Aggressive water is water that has some excess of carbon dioxide. It is also called carbon anhydride or carbonic acid. In order to foster an equilibrium state and avoid any deposit of chemical elements into water, there is a need for the presence of carbon dioxide.

But as it remains in quantities higher than those required for maintaining that equilibrium, the resulting excess termed as being aggressive will bite the existing calcium carbonate and bring about corrosion of the metallic materials contained in water supply pipes and storage tanks. The deterioration of the materials making up such pipes is the cause for a speedy reduction in service life of such facilities, thus giving rise to leaking and breakage all along the water distribution system. The corrosion of the distribution and storage equipments leads to the formation of rust – depending on the manufacturing material used- that is responsible for the red water, bad taste and smell water users complain about.

The aggressive carbon dioxide contained into drinking water being not the only cause of toxicity in users, the secondary effect caused by it in the course of water distribution through the pipes gives rise to a situation whereby its being removed is at times deemed indispensable so as to provide local populations with fully good drinking water.