UV News

A wide range of UV drinking water disinfection systems offer cost‐effective compliance alternatives for the Long‐Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water  Treatment Rule (LT2ESWTR) and Ground Water Rule (GWR). The U.S. EPA UV Disinfection Guidance Manual (UVDGM) is currently the accepted technical reference for validating and designing UV disinfection systems for drinking water treatment.

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The global market for ultraviolet (UV) light disinfection equipment is estimated to be worth $885 million in 2011, and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.7% during the next 5 years.  At this rate, the overall market worth will reach $1.6 billion in 2016. The market for water treatment equipment is the largest and one of the fastest growing.  Valued at approximately $536 million in 2011, this market is expected to rise at a CAGR of 11.4% and reach $921 million by 2016. Wastewater treatment is the fastest growing global market for UV disinfection equipment.  Market size is estimated to be worth $198 million in 2011 and growing at a CAGR of 18.2%. It is expected to reach $456 million by 2016." 

EPA awarded $698,689 to the University of Cincinnati to provide a fundamental understanding of how a toxic substance produced by blue-green algae can be changed by exposure to ultraviolet light, a process used to disinfect drinking water.

Blue-green algae are bacteria that can grow in freshwater lakes, ponds, and wetlands. Some blue-green algal blooms can be toxic if swallowed by wildlife, livestock or people who drink untreated water. The research will be critical to developing cost-efficient ultraviolet technologies to treat water contaminated by the toxin.

The Agency also made a $299,581 grant to the Partnership for Industrial Ecology in Central Ohio whose members include Ohio State University and the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio. The partnership will develop an industrial ecosystem tool kit for use in reducing the amount of waste going into central Ohio landfills by 15 percent over the next five years...

If only it actually cleaned. Alas, the Pocket UV Disinfector merely disinfects - so easily that it would be nice to use it for wiping up spills and messes.

But the idea here is to zap away bacteria and viruses. Just open the small, high-frequency light and flash it over surfaces - maybe your computer keyboard at work or the restroom doorknob or the kids' toys. The makers promise that it's harmless to humans and pets but kills 99.9 percent of all bacteria and viruses.

Retail price is $19.95 at www.marketgypsy.com and it's powered by AA batteries. Guilty pleasure, perhaps - but easier than all of the spray disinfectants that have come on the market lately.

For some lucky bottlers, bromate, a potential by-product of disinfection with ozone, has never been a problem; however, for others it has caused many a sleepless night. With the onset of US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) disinfectant by-products regulations in 2001, many bottlers had no choice but to reduce the ozone concentration at the filler and limit or totally discontinue ozone usage throughout their systems...
... Ask: How well do you know the microbial condition of your water process? Was your system designed to be sanitized? Is your system easy to sanitize? What are your typical HPC counts throughout your system prior to ozone? Have you checked your raw water for mold and/or algae? Have you taken full advantage of other disinfection options such as UV?...

Not to dampen your weekend plans, but the CDC is warning people about parasites that can thrive in swimming pools.

Cryptosporidiosis is a gastrointestinal illness which can leave people suffering from diarrhea for weeks.

The CDC says the parasites that cause the illness can spread even in chlorinated water.

The agency is now calling for additional water treatments to try to fight the illness, such as extra chlorine and ultraviolet radiation.

In the meantime, CDC officials recommend people shower before and after getting into pools, avoid swallowing pool water, and wait at least two weeks after bouts of diarrhea to get back in the water....

The US Center for Disease Control has issued an important alert concerning Cryptosporidiosis outbreaks.

The Chicago River is becoming more popular for recreation, but environmentalists say that it and some other inland waterways in the Chicago area could pose a health risk. In a new report, an environmentalists group calls for a multimillion-dollar system to disinfect -- perhaps by using ultraviolet light -- treated water discharged into rivers by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago. Disinfection removes illness-causing viruses and bacteria...

CH2MHILL is a national engineering firm that specializes in water treatment. The contract is for pre-design, site investigation and final design of a disinfection facility. Officials estimate the system would be operational by 2010. The new water treatment system uses ultraviolet rays that are encased in glass tubes, releasing rays through the water...

A breakthrough in fundamental technology behind devices like LEDs and lasers could lead to advances in a wide range of products, including optical disks, light sources and flat-panel displays.

Scientists at Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology claim to have developed a new highly efficient ultraviolet light emitting semiconductor.

"These results provide the way to high-density optical data processing, highly efficient and long-life white light sources, and high-performance large-area transparent conducting thin films for solar cells and flat-panel displays," said the researchers...

POLICE are employing radical DNA-type technology to catch repeat criminals. They have bought a new £30,000 SmartWater system, which can trap thieves and burglars years after committing their offences using ultraviolet lighting. An invisible liquid containing a DNA profile is loaded into business sprinkler systems and painted on to valuable items. Burglars can be covered in the substance without their knowledge. It cannot be washed and stays on skin and hair for years. Free kits are also being handed out to Barrow's residents so they can mark their valuables. From this week, any suspected criminals will be made to stand under a special UV lights system before they enter the custody suite at the Barrow station. If they have SmartWater on their skin, clothes or hair, it will show up and the unique code can be matched to a crime...

After getting a blessing from state officials, the Fallbrook Public Utility District (FPUD) will pursue its plans to build an ultraviolet treatment plant at Red Mountain Reservoir. For 22 years, the district has used the 440-million-gallon reservoir tucked away on Mission Road both on a daily basis and as an emergency storage backup. Its massive 22-acre surface is not covered. But FPUD has never had a water quality problem with it. In fact, Red Mountain has an exemplary record of operation and has exceeded Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirements. But new EPA rules require all open reservoirs to be fitted with covers, or equipped with treatment plants by the year 2012. The UV treatment system, estimated to cost $3 million to $5 million, will be a huge savings over the $15 million to $20 million the district thought it would have to spend to build a conventional water treatment facility to meet the new standards.

EGG HARBOR, WI - A $30,000 ultraviolet water disinfection system is a harbor-side restaurant's first defense against its norovirus-contaminated well water.. The restaurant, The Log Den, is located in Egg Harbor, a Wisconsin village of about 1,500 in the center of the Door County peninsula. The restaurant had to shut down operations June 3 after 212 patrons and employees became violently ill with nausea, diarrhea and fatigue attributed to the same G1 strain of norovirus that was detected on June 15 in The Log Den's well water. The virus was also detected in stool samples of three of the people who became ill after eating at the restaurant between May 29 and June 1. Noroviruses can live in groundwater for up to two years, and, according to Door County Health Department Director Rhonda Kolberg, the virus comes only from human sources. The restaurant reopened for business June 16 after it installed an ultraviolet-light water disinfection system to treat the incoming well water, which first is softened...

FORT WASHINGTON, Pa. - June 6, 2007 - Severn Trent Services has announced the acquisition of the business of Quay Technologies Ltd. of Berks, United Kingdom, manufacturers of a proprietary ultraviolet (UV) technology for use in water and wastewater disinfection. Quay Technologies' patented microwave-powered UV systems offer significantly improved reliability and bulb life, resulting in lower overall operating costs when compared with traditional technologies. Severn Trent Services will offer the Quay UV systems to the water and wastewater treatment market under the new brand name, MicroDynamics(TM).

"The unique Quay technology strengthens Severn Trent Services' position in providing UV solutions for the growing global water and wastewater disinfection treatment markets. Our customers will benefit by having access to universally accepted UV disinfection results that are delivered in a much more efficient and reliable manner," said Thomas M. Mills, the company's vice president of marketing and business development...