Which term describes the process of reducing pathogens in treated wastewater?

The term that describes the process of reducing pathogens in treated wastewater is disinfection. This step is crucial in wastewater treatment as it aims to eliminate or inactivate harmful microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and protozoa, to ensure that the treated water is safe for discharge into the environment or for potential reuse. Various methods can be employed for disinfection, such as chlorination, ultraviolet (UV) light exposure, and ozonation.

Filtration is a key physical process used in wastewater treatment, primarily for the removal of solids and suspended particles, but it does not effectively inactivate pathogens. Aeration, while important for promoting the biological breakdown of organic matter by providing oxygen, does not directly target pathogens. Influent processing refers to the initial treatment of incoming wastewater and generally involves preliminary treatments rather than specifically focusing on pathogen reduction. Therefore, disinfection is the specialized process that specifically addresses the need to reduce pathogens in treated wastewater.