What is the primary purpose of a rotameter in water treatment?

The primary purpose of a rotameter in water treatment is to meter the flow of fluid. It is a device that measures the flow rate of liquids and gases in a streamlined manner, allowing operators to monitor how much fluid is passing through a system at any given time. This is crucial in various water treatment processes because keeping track of flow rates ensures that treatment processes such as chemical dosing, filtration, and disinfection are performed accurately and effectively.

Rotameters operate based on the principle of variable area flow measurement, where a float rises or falls within a tapered tube in response to the flow rate. The position of the float indicates the flow, allowing for easy visual measurement. This feature is important because managing the flow rate can influence the performance of treatment systems, ensuring they work within optimal parameters and maintain water quality.

The other options represent functions that are not handled by a rotameter. Measuring pressure is typically done with a pressure gauge, filtering impurities is the role of a filter, and disinfection processes involve methods such as chlorination or UV exposure, rather than flow measurement.