What is the importance of monitoring chlorine residual?

Monitoring chlorine residual is crucial primarily because it allows operators to assess the effectiveness of disinfection. Chlorine is widely used in water treatment processes to eliminate pathogens and ensure the water is safe for consumption. By checking the residual levels of chlorine, water treatment operators can verify that enough chlorine is present to kill or deactivate harmful microorganisms.

If the residual is too low, it may indicate that not enough chlorine was applied, leading to potential health risks if pathogens remain in the water. Conversely, excessively high chlorine levels might indicate over-dosing, which could cause taste and odor issues or even health concerns. Regular monitoring of chlorine residual serves as a critical checkpoint in the overall water treatment process, ensuring that the disinfection step meets safety standards and effectively protects public health.

Contextually, while the other options relate to various aspects of water treatment, they do not specifically address the role of chlorine residual in disinfection effectiveness. Proper chemical dosing, stormwater impact predictions, and filtration efficiency assessment are important factors in water treatment but focus on different components of the process.