What process is used to remove bacteria from contaminated water?

• A. Filtration through activated charcoal
• B. Boiling the water
• C. Chlorination
• D. Distillation

Answer: (A)

Removing bacteria from contaminated water hinges on inactivating or removing microbes. Boiling raises water to temperatures that denature bacterial proteins and disrupt cell membranes, killing the organisms quickly and reliably. Distillation also removes bacteria because microbes can’t survive the vaporization and condensation process, so the resulting distilled water is free of most microbes. Chlorination disinfects by chemical action, destroying vital cellular components and genetic material, which kills bacteria; it’s widely used in water treatment but requires proper dosage and contact time. Filtration through activated charcoal mainly targets chemicals, odors, and some particulates; bacteria are not effectively removed by this method alone, since the pores and adsorption properties don’t guarantee microbial removal. Therefore, boiling is a straightforward method to remove bacteria from water.