Which of the following terms describes the minimum amount of disinfectant needed to effectively treat water?

The term that describes the minimum amount of disinfectant needed to effectively treat water is dosage. Dosage refers to the quantity of a substance, in this case, a disinfectant, that is added to water to achieve the desired level of disinfection. It is crucial to determine the appropriate dosage to ensure that the water is adequately treated, eliminating harmful pathogens while considering factors such as water quality and turbidity.

In this context, dosage is essential as it directly impacts the effectiveness of the disinfection process. An insufficient dosage may not adequately eliminate pathogens, while an excessive dosage could lead to unwanted chemical byproducts or residual disinfectant levels that may affect water taste or safety.

Concentration pertains to the amount of disinfectant in a given volume of water but does not specifically address the effectiveness of treatment like dosage does. Residual refers to the disinfectant that remains in the water after the treatment process, indicating whether there is enough remaining to continue providing disinfection beyond the treatment stage. Stormwater refers to runoff water from rain or snow and is not related to the treatment and disinfection of drinking water.