The following table is taken from the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, Chapter 8 Drinking Water treatment Chemicals
These chemicals have been approved for use in public water supplies. Coagulation and flocculation are related to removing particulate matter from the water which causes turbidity. The addition of a coagulant enables the fine particulate matter to join together to form larger particles. Flocculation involves stirring the water gently after adding the coagulant to cause the particles to stick together to form larger particles which can be removed from the water.
| Treatment chemical | Formula | Originally approved | Uses |
| Aluminium chlorohydrates |
AlCl(OH)5 |
2005 |
Coagulation |
| Aluminium sulfate (alum) |
Al2(SO4)3 |
1983 |
Coagulation |
| Ammonia |
NH3 aq |
1983 |
Generation of chloramines for disinfection |
| Ammonium sulfate |
(NH4)2SO4 |
1983 |
Generation of chloramines for disinfection |
| Calcium hydroxide (hydrated lime) |
Ca(OH)2 |
1983 |
pH correction,
Softening,
Corrosion control |
| Calcium hypochlorite |
Ca(OCl)2 |
1983 |
Disinfection / oxidation |
| Calcium oxide (quick lime) |
CaO |
1983 |
Coagulation aid,
pH correction,
Softening,
Corrosion control |
| Carbon, powdered activated/granulated activated (PAC/GAC) |
C |
1983 |
Adsorption |
| Chlorine |
Cl2 |
1983 |
Disinfection / oxidation |
| Chlorine dioxide |
ClO2 |
2005 |
Disinfection / oxidation |
| Copper sulfate |
CuSO4 |
1983 |
Algicide |
| Ferric chloride |
FeCl3 |
1983 |
Coagulation |
| Ferric sulfates |
Fe2(SO4)3 |
1983 |
Coagulation |
| Hydrochloric acid |
HCl |
2005 |
pH correction |
Hydrofluorosilicic acid
(fluorosilicic acid) |
H2SiF6 |
1983 |
Fluoridation |
| Hydrogen peroxide |
H2O2 |
1983 |
Disinfection, Oxidation |
| Hydroxylated ferric sulfate |
|
2005 |
Coagulation |
| Ozone |
O3 |
2005 |
Disinfection / oxidation |
| Polyacrylamides |
(C3H5NO)n |
1977 |
Coagulation aid,
Flocculation aid,
Filter aid |
| Polyaluminium chlorides |
Aln(OH)mCL(3n-m) |
1979 |
Coagulation |
| Poly aluminium silica sulfates |
Na12(AlO2) (SiO2)12.xH2O |
2005 |
Coagulation |
| Polydiallyldimethylammonium chlorides (polyDADMACs) |
|
1982 |
Coagulation and coagulation aid |
| Potassium permanganate |
KMnO4 |
1983 |
Disinfection / oxidation |
| Sodium aluminates |
NaAlO2 |
1983 |
Coagulation |
| Sodium bicarbonate |
NaHCO3 |
1983 |
pH correction,
Softening,
Corrosion control |
| Sodium carbonate (soda ash) |
Na2CO3 |
1983 |
pH correction,
Softening,
Corrosion control |
| Sodium fluoride |
NaF |
1983 |
Fluoridation |
| Sodium fluorosilicate |
Na2SiF6 |
1983 |
Fluoridation |
| Sodium hexametaphosphate |
(NaPO3)x |
1983 |
Corrosion control |
| Sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) |
NaOH |
1983 |
pH correction,
Softening,
Corrosion control |
| Sodium hypochlorite |
NaClO |
1983 |
Disinfection / oxidation |
| Sodium silicate |
Na2SiO3 |
1983 |
Coagulation aid,
Flocculation aid,
pH correction,
Corrosion control |
| Sodium tripolyphosphate |
Na5P3O10 |
2005 |
Corrosion control,
Softening |
| Sulfuric acid |
H2SO4 |
1983 |
pH correction |
| Zinc orthophosphate |
Zn3(PO4)2 |
1987 |
Corrosion control |
