What is the role of coagulation in water treatment?

Coagulation is a critical process in water treatment primarily aimed at aggregating suspended particles into larger flocs, making them easier to remove during subsequent treatment steps. This process involves the addition of coagulants, such as alum or ferric chloride, which neutralize the charges on suspended particles. Once these particles are neutralized, they are able to clump together, forming larger aggregates known as flocs. These flocs can then be more effectively removed from the water during sedimentation or filtration.

Understanding the coalescing effect of coagulation is essential because it significantly improves water quality by reducing turbidity and removing contaminants that could affect chemical and biological processes in water treatment. The other options, while discussing different aspects of water treatment or water quality, do not capture the primary function of coagulation, which is focused on the aggregation of particles.