What Is UV?

Although we can't see UV light, we are exposed to a small amount every time we step out into the sun. In fact, UV light is responsible for sunburns. The water treatment industry uses special lamps that emit UV light of a particular wavelength in order to disinfect water.

UV light works by attacking the genetic core (DNA) of bacteria and viruses, destoying their ability to function and reproduce. The process is simple but effective: our systems destroy 99.99 percent of harmful microorganisms without adding chemicals or changing your water's taste or odour.

Advantages Of UV

There are some very important reasons why homeowners and large cities are choosing UV technology: Highly effective: For over 25 years, UV light has been trusted as a safe, cost-effective way to purify water and eliminate harmful microorganisms. It?s a proven, EPA-endorsed technology that has been chosen by thousands of cities, bottled water manufacturers and others around the world. Chemical free: UV provides water purification without the addition of harmful chemicals like chlorine. It also avoids the potential of generating harmful chemical disinfection by-products. Recent EPA guidelines are forcing cities across the US to reduce or eliminate the use of chlorine for exactly these reasons. Taste & odor free: UV does not change the taste, odor or color of water More effective than chlorine: Unlike chlorine, UV is effective against both Cryptosporidium and Giardia.

Private Water Supplies

Over 19 million American households and cottages rely on private wells. Tens of thousands more rely on lakes, streams, and other surface water sources. Unfortunately, not all of them have a UV water disinfection system protecting them from harmful microorganisms. While nation-wide studies do not exist, smaller scale studies have commonly found that between 20 and 40% of wells in any given region suffer from E.coli and/or coliform bacteria at any given time ? not to mention the countless other microorganisms that may be in a water supply. The fact is that the quality of well water can vary from day to day and from year to year. In the short term, things like heavy rainfalls or snow melt can affect water quality. In the longer term, quality may be affected by distant contamination sources, earthquakes, and other factors. Water that has been safe for years will not necessarily be safe tomorrow.

Munincipal Water Supplies

Around the world, governments invest heavily in order to assure the safety of the drinking water for their citizens. However growing pollution and the costs of maintaining distribution networks make boil water advisories increasingly inevitable. Beyond the inconvenience they cause, such advisories are a clear warning that the clean water we've taken for granted is becoming a scarce resource. In May, 2000, 220 communities in British Columbia and 250 in Newfoundland faced boiled water advisories.

Disinfection

The most common application of UV technology is for disinfection. From water bottling to rinse water disinfection in food-processing plants, and from cooling towers to wastewater disinfection, there are countless disinfection applications of UV. Ultraviolet light, which exists at the invisible, violet end of the light spectrum, is able to disinfect because it is able to penetrate the cells of bacteria and viruses, destroying their ability to reproduce. Unable to reproduce, these organisms die and no longer pose a health threat. The process is simple but effective: our systems destroy 99.99 per cent of harmful microorganisms without adding chemicals or changing taste or odour. Chlorine contributes taste and odours to the water, and can damage RO membranes. For this reason, dechlorination is most often required. Furthermore, both chlorine and ozone may produce by-products that have been linked to cancer, such as trihalomethanes (THMs) in the case of chlorine. UV light does not produce harmful chemicals in drinking water. It's safe, effective, and environmentally friendly.

Solutions For Aquaculture

Water purity is the lifeblood of aquaculture. As higher stock densities and the constant pressures to reduce operating costs drive the industry, dependence on efficient, effective water treatment solutions is growing. Increasingly, the approach to keeping fish stocks free from dangerous viruses and bacteria is the incorporation of Ultraviolet light (UV) into water treatment systems. UV is a safe and extremely cost-effective approach to safeguarding aquaculture facilities from bacteria, viruses, protozoa, spores, and other microorganisms. It is an environmentally friendly approach to water purification that offers these important benefits: • Proven effectiveness • Chemical-free treatment - safe to handle • No toxic by-products • No effect on pH, odor or color • No residue • No risk of overdosing