Using Ultraviolet Rays For Water Treatment
Today, with the focus on health, many families are opting for adding a water treatment system to the home. Whether you receive your water from a municipal water system, or a private well, a whole house water treatment system can ensure the health of your water supply.
There are many different options when it comes to water treatment systems. The one you choose ultimately depends on your needs, what contaminants might be present, your budget, and the advice of your water treatment professional as to the best option.
Aging infrastructure in many cities and increasing density of homes drawing on aquifers can lead to an increase in possible contamination. Bacteria and organic organisms like giardia, e-Coli, and others have been found in both municipal water and private wells. One treatment options that can provide your family with peace of mind is Ultraviolet technology.
A UV water treatment system can destroy up to 99.99% of waterborne microorganisms. When used in conjunction with a filtration system, you can also remove many other inorganic contaminants as well. Let's take a look at the advantages and disadvantages UV water treatment systems, the components and some frequently asked questions about UV water purification.
The Advantages of Ultraviolet Water Treatment
Municipal water suppliers take the necessary precautions to meet water quality standards. Homeowners who test annually also are aware of their water quality. However, chlorine resistant microorganisms, like giardia or cryptosporidium can still find their way into municipal supplies and are naturally occurring in water wells. These organisms cause thousands of documented health cases each year.
UV purification systems can take water purification to another level and are a safe solution to remove the dangers of microorganisms from your water. UV Water treatment is:
• Effective – destroying 99.99% of microorganisms
• Chemical Free – UV systems use no chemicals. Water is passed under ultraviolet light to kill organisms
• Environmentally Friendly – UV is a viable, environmentally friendly alternative to chlorination and emits absolutely no by-products
• Trouble Free – Once installed, a UV system simply needs annual service
• Reliable – works 24/7/365 keeping your water supply safe
• Safe – no handling of dangerous chemicals is required
• Fast – water flows through the system with no need for a holding tank or reaction times
• Clean – no dirty filters or media to dispose of, ever!
• Low Energy Use
• Conserves Resources – The UV purification process does not waste any water
• FDA Approved – UV is one of only 4 methods approved for disinfection by the FDA
Most UV systems require only an annual bulb change and the occasional changing of the filter that protects the lamp. While UV systems can be a bit costly, the low operating costs make it pay for itself quickly.
The Disadvantages of UV Water Treatment
While UV light offers many benefits, there are a few challenges to using this form of treatment. UV light is only able to remove microorganisms and does not remove any other contaminants like heavy metals, salts, chlorine or man-made contaminants. If you have issues with other contaminants, UV light can be used in tandem with filtration to further remove contaminants.
UV light is also only effective in the water being treated is clear. If your well produces murky water or contains “floaties” it should be pre-filtered before UV light treatment. If the UV light can not reach the microorganisms because it is blocked by particles, it will not be effective.
Finally, UV systems need electricity to operate. This means that it may not be suitable for some applications like emergency needs or survival needs if electricity is not available.
Overall, UV water treatment is an outstanding way to meet your families needs for water purification. It has been proven to be one of the most reliable, cost-effective methods for disinfecting water and is applicable in both point-of-use and whole-house water treatment applications. When used in conjunction with either pre-filtration or post-filtration, UV light is an excellent method to ensure years of healthy clean drinking water for you and your family.
