What main function does chlorine serve in water treatment processes?

Chlorine primarily serves the function of disinfection in water treatment processes. Its main role is to kill or inactivate pathogenic microorganisms present in the water, ensuring that it meets safety standards for public consumption. This is crucial in preventing waterborne diseases and protecting public health.

While chlorine may participate in oxidation reactions, its primary use in water treatment is not as an oxidizing agent but rather for its disinfectant properties. Flocculation is a separate process that involves the aggregation of particles to facilitate their removal from water, and filtration is a method of physically removing impurities from water, neither of which are directly related to the specific function of chlorine. Thus, emphasizing its role in disinfection helps to underscore the critical importance of chlorine in ensuring safe drinking water.