The same is true of settlements in water. When the water is allowed to stand in large pools, many of these suspend particles simply settle to the bottom where they are collected and disposed of. Here, a chemical is added that causes tiny suspended particles to clump together. Usually, these flocs settle out just like large size sediments. But if they escape, filters down the line catch them.
Chlorine is a chemical that kills microorganisms.
In drinking water, the contaminations are low enough that often you can't even taste it. Water is pumped through large tanks filled with fine sand, called rapid sand filters. As the water flows through the spaces between the sand grains suspended particles and dead microbes get trapped. Sometimes, crushed anthracite coal is used in addition to sand. Because the coal grains carry a charge on their surface, they act like tiny magnets attracting other charged contaminants.