Water Treatment Operator-in-Training (OIT) Practice Test

What is the name of the process used to kill pathogenic organisms in water treatment?

1. Filtration

2. Coagulation

3. Disinfection

4. Oxidation

The correct answer is: Disinfection

The process used to kill pathogenic organisms in water treatment is known as disinfection. This critical step involves applying various methods or chemicals to eliminate or deactivate harmful microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and protozoa that can contaminate water sources and pose health risks to humans. Disinfection is essential for ensuring that treated water is safe for consumption and conforms to public health standards. Common disinfection techniques include the use of chlorine, ultraviolet light (UV), and ozone, each targeting and neutralizing pathogens effectively. While filtration helps to physically remove particles and some microorganisms from water, and coagulation involves the chemical aggregation of particles to enhance their removal in subsequent processes, neither specifically targets the destruction of pathogens in the same way disinfection does. Oxidation is a broader term that can include methods that impact water quality but does not specifically serve the primary function of pathogen elimination like disinfection does.