Water purification involves removing undesirable contaminants through various treatment processes to produce water for specific purposes. The main steps include coagulation and flocculation to remove particles, sedimentation to allow solids to settle, filtration to remove smaller particles, aeration to remove gases, chemical treatment to adjust pH levels, and disinfection to kill pathogens using methods like chlorination. Chlorine is the most common disinfectant and works by forming hypochlorous acid which kills microorganisms. The effectiveness of disinfection depends on chlorine form, concentration, and contact time.