Water treating apparatus and methods

A device for treating fresh water flowing through a conduit comprising:

• a first permanent magnet to be received at a side of the conduit and having north and south poles which are spaced apart in the direction of water flow through the conduit;
• a second permanent magnet received at one axial side of the first permanent magnet and having north and south poles spaced apart in the direction of fluid flow, with the south pole of the second magnet facing axially toward the south pole of the first magnet;
• a third permanent magnet located at a second axial side of said first magnet and having magnetic poles spaced apart in the direction of water flow, with the north pole of the third magnet facing axially toward the north pole of said first magnet;
• a first ferromagnetic element received axially between said first and second magnets and forming a net south pole projecting radially inwardly beyond said first and second magnets for reception in close proximity to the conduit;
• and
• a second ferromagnetic element received axially between said first and third magnets and forming a net north pole projecting radially inwardly beyond said first and third magnets for reception in close proximity to said conduit.