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Methods for testing the efficacy of ultraviolet light disinfection devices for drinking water
Author(s) -
Tobin R.S.,
Smith D.K.,
Horton A.,
Armstrong V.C.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
journal ‐ american water works association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.466
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1551-8833
pISSN - 0003-150X
DOI - 10.1002/j.1551-8833.1983.tb05199.x
Subject(s) - turbidity , ultraviolet , ultraviolet light , environmental science , protocol (science) , materials science , medicine , optoelectronics , alternative medicine , pathology , oceanography , geology
Ultraviolet (UV) light devices have been used in the disinfection of raw drinking water at the point of use, but the need for reliable fail‐safe devices has been demonstrated. A study was performed to establish test protocols that could be used to ensure adequate disinfection under adverse conditions, particularly in the presence of turbidity and color in the water. A test protocol was devised for fail‐safe light sensors by using a color or turbidity agent in the feed solution to reduce the UV dosage to the established minimum limit, 16 000 μ W·s·cm ‐2 , in order to determine whether the fail‐safe device was properly calibrated and functional. Three commercial UV devices were tested with this method; one device was satisfactory, the second unit was set too low by a factor of 1.6, and the third unit was set too low by a factor greater than 2.