Residential and commercial water filtration systems all operate according to different means of filtering or sterilizing water, and some systems combine more than one technique to remove contaminants from a water source.
One of the most popular means of sterilizing water to remove biological contaminants is UV water filtration. This short post will shed some light (no pun intended) on how UV water filters work, how this technology is combined with other means of filtration, and what sort of value it offers.
How Does a UV Water Filter Work?
UV water filters work by harnessing the power of a very specific wavelength of light, ultraviolet-C, also known as UV-C or UVC radiation.
Despite the name, UV water filters don’t actually physically filter the water. Rather, they irradiate it with UVC light, which is effective at killing harmful pathogens like mold, bacteria, protozoans, and viruses.
These filters work by subjecting the water stream to this high-energy, high-frequency wavelength of UV radiation, which damages the DNA in microbes, sterilizing them. Effective UV water filters can kill up to 99.99% of microbial contaminants, including microbial cysts, bacteria, viruses, mold, and protozoans.
What Do UV Water Filters Remove or Neutralize?
Because UV water filters irradiate the water stream, they can neutralize a wide range of biological contaminants, including:
- Bacteria that can make you sick, like Escherichia coli.
- Viruses commonly found in freshwater supplies.
- Parasitic or pathogenic protozoans, like cryptosporidium and giardia (though not all systems are capable of this, double check the specifications to be sure).
- Mold and other harmful fungal pathogens.
However, it is important to note that UV water purification alone does not technically filter the water, even though it sterilizes it. Therefore, UV water purification is commonly paired with other means of water filtration to remove additional contaminants (more on that below).
Are They Safe?
You may be familiar with UV because ultraviolet light, which is present in sunlight, is the wavelength that is responsible for sunburn, when your skin is excessively exposed to it.
However, since UV water filters are self contained, when properly installed they are perfectly safe.
Moreover, despite the fact that they are exceptionally effective at sterilizing harmful microbes, they do not introduce any chemicals whatsoever to the water, serving as another testament to their safety.
Is UV Disinfection Ever Incorporated into Multi-Step Filtration?
Not only is UV disinfection sometimes appended to other means of multi-step water filtration, more often than not it is. This is because while UV water filters are effective at sterilizing biological contaminants, they are not effective at removing odors, chemicals, minerals, chlorine, sediment, and other similar contaminants.
This is the case with many of our whole home water filtration systems, some of which utilize UV water purification in addition to other means of water filtration, including sediment filters, carbon block filters, and ion exchange resin filters.
Together, these home water filtration systems offer not only the benefits of UV water purification, but others, as well.
Benefits to UV and Mechanical Water Filtration
As has been stated, the primary benefit of UV water purification is that it effectively sterilizes harmful microbial organisms and other pathogens.
However, when paired with other means of water treatment, these multi-step filtration systems can remove much more from the water.
For instance, home water filters with:
- Carbon block filtration can help remove chlorine and chloramines, as well as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other organic contaminants, along with unpleasant tastes and odors that make drinking water less palatable.
- Physical media sediment filters can remove physical contaminants like sediment and other particulate matter that causes turbidity and discoloration in water. These filters, which remove rust, dirt, sand, and other particles can also help reduce the risk of biological contamination as fine particulate matter often harbors harmful microbes.
- RES ion resin exchange filters can remove some contaminants that would be missed by the other steps. These filters can remove toxic heavy metals as well as scale-forming minerals like magnesium and calcium. Consequently, this stage of filtration not only improves the safety of the water, but since it removes scale-forming elements, it protects your home’s plumbing as well as your appliances. When these minerals are removed from the home’s water supply, it also improves the quality of the water for bathing and washing both textiles and kitchenware.
By combining multiple filtration methods into one system, the overall capability of the system is significantly expanded, improving not just the clarity and taste of the water, but its safety, as well as its efficacy for cleaning, cooking, and bathing.
Explore UV Water Filters Here
Interested in learning more about UV water filters, and the other types of filtration with which they are paired in whole home water filter systems? Check out the previous link or feel free to get in touch with our customer service team and we will answer any questions you have.