An anti-scale electrochemical apparatus comprises at least one ion exchange cell, each cell comprising a housing having a plurality of openings to receive and release a water stream, inner and outer electrodes in the housing, and a water-splitting membrane between the inner and outer electrodes to treat an influent water stream to form an effluent water stream. A controlled-release scale-inhibitor composite comprising a scale-inhibitor agent and a polymer, is provided in the housing or in the water flow pathway of the electrochemical apparatus. An anti-scale, water splitting ion exchange membrane was also fabricated.