep the CSI at about - 0.3 to protect the plaster while keeping the CH (Calcium Hardness) as low as possible.

 

[DavidLast]

We look after several spray pads. Our water and climate are similar to yours, with similar temperatures. Amongst the things we do is run low TA and water blast the spray pad to waste every morning.

Are you using automatic chemical control? If so what type and what chemicals is it feeding?

Our calcium hardness is typically in the 450+ range.