Case Study: UV Pure Hallett® 1000 saves nearly $50K for onsite wastewater plant


System Design Specifications

Application: Onsite wastewater treatment
Location: Captain’s Way Development, Milton, DE, USA
Commissioned: April 2021
System: 3 x UV Pure Hallett® 1000
(3 x continuous duty, 1 x standby)
Capacity: 195 US gpm (738 L/min)
Minimum UV dose: 30 mJ/cm2
Minimum UVT: 65%
Fecal coliform limit: < 200 CFU/100 mL
Treatment process: Purestream SBR
Plant capacity (ADF): 70,000 US gpd (265 m3/day)

 

Value is one of the most important considerations for developers when they are selecting components for onsite wastewater treatment plants (WWTP).

So when UV Pure introduced the higher flow rate Hallett® 1000 systems in 2019, Jim Connor of E & W Equipment knew it could provide better value for his client. Connor was working with Captain’s Way Developments LLC on a new onsite wastewater plant for the Captain’s Way community in Milton, Delaware, USA.

In the design stage, they had specified a conven- tional UV system that uses submerged lamps in a contact chamber to provide disinfection of treated effluent from a Purestream SBR packaged plant.

But that design, along with the second redundant UV train, occupied significant floor space in the building.

Because of the space constraints, a separate out-building was needed to house a distribution manifold and valves that controlled the release of treated effluent into a series of rapid infiltration basins.

Design modifications add up to big savings

“UV Pure’s Hallett 1000 offered us a new design option that could free up floor space inside the plant and eliminate the need for the outbuilding,” Connor said. “The Hallett systems are smaller and can operate vertically, which allowed us to mount the systems on the wall and create sufficient space to move the discharge piping and control valves inside the main building.”

Further savings were gained by eliminating the concrete equipment pads that the conventional UV systems needed. Once these savings, along with the lower unit costs of the Hallett systems were factored in, Captain’s Way Developments was able to reduce the cost of the treatment plant by nearly $50,000.

“The capital savings that the Hallett 1000 offered, combined with its ease of use and low maintenance requirements, made it an easy decision to switch,” Connor said.

Built-in UV sensors add value and safety

UV Pure’s Crossfire Technology® incorporates dual UV lamps that are mounted in air, rather than water. This design also adds four integrated sensors that continually monitor UV transmittance (UVT) and UV intensity (UVI).

For the Captain’s Way WWTP and other budget-conscious facilities, choosing Hallett 1000 eliminates the need for a costly external UV sensor—providing additional capital savings of up to $15,000.

For the community and the environment, the sensors provide an extra measure of safety since the Hallett systems are always monitoring effluent quality and will trigger an alarm if treatment parameters are not within specifications.

4-20 mA/Modbus output capabilities enable the units to communicate with the plant controls, which can automatically trigger a notification to the operator, or even shut down the plant until an operator can correct the situation.

Smart controls for energy savings

The integration to the plant controls also allows operators to configure the Hallett 1000 systems to activate only when needed. This is a significant benefit for processes such as the Purestream SBR and other packaged onsite systems, which release treated effluent intermittently.

Advanced lamp and ballast technology enables Hallett systems to perform up to a dozen on/off cycles per day—a feature that helps reduce electricity consumption and extend lamp life.

“During commissioning and training, the operators told us they really liked the UV Pure systems,” Connor said. “It was their first time seeing the Hallett 1000 and they thought it had some good advantages, such as automatic cleaning and lamp changes that can be done without the risk of coming into contact with the effluent.”

To download the case study, click here.

Case Study: Overcoming disinfection challenges from elevated ammonia

A case study on: Rural community adds high UV dose Hallett™ 1000 systems to overcome disinfection challenges from elevated ammonia


System Design Specifications

Application: Potable water treatment
Location: Creelman, SK, Canada
Commissioned: February 2019
Source: Surface water
System: 4 x UV Pure® Hallett™ 1000
(3 x continuous duty, 1 x standby)
Capacity: 30 US gpm (113.5 L/min)
Minimum UVT: 60%
Minimum UV dose: 186 mJ/cm2
Saskatchewan WSA Permit No.:00071291-00-00

 

Executive Summary

Varying ammonia concentrations in the water supply are a constant challenge for the small village of Creelman, Saskatchewan, which is home to about 120 residents. For decades, ammonia has impeded the water treatment plant’s chlorine system to consistently achieve primary disinfection and sufficient free chlorine in the distribution system. The situation has led to many boil water advisories, at times lasting several months, until the ammonia concentration in the source water drops to a level that the plant can cope with.

Chlorine disinfection can become difficult when ammonia concentration is as low as 0.2 mg/L. At this level, ammonia begins reacting with chlorine to form chloramines, which can also cause taste and odour issues. Though chloramines do provide disinfection, much more contact time is required so this method is not recommended to be used for primary disinfection by the Saskatchewan Water Security Agency (WSA.)

Creelman’s situation escalated in 2017 when ammonia levels in the pond that provides the community’s potable water increased to as much as 2.5 mg/L during the winter months. Breakpoint, or super-chlorination, was one way to overcome the high ammonia level, but the process greatly increases chlorine consumption and operating costs and could cause the plant to exceed the Maximum Use Level (MUL) of the chemical as set by NSF/ANSI Standard 60.

Creelman looks for alternatives to chlorine for primary disinfection

UV Pure® local representative, Randy Schatz of Element Water Systems, suggested a more efficient and cost-effective alternative to chlorine for the plant’s disinfection process. Schatz proposed the UV Pure Hallett™ 1000 system for the Creelman Water Treatment Plant (WTP), an advanced, low-maintenance unit that is EPA-certified to provide a powerful UV dose of 186 mJ/cm2 and achieve 4-log inactivation of viruses, including adenovirus.

The Hallett systems could effectively provide primary disinfection of the source water regardless of the ammonia concentration, eliminate the need for breakpoint chlorination and the associated risk of MUL exceedance. Chloramines would still form once chlorine is added for secondary disinfection, but the method is acceptable by the WSA as long as the total chlorine level in the distribution system is maintained at no less than 0.5 mg/L.  According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, chloramines may also offer some advantages over chlorine since they provide longer lasting disinfection in the distribution system and form fewer potentially harmful disinfection by-products than chlorine.

Schatz worked collaboratively with the community’s plant operator, its consulting engineering firm and the WSA to obtain the required approvals and to design a multi-unit Hallett 1000 system that would align with the plant’s treatment process and fit the available space. Once the approvals were in place, Schatz and his team installed and commissioned four EPA-certified Hallett 1000 systems at the Creelman WTP capable of providing a total treatment capacity of up to 30 gpm (113.5 L/min).

Hallett systems simplify treatment and operation

The easy-to-operate Hallett systems are an ideal choice for small- and medium-sized water and wastewater treatment systems, since they incorporate several innovative design features that help minimize oversight and maintenance requirements, increase affordability and enhance reliability.

One major advantage is new lamp and ballast technology that enables the UV lamps in the Hallett systems to perform up to a dozen on/off cycles per day. This is especially important for a small system like Creelman here water is treated intermittently. The Hallett 1000 systems in Creelman are configured to operate only when the plant’s filter system is running, otherwise the UV system is shut down, which reduces electricity consumption and extends lamp life.

Crossfire technology improves performance, reduces maintenance, protects public health

UV Pure Crossfire™ Technology provides many other advantages too. Each Hallett system is equipped with dual UV lamps that are mounted vertically in air, so lamp changes can be performed quickly and without the need to drain the system. The Crossfire system also adds elliptical reflectors that enable UV light energy to be redirected back through the water column, eliminating shadowing and targeting pathogens from every angle.

An automatic cleaning system prevents scaling and biofouling of the quartz sleeve and dramatically extends the intervals between manual cleanings. The operator of the Creelman WTP reported that even after a year of operation, the automatic cleaning system maintained the quartz sleeves in pristine condition and no manual cleanings were required.

Innovative sensor technology in the Hallett 1000 system also provides a reliable and affordable way to ensure water quality and safety for Creelman residents. Each system is equipped with four integrated sensors that continually monitor UV transmittance (UVT) and UV intensity (UVI), which helps budget-conscious water

Pictured: Crossfire™ Technology

plants avoid purchasing costly external UV sensors. Performance data from the Hallett systems can be remotely monitored by the operator in real time, thanks to 4-20 mA/Modbus output capabilities that are an optional feature of the current generation Hallett systems.

Like the Hallett UV lamps, the sensors are mounted in air, which prevents the sensor fouling, frequent cleaning and monthly calibration issues that conventional systems experience. If the sensors detect that UVT or UVI measurements are not within specified parameters, the system will shut down until the operator can correct the issue and restart the system.

 

To download the case study, click here.

 

UV Pure Water Reuse Sets Out for Title 22 Validation

This year, much of the Western US stands threatened by drought and 90% of the region faces one of its most intense water shortages of the last 20 years. This will put considerable pressure on regional water supplies, agriculture, and could play a role in aggravating wildfires. Challenges like these have driven innovation in water management and treatment technologies. Ultraviolet disinfection (UV) has become a key component in enabling wastewater reuse.

Seeking to provide support to states highly affected by water scarcity, among them, California, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah and Colorado, UV Pure® Technologies Inc. (UV Pure) has taken initial steps to obtain validation and approval for unrestricted reuse applications.

To qualify for these applications, UV Pure must meet the stringent water disinfection standards set by the California Code of Regulations, Title 22 and is set out to do so by the end of this year.

At UV Pure, we see water reuse technology as an important tool for reducing the strain on existing water supply by producing high-quality reuse water. This water can reduce scarcity and be produced at a much lower life-cycle cost compared to developing a new water supply.

The Hallett-1000 series, validated in accordance with the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (US EPA) Ultraviolet Disinfection Guidance Manual (UVDGM), is pursuing Title 22 validation in an effort to provide a versatile solution capable of matching a customer’s water quality, operation conditions, and discharge requirements. This model combines technological features that deliver operational resiliency for reuse applications, providing economic value and environmental benefits.

UV Pure remains committed to providing safe water by expanding its services to safely address the goals of water conservation and reuse programs through regulated standards and will continue to dedicate itself to solving the world’s most challenging water issues.

Water Reuse through UV Disinfection

In communities around the world, water supply encounters elevated pressure from population expansion, climate seasonality, pollution and geographical changes that affect water storage in both volume and quality. As communities work proactively towards sustainable water conservation and seek alternative sources of water, water reuse or “reclaimed” water, provides a beneficial source for drinking, irrigation, and industrial applications, supporting expansion of water reserves through new treatment mechanisms.

In recent years, UV Pure® has spent time educating and familiarizing its team on countries that from suffer water scarcity, starting with Australia, Spain, Italy, and Mexico. Nevertheless, in the United States we find equal source shortages in states such as California, Texas, and Florida. In our mission to provide safe water, there are various things to consider, including geographical challenges. In areas commonly impacted by drought, it is important to consider water supply when balancing increasing population growth and heavy industrial and agricultural demand.

Leading UV technologies enhance water reuse

As societal challenges lead water treatment technologies through new routes, ultraviolet disinfection (UV) has expanded its incision within wastewater reuse, presently considered a key element to wastewater treatment. When a chemical disinfection approach comes to application, reuse water will require further steps of processing through chlorination, dechlorination, and aeration. In wastewater applications, high chlorine doses are frequently required, further increasing the likelihood of by-product formation. In contrast to chemical disinfection, UV disinfection not only eliminates the possibility of existing by-products through chemical treatment, it also eliminates the three-step disinfection process described.

Currently considered a mainstream technology for reuse water disinfection, the efficacy of UV disinfection for reuse application is directly correlated with high dose requirements. In North America, the Ultraviolet Disinfection Guidelines for Drinking Water and Water Reuse, published by the National Water Research Institute (NWRI) / American Water Works Association (AWWA), establishes safety standards that promote efficiency in disinfection. In California, dose requirements for water reuse are based as of Title 22 regulations.

Sustainability through Hallett™ Reuse product line

As UV Pure seeks to ensure water quality and sustainability in all spectrums of applications, our group has launched the Hallett™ Reuse product line, unlocking the potential of our patented Crossfire™ technology for water reuse and rainwater harvesting. With the Hallett 500R (H500R), H750R and H1000R, UV Pure Technologies is fully committed to safely addressing requirements relevant to water conservation and reuse programs through regulated standards such as U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) UV Disinfection Guidance Manual (UVDGM) and NWRI.

Third Generation Hallett™ Products in the Spotlight

Beyond the advanced features of our Third Generation Hallett™ product line offers, UV Pure® Technologies recently partnered with Image Obscura Inc. photographer, Heather Goldsworthy, for a professional photoshoot of our Third Generation Hallett product lines. Obtaining high-res quality images was the last tasking to complete the portfolio of UV Pure’s leading product, the Third Generation Hallett.

As a leader in the UV disinfection world, we are committed to showing leadership throughout all of our efforts, including marketing. The partnership with Image Obscura Inc. aided our company image by producing a cohesive portfolio of images that aligned with UV Pure’s branding and style.

As UV Pure continues to form long-lasting relationships with its clients, communities, and partners, a strong portfolio image is an important tool to properly display our most valued product yet. The sleek, sturdy, reliable Third Generation Hallett deserves the best representation and that is why we committed to curating images by a photographer to ensure the subject matter, saturation and theme uniformly resonate with our target market. At the helm of the UV Pure brand, improving the imagery serves a purpose of properly displaying the enhanced product and its features, and to invite customers to further learn about our products.

As we lay the foundation for establishing consistency throughout our portfolio, UV Pure has now expanded elemental tools for further promoting our products via social media, advertisement, website, and other industry-relevant platforms. We hope consumers come to view the new Third Generation Hallett portfolio through a lens of quality and value!

 

 

 

Identifying the New Third Generation Hallett Feature Advancements

When UV Pure® decided to redesign a new generation of Hallett, it defined what the best features and proven technologies are in the UV water disinfection world. The Third Generation Hallett hit the pavement running when it was first introduced to the market in March 2019 and hasn’t slowed down since.

What sets the Hallett apart from competing products, is its non-contact maintenance and easy to operate colour touch screen. This means the operator is not exposed to coming in contact with contaminated water when performing routine procedures, such as quartz inspections and lamp changes. In fact, the Third Generation Hallett design makes maintenance even easier.

To help visualize the advancements from the First and Second Generation Hallett to the new Third Generation Hallett, we have selected a few features to compare between the generations to better explain the improvements that have been made.

Automatic Quartz Sleeve Cleaning Mechanism

The automatic quartz sleeve cleaning mechanism has always been built into our product and always will be. The new door design allows for easier quartz inspection.

User Interface

The user interface has evolved significantly between Hallett generations. The First Generation Hallett had a single button interface, which was then expanded to four mechanical buttons for the Second Generation Hallett, and since then has developed to a multi-colour LED touch-screen display for the Third Generation Hallett.

The new onboard colour touch screen displays UV dose, a real-time clock, operating status and self-diagnostics. With improved message history capabilities, storage capacity has increased to the last 99 messages with real-time information that includes time, sensor values, temperatures, dose, UVT and UVI values at time of alarm.

Third Generation touchscreens display all most relevant information when treating:

        • System Model
        • Remaining Lamp Life
        • UV Dose
        • Maximum Flow
        • Date & Time

These latest advancements also lead to less time spent on operational troubleshooting. During warnings, the LED screen will turn yellow and display the active warning message, no longer requiring to search through message histories or manuals to understand what faults are being communicated. This will reduce operational downtime and service time of operators.

External Alarm Contacts

Focusing on efficiency and reliability, the Third Generation Hallett continues to provide two dry contacts for alarms or auto-dialers. The word “dry” typically indicates undetected voltage present at the contact. The first contact consists of a “System Run” condition, which upon being closed, indicates the unit is in treating mode, while if open, indicates the unit is in alarm, has lost power, or perhaps the wire has been damaged. The second contact labeled “warning” indicates the existence of an abnormal condition such as high-water temperature. If this contact is open, the system is operating under normality and if closed, a warning condition is presently communicated.

Remote Start/Stop

With the First and Second Generation Hallett’s not having the ease of the remote start/stop function, our team put high focus on adding this feature in the Third Generation Hallett. By having this feature built into the model, UV Pure can offer built-in redundancy when in parallel configuration.

Minimum UVT Required

In the UV disinfection world, we all understand the importance in having low UV transmittance (UVT). Our Third Generation Hallett 1000’s has one of the lowest UVT´s in the market. In the table below, you will see the minimum UVT required for our different models.

Hallett

Minimum UVT Required

Third Generation (H1000 series)

35%

Third Generation (H500, H750 series)

50%

Second Generation (H15xs, NC series)

50%

First Generation (H30, H13 series)

45%

 

Lamp Heaters

UV pure has improved its product performance in cold climates by installing lamp heaters into the H500 and H750 series of the Third Generation Hallett.

Lamp Change Duration

Changing the lamps in the Hallett models has always been easy, but now customers can change the lamps themselves! With the easy access to the lamps, it takes less than two minutes to change the lamps.

 

The new Third Generation Hallett models have NSF/ANSI certifications and third-party validation in accordance with the US EPA UV Disinfection Guidance Manual (UVDGM) and NWRI UV Disinfection Guidelines for Drinking Water and Water Reuse. With a small footprint and simple plug-and-play design, the Hallett is quick to install and easy to start up, even in the tightest of spaces.

Interested in learning more? Watch our latest video “Meet the Hallett”, which introduces Third Generation Hallett™ and discusses the advanced features and upgrades that make this product the best yet.

WEFTEC Attendees Lined Up to Experience the New Hallett

UV Pure sales team at WEFTECThe UV Pure team exhibited at WEFTEC, an annual industry event showcasing technologies and innovations related to water quality. The 2019 edition was held on 21–25 September in Chicago, IL and attracted more than 20,000 industry professionals. The water quality sector is making great technological progress and UV Pure is leading the charge with our innovative Hallett systems.

Our team was elated to showcase the New generation Hallett launched earlier this year. The highly receptive market to the technological upgrades from generation 1 & 2 Hallett to the New generation Hallett was beyond our expectations.

Strong Interest in the New Hallett

While UV Pure is no stranger to WEFTEC, significant buzz sparked this year with the arrival of our New generation Hallett systems.

Our customers and industry colleagues had familiarity with the first two generations of our UV systems, powered by UV Pure’s award-winning Crossfire Technology. That made it all the more encouraging to receive such positive feedback regarding the new features and technology updates, including:

  • The new Hallett 1000, our largest model yet, which can handle flows up to 100 US GPM
  • Improved dual UV sensor array design with quad-sensor models available
  • Better temperature management with built-in purge valve and available lamp heaters
  • Color touchscreen interface
  • Remote start capability

With the New generation Hallett offering such sensible pricing, WEFTEC attendees and customers were able to see the product for what it truly is: innovative, leading and reliable.

High demand and promising opportunities

UV Pure sales team at WEFTEC

There was a stable green light at UV Pure’s booth throughout WEFTEC. Our team members– which included Alex Zammit, Service Manager; Alok Paliwal, Sales Director; David McNamee, Director of Operations; and Bruno Puiatti, Director of Business Development (Clearford) – kept busy with significant conversations and product demos throughout the event.

“It was great to see so many familiar and new faces among those visiting our booth,” said Alex Zammit. “The heavy traffic led to countless conversations explaining the capabilities of the third-generation Hallett and discussing how we can provide solutions to diverse water challenges,” he continued.

In addition to seeing considerable interest in placing orders for Hallett units, we also laid the groundwork for business development opportunities in California, the Northeast US, Western Canada, and Eastern Europe.

Inspiration to keep raising the bar

As always, we found it inspiring to see the innovation on display at WEFTEC and the passion with which our industry colleagues are tackling water quality challenges. WEFTEC reopened our eyes to seeing that when it comes to UV water disinfection, UV Pure is truly a leader.

To learn more about what sparked so much interest our new Hallett, download the New generation Hallett packet .

Contact Us today to to discuss your water disinfection requirements and find out how UV Pure can help.

Raising the Bar for UV Water Disinfection with the New Hallett

Following years of development and testing, UV Pure launched the third generation of our popular Hallett UV water disinfection system. As we ramp up production to meet global demand, we want to share how the new Hallett makes safe water more accessible than ever.

Versatile UV water disinfection for diverse needs

The new Hallett offers the same reliable water disinfection for a wide range of applications. Our new product lineup includes models with varying capacities divided into three categories:

  • Hallett P models for potable water applications, such as commercial and residential use. The 500PN and 750PN are available with NSF 55A certification. The 1000P is available with EPA validation.
  • Hallett W models for wastewater applications, including industrial use. The 1000W is available with EPA validation.
  • Hallett R for reuse applications, such as in agricultural and recreational settings. The 1000R is available with NWRI validation for water reuse.

Third-party validation is pending for the Hallett 500 & 750 R, W models.

Our new Hallett 1000 models have been validated for US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) performance standards for UV water disinfection to service markets that require EPA validation.

Larger, more powerful units

One of the exciting developments with the third-generation Hallett, is the introduction of high-capacity models. These models can handle flow rates up to 100gpm, up from the previous maximum of 30gpm. For applications requiring higher flows, like municipal water systems, multiple Hallett 1000’s can be connected to allow flows up to 1MGD.

For enhanced performance, these larger units feature amalgam lamps with higher output and an extended lamp life of up to 12,000 hours. Some larger models also come with quad UV sensors to support higher-accuracy measurements of UV dose and UV transmittance (UVT).

Smarter technology and improved design

Incorporating years of feedback from customers, technicians and our in-house experts has helped us make major technology and design enhancements in the new Hallett. Here are a few highlights:

  • UV dose display to enable hourly, daily, or weekly dose recording
  • A real-time clock to facilitate troubleshooting with time and date stamps for errors and warnings
  • A wiper position switch to accurately sense wiper movements in low UVT applications and optimize the wiper parking position
  • Data logging at 30-second intervals on a USB key
  • A double door hinge design to allow easier lamp changes and servicing of system components
  • Improved UV sensor housing to protect sensors during system handling and sensor calibration
Optimized performance and remote operation

Dependable performance is crucial to ensure that our Hallett systems can provide safe water in varying operating environments. That’s why the third-generation Hallett features forced-air cooling to prevent overheating and lamp heaters to enable use in extreme conditions.

Dependability also means that users can trust that their systems are running well, even when they’re not on site. Remote start/stop capabilities mean the new Hallett can remain on standby until a remote signal starts the UV system. The new models also provide more system information to remote operators, allowing them to prevent possible shutdowns ahead of any issues.

Delivering safe, clean water through innovation

Global demand for safe water continues to grow and innovations in water technology are rising to the challenge. As a pioneer in UV water disinfection, UV Pure continues to help customers meet their water needs across diverse industries, applications and markets.

If you would like to learn more about the new Hallett’s technical specifications and how it can meet your water requirements, please contact our business development team.

Safety First: NSF and EPA Certifications for UV Water Disinfection

In this blog post, we examine the role of NSF and EPA certifications for UV water disinfection systems in ensuring water safety and providing peace of mind.

UV systems provide fast-acting, environmentally responsible water disinfection, making them an attractive alternative to chemical water disinfection.

As use of UV water disinfection grows, there is an important question to answer: how do end users know that a system works?

Navigating the certification environment

Given the importance of safe water, it is surprising that neither Canada nor the United States have federal regulations for UV water disinfection in residential settings.

The lack of mandatory standards does not mean there are no standards. For example, NSF International, a globally recognized organization, has created a set of voluntary standards for UV water disinfection technology  for home use.

There are different NSF standards depending on the function, size and end use of a product. While not required by law, many manufacturers of UV water disinfection products pursue NSF certification. This shows that their systems meet these minimum performance and safety standards.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is another source of standards for UV water disinfection for public water applications recognized worldwide.

Understanding the certification process

With end users placing their trust in certification, the testing process is understandably rigorous.

Broadly speaking, these are the key elements of the procedure for attaining certification:

  1. The manufacturer submits its UV water disinfection product and detailed documentation to a testing lab.
  2. Professionals at the lab thoroughly review the documentation. They gain a full understanding of how the product is designed and works, including all underlying technology and functional constraints.
  3. They then systematically test the product to ensure alignment between the documentation and actual construction and performance. This includes measuring performance against minimum standards, for example, consistent delivery of a minimum UV dose.
  4. The lab also carries out an inspection of the manufacturer’s production facilities to ensure they are up to standard.
  5. When the product meets all requirements, the product is certified for that specific standard.

NSF logo

Regular retesting and production facility inspections are required for a product to maintain its certification. In addition, re-certification is required any time a manufacturer makes changes to a product and each model must be certified separately.

For NSF certification, testing can be carried out in an NSF International lab or in third-party labs that test based on NSF standards. EPA does not offer its own testing services, so all testing to meet EPA standards is carried out by third-party labs.

Recognizing the value of third-party certification

Third-party certification can help you make an informed decision when purchasing a UV water disinfection system. Safety and reliability are essential no matter where you intend to use this technology. These requirements will be met with certification based on recognized industry standards.

UV disinfection systems intended for use at a public or commercial site (e.g. hospital, campground, hotel, etc.) generally require certification. In these settings, certification is essential for protecting public health, meeting compliance obligations and managing liability.

For residential use, the choice between certified and non-certified systems comes down to personal preference. While non-certified systems may come with a lower price, it is up to the end user to balance this against safety and reliability considerations.

Maintaining high standards at UV Pure

At UV Pure, safe water is our top priority. This commitment is reflected in our adherence to globally recognized safety and technology standards with most of our UV water disinfection products carrying NSF or EPA certifications.

The non-certified products we offer are made to the same high standards as our certified products.

When human health is on the line, there is no room for doubt. NSF and EPA certifications for UV water disinfection systems set the bar high, giving individuals and organizations around the world confidence that their water is safe.

Safe Water Technologies: An Introduction to UV Water Disinfection

Water is used everywhere, from agricultural and industrial to residential and healthcare settings and beyond. Whatever the specific application – whether it’s potable water, wastewater, reuse water, or rainwater – safety is paramount. Here is an introduction to water disinfection. There are many ways to make water safe for use, including various processes for filtration (nano, ultra, and reverse osmosis) and disinfection (chemical and non-chemical). The process or combination of processes used depends on factors, such as the initial water quality, intended end use, logistical and economic considerations.

In this post, we focus on ultraviolet (UV) water disinfection, providing an overview of how it works and how it is evolving.

The water disinfection landscape

In general, there are two main categories of water disinfection technology:

1. Chemical technologies, which include chlorine, ozone, and peracetic acid
2. Non-chemical technologies, which include UV disinfection

uv-water-disinfection-benefitsEach technology has a unique set of advantages and disadvantages. For example, chemical disinfection using chlorine is highly reliable and inexpensive, but it poses safety risks in the handling of chlorine and the creating toxic byproducts.

When deciding which technology is best for an application, engineers typically take into consideration a range of factors. Some of those factors include requirements for biocidal efficiency, practicality, reliability, cost, environmental impact and occupational health and safety.

Harnessing the power of UV light

UV water disinfection harnesses the germicidal power of short-wave UV light, specifically at the 254nm wavelength, to damage the DNA of cells and viruses. Applying UV light at this specific wavelength to water renders any microorganisms sterile, thereby disinfecting the water.

The first use of UV water disinfection technology was in 1910. Since then, the use of UV systems has grown as the technology has evolved along with scientists’ understanding of how UV light combats waterborne threats.

Compared to chemical disinfection technologies, non-chemical UV disinfection offers several key benefits in terms of safety and efficacy, including:

  • Fast-acting, triggering a reaction almost instantly
  • No disinfection by-products
  • Safe and chemical-free, avoiding the handling and disposal hazards associated with chemicals
  • Environmentally responsible technology
  • Does not alter water chemistry and its constituents, such as pH, taste, odour, colour, etc.
  • Proven and trusted

Different technologies for UV water disinfection

Since that first application, the sophistication and capabilities of UV water disinfection technology have grown exponentially. While manufacturers offer endless options for UV water disinfection systems, they can all be grouped into two main categories:

  1. Light-in-a-pipe systems. In these systems, pressurized water is exposed to 254nm UV light as it flows through a quartz tube. Light-in-a-pipe systems are advantageous in that they offer greater control over water conditions within the system, like preventing exposure to airborne pathogens. However, they can be costlier to operate given increased energy requirements and maintenance costs.
  2. Channel systems. In these systems, non-pressurized water is exposed to 254 nm UV light as it flows through an open channel. Channel systems are often used to disinfect large water streams, especially wastewater streams, as they can offer lower operation and maintenance costs. However, channel systems are also more vulnerable to airborne pathogens due to their open nature.

As both types of systems have advantages and disadvantages, it’s important for engineers to understand their options to find the best fit for their project.

uv-water-disinfection-benefits

Making water safer with better UV technology

UV systems are already a safe and reliable solution for disinfecting potable water, wastewater, reuse water, and rainwater, only becoming better with continual advances in technology.

Here are a few of the ways in which UV water disinfection technology is becoming smarter and more effective:

  • UV dose consistency. Maintaining a consistent UV dose ensures the water flowing through a UV system meets the minimum requirements for safe disinfection. Advances in lamp technology allow lamps to be calibrated at a higher intensity initially to maintain the minimum required intensity until the end of their lifespan.
  • Real-time monitoring. UV systems typically have sensors to indicate when performance falls below minimum thresholds. However, when sensors are poorly calibrated or the cause of an alarm is not clear, it can be a nuisance. Fortunately, smarter sensors and remote real-time monitoring are continually improving reliability while reducing maintenance requirements.
  • 360-degree coverage. Suspended and dissolved solids in water can cause shadowing within a UV disinfection system allowing pathogens to pass through. This challenge is being overcome with smarter system design, such as using dual lamps and reflectors to provide 360-degree UV light coverage that attacks pathogens from all angles.

With some countries actively shifting away from chemical disinfection, due to health and safety concerns, demand for UV water disinfection is growing. Understanding UV water disinfection is becoming increasingly important for engineers around the world.