What is the primary purpose of flocculation in water treatment?

Flocculation is a crucial process in water treatment designed to enhance the sedimentation of suspended particles. During flocculation, a flocculant is added to the water, which helps small particles clump together into larger aggregates known as flocs. This agglomeration increases the size and weight of the particles, making them easier to settle out of the water during the subsequent sedimentation phase.

The success of flocculation directly impacts the efficiency of the overall treatment process, leading to clearer water and improved removal of contaminants. By promoting the formation of larger flocs, flocculation facilitates a more efficient sedimentation process, where these heavier aggregates can settle to the bottom of the treatment basin, allowing for easier removal and resulting in cleaner treated water.

The options that focus on increasing pH, removing bacteria, or introducing chlorine do not capture the primary function of flocculation, as these processes pertain to different aspects of water treatment, such as disinfection or chemical balance management, rather than the enhancement of physical removal of suspended solids.