What is the purpose of pretreatment in water treatment processes?

The purpose of pretreatment in water treatment processes primarily focuses on the removal of suspended solids before the water goes through additional treatment steps. This initial phase is crucial because suspended solids can impede further treatment processes, cause damage to equipment, and lead to ineffective disinfection.

By effectively removing these particulates, pretreatment can enhance the efficiency and longevity of subsequent treatment systems, such as filtration and disinfection. It plays a vital role in ensuring that the water meets quality standards for human consumption or other uses. Options regarding disinfecting water, injecting chemicals, or increasing pressure pertain to specific treatment methods rather than the broad initial phase of pretreatment where the main goal is to cleanse the water of suspended matter. As such, the correct choice accurately reflects the foundational step in preparing water for subsequent treatment stages.