A UV water purifier treats micro-biologically unsafe water with germicidal ultraviolet light. The UV wavelength scrambles the DNA of living organisms in the water so that they can no longer reproduce and make you sick. If you drink bacteria-infested water, the organisms can embed in your digestive tract and replicate. Ultraviolet radiation renders bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi unable to replicate by damaging the nucleic acids of their DNA.
Ultraviolet Water Treatment Explained
How a UV water purifier works
An ultraviolet (UV) water purifier exposes living organisms, such as bacteria, viruses, or cysts (like Cryptosporidium and Giardia) to a germicidal ultraviolet wavelength. With enough energy, UV radiation at the 254-nm wavelength disrupts the DNA in pathogenic microorganisms so they cannot reproduce. The ultraviolet light prevents bacteria from spreading disease through drinking water.
UV dosage is the measurement of energy (in mJ/cm²) delivered by a UV water purifier. The more dosage provided, the more energy delivered to treat contaminated water. This energy becomes sufficient at a certain threshold to inactivate most of the microorganisms in water.
What does a UV disinfection remove?
UV disinfection deactivates living organisms, such as bacteria, viruses, spores, and cysts, but it does not remove particles from water, add chemicals, or remove bad tastes and odors.
UV disinfection treats water for:
Several years ago, the city of Milwaukee flooded, and cryptosporidium infected the water supply. Cryptosporidium, also known as Crypto, is a parasite that enters the intestinal tract and causes illnesses such as Montezuma's revenge. Crypto is resistant to chlorine used to disinfect city water, and the water in Milwaukee resulted in hundreds of deaths. UV water purification protects you from pathogenic organisms that chlorine cannot kill, like cryptosporidium.
Learn more: How to remove bacteria from your water
What's inside a UV water purifier?
A UV water purifier includes a chamber that encases the quartz sleeve and UV lamp. The glass quartz sleeve holds the UV lamp that emits a germicidal wavelength of radiation (UV-C) to deactivate living organisms. The quartz glass sleeve is transparent to the UV wavelength, which allows UV light to penetrate the glass and disinfect the water. A quartz sleeve protects the UV lamp from the water because water and electricity do not mix well. One or two O-rings seal the whole system together.
UV lamps run on mercury vapor. The mercury vapor is loaded into a UV lamp in the form of little beads. The mercury vapor created from these beads power the lamp. Occasionally, you may see beads rolling around in the lamp.
Are UV water purifiers safe?
UV water treatment is safe. It does not use harmful chemicals or alter the composition of water. A UV sterilizer uses UV-C light to disinfect. UV-C light is harmful to humans just as it is for microscopic living organisms. However, you are not at risk of exposure unless you touch or look at the UV bulb while it is on.
Chlorine treatment is an alternative to UV, but ultraviolet treatment is much safer. Ultraviolet light treats water for protozoa that chlorine disinfection is unable to remove. A UV system is much easier to maintain and safer to use than chemical disinfectants. Treating water with chlorine requires a retention tank and precise injections and solutions. Many wastewater treatment plants now use UV water purification to eliminate harmful chemical by-products in water from chlorine or chloramine treatment.
Are UV water purifiers effective?
UV systems are effective at deactivating 99.99% of living organisms in water. They are designed to run constantly to guarantee the water you use is always safe. Because a UV purifier is not a filter, there is no wastewater or debris left behind to clean out. Every drop of water that enters the UV system is purified.
UV water purifiers vs. water filters
Unlike water filters, a UV water purifier does not remove particles from water. Reverse osmosis systems, ultrafiltration systems, carbon filters, and ceramic filters all separate contaminants from water through tiny pores of a filter or a membrane. UV treatment purifies water by exposing living organisms to ultraviolet light, but it does not filter them out. Water filters do not remove bacteria and viruses with the same effectiveness as UV systems. UV disinfection works alongside water filtration systems to provide clean water.
Learn more about: Reverse osmosis systems | ultrafiltration systems | Activated carbon filters | Ceramic filters
Is UV necessary for a water filter?
UV purification is not necessary for a water filter, but a water filter is necessary prior to a UV system. UV systems are most effective when water is clear, so they must have at least a five-micron pre-filter to prevent living organisms from hiding behind loose particles. You could use a sediment filter to remove dirt and debris from a well water supply or a water softener to reduce iron as prefiltration. A UV purifier is the last thing water passes through on the way to the house.
Test your water quality before you use a UV system to make sure the water does not exceed these levels:
Advantages of a UV water purifier
UV water purifiers provide many benefits over chemical sterilization.
Disadvantages of a UV water purifier
Despite their many advantages, there are a few disadvantages to UV water purifiers compared to other disinfection methods.
When to use a UV purifier
UV purification is the best option any time your water contains bacteria or if you want additional protection in the case of a natural disaster. By the time your city water plant issues a Boil Water Advisory, the water has already been contaminated. Having a UV system keeps your water free of harmful viruses and pathogens when the water supply is compromised.
If you own a private well or your water is stored in a storage tank, you will need a UV water purifier unless you disinfect your water with chemicals. The well owner is responsible for removing bacteria from water, and ultraviolet treatment is the most effective way to do it. A Rusco spin-down filter is an excellent prefilter for well water before UV disinfection.
UV water purifiers for your home
UV systems are POE (point-of-entry), which means you install them before water enters your home to purify the water throughout your house. Most of the time, typical household pressure is enough for a UV system to operate. However, a flow restrictor should be used to ensure water does not flow too quickly through the system. Water must be subjected to UV light for a specified time before it is disinfected. If the flow rate is too high, water flows through the UV system too quickly to be considered safe.
UV water purifiers come in a wide variety. The size UV system you need depends on the flow rate of your water. Sizing according to flow rate allows water to contact the germicidal wavelength long enough to be effective. Like the size, the price of UV systems varies. Typically, a residential UV system costs around $400 or $500.
UV water purifiers for travel
Handheld UV water purifiers are perfect for backpacking, camping, or traveling around the world. The Steripen by Viqua sterilizes water in seconds without exposing you to UV rays. Handheld UV purifiers come as a single system or as a package with a sediment prefilter for water containing a lot of dirt and debris.
How to maintain your UV water treatment system
UV water purifiers last many years, but they require maintenance like any other water treatment system. However, UV systems are easy to maintain and designed to run continually.
Learn more: How to maintain your UV system
If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
For many years consumers have strived to live healthier, eat healthier, and use products that are better for their bodies. So, where does UV light fit in? Should you be using a UV light water purifier for your household water? It’s understandable that many consumers may be skeptical about the safety of using UV light in their water purification, so we’re here to set the record straight and explain what UV light is, how it works, and what makes it safe to use in your home.
UV light purifies water by disrupting the DNA contained in pathogenic microorganisms. In doing so, it prevents bacteria from spreading diseases not just in drinking water, but also in aquaculture tanks, aquariums, and even swimming pools. It doesn’t function as a skimmer or filter where physical particles are removed, but it eliminates the threats contained in water that the eye can’t see, such as E. coli, hepatitis B, cholera, algae, fungi, salmonella, some types of viruses, and many other contaminants. This all sounds great…provided that UV light is actually safe to use for water purification. So, is it?
In the case of eliminating contaminants from drinking water, fish tanks, and more, UV light is safe! The sun emits UV light that can be dangerous when our skin is being exposed directly, but inside of a UV light water purifier, the water is the only thing being exposed to UV light. This means that it kills off harmful bacteria and leaves fresh, clean water that is absolutely safe to drink. In addition, there are no leftover residues that other treatment methods may leave behind, making it one of the safest options for treating your drinking water. So, as long as you aren’t looking at the UV bulb itself, there are no safety concerns present, and you can rest assured that your water is clean and clear.
Chemicals are often used to treat and purify water, but this adds a lot of extra stuff that we don’t want to put into our bodies. Chemicals can be harmful to humans, animals, and the environment even in small amounts, and even something as commonly used as chlorine can irritate the skin, cause headaches, and negatively affect the taste of fresh water. In some cases, the use of chemicals may be necessary, but a UV light water purifier can help to reduce the amount of chemicals that are required to produce water suitable for consumption or aquatic use.
Water purification has always been important, but these days more people are looking to reduce the waste created by plastic bottles and instead find solutions that are more sustainable without compromising the safety and quality of their water. At Aqua Ultraviolet, we understand the need for innovative solutions that work for families and businesses alike, and our UV light products are designed to fit seamlessly into your existing plumbing systems with straightforward installation. Our UV light water purifiers destroy 99.9% of waterborne microorganisms and leave you with nothing but fresh, clean water. If you’re looking for ways to purify the water in your home, from fish tanks and swimming pools to ice-cold refreshing tap water, a UV light water purifier is a safe solution. Check out our products today and start living better with cleaner water.