Our first open-channel UV systems were installed in the mid-1980’s; by the 1990’s UV systems had become mainstream and were widely adopted for wastewater disinfection. Since then, innovation in UV equipment and technology has continued, with revolutionary advancements along the way that have changed the way we think about UV.
Today, our newer systems offer significant energy, labor and maintenance savings, thanks to the latest in lamp technology, sleeve cleaning and controls/automation.
New Lamp Technology
Fewer lamps (up to 1/ 3rd) are needed to treat the same flow thanks to new technology that can pump out up to 1000 Watts per lamp. As lamps have become more powerful, they have also become more energy efficient, saving users up to 66% energy. Improved controllers can help realize even more savings. For example, new controllers can automatically adjust lamp power during periods of low flow or changing water quality to conserve energy and extend lamp life, all while ensuring your required dose is being met.
Labor Savings
In new UV systems, there are up to 1/3rd fewer lamps to maintain and new controller and sleeve cleaning technology that can simplify an operator’s daily work. Smart controllers have expanded the capabilities available for monitoring and automating UV system functions, including diagnostics and alarms. Our ActiClean sleeve cleaning system saves hours of maintenance time by automatically cleaning quartz sleeves to prevent fouling.
Innovation to Installation
With over 10,000 municipal UV installations, we have many examples of UV innovation in action. One such example is in Chicago; The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) – of which the Terrence J. O’Brien Water Reclamation Plant (WRP) is part of – has made a number of upgrades to its treatment process over the years. The addition of UV disinfection was a critical part of these upgrades; it played a key role in improving water quality throughout the Chicago Area Waterway System (CAWS).