What is the purpose of chlorination and dechlorination in water treatment?

The purpose of chlorination and dechlorination in water treatment primarily focuses on the disinfection and safety of the water before it is released into the environment or supplied for consumption. Chlorination is a process where chlorine is added to water to kill harmful bacteria and pathogens, thereby ensuring the water is safe for human use and minimizes the risk of waterborne diseases.

Dechlorination follows the chlorination process. While chlorination effectively disinfects water, residual chlorine can be harmful to aquatic life if the treated water is discharged into rivers, lakes, or oceans. Therefore, dechlorination is utilized to remove or neutralize chlorine to create a safer environment for organisms in receiving waters. This two-step process of chlorination followed by dechlorination emphasizes the importance of maintaining both public health and environmental safety in water management practices.

Enhancing flavor, increasing oxygen levels, and removing heavy metals address other water quality concerns but are not the primary focus of chlorination and dechlorination processes.