Which of the following processes is primarily used for the removal of contaminants in water treatment?

Which of the following processes is primarily used for the removal of contaminants in water treatment?

• A. Distillation
• B. Disinfection
• C. Flocculation
• D. Absorption

Answer: (B)

In water treatment, the primary goal is to remove various types of contaminants to ensure the safety and quality of the water. Disinfection is the process specifically focused on eliminating pathogenic microorganisms that can cause disease. This is achieved through methods such as chlorination, ultraviolet (UV) light treatment, or ozone application, which effectively kill or deactivate harmful organisms present in the water. Disinfection is crucial as it directly targets the health risks associated with microbial contamination. While other processes like distillation, flocculation, and absorption do play important roles in water treatment—removing certain physical or chemical impurities—they do not primarily aim at removing pathogens. For example, distillation is effective for removing dissolved solids and some chemicals, while flocculation works by aggregating particles for easier removal in the sedimentation processes. Absorption can be suitable for removing specific contaminants, particularly organic compounds, through adsorbents like activated carbon. However, it is disinfection that primarily ensures microbiological safety, making it the key process in the removal of harmful organisms from treated water.

In water treatment, the primary goal is to remove various types of contaminants to ensure the safety and quality of the water. Disinfection is the process specifically focused on eliminating pathogenic microorganisms that can cause disease. This is achieved through methods such as chlorination, ultraviolet (UV) light treatment, or ozone application, which effectively kill or deactivate harmful organisms present in the water.

Disinfection is crucial as it directly targets the health risks associated with microbial contamination. While other processes like distillation, flocculation, and absorption do play important roles in water treatment—removing certain physical or chemical impurities—they do not primarily aim at removing pathogens.

For example, distillation is effective for removing dissolved solids and some chemicals, while flocculation works by aggregating particles for easier removal in the sedimentation processes. Absorption can be suitable for removing specific contaminants, particularly organic compounds, through adsorbents like activated carbon. However, it is disinfection that primarily ensures microbiological safety, making it the key process in the removal of harmful organisms from treated water.