What does UV do?
Ultraviolet light (UV) provides a non-chemical, environmentally friendly treatment option for a wide range of processes. Most microorganisms, even cryptosporidium, are inactivated in less than a second by high doses of UV light, leaving no undesirable chemical residues. Due to their compact size, low ownership costs and simple maintenance requirements, UV-disinfection units have been installed by many of the world’s multi-national soft drink companies, breweries, pharmaceutical giants, municipal waterworks, and wastewater treatment plants.
Applications for UV light treatment continue to grow. In addition to inactivation of microorganisms, UV will break down inorganic and organic pollutants in water. This is particularly true in the swimming pool industry, where, in addition to the disinfection benefits, a significant reduction in combined chlorine levels can be achieved.
Using the proper UV product for each specific application insures that you are getting the right equipment to meet your needs. There are two major “classes” of UV for aquatic applications- low pressure UV and medium pressure UV.
Medium Pressure UV systems emit a “wide” spectrum of UV light (200 nm- 315 nm). This wide UV spectrum not only effectively deactivates pathogens (such as Cryptosporidium, Giardia, E- coli, and Pseudomonas), but also destroys all three chloramine compounds. This type of chloramine control is vital- not just for the safety of the bather and the comfort for those both swimming in the pool and those on the pool deck.
By emitting most of its UV energy at 254 nm, Low Pressure Amalgam UV is excellent at deactivating pathogens. Low Pressure UV uses much less electricity to operate and is more user-friendly for the typical spray park customer.