What is the main purpose of disinfection in water treatment?

The main purpose of disinfection in water treatment is to ensure the safety of the water supply by effectively destroying pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, and protozoa, that can pose significant health risks to humans. Disinfection processes, such as chlorination, UV treatment, and ozonation, are employed to eliminate these harmful microorganisms, thereby reducing the likelihood of waterborne diseases.

Focusing on the other options, enhancing water taste typically involves processes like aeration or the addition of certain minerals, rather than disinfection. Removing hardness pertains to addressing issues related to calcium and magnesium in the water, which are caused by scaling and mineral deposits, but it is unrelated to disinfection. Improving visual clarity usually involves filtration or sedimentation to remove suspended particles and does not address microbial safety. Therefore, the primary goal of disinfection remains the destruction of harmful pathogens to safeguard public health.