Stabilizing colloidal suspensions helps prevent scale deposition and inorganic particulate matter fouling in aqueous systems. Colloidal suspension stabilization was modeled using Fe2O3 suspensions in synthetic industrial water containing a mixed electrolyte system that included a variety of ions interacting with suspended particles. Zeta potential measurements of suspended particles were conducted over a wide pH range (3 to 10) both in the absence and in the presence of acrylate water soluble polymers (e.g. polyacrylate acrylate terpolymer). Results suggest that both polymeric dispersant functional group type(s) and molecular weight impact dispersion efficiency.