The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performances of the Streaming Current Detector (SCD) under practical, yet well controlled conditions of water treatment. The following points were addressed: evaluation of the reliability of the SCD, the reproductivity and the stability of its signal under constant conditions; evaluation of the SCD response to different treatment situations, to variations of coagulant dose, pH, ionic strength and to pollution of natural water by synthetic organic matter; comparison of coagulant doses applied by SCD control with Jar-test results; and evaluation of water quality at different control conditions.