What are the two main purposes of water treatment?

The primary objectives of water treatment are to protect public health and to produce potable, or drinking, water that is safe for consumption. This involves a range of processes designed to eliminate contaminants, pathogens, and hazardous substances from raw water sources. Ensuring that water is free from diseases and safe for everyday use is fundamental to public health, making this a critical aspect of water treatment.

While there are other important functions of water treatment, such as enhancing taste and improving the aesthetic qualities of water, these are secondary to the primary goal of ensuring safety and functionality for human consumption. Options focusing on temperature, hardness, minerals, and turbidity represent additional considerations in water quality but do not encompass the essential objectives of protecting health and ensuring water is safe to drink.