Which treatment process is primarily utilized to remove turbidity from water?

The treatment process primarily utilized to remove turbidity from water is coagulation. Coagulation involves the addition of chemicals, known as coagulants, to the water. These coagulants help to destabilize the small particles suspended in the water, allowing them to clump together into larger aggregates, or flocs. These flocs can then be more easily removed during subsequent treatment processes, such as sedimentation and filtration.

Coagulation is particularly effective for addressing turbidity because it targets the tiny particles that contribute to murkiness in water, which can include silt, clay, and organic matter. This process is often followed by sedimentation, where the heavier flocs settle out of the water, and filtration, which further polishes the water by capturing remaining particulates.

Other treatment methods mentioned, like chlorination, are primarily focused on disinfection, while fluoridation is intended for dental health benefits and does not have a significant role in removing turbidity. Filtration can also reduce turbidity, but it is generally a secondary method following coagulation and sedimentation, rather than the primary method itself.