Recent advances into the development and construction of small-scale ultra-filtration ("UF") and ultra-violet sterilizer ("UV") systems has allowed this technology to be available to kill bacteria in residential and light commercial water well treatment systems. The combination of UF with UV sterilizers means that now home owners are capable of having disinfected water free from bacteria at reasonable prices.
The United States EPA regulates public water systems but it does not have the authority to oversee individual wells. Around 15 percent of persons in the U.S. depend on privately owned well water supplies, and these supplies are not governed by EPA standards. Unlike public water systems serving many people, families that get drinking water from privately owned bore holes do not have professionals regularly checking the water source and its quality prior to it being sent to the tap. These particular households must take specific precautions to guarantee the water is safe.
Water that is not treated correctly may be contaminated with microorganisms that cause disease, also known as pathogens. Pathogenic agents include various types of Giardia, Cryptosporidium, e-coli bacteria as well as other types of bacteria. In public water supplies adding chlorine is the most standard method used to kill pathogens. For private water wells, many homeowners turn to Ultraviolet systems to ensure the well water is safe from harmful bacteria. However, a type of water treatment commonly called UF can be used to provide excellent disinfection minus the costs & maintenance associated with chlorination or UV alone.
UV sterilizers employ ultra-violet light to kill bacteria as the water flows within the UV system. The bacteria are radiated with powerful UV rays & thereafter are not able to replicate. In contrast to chlorine, there are no chemical like by-products or tastes using UV sterilization. Even though UV will do a good job at killing harmful microorganisms, in the event the UV system is improperly sized, or if the water being treated consists of excessive levels of metals or perhaps color in it, some of the bacteria might not be completely killed, and thereafter can redevelop inside the home plumbing and fixtures. Ultraviolet will not actually take out bacteria from the water and in some cases the bacteria might only end up being partially damaged, particularly if the well water is not sufficiently low enough in minerals or clear enough to allow UV light to successfully penetrate the water. UF membranes by contrast filter a water right down to sub-micron levels and effectively remove all microorganisms, sediment and turbidity.
Savvy individuals occasionally inquire about the difference involving UF and UV sterilizers for killing of bacteria in well and spring waters. The primary distinction is the fact that Ultraviolet inactivates pathogens, while UF is able to physically block out them. While UV relies upon electrical energy to work, UF doesn't require electricity. In the event of a storm event, boil-order, or other unexpected emergency a UF will continue to take out harmful bacteria, while an Ultra violet system will not.
Hollow-fiber UF membranes are used all over the world to treat municipal and industrial water on a large scale. Lately advancements in small scale membrane chemistry and design have made UF filters are resistant to breaking, and are easily cleaned. Small package systems which include automatic controllers mean that now UF systems are practical for home well water applications.
UF membranes resemble strands or fibers with hollowed out cores. The surface of the membrane serves as a physical barrier to turbidity and pathogens. The use of hundreds of these strands incorporated within every device provides excellent surface area to supply on-demand flow rates of 10 gallons per minute per 4 x 40 inch membrane. Each UF membrane contains millions of 0.015 micron sized pores. For example, the Cryptosporidium and Giardia cysts, which are two common types of parasitic organisms are approximately 7 to 10 microns in length and are oblong in form. UF systems have been independently certified and tested to block 99.99.999 percent of bacteria and 99.999 percent of viruses.
UF membranes are ideal for disinfection of bacteria and turbidity removal because the loose configuration allows for thorough backwashing and rinsing. These new types of home UF systems have automatic control panels which permit the units to work well with municipal, well water, rainwater or surface water. With regard to water that is very contaminated with pathogenic agents the combination of UF together with UV is a good combination. The UF system removes turbidity and color, and acts as a physical barrier to micro-organisms and is installed in front of the UV. The ultraviolet sterilizer then serves as a back-up barrier to make sure the water is free of bacteria and viruses.
The United States EPA regulates public water systems but it does not have the authority to oversee individual wells. Around 15 percent of persons in the U.S. depend on privately owned well water supplies, and these supplies are not governed by EPA standards. Unlike public water systems serving many people, families that get drinking water from privately owned bore holes do not have professionals regularly checking the water source and its quality prior to it being sent to the tap. These particular households must take specific precautions to guarantee the water is safe.
Water that is not treated correctly may be contaminated with microorganisms that cause disease, also known as pathogens. Pathogenic agents include various types of Giardia, Cryptosporidium, e-coli bacteria as well as other types of bacteria. In public water supplies adding chlorine is the most standard method used to kill pathogens. For private water wells, many homeowners turn to Ultraviolet systems to ensure the well water is safe from harmful bacteria. However, a type of water treatment commonly called UF can be used to provide excellent disinfection minus the costs & maintenance associated with chlorination or UV alone.
UV sterilizers employ ultra-violet light to kill bacteria as the water flows within the UV system. The bacteria are radiated with powerful UV rays & thereafter are not able to replicate. In contrast to chlorine, there are no chemical like by-products or tastes using UV sterilization. Even though UV will do a good job at killing harmful microorganisms, in the event the UV system is improperly sized, or if the water being treated consists of excessive levels of metals or perhaps color in it, some of the bacteria might not be completely killed, and thereafter can redevelop inside the home plumbing and fixtures. Ultraviolet will not actually take out bacteria from the water and in some cases the bacteria might only end up being partially damaged, particularly if the well water is not sufficiently low enough in minerals or clear enough to allow UV light to successfully penetrate the water. UF membranes by contrast filter a water right down to sub-micron levels and effectively remove all microorganisms, sediment and turbidity.
Savvy individuals occasionally inquire about the difference involving UF and UV sterilizers for killing of bacteria in well and spring waters. The primary distinction is the fact that Ultraviolet inactivates pathogens, while UF is able to physically block out them. While UV relies upon electrical energy to work, UF doesn't require electricity. In the event of a storm event, boil-order, or other unexpected emergency a UF will continue to take out harmful bacteria, while an Ultra violet system will not.
Hollow-fiber UF membranes are used all over the world to treat municipal and industrial water on a large scale. Lately advancements in small scale membrane chemistry and design have made UF filters are resistant to breaking, and are easily cleaned. Small package systems which include automatic controllers mean that now UF systems are practical for home well water applications.
UF membranes resemble strands or fibers with hollowed out cores. The surface of the membrane serves as a physical barrier to turbidity and pathogens. The use of hundreds of these strands incorporated within every device provides excellent surface area to supply on-demand flow rates of 10 gallons per minute per 4 x 40 inch membrane. Each UF membrane contains millions of 0.015 micron sized pores. For example, the Cryptosporidium and Giardia cysts, which are two common types of parasitic organisms are approximately 7 to 10 microns in length and are oblong in form. UF systems have been independently certified and tested to block 99.99.999 percent of bacteria and 99.999 percent of viruses.
UF membranes are ideal for disinfection of bacteria and turbidity removal because the loose configuration allows for thorough backwashing and rinsing. These new types of home UF systems have automatic control panels which permit the units to work well with municipal, well water, rainwater or surface water. With regard to water that is very contaminated with pathogenic agents the combination of UF together with UV is a good combination. The UF system removes turbidity and color, and acts as a physical barrier to micro-organisms and is installed in front of the UV. The ultraviolet sterilizer then serves as a back-up barrier to make sure the water is free of bacteria and viruses.
About the Author:
Gerry Bulfin, who has been a consultant for problem well water for over 25 years, is a WQA Certified water specialist and a State of California Licensed well water purification and distribution system operator. His excellent free book "The Definitive book To Well well water purification" is available for a limited time from CleanWaterStore.com