What is a key objective of water treatment processes?

The key objective of water treatment processes is to eliminate pathogens in water. This goal is imperative for ensuring public health and safety, as pathogens can cause various waterborne diseases that pose significant health risks to the population. Effective water treatment includes multiple stages such as coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection—each designed to remove contaminants, including harmful microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and protozoa.

While filtering out solid waste, enhancing taste, and absorbing nutrients can be beneficial aspects of water processing, they are secondary to the fundamental aim of protecting human health by removing pathogenic organisms. The prioritization of pathogen elimination establishes a safe drinking water supply, which is critical in public health and environmental management practices.