What is the role of disinfection in the water treatment process?

Disinfection plays a critical role in the water treatment process by targeting harmful microorganisms that can pose health risks to consumers. This process involves using various methods, such as chlorination, UV treatment, or ozonation, to effectively kill or inactivate bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens. By ensuring that water is free from these harmful agents, disinfection helps protect public health and ensures that the water delivered to homes and businesses is safe for consumption.

The focus of disinfection is primarily on microbial control, rather than physical or chemical properties of water such as temperature, taste, or oxygen levels. Therefore, while improving flavor or altering temperature may be important in other aspects of water treatment, they do not correctly reflect the main objective of disinfection. The increase in dissolved oxygen levels is generally related to water quality and environmental conditions rather than a target of disinfection methods. Through these disinfection processes, the water treatment system can fulfill its primary goal of providing safe drinking water.