ABSTRACT
The chemical composition of sediments depends on several factors, including the material of the pipe on which they form, the quality of the water coming into contact with the interior of the pipeline and the consecutive deposition layers accumulating on the pipe’s internal walls. The quality of water, particularly as far as its chemical stability or lack is concerned, governs the mechanism of sediment creation. The process of sediment deposition is also influenced by the fact that water from different sources is mixed in some areas of a distribution system. For instance, one study (Bray et al. 2011) determined that combining water from the Cretaceous Period with water from the Quaternary Period may result in the loss of its chemical and biological stability and the formation of sludge, even though quality requirements are met.
