Title : Does UV Work in Swimming Pools?
The short answer can be yes. yet don't stop there.
There can be an almost hysterical run toward using UV (ultra violet) light to "better" treat as well as disinfect swimming pools against bather as well as environmental waste. as well as you can't stop at the answer above. You have to understand what UV treatment can be actually doing. Like everything, there are pros as well as cons. There are also myths of which must be dispelled as well as put to rest.
First the facts. There are 3 types of UV. UV-A: causes wrinkles in our skin as well as "burning". UV-B aids inside production of Vitamin D. Both of these are able to penetrate the earth's atmosphere. UV-C can be used commercially as well as personally to disinfect food as well as objects. UV-C cannot penetrate the atmosphere as well as must be artificially created.
UV-C can be excellent in sanitizing against bacteria, viruses, cysts & certain protozoa (including cryptosporidia as well as giardia - usually introduced by bather or environmental fecal matter - of which both are chlorine as well as halogen resistant). the idea does not allow algae to grow as well as multiply. the idea can be non-irritating to mucous membranes, eyes as well as ears. the idea does not affect your pool's water balance. the idea aids in reducing (not eliminating) chloramines as well as chlorine demand.
How does UV-C actually work? UV-C works works by disrupting the bacteria cells DNA as well as RNA. When the DNA as well as RNA are disrupted, the bacteria as well as viruses can not reproduce as well as multiply. Please note: UV-C DOES NOT KILL ANYTHING!
of which's the first myth or bit of information debunked. UV-C does not kill anything. Furthermore UV-C will NOT remove any micro-organisms. The some other things of which UV-C will not do are:
- Protect against re-contamination. As swimmers enter the water with "brand new" bacteria as well as micro-organisms, those must be treated.
- Work well in cloudy water. Cloudy water will effectively block the absorption of UV-C to do its job.
- Work well inside presence of heavy metals (dissolved iron, copper as well as manganese). Iron effectively blocks UV-C absorption.
- Work well in areas of high Calcium Hardness (over about 300 ppm). Areas of hard water will tend to be scale forming. Scale WILL form on UV-C tubing preventing its effectiveness.
- Work as a stand alone sanitizing system. UV-C can be meant to work as a supplement with chlorine, salt, bromine. Ionizers (Nature2, Frog, etc), biguanides (Soft Swim, Baquacil, etc) are not compatible.
- Oxidize anything. Shock treatments (using either chlorine or non-chlorine shock products) must be done regularly to oxidize contaminants as well as certain some other unfiltered matter.
Keep in mind of which the way of which UV systems are constructed, they must be properly maintained all of the time in order to be effective. I mentioned above of which UV can be rendered ineffective when the pool water can be cloudy. The UV light cannot penetrate the turbidity of the water. The water must be clear. The same holds true of the UV generator.
The bulb of the UV generator can be typically surrounded as well as protected by a quartz tube. The problem can be of which the quart tube will get cloudy; as well as the idea will get cloudy quickly. How quick? The "occlusion rate" (how cloudy the idea gets) can be, on average, about 5% per week. What does of which mean to you? the idea means of which after about 7 to 8 weeks, almost 50% occlusion will have occurred. Or in some other words, only about 50% of the UV light can be able to work.
In areas of high calcium hardness or high scaling or hard water or high metals (iron, copper, etc), the UV generator tubing will scale as well as cloud even faster. Proper, weekly chemical cleaning of the tube can be essential to remove as well as eliminate scale as well as naturally occurring bio-film build up. Using a bio-film remover such as AquaFinesse Pool Water Care tablets will aid inside cleaning. Otherwise, clean using a mild acid cleaner.
can be a UV-C system right for you? You will have to answer of which question. The cost range for a not bad UV system for the average swimming pool can be anywhere by about $1300.00 to $2500.00. of which's a lot of money as well as can purchase of lot traditional not bad, hard working chemicals as well as products.
Do your research. Anyone claiming bacteria kill can be completely misrepresenting the product. Remember, if the idea sounds too not bad, the idea probably can be.
Does UV Work in Swimming Pools?
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