UV

With its proven effectiveness (99.99%!!!) against bacteria, viruses, and water-borne diseases, it's no wonder that UV disinfection is becoming the leading technology for treating harmful microorganisms.

At E.D.S. Pumps & Plumbing we aim to provide you with only the best quality in water treatment, because your health should never be compromised. As such, we endorse quality brands that you can rely on. Hallet™ and TrojanUV™ are the leading brands we supply and use. Please explore our Ultraviolet page for more information on these brands and UV technology. For any other questions or requests you may have, please contact us .

Benefits of UV

There are some very important reasons why homeowners and large cities are choosing UV technology:

Highly effective: For over 25 years, UV light has been trusted as a safe, cost-effective way to purify water and eliminate harmful microorganisms. It’s a proven, EPA-endorsed technology that has been chosen by thousands of cities, bottled water manufacturers and others around the world.

Chemical free: UV provides water purification without the addition of harmful chemicals like chlorine. It also avoids the potential of generating harmful chemical disinfection by-products. Recent EPA guidelines are forcing cities across the US to reduce or eliminate the use of chlorine for exactly these reasons.

Taste & odor free: UV does not change the taste, odor or color of water

More effective than chlorine: Unlike chlorine, UV is effective against both Cryptosporidium and Giardia.

Compact and easy to maintain: A TrojanUVMax system, capable of treating the water for an entire home, is less than 20" (50cm) in length and fits just about anywhere. And the only maintenance is an annual lamp change!

Private Water Supplies

Over 19 million American households and cottages rely on private wells. Tens of thousands more rely on lakes, streams, and other surface water sources. Unfortunately, not all of them have a UV water disinfection system protecting them from harmful microorganisms.

While nation-wide studies do not exist, smaller scale studies have commonly found that between 20 and 40% of wells in any given region suffer from E.coli and/or coliform bacteria at any given time – not to mention the countless other microorganisms that may be in a water supply.

The fact is that the quality of well water can vary from day to day and from year to year. In the short term, things like heavy rainfalls or snow melt can affect water quality. In the longer term, quality may be affected by distant contamination sources, earthquakes, and other factors.

Water that has been safe for years will not necessarily be safe tomorrow.

Municipal Water Supplies

Around the world, governments invest heavily in order to assure the safety of the drinking water for their citizens. However growing pollution and the costs of maintaining distribution networks make boil water advisories increasingly inevitable. Beyond the inconvenience they cause, such advisories are a clear warning that the clean water we've taken for granted is becoming a scarce resource. In May, 2000, 220 communities in British Columbia and 250 in Newfoundland faced boiled water advisories.

UV light destroying Bacteria DNA.

The Process

Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection uses a UV light source, which is enclosed in a transparent protective sleeve. It is mounted so that water can pass through a flow chamber, and UV rays are admitted and absorbed into the stream. When ultraviolet energy is absorbed by the reproductive mechanisms of bacteria and viruses, the genetic material (DNA/RNA) is rearranged and they can no longer reproduce. They are therefore considered dead and the risk of disease has been eliminated.

UV-rays are energy-rich electromagnetic rays that are found in the natural spectrum of the sunlight. They are in the range of the invisible short wave light having a wavelength ranging from 100 to 400 nm (1 nanometre = 10-9m).

FAQ's

What is ultraviolet (UV) light?

Ultraviolet light exists at the invisible, violet end of the light spectrum. Although we can't see UV light, we are exposed to a small amount every time we walk out into the sun. The water treatment industry uses special lamps that emit UV light of a particular wavelength in order to disinfect water.

How does UV work?

UV rays work by penetrating into bacteria and viruses, destroying their ability to function and reproduce. Simple but effective, these systems can destroy 99.99 per cent of harmful microorganisms. It is done without adding chemicals or changing your water's taste or odour.

Why not use chlorine?

UV light does not produce harmful chemicals in drinking water. It's safe, effective, and environmentally friendly. Chlorine, however, reacts with certain compounds that may be present in the water supply, resulting in by-products that have been linked to cancer (such as trihalomethanes, or THMs). As well, many people object to the taste and smell of chlorinated water, making it that much less desirable to drink.

Is pre-treatment of my water required for a UV system to work?

A 5-micron sediment filter is usually installed upstream of any UV system so as to eliminate any particles large enough to block the UV light. The UV system should always be installed downstream of any other water treatment equipment. However, ultimately the quality of your water will determine if additional pre-treatment is required. What may be blocking the UV light:

Chemicals such as iron and calcium carbonate can form deposits on the UV lamp's protective sleeve, reducing the light that can penetrate the water. Water softeners and iron removal systems are sometimes required.
Chemicals such as iron, tannins and humic acid are able to absorb UV light and thus reduce the amount available for disinfection. After performing a simple test to measure your water's UV transmittance, your water treatment specialist can recommend treatment devices to suit your water supply.

To determine what kind of upstream installation your system needs will require a water test. For information on water testing options, click here.

How do I know what size of UV unit to buy?

It depends on what kind of treatment plan you require. You can treat the water for your whole home or just the drinking water from one tap. It is recommended that you treat the water for your entire home if you draw from a private water supply.

Does a UV system consume a lot of energy?

No. A UV system that's able to treat the water for a typical house will consume about the same amount of energy as a 60-watt light bulb. UV is a cost-effective, natural way to increase water quality.

How often would I have to change the UV lamp?

It is essential that you change the UV lamp once a year. UV lamps, like light bulbs, will dim with age and eventually burn out. Most UV brands design itheir UV units to generate the necessary UV light intensity for one year's continuous use. The lamp will continue to burn long after, but it will not generate an adequate amount of UV light necessary to treat your water effectively.