
Benefits of Using UV Water Treatment Systems
UV water treatment systems effectively inactivate microorganisms, reducing the risk of disease. Ultraviolet light breaks down and inactivates waterborne pathogens, making them unable to reproduce. There are many benefits to UV water treatment, here are some examples:
- Cost-effective
- Does not alter the taste or odor of water
- Simple maintenance
- No disinfection by-products
- Reduces the use of plastic bottles
- Environmentally friendly
- No moving parts to corrode
- Compact systems to fit small and large spaces
- No added chemicals
Read about: when to use a UV water treatment device.
Chemical vs. Physical Disinfection of Contaminated Water
Disinfection is “the action of disinfecting, using specialized cleaning techniques that destroy or inhibit the growth of organisms capable of causing disease.” When it comes to water, there are typically two methods of water disinfection:
- Chemical disinfection: chlorine, ozone, iodine, bromine.
- Physical disinfection: ultraviolet, boiling, microfiltration.
Chemical Water Disinfection
In chemical water disinfection, a chemical must be added to destroy the microorganisms present. The most common chemical disinfection method is chlorination, a common disinfection method for drinking water.
Physical Water Disinfection
Physical disinfection, including boiling, filtration, and ultraviolet disinfection, does not require adding anything to the water. One of the simplest and most effective methods for disinfecting drinking water is to use ultraviolet disinfection.
- When contaminated water is boiled, only the microorganisms are targeted with the high temperature.
- When contaminated water is thoroughly filtered, specific microorganisms are removed depending on their size and filter classification.
- When ultraviolet sterilization is applied, only the microorganisms are targeted by inactivating their DNA.
None of the above physical methods will change the taste, odor, or chemical composition of the water.
How does UV water treatment work?
UV water treatment systems have been tested to reduce microorganisms challenging to E. coli MS-2 to show a log reduction greater than or equal to the reduction caused by a dose of 40mJ/cm^2*.
Step 1: The pre-treated water enters a stainless steel chamber that flows around a UV lamp.
Step 2: The microbes in the water are exposed to UV light (wavelength 254 nm) which alters their DNA, making them unable to reproduce. The microbes are now harmless.
Step 3: The treated water then exits the chamber and enters your home’s water supply. The water is now safe to drink, bathe in, and is safe to use in food production.
There are several barriers that can affect UV performance:
Suspended solids, both visible and invisible, and particulate matter, commonly referred to as turbidity.
Scaling is caused by physical calcification deposits on the quartz shell of iron, manganese, or calcium carbonate.
UV-absorbing compounds, are often caused by dissolved materials. Some organic materials, such as acids. Some inorganic materials, such as iron and manganese, absorb UV light, reducing effectiveness. These contaminants must be treated before entering the chamber for UV treatment to be effective. UV is not a stand-alone water treatment process and is always combined with other treatment processes.
Point-of-use vs. point-of-entry installation options
Once you have chosen a UV water treatment system for your home, the question arises as to where to install the system.
If you only consume water from one faucet, a point-of-use (POU) UV system may be the best option if there is only one faucet in your home.
If you use more than one faucet, including the bathroom faucet, a point-of-entry (POE) UV system would be the best option for a whole-house water purification system. These systems ensure that all of the water in the building is treated.