AquaUV System

The quality of your drinking water can change from day-to-day, season to season. Even if your tap water is safe today, contaminants can infiltrate wells and aquifers, and aging infrastructure can lead to an increased risk of contamination. In fact, boil water advisories are becoming more and more common, even in large cities.

Not all water disinfection technologies are created equal. For example, chemicals can be both dangerous to handle and potentially hazardous to the environment – and some waterborne illness-causing microbes are chlorine-resistant. Reverse osmosis wastes on average three gallons of water for every one gallon it purifies, and is no longer recognized
as a barrier to microbiological contamination. Filters can improve taste, but they generally don’t treat microbiological contaminants. 

There is an option that addresses all of these issues: ultraviolet (UV) disinfection or UV water treatment. 

Water is disinfected as it runs through a stainless steel chamber containing a UV lamp. As water flows past the lamp, illness-causing microorganisms receive a lethal dose of UV light that attacks their DNA and eliminates their ability to reproduce. Harmful bacteria and viruses are deactivated, and your family is safe. 

UV water disinfection is a safe, chemical-free way to treat water. Even chlorine-resistant microorganisms are made harmless through UV exposure. Lack of chemicals means no harmful chemical byproducts are going back into the environment, and the taste of your water is not affected in any way.

The Quartz Sleeve

The quartz sleeve is a long, cylindrical tube of quartz glass intended to protect the UV lamp which is powered by electricity from the flow of water. The lamp is inserted into the tube, and transmits the light through the tube into the water. Sleeves can foul with minerals and other contaminants over time, and should be cleaned whenever the lamp is changed. It’s a relatively simple component, but it’s very necessary to the efficient operation of a UV system.

The Controller Unit

The controller unit is the brains of the entire UV system. This is the part of the unit that controls the electrical output of the lamp, and powers it to produce UV-C light. Some controllers are very simple, and are a simple cap that fits over the end of the lamp and a plug. Other controllers, depending on the type of UV system, are more complicated, and have lamp-change timers, low-UV alarms, or trouble indicator lights to show when the system is not performing as it should. These units vary in complexity and size, but essentially, they all do the same thing.

If you aren’t getting the highest degree of disinfection performance, you aren’t getting the most out of your UV system, and your water is not being properly protected. If you aren’t sure if you are using the right lamp, don’t be afraid to call the manufacturer. They are always happy to help you to ensure your system is working at peak capacity by using the correct lamp for the system.

 Benefits of UV Disinfection

• Chemical-free
• Easy to install and service
• Economical and energy efficient
• Addresses a broader range of pathogens than chlorine – some protozoa like Cryptosporidium and Giardia are resistant
  to chlorination.
• Recognized by regulators including USEPA