| Ultraviolet (UV) water disinfection equipment | | | | you've had a mechanical failure of the |
| has become commonplace in many rural homes | | | | system. Basically, it will tell you if your |
| across the USA, Canada, and the rest of the | | | | lamp or power supply have failed. Some more |
| world. Through water testing many homeowners | | | | sophisticated systems will provide you with a |
| discover that their water is contaminated | | | | code indicating which component has failed. |
| most commonly with Coliform bacteria but | | | | This can make troubleshooting and fixing your |
| occasionally with more dangerous e.coli. It's | | | | UV water system far more straightforward. If |
| at this point that most people choose to go | | | | you are going to be performing the |
| with an ultraviolet (UV) water system to | | | | maintenance and upkeep of the system |
| solve their problem. The trouble is, there | | | | yourself, this is a feature that could be of |
| are many manufacturers and models to choose | | | | great value. |
| from - so which one should you choose? | | | | |
| | | | The next level of performance monitoring is a |
| Having a water source contaminated with | | | | system that includes an ultraviolet (UV) |
| bacteria can be a scary problem for a | | | | sensor, sometimes called a UV monitor. Think |
| homeowner to tackle. The first step that most | | | | of a UV sensor as an electronic eye that |
| people take is to consult anybody and | | | | stares at the UV lamp. If for any reason the |
| everybody who has anything to do with home | | | | "eye" does not receive enough UV light it |
| water systems. This often means a | | | | will trigger an alarm. Reasons for a UV |
| conversation with the plumber. While there | | | | sensor alarm include a dirty sleeve, poor |
| are some plumbers who are well versed in the | | | | incoming water quality, or an old UV lamp. UV |
| world of water treatment, most only sell and | | | | sensor technology is not inexpensive and if |
| install the stuff when their existing | | | | you choose a model with a sensor expect to |
| customers demand it. Asking the plumber for | | | | pay several hundred dollars more than a |
| advice on which UV system you should use to | | | | similar capacity model without a sensor. It's |
| protect you and your family is akin to asking | | | | important to note that a system with a sensor |
| him which models his local wholesaler keeps | | | | is typically much more finicky than a |
| in stock. To be clear, most plumbers when | | | | non-sensor system. That is, the unit will do |
| asked about a UV system will go back to their | | | | much more beeping and alarming than a system |
| wholesaler and find out what models the | | | | without a sensor. For some people, especially |
| wholesaler has on the shelf. This can be a | | | | those with dangerously contaminated water, |
| real mixed bag. Some wholesalers will have | | | | this is a good thing. For people who are |
| high-quality products and some will carry the | | | | buying a UV system as a precautionary |
| cheapest brand they can find. | | | | measure, this might be an annoyance. One last |
| | | | note about ultraviolet sensors - some |
| Often, the next step that a consumer takes is | | | | applications in some jurisdictions require |
| to speak with the local water treatment shop. | | | | that you have one. If your water system is |
| Typically, these stores will carry higher | | | | considered "public" in any way, shape, or |
| quality products with many more bells and | | | | form you probably need to have a UV water |
| whistles available. Often the prices are very | | | | system with a sensor and/or an NSF |
| high, and it can be difficult to figure out | | | | certification. |
| which features are worth the money. | | | | |
| | | | NSF CERTIFIED ULTRAVIOLET WATER SYSTEMS |
| It's up to you, the consumer, to arm yourself | | | | |
| with the information you need to make an | | | | In the world of ultraviolet (UV) water |
| informed decision. The rest of this article | | | | systems there are two groups - NSF Certified |
| will help to educate you on the ins and outs | | | | and non-certified systems. The NSF is an |
| of UV disinfection to help you make a smart | | | | organization that performs testing of water |
| choice. | | | | disinfection equipment including ultraviolet |
| | | | (UV) systems. A manufacturer can send their |
| LAMP WATTAGE | | | | system to NSF and pay to have them test it to |
| | | | their standards. Systems that pass then carry |
| Manufacturers of electronics do a great job | | | | the NSF-Certified mark. So, how does NSF do |
| of presenting consumers with so many | | | | their testing? Simply stated, in order for a |
| technical details about their products that | | | | UV system to pass the NSF testing it must |
| it obscures some of the most important | | | | deliver a high level of UV disinfection |
| details. Lamp wattage is certainly one of | | | | performance, and must sound an audible |
| these often-overlooked specs. The performance | | | | visible alarm if that level of performance is |
| of a UV system, and the level of protection | | | | compromised. In order for the system to |
| that it affords, has first and foremost to do | | | | accomplish this it needs to have by default a |
| with the power of the UV lamp being used. An | | | | UV sensor and a flow restrictor. NSF |
| ultraviolet (UV) lamp is a specialized | | | | Certified UV systems are most typically |
| fluorescent lamp very similar to the kind you | | | | installed in public water situations such as |
| use to light your home. The higher the | | | | community centers, churches, schools, etc. |
| wattage of the UV lamp, the brighter it is. A | | | | Some states, however, demand that any UV |
| brighter lamp delivers more UV intensity and | | | | system installed in any situation must be NSF |
| it provides a higher level of protection. | | | | certified. These states are California, Iowa, |
| Period. Don't mistake system wattage for lamp | | | | Massachusetts, and Wisconsin. In all other |
| wattage. Some inefficient UV systems will use | | | | states it is rare to have an NSF certified |
| a low power lamp but the power supply that | | | | system installed on a private residential |
| drives the lamp may be a higher wattage. You | | | | water supply. |
| must find out the lamp wattage. Another word | | | | |
| of caution - different ultraviolet (UV) | | | | WARRANTY |
| system manufacturers will use different lamp | | | | |
| technologies. You may find an 8 gallon per | | | | The only thing to mention about the warranty |
| minute system made by manufacturer X uses a | | | | on UV systems that differ from some other |
| 3-foot long lamp while manufacturer Y uses a | | | | products is that some manufacturers offer |
| 2-foot long lamp and calls their system a 12 | | | | pro-rated warranties. So, if the manufacturer |
| gallon per minute system. How can the shorter | | | | states that they offer a 10-year warranty and |
| lamp deliver higher performance? Simple. | | | | your system breaks after 5 years, some UV |
| Better technology. Lamp size has nothing to | | | | system manufacturers will sell you a new |
| do with performance. Again, wattage is king. | | | | power supply for half price while others will |
| | | | replace it for free. Avoid pro-rated |
| PERFORMANCE INDICATORS | | | | warranties where possible. Keep in mind that |
| | | | it's much more common to have a UV lamp or |
| If you're thinking about a home UV water | | | | power supply burn out prematurely than it is |
| system it's usually because you have bacteria | | | | to have the chamber spring a leak. |
| in your well or you're concerned that you | | | | |
| might in the future. For this reason, you | | | | EASE OF MAINTENANCE |
| need to know if your UV system is working or | | | | |
| not. There are several different features | | | | There are a few manufactures of UV systems |
| offered by most UV system manufacturers to | | | | that offer products that can be serviced |
| help you know if your system is functioning | | | | without tools. This is a major plus for the |
| properly. The first and most basic is an | | | | homeowner who is going to be maintaining the |
| audio/visual performance indicator. Any UV | | | | system himself. Keep in mind that you will |
| system that you're considering should have an | | | | want to remove the quartz sleeve for cleaning |
| indicator light that tells you if your system | | | | periodically and will have to remove the lamp |
| is in failure. This should be accompanied by | | | | once a year to change it. Some UV systems |
| an audio alarm that sounds if the system | | | | make it very easy to remove the lamp but |
| fails. Since many ultraviolet (UV) light | | | | nearly impossible to remove the quartz sleeve |
| water systems are installed in the basement, | | | | without breaking it. A broken sleeve is an |
| make sure the audio alarm is loud enough that | | | | expense and a major inconvenience - you won't |
| you can hear it on your main living level. | | | | be able to turn the water back on until it's |
| The audio/visual indicator will tell you if | | | | been replaced. |