What is the main purpose of disinfection in wastewater treatment?

The primary goal of disinfection in wastewater treatment is to eliminate harmful pathogens and microorganisms that can pose a risk to public health and the environment. During this process, various methods such as chlorination, ultraviolet light, or ozonation are employed to effectively reduce or inactivate these harmful entities, ensuring that the treated effluent is safe for discharge into water bodies or for reuse.

Disinfection is critical because untreated wastewater can contain bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can spread diseases. Therefore, achieving a reduction in these pathogens is essential to protect ecosystems and human health.

Other options, while related to wastewater treatment processes, do not directly reflect the primary objective of disinfection. Enhancing effluent color, neutralizing odors, and stabilizing chemical makeup are important aspects of wastewater treatment but do not address the specific need for pathogen reduction, which is the central purpose of disinfection.