目前，活性炭的應用范圍很廣，城市飲用水處理除懸浮物、濁度和病原微生物的凝結→沉淀→過濾→消毒常規處理工藝為主，根據水源水的特點選擇合適的處理結構類型，結合飲用水處理工藝。氯消毒主要用于消毒，少數水廠采用二氧化氯、臭氧或紫外線消毒。出水水質一般符合國家頒布的飲用水質標準。

　　對于水(shui)(shui)質(zhi)(zhi)好的水(shui)(shui)源，傳(chuan)統(tong)(tong)的水(shui)(shui)處(chu)(chu)(chu)理工藝可獲(huo)得安全合格(ge)的飲用(yong)水(shui)(shui)。然(ran)(ran)而，隨(sui)著水(shui)(shui)源水(shui)(shui)的污(wu)染，傳(chuan)統(tong)(tong)的水(shui)(shui)處(chu)(chu)(chu)理工藝無法(fa)滿足(zu)飲用(yong)水(shui)(shui)急需解決的問題(ti)，如去(qu)除有機物(wu)(wu)和(he)降低三氮含量。雖然(ran)(ran)大多數(shu)地區的飲用(yong)水(shui)(shui)都經過了(le)常規處(chu)(chu)(chu)理，但它們仍然(ran)(ran)含有各種微量有機物(wu)(wu)，特(te)別是有毒(du)有害物(wu)(wu)質(zhi)(zhi)、致畸物(wu)(wu)質(zhi)(zhi)、致癌物(wu)(wu)質(zhi)(zhi)和(he)突變(bian)物(wu)(wu)質(zhi)(zhi)，人(ren)們長期飲用(yong)會出(chu)(chu)現(xian)眩(xuan)暈、疲勞、脫(tuo)發和(he)癌癥發病(bing)率增加。隨(sui)著城(cheng)市化和(he)工業化的快速發展，新的病(bing)原微生物(wu)(wu)因(yin)子(zi)不斷出(chu)(chu)現(xian)在飲用(yong)水(shui)(shui)中(zhong)，氯消毒(du)不能(neng)有效殺(sha)死賈(jia)第蟲(chong)(chong)囊(nang)、隱孢子(zi)蟲(chong)(chong)卵囊(nang)等(deng)(deng)水(shui)(shui)中(zhong)病(bing)原菌、病(bing)毒(du)和(he)抗氯病(bing)原寄生蟲(chong)(chong)。隱孢子(zi)蟲(chong)(chong)等(deng)(deng)抗氯病(bing)原微生物(wu)(wu)的出(chu)(chu)現(xian)也質(zhi)(zhi)疑了(le)傳(chuan)統(tong)(tong)的氯消毒(du)工藝。