Water is treated with copolymers of an acrylic acid and an alkoxyalkyl acrylate which are devoid of acrylamide or methacrylamide. The copolymers are effective as a scale inhibitors in the presence or absence of metal ions, particularly iron, manganese and zinc ions; as stabilizers for the metal ions; and as dispersants for particulate matter, particularly for particulates such as iron oxide, clay, silt, and mixtures thereof.