Recent advances into the design & configuration of small scale Ultra Filtration ("UF") as well as ultraviolet sterilizer ("UV") systems has allowed this technology to be available to kill bacteria in residential well water systems. The combining of ultra-filtration with UV sterilizers means that now home owners can have access to disinfected drinking water free of bacteria at affordable prices.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency regulates municipal water utilities however it doesn't have the legal right to regulate non-public drinking wells. Approximately 15 % of persons in the U.S. depend on private well water supplies, and these supplies usually aren't governed by EPA regulations. In contrast to public water utilities serving many people, households that get drinking water from privately owned bore holes do not have professionals routinely examining the water source and its quality before it is delivered to the faucet. These households need to take special precautions to ensure the water is safe.
Improperly treated water may contain disease-causing micro-organisms, also known as pathogens. Pathogenic agents consist of Giardia, Cryptosporidium, e-coli bacteria as well as other types of bacteria. In public water supplies chlorination is among the most common method used to destroy pathogens. For privately owned wells, consumers often rely on Ultraviolet sterilizers to make sure their well water is free from bacteria. However, a new form of water purifier known as Ultra-Filtration can be used to provide excellent sterilization of the water minus the expenses and maintenance associated with chlorination or Ultraviolet alone.
Ultraviolet sterilizers employ UV light to be able to kill bacteria as water passes through the UV system. The bacteria are bombarded with intense UV rays and afterwards cannot replicate. In contrast to chlorine, there aren't any chemical by-products or tastes with UV sterilization. Even though ultra-violet does a great job at getting rid of harmful microorganisms, if the Ultraviolet device is not properly sized, or if perhaps the water has excessive amounts of metals or perhaps color , some of the bacteria may not be completely destroyed, and afterwards may recover and grow back inside the home piping system. UV will not literally remove harmful microorganisms from the water and in some cases the bacteria may only end up being partly destroyed, particularly if the well water is not sufficiently low enough in minerals or clear enough to allow UV light to effectively penetrate the actual water being treated. UF membranes in comparison micro-filter the water down to sub-micron ranges to effectively filter out virtually all bacteria, sediment and suspended particles.
Savvy individuals sometimes ask about the distinction involving UF and UV systems with respect to disinfection of wells and springs. The primary difference is that UV inactivates pathogens, while UF is able to physically block out them. While UV depends on electrical energy to work, UF does not require electrical power. During a storm or flood, boil-order, or other unexpected emergency a UF can continue to remove harmful bacteria, whereas a Ultra violet system won't.
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 look like 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 fibers incorporated inside each system provides adequate surface area to supply flows of 10 to 12 gallons per minute for each 4 x 40 membrane. Each UF membrane contains millions of 0.015 micron sized pores. For example Cryptosporidium as well as Giardia cysts, two common form of parasitic organisms are approximately 8 to 13 microns long and are oblong in shape. UF systems have been independently certified and tested to block 99.99.999 percent of bacteria and 99.999 percent of viruses.
UF filters have proven to be well-suited for disinfection of bacteria and removal of fine suspended solids because the construction allows for thorough backwashing and rinsing. These newer kinds of residential UF systems contain built-in automatic backwash control panels which permit them to work great with either municipal, well water, rainwater or surface water. With regard to water that is very contaminated with pathogens the combination of UF together with UV is an excellent 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 UV system then can act as a secondary barrier and ensure the water is free of bacteria and viruses.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency regulates municipal water utilities however it doesn't have the legal right to regulate non-public drinking wells. Approximately 15 % of persons in the U.S. depend on private well water supplies, and these supplies usually aren't governed by EPA regulations. In contrast to public water utilities serving many people, households that get drinking water from privately owned bore holes do not have professionals routinely examining the water source and its quality before it is delivered to the faucet. These households need to take special precautions to ensure the water is safe.
Improperly treated water may contain disease-causing micro-organisms, also known as pathogens. Pathogenic agents consist of Giardia, Cryptosporidium, e-coli bacteria as well as other types of bacteria. In public water supplies chlorination is among the most common method used to destroy pathogens. For privately owned wells, consumers often rely on Ultraviolet sterilizers to make sure their well water is free from bacteria. However, a new form of water purifier known as Ultra-Filtration can be used to provide excellent sterilization of the water minus the expenses and maintenance associated with chlorination or Ultraviolet alone.
Ultraviolet sterilizers employ UV light to be able to kill bacteria as water passes through the UV system. The bacteria are bombarded with intense UV rays and afterwards cannot replicate. In contrast to chlorine, there aren't any chemical by-products or tastes with UV sterilization. Even though ultra-violet does a great job at getting rid of harmful microorganisms, if the Ultraviolet device is not properly sized, or if perhaps the water has excessive amounts of metals or perhaps color , some of the bacteria may not be completely destroyed, and afterwards may recover and grow back inside the home piping system. UV will not literally remove harmful microorganisms from the water and in some cases the bacteria may only end up being partly destroyed, particularly if the well water is not sufficiently low enough in minerals or clear enough to allow UV light to effectively penetrate the actual water being treated. UF membranes in comparison micro-filter the water down to sub-micron ranges to effectively filter out virtually all bacteria, sediment and suspended particles.
Savvy individuals sometimes ask about the distinction involving UF and UV systems with respect to disinfection of wells and springs. The primary difference is that UV inactivates pathogens, while UF is able to physically block out them. While UV depends on electrical energy to work, UF does not require electrical power. During a storm or flood, boil-order, or other unexpected emergency a UF can continue to remove harmful bacteria, whereas a Ultra violet system won't.
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 look like 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 fibers incorporated inside each system provides adequate surface area to supply flows of 10 to 12 gallons per minute for each 4 x 40 membrane. Each UF membrane contains millions of 0.015 micron sized pores. For example Cryptosporidium as well as Giardia cysts, two common form of parasitic organisms are approximately 8 to 13 microns long and are oblong in shape. UF systems have been independently certified and tested to block 99.99.999 percent of bacteria and 99.999 percent of viruses.
UF filters have proven to be well-suited for disinfection of bacteria and removal of fine suspended solids because the construction allows for thorough backwashing and rinsing. These newer kinds of residential UF systems contain built-in automatic backwash control panels which permit them to work great with either municipal, well water, rainwater or surface water. With regard to water that is very contaminated with pathogens the combination of UF together with UV is an excellent 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 UV system then can act as a secondary barrier and ensure the water is free of bacteria and viruses.
About the Author:
Gerry Bulfin, who has been a consultant for problem well water in over 30 countries worldwide 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 now available for free for a limited time from CleanWaterStore.com
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