Which of the following is a key benefit of chlorination in water treatment?

Chlorination is a widely used disinfection method in water treatment primarily because of its ability to kill a broad spectrum of pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, and protozoa. This characteristic makes chlorination essential in ensuring that drinking water is safe for human consumption, as it significantly reduces the risk of waterborne diseases.

While chlorination can sometimes have indirect effects on taste and odor due to the residual chlorine it leaves in the water, its primary role is as a disinfectant. Additionally, chlorination does not effectively remove heavy metals from water; other treatment processes, like sedimentation or filtration, are required for that purpose. Chlorination also does not address water hardness, which is typically managed through processes like ion exchange or lime softening. Thus, the primary key benefit of chlorination lies in its effectiveness in pathogen control, making it a critical step in the drinking water treatment process.