<p>Magnetic water treatment has emerged as a promising, innovative method for preventing scale formation in both domestic and industrial water systems. Despite its growing interest, the effectiveness of this approach remains controversial due to inconsistent results and poorly understood mechanisms. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the current literature, exploring the effects of magnetic treatment on water chemistry, particle behavior, and crystallization processes. By synthesizing experimental data and field applications, this paper assesses the reliability of magnetic treatment as a sustainable solution to calcium carbonate scaling. In addition, it identifies existing knowledge gaps, offering insights into the method’s feasibility and providing recommendations for future research directions.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>