What do water purification plants primarily do?

Water purification plants play a crucial role in ensuring the safety and quality of drinking water by treating it to remove pathogens and other harmful substances. The primary function of these facilities is to implement various treatment processes, such as filtration, chemical disinfection, and sedimentation, which collectively contribute to reducing or eliminating microorganisms that can cause waterborne diseases.

The treatment process typically involves testing and monitoring for contaminants, including bacteria, viruses, and protozoa, to ensure that the water is safe for public consumption. This rigorous approach helps protect public health by providing water that meets regulatory standards for safety and quality.

The other choices do not accurately reflect the main purpose of water purification plants. For instance, increasing mineral content in water might be a secondary consideration but is not their primary function. While storage might be a part of the overall water management system, it is not the main purpose of a purification plant, which focuses more on treatment. Lastly, distributing bottled water is unrelated to the function of purification plants, as they primarily deal with large-scale water treatment and supply rather than bottled product distribution.