The aim of disinfection of public water supplies is the elimination of the pathogens that are responsible for waterborne diseases.

Little amount of water for personal consume can be disinfected by filtration or boiling (10-20 min.). In general, drinking water is disinfected by chlorine and chloramines (0.1-1.0 mg/l), ozone (0.1-0.5 mg/l), chlorine dioxide (0.3-0.5 mg/l), iodine (0.5-1.0 mg/l), bromine (0.2-0.3 mg/l), ferrates (1.2-6.0 mg/l), high pH conditions (10.0-12.5), hydrogen peroxide (30-90 mg/l), ionizing radiation (24.000-420.000 rads), potassium permanganate (1.0-16.0 mg/l), silver (0.02-0.06 mg/l), and ultraviolet (UV) light (240-280 nm, 160-1300 µW. sec/cm²).

According to efficacy against microorganisms, cost and applicability, the most suitable disinfectants for drinking water are chlorine, ozone and chlorine dioxide.