A city is considering different systems for purifying the water supply. Which circumstance would cause the city to choose an ion exchange system over reverse osmosis?

Question

A. if the water is very soft and leaves buildup in pipes for local residents
B. if the water is contaminated with bacteria and needs a more general filtering system
C. if the water is very hard and leaves buildup in pipes for local residents
D. if the water is contaminated with petroleum and needs a more general filtering system

Answer 1

The city would choose an ion exchange system over reverse osmosis in the following circumstance:

C. if the water is very hard and leaves buildup in pipes for local residents.

Ion exchange systems are particularly effective at addressing water hardness by removing calcium and magnesium ions, which contribute to scaling and buildup in pipes. Reverse osmosis is more effective for removing a broader range of contaminants but may not be the best choice specifically for treating hard water.