The Latest Methods in the Water-Purification Industry
Just few years ago, the word green described only one thing - a color.
Now, it is the name of a worldwide movement aimed at making the world a healthier, cleaner place.
Naturally, one of the big challenges is how to purify water without using chlorine to kill bacteria because some claim it may be harmful to the body.
And light may hold the key.
Although the concept of using ultraviolet light to kill bacteria in water has been around for 75 years, only recently have ultraviolet treatment systems been designed and built to do just that.
The process is used frequently as the last step in water a treatment facility before the water is carried through pipes to the end user.
Water passes through a tube inside and ultraviolet light unit where it is exposed to ultraviolet fluorescent bulbs.
The light from these bulbs is sufficient to kill bacteria almost instantly without putting anything in the water.
The light source, however, must be kept clean so that it maintains its full bacteria-killing effect.
Bulbs can get dirty and need to be cleaned or changed or they will lose their effectiveness.
While it is true that the use of ultraviolet light has helped modernize the water disinfection process, the cost of installing these systems is high and so is the cost of maintenance.
And those costs are often the burden of the taxpayer.
Another drawback with ultraviolet water treatment is the lack of a residual effect in the water.
Once the water has passed through the ultraviolent unit, and into pipes in the ground away from the light, bacteria can begin to grow again unless the supplier adds a sufficient amount of chlorine, at least 1ppm(1 part per million) to keep it safe to drink.
For now, the hope is that ultraviolent light disinfection will at the very least help to lessen the amount of chlorine used by suppliers.
What about solar? Solar energy captured by solar panels is also being used to help slow the growth of bacteria in water storage tanks as well.
Bacteria inherent in water will grow if left standing for too long even if chlorine is present.
It becomes stagnant and stale, which renders the chlorine residual less effective and makes the water susceptible to bacteria growth.
Solar-powered pumps keep water circulating, which helps maintain the chlorine residual enabling the chlorine to kill bacteria.
They use no electricity and therefore do not pollute nor do they contribute to pollution.
Now, it is the name of a worldwide movement aimed at making the world a healthier, cleaner place.
Naturally, one of the big challenges is how to purify water without using chlorine to kill bacteria because some claim it may be harmful to the body.
And light may hold the key.
Although the concept of using ultraviolet light to kill bacteria in water has been around for 75 years, only recently have ultraviolet treatment systems been designed and built to do just that.
The process is used frequently as the last step in water a treatment facility before the water is carried through pipes to the end user.
Water passes through a tube inside and ultraviolet light unit where it is exposed to ultraviolet fluorescent bulbs.
The light from these bulbs is sufficient to kill bacteria almost instantly without putting anything in the water.
The light source, however, must be kept clean so that it maintains its full bacteria-killing effect.
Bulbs can get dirty and need to be cleaned or changed or they will lose their effectiveness.
While it is true that the use of ultraviolet light has helped modernize the water disinfection process, the cost of installing these systems is high and so is the cost of maintenance.
And those costs are often the burden of the taxpayer.
Another drawback with ultraviolet water treatment is the lack of a residual effect in the water.
Once the water has passed through the ultraviolent unit, and into pipes in the ground away from the light, bacteria can begin to grow again unless the supplier adds a sufficient amount of chlorine, at least 1ppm(1 part per million) to keep it safe to drink.
For now, the hope is that ultraviolent light disinfection will at the very least help to lessen the amount of chlorine used by suppliers.
What about solar? Solar energy captured by solar panels is also being used to help slow the growth of bacteria in water storage tanks as well.
Bacteria inherent in water will grow if left standing for too long even if chlorine is present.
It becomes stagnant and stale, which renders the chlorine residual less effective and makes the water susceptible to bacteria growth.
Solar-powered pumps keep water circulating, which helps maintain the chlorine residual enabling the chlorine to kill bacteria.
They use no electricity and therefore do not pollute nor do they contribute to pollution.
Source...