Which method is commonly used to improve water clarity after sedimentation?

Flocculation is a widely used method for improving water clarity after the process of sedimentation. This technique involves the addition of chemicals, known as flocculants, to the water. These flocculants facilitate the agglomeration of suspended particles by neutralizing their charges, allowing them to clump together into larger aggregates, or "flocs." Once these flocs are formed, they become heavy enough to settle out of the water column, enhancing clarity by removing these suspended particles.

Utilizing flocculation as a follow-up to sedimentation is particularly effective in treating water that has not achieved acceptable clarity through sedimentation alone. It is an essential part of the water treatment process, especially in systems dealing with significant turbidity issues.

The other methods listed, while useful in various contexts, do not primarily target the improvement of water clarity in the same way flocculation does. Adsorption, for example, is typically utilized for the removal of specific contaminants rather than for clarity enhancement. Granulated carbon filtration can improve taste and odor but may not specifically address clarity issues caused by suspended solids. Membrane filtration can remove particles but is more about separation of particles based on size rather than enhancing clarity post-sedimentation.