What effect does chlorination have on water supplies with high levels of phenolic compounds?

Chlorination is a common process used in water treatment to disinfect and kill harmful microorganisms. However, when chlorination occurs in water supplies that have high levels of phenolic compounds, a specific reaction can take place. The presence of phenolic compounds in the water can lead to the formation of chlorinated phenols when chlorine is added.

Chlorinated phenols are known for their unpleasant taste and odor, often described as "medicinal" or "chemical." This reaction can result in water that not only tastes bad but also has a strong, undesirable smell. As a result, chlorination in such contaminated water supplies often exacerbates the problem of taste and odor rather than alleviating it, making it clear why this option is the correct response.

In contrast, the other choices do not accurately reflect the impact of chlorination in this context. Simply making the water smell like chlorine, enhancing the water's taste, or having no significant effect does not account for the negative interaction between chlorine and phenolic compounds in the water treatment process.