UV Purification Method for Water Disinfection

Water purifiers have become a very serious need for the people. It is literally difficult for one to survive without water purifiers in such a polluted world of today. Water purifiers help in maintaining a healthy life by protecting people from several water-borne diseases. There are different types of water purifiers and one among them is the UV- water disinfection.

UV has the ability to control all sorts of bacteria. It is considered to be one of the effective technology used for water treatment.

How Does UV Technology  Work?

Ultra Violet disinfection usually involves a UV lamp. The UV lamp is used to provide pure and safe drinking water. The UV light used in this process is a high powered UV termed as UV-C or germicidal UV. UV-C rays attack the pathogens and penetrate into their body. The DNA of the pathogenic organisms is modified in such a way that they cannot multiply and cannot cause diseases. UV treatment does not alter water chemically; nothing is being added except energy. The sterilized microorganisms are not removed from the water. These rays have the ability to inactivate 99.9% of the microorganisms. Unlike chemical disinfection, the organisms are unable to develop any immune mechanism against UV light (Source: Water Tiger).

Purifier Design

Many features combine together to form the UV water disinfection system.

• Wavelength output of the lamp.

• The length of the lamp – when the lamp is mounted parallel to the direction of water flow, the exposure time is proportional to the length of the lamp.

• Design water flow rate – exposure time is inversely related to the linear flow rate.

• The diameter of the purification chamber – since the water itself absorbs UV energy, the delivered dosage diminishes logarithmically with the distance from the lamp.

The water initially passes through the UV lamp and then enters the gap between the placement of the germicidal lamp and the outer wall. The water which is free from radiation leaves out of the tank through the nozzle (Source: Harvest H2o)

UV water purification system produces germ-free potable water for human use.
It keeps the water used for food process free from all sorts of bacteria without the use of germicides or any other chemicals which in turn will not spoil the taste of food.

It is also cost effective, inexpensive. UV rays source bulb uses approximately 60 watts of power which quite equivalent to normally used a light bulb.

Read Also : A Brief Note on UV Water Filtration

How to Maintain UV Water purifiers?

No matter how much money is spent on buying the best, no equipment or device will last until appropriate maintenance is done. The first and foremost rule are to follow the Manufacturers Manual. Besides, we have compiled the following.

1. Lamp Replacement

UV lamps are completely different from the normal fluorescent lamps. The intensity of the UV lamp reduces to about 60 percent after 1 year of usage. At this situation, the UV lamp needs to be changed.

2. Monitoring Performance

Regular checks should be carried out. Water should be tested for the presence of bacteria. Downstream of the UV unit should be checked thoroughly as there are chances for the presence of pathogenic microorganisms.

3. Cleaning

As water passes through the UV unit, minerals and other material in the water will get deposited on the quartz sleeve and other spaces which in turn will not allow the UV light to pass through the water properly. This issue can be solved by cleaning the layer at regular period of time. This cleaning process solely depends on the quality of water.

4. Monitoring UV penetration

UV light intensity meters available in the market indicates the penetration of UV light in the water. Low intensity indicates that the UV rays penetrated are low to tackle with the microorganisms. This will also indicate when the UV lamp should be changed or the cleaning process should be carried out.

Understand what is available in your market thoroughly and get yourself the best uv water purifier for your home.

Advantage of Water Purifiers

A UV (Ultraviolet) water purifier offers several advantages:

Microorganism Deactivation: UV light effectively kills bacteria, viruses, and parasites in water, making it safe for consumption.

Chemical-Free: UV purification doesn’t use chemicals, ensuring the water’s natural taste and properties remain unchanged.

No Residuals: Unlike some other methods, UV treatment leaves no byproducts or residues in the water.

Quick Process: UV treatment is fast, requiring only seconds to minutes to purify water.

Low Maintenance: Minimal maintenance is needed, often limited to replacing the UV lamp periodically.

Environmentally Friendly: UV treatment doesn’t produce harmful waste or emissions.

Cost-Effective: UV purifiers are generally affordable to purchase and operate.

Preserves Minerals: UV treatment doesn’t remove minerals from water, maintaining its nutritional value.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can you purify water with UV light?

Absolutely, UV (Ultraviolet) light is an effective method for water purification. UV water purifiers use UV rays to destroy the DNA of harmful microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, and parasites present in the water. This renders them unable to reproduce and cause diseases. However, UV treatment doesn’t eliminate chemical contaminants or dissolved solids from water. It’s suitable for disinfecting already relatively clean water sources.

2. How does UV water disinfection work?

UV (Ultraviolet) water disinfection works by exposing water to UV light of a specific wavelength. This UV-C light disrupts the DNA of microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, and parasites, preventing their reproduction and rendering them harmless. As the water passes through a UV chamber, the UV light effectively deactivates these pathogens, making the water safe to drink. UV treatment doesn’t alter the water’s taste or chemistry.

3. What is UV technology in a water purifier?

UV technology in water purifiers utilizes Ultraviolet (UV) light to disinfect water. The water passes through a chamber where UV-C light is emitted. This light damages the DNA of microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, and parasites, preventing their ability to reproduce and cause illnesses. UV treatment is effective in killing these pathogens, making the water safe for consumption. However, it doesn’t remove other impurities or chemicals from water.