What substance can be used for disinfection in water treatment?

Disinfection is a critical process in water treatment aimed at eliminating or inactivating pathogens to ensure safe drinking water. Ozone, chlorine, and UV light are all effective methods for achieving disinfection.

Ozone is a powerful oxidizing agent that can destroy bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms rapidly. It decomposes back into oxygen after its use, leaving no residual taste or odor in the water, which makes it a highly effective disinfectant.

Chlorine is one of the most commonly used disinfectants in water treatment. It has been used for over a century due to its effectiveness against a wide range of pathogens. Chlorine also provides a residual disinfecting effect, meaning that it remains in the water supply after treatment, offering ongoing protection against recontamination.

UV light is another method that disinfects water by exposing it to ultraviolet radiation, which penetrates the cells of microorganisms and disrupts their DNA, rendering them unable to reproduce and cause disease. Like ozone, UV does not leave any chemical residues in the water.

Since all three methods are recognized for their efficacy in disinfecting water, the correct answer encompasses all of them. Thus, a choice indicating "All of the above" is accurate, recognizing that each method has its unique advantages and