What role does residual chlorine play in water quality?

Residual chlorine is crucial in water quality as it serves as a measure of safety after disinfection. This is because chlorine is commonly used as a disinfectant in water treatment processes to kill harmful bacteria and pathogens. After the initial disinfection, maintaining a certain level of chlorine in the water ensures that any remaining microorganisms are kept in check as the water travels through the distribution system.

By measuring the residual chlorine, water treatment professionals can assess whether the water remains safe for consumption. If there is insufficient residual chlorine, it may indicate that the water is at risk for contamination or that disinfection was inadequate. Thus, the presence of residual chlorine is a key indicator that the water has been treated properly and continues to be safeguarded against potential bacterial growth as it is delivered to consumers.