Which process is used to remove larger particulates from water before filtration?

Coagulation is the process used to remove larger particulates from water before it undergoes filtration. During coagulation, chemicals, known as coagulants, are added to the water, which help to destabilize the fine particles and suspended solids present. This destabilization leads to the formation of larger clusters or "flocs" as these particles aggregate together. The primary goal of coagulation is to prepare the water for subsequent treatment processes, such as flocculation and filtration, by enhancing the removal of impurities.

While flocculation is a related process that follows coagulation, it specifically focuses on the gentle mixing of water to allow the flocs created during coagulation to grow larger before settling or being removed. Filtration is the physical process used to separate these larger aggregates from the water, but it occurs after coagulation. Disinfection, on the other hand, is intended to eliminate pathogens from water and does not address the removal of particulates. Thus, coagulation is the initial and crucial step in managing sediment and larger particulates effectively within the water treatment process.