Oil-water dispersions and emulsions derived from petroleum industry operations are demulsified and clarified using an aqueous water clarifier composition. Formation of such oil-water dispersion and emulsions is inhibited and mitigated using the aqueous water clarifier composition comprising a latex dispersion of an anionic polymer, an alcohol, and a base. The latex dispersion of an anionic polymers comprise an anionic polymer comprising: A) 2-80% by weight of at least one C3-C8 α,β-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid monomer; B) 15-80% by weight of at least one nonionic, copolymerizable α,β-ethylenically unsaturated monomer; C) 0-50% by weight of one or more of the following monomers: C1) at least one nonionic vinyl surfactant ester; or C2) at least one nonionic, copolymerizable α,β-ethylenically unsaturated monomer having longer polymer chains than monomer B), or C3) at least one nonionic urethane monomer; and, optionally, D) 0-5% by weight of at least one crosslinker.