Which process ensures a safe drinking water supply?

Water treatment is the correct choice as it refers to the process of removing contaminants from raw water to make it safe for human consumption. This involves various stages, including coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection. Each of these stages plays a crucial role in eliminating harmful pathogens, chemicals, and sediments that can pose a risk to human health.

Through treatment, water quality is assessed and mandatory regulations are met, ensuring that the drinking water supplied to communities is safe and free from pollutants. This process is foundational in public health, significantly reducing waterborne diseases and ensuring reliable access to clean drinking water.

In contrast, water distribution, water storage, and water extraction, while important components of the overall water supply system, do not directly address the safety of the water itself. Distribution refers to the infrastructure used to deliver treated water to consumers, storage involves holding treated water until it is needed, and extraction pertains to the withdrawal of water from its source, which does not guarantee that it is safe for drinking without proper treatment first.