The Future of UV
Traditional mercury-lamp UVs have been installed for the purpose of rainwater treatment in Australian households for many years, but this outdated technology is fraught with problems.
At first glance, a traditional UV disinfection unit looks pretty straightforward: a tubular unit emitting a constant blue UV light that kills bugs. However, these are not “fit and forget” pieces of equipment – and, if not maintained properly, they can easily be rendered ineffective.
If traditional UV units are not routinely and properly maintained, there is little point even switching them on.
The lamps should be replaced every twelve months. These lamps contain hazardous mercury vapour, and so must be disposed of at an approved disposal point. The quartz tube is fragile, and must be carefully cleaned to ensure the UV light is not blocked (if the glass is not clean it is similar to having the curtains pulled – and greatly limits the light’s penetration).
It is important to remember that all UV units only kill microorganisms at the point of contact. If the light source is diminished or if there is a power outage, then microorganisms will flow downstream of the UV unit and flourish – and subsequently switching the UV back on will do nothing to eliminate them.
Consider the pipework in a typical household. The lines contain a myriad of screwed fittings (breeding grounds for bacteria) and a maze of pipes that are not routinely sanitised. Installing a UV upstream of this pipework will have no effect on the thriving live bacteria already present downstream.
Therefore, to ensure there is no residual effect, a UV should be installed as close to the point of use as practical. As they are intended for producing potable water, the UV should therefore be installed under the sink, immediately before the faucet.
Most traditional UVs currently available on the market are not installed at the point of use. This poses a problem, and therefore those with existing whole-house filter systems should also consider installing a compact point-of-use UV to ensure the elimination of bugs in their drinking water.
Pearl Filtration is one of Australia’s leading filtration companies. We understand filters and microbial control. Many of our commercial customers require sterile water for their application, and achieve this with smooth bore stainless steel recirculation feed loops; their pipework features minimal dead legs, and the lines are routinely sanitised. But even with these precautions, microbial issues may still persist. Again, compare this to a typical household, and it is clear that microbes have the potential to persist in drinking water unless killed at the point of use.
To solve these issues, Pearl Filtration have introduced AQUUV: a practical solution for domestic rainwater harvesting systems using innovative LED technology from South Korea.
The difference is clear.
No mercury. No routine maintenance. No glass tube to clean and seal. No downstream microbial risk. A dramatic decrease in operating and power costs.
AQUUV is a safe, simple and compact device, installed under the sink at the point of use.
LED technology is the future of UV.
Contact Pearl Filtration for further details.
