Calif. Approves UV Disinfection System for Reuse
Aquionics' UV disinfection systems are the first closed vessel, medium pressure systems in the world to be validated for wastewater reuse applications in accordance with AwwaRF/NWRI guidelines. Having undergone third-party validation testing by Carollo Engineers, they have now been formally approved for post-filtration and reverse osmosis applications by the California Department of Public Health (Title-22 validation), according to a Feb. 9 press release.
Wastewater reuse has been practiced in various forms for decades, with the United States leading the way in reuse research. It is now a major issue, with large areas of the western and southern states experiencing chronic water shortages. The problem is becoming more acute with population growth, with many of the most arid states, such as Nevada and Arizona, experiencing rapid increases in their urban populations in recent years. Large-scale reuse projects are being considered in other water-poor regions of the world such as Australia, China, and southern Europe.
The most common method of wastewater disinfection for reuse has long been chlorination. Despite chlorine’s impressive track record, concerns regarding disinfection byproducts (DBPs) and, more recently, disinfection performance with respect to pathogen inactivation, are driving the conversion from chlorine disinfection to other disinfection methods such as UV, which does not produce any significant DBPs.
“We are extremely pleased that we have achieved this important validation," said Aquionics' President Bill Decker. "Our state-of-the-art technology uses UV sensors to actually measure how the UV systems are performing. This permits much greater control while saving energy, especially when compared to the existing methods of applying crude safety factors to systems that use high numbers of lamps or are unwiped.”
Aquionics, a Halma Company, designs, manufactures and applies UV technology for progressive, non-chemical disinfection and microbiological control. The company’s systems are used in water and wastewater treatment, pharmaceutical and semiconductor manufacturing, food and beverage processing, brewing, aquaculture, ballast water treatment, and power generation.