Why might municipalities prefer to use chlorine in water treatment?

Municipalities often prefer to use chlorine in water treatment primarily because it is both cost-effective and highly effective at killing harmful microbes. Chlorine acts as a strong disinfectant, which helps in eliminating bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens that can pose serious risks to public health. Its low cost and efficient disinfection capabilities make it a practical choice for ensuring that large volumes of water are treated quickly and effectively.

While improving water taste, adding beneficial minerals, and enhancing water color can be relevant in water treatment processes, these factors do not contribute to the primary goal of ensuring the safety and sanitation of drinking water as strongly as chlorine's capability to kill microbes. Therefore, the choice of chlorine is focused on the necessity of maintaining public health by preventing waterborne diseases.