What is the purpose of coagulation in water treatment?

Coagulation is a crucial step in the water treatment process aimed at removing suspended solids from water, thereby improving its clarity and quality. The process involves adding coagulants, such as aluminum sulfate, to water. These coagulants neutralize the charges on suspended particles, which causes them to clump together into larger particles known as flocs. Once these flocs form, they can settle out of the water more easily due to their increased size and weight.

The settling of these larger particles is essential because it greatly reduces the turbidity and potential contaminants within the water before subsequent treatment processes. By effectively removing these particles, coagulation enhances the efficiency of other filtration and disinfection steps that follow, leading to cleaner and safer drinking water.

The other options involve important aspects of water treatment, but they don't specifically describe the primary role of coagulation. For instance, while coagulation can indirectly assist in the removal of viruses due to the larger aggregates formed, it is not specifically designed for that purpose. Adjusting pH levels can be a part of the water treatment process but is not related to the coagulation action itself. Enhancing flavor is typically not a primary concern in the coagulation process, as it focuses on particle removal rather than taste.