Which of the following is a benefit of using additives in water development?

Using additives in water development primarily serves to improve water quality. Various additives can be employed to enhance the characteristics of the water being extracted or treated, ensuring that it meets required safety and health standards for intended uses. For instance, additives can help neutralize harmful contaminants, adjust pH levels, and reduce turbidity, ultimately producing cleaner and safer water for consumption or other applications.

The other options, while they may touch on related aspects of drilling practices, do not directly pertain to the core benefit of water quality enhancement that additives provide. Decreased operational costs, extended drill life, and enhanced user comfort may be influenced by various factors in the drilling process, but the use of additives is specifically aimed at making the water itself more acceptable and usable for various purposes.