What operation is commonly performed after screening in a water treatment facility?

After the screening process in a water treatment facility, the most common operation is further filtration and treatment. Screening primarily serves to remove large debris and particles from the raw water, such as leaves, sticks, and other solids, which can interfere with subsequent treatment processes. Once screening has been conducted, the water is typically directed towards further filtration steps that aim to remove smaller particles and impurities.

This process is critical because it ensures that the water is clear and of high quality before it undergoes additional treatments, such as disinfection or chemical addition. Filtration can involve various methods, including sand filters, membrane filters, or multimedia filters, which capture finer particles that were not removed during screening.

Following this step, the treated water may undergo disinfection processes, such as chlorination, to eliminate pathogens, but these actions come after the necessary filtration has already improved water quality. Thus, further filtration and treatment directly build upon the initial screening to enhance the safety and clarity of drinking water.