Pros and Cons of Ultraviolet Water Purification
You’ve probably seen UV light being used in some hospitals to disinfect surfaces from bacteria and viruses.
But did you know that the same principle can also be applied to water? That’s right, ultraviolet water purification is a real thing, and it’s highly effective.
However, there are certain things you should know beforehand. To get a better understanding, we’ll start by giving you a brief presentation on how it works. From there, we’ll go through a list of pros and cons, and then explain how to get all the benefits while avoiding its downsides. Let’s begin.
What Is Ultraviolet Water Purification?
Ultraviolet water purification relies on UV rays that penetrate the water to disable microorganisms’ capabilities at their DNA level.
UV water filters are installed at the plumbing system’s point of entry, right after the pre-filtration system. Ultraviolet water purification has gained a lot of popularity in recent years due to both its low maintenance and cost, and effectiveness as a water treatment solution.
Even if your local water treatment plant does a good job most of the time, it’s not immune to failures. There’s a reason why they issue boil water notices. Public water can get contaminated if there’s damage in the plant’s system, if an equipment failure occurs, and much, much more. This is why having your own disinfection method is necessary.
And this is exactly why ultraviolet water purification is sought after. It’s the fastest and most effective way to neutralize bacteria, fungus, viruses, parasites, and other pathogens that can contaminate water. People have avoided infections with E. Coli, Cryptosporidium, Legionella, and other nasty diseases thanks to ultraviolet water purification.
When Is Ultraviolet Water Purification Needed?
Due to the nature of private wells and water storage methods, we highly recommend using an ultraviolet water purifier.
Water that sits still for a high amount of time can start developing bacteria from the surface that it comes in contact with. Rust, dust, and other contaminants can also contaminate the water inside.
Even the most modern private wells, although usually better maintained than public systems, are still susceptible to bacteria and viruses. And, of course, if you get your water from a public source, we already mentioned the good ol’ boil water notices. Plus that other public filtration methods such as chlorination aren’t always 100% full-proof. So it’s better to be safe than sorry.
The Pros of Ultraviolet Water Purification
Now that you know how ultraviolet water purification works in a fair amount of detail, let’s go through some of the major benefits.
High Efficiency Against Microorganisms
While there are other types of filters that can block or reduce the number of pathogens, none stand a chance against UV water purification.
UV filters can remove up to 99.99% of all fungi, parasites, bacteria, viruses, and basically any other microorganism that you can think of. Because the UV rays target these microorganisms at the DNA level, they practically disable their ability to multiply and infect others.
Even microbiologists use UV purification to eliminate intruders in the microorganism samples that they want to study. As you can tell, UV rays are highly effective considering all these factors.
Eco-Friendliness
UV water purifiers don’t add any chemicals or waste any water whatsoever. They simply work by targeting microorganisms at a molecular level and that’s it. And if you’re worried about energy consumption, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to find out that they don’t consume any more than a neon lightbulb.
Extremely Low Maintenance
UV water filters are simple to maintain because you only need to change the UV bulb once per year.
Changing the bulb is completely hassle-free on the vast majority of models, and you’ll be able to do it in under five minutes with the help of the instruction manual.
You Can Use Other Filtration Methods in Tandem
Many people are rightfully worried that a filtration system they’re interested in won’t be compatible with their existing one.
If you’re interested in an ultraviolet purification system, know that it will be compatible with any existing filter. We actually recommend pairing a UV water filter with a filtration system for sediment, chemicals, and dissolved solids to enhance the UV purifier’s capability.
No Nasty Smell or Taste
Like we said earlier, ultraviolet water purification is completely natural. It adds no chemicals to the water supply. Unlike chlorination, it won’t alter the taste or smell.
If you want the same great-tasting water that you’ve had before, but without the risk of contracting any germs, UV water filters are the way to go.
The Best Protection Method Against a Boil Water Notice
Finally, probably the best part about having a UV filter, you won’t need to boil your water in case your local power plant issues a boil water notice.
Boiling water isn’t necessarily hard, but it’s a tedious process. At higher altitudes, above 6,500 feet, you need to keep the water at its boiling point for minimum three minutes for pathogens to be completely eradicated.
But if you have a UV water filter and running electricity, you won’t contract any microbes whatsoever. Regardless of water pressure, ultraviolet water filtration always works flawlessly.
The Cons of Ultraviolet Water Purification
That’s a pretty impressive number of benefits. Now let’s get on to the downsides of UV water filtering. It’s best to know these things beforehand before purchasing a UV water purification unit.
You Need a Pre-Filtering System
Ultraviolet water filtration only eliminates living microorganisms. Don’t expect it to eliminate sediment, chemicals, metals, or any other inorganic pollutant.
As such, a pre-filter is a necessity. Research what common pollutants can be found in your area to determine what types of filters you need. Doing so is important not only to avoid said pollutants, but because they also block the UV rays. As such, the ultraviolet water filtration system won’t be able to kill microorganisms.
Incompatible With Hard Water
The same principle applies if you live in an area with hard water. Most Americans do, so your chances of not needing a water descaler are quite low.
We don’t recommend using a water softener because it puts sodium in your water supply. As such, you’ll get soft water, but you won’t be able to drink it without risk of increased blood pressure and other problems.
Doesn’t Work Without Electricity
If the power goes out, then there’s no way the UV water filter can work unless you have a backup generator.
In such cases, you’ll need to rely on boiling the water on a stove the classic way. As you can tell, it’s not a great option for this type of emergency situations.
Other Considerations About Ultraviolet Water Purification
Now that you know all the pros and cons about this subject, it’s high time to choose a model that can benefit you the most.
Here at Yarna, we have two UV water filters, one for 13 GPM, and one for 18 GPM. What makes our models special is the SpiralLight technology that allows water to be exposed to the UV-C rays for far longer.
This way, you can rest 100% assured that any and all microorganisms will be eliminated. No more worrying about getting infected with E. Coli, Cryptosporidium, Giardia, and other nasty pathogens.
But wait, there’s more. We also offer you a complete one-year money-back guarantee. This applies both for our UV filter and our water descaler lineup. If, for whatever reason, you’re not satisfied with the results in one year from the date of purchase, we will refund every single penny.
Still not convinced? You should also know that we offer a 10-year warranty for all our products when you register them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is installing the UV filter difficult?
Not at all. With the help of the included guide, you’ll be able to figure it out and do it on your own in about 15 minutes.
Which UV light is used in water purifier?
Our model uses UV-C rays, which are similar to the ones emitted by the sun during peak hours at the beach.
In case you were wondering why so few people catch a cold during summer, this is the reason. The UV-C rays are the most efficient when it comes to eliminating any and all microorganisms. And with a UV water filter, those rays get up close and personal to the water, eliminating every pathogen effectively.
Is UV water safe to drink?
Absolutely! Since no chemicals are added and the water’s structure isn’t altered in any way, shape, or form, it maintains its hydrating properties.
The Bottom Line
If you’re worried about bacteria and viruses in your water supply, ultraviolet water purification is by far the best way to go.
There are no chemicals or alterations to worry about, so you can safely drink the resulting water without thinking twice. As long as you pair the filter with a good water descaler and a reliable pre-filtration system, it’s unlikely you’ll encounter any problems. Just don’t forget to change the light bulb once per year and you’re good to go.
