Ultraviolet Solutions

[rfamily]

Would like to hear your thoughts and comments regarding UV Water Sanitiation and Chloramine reduction systems.

A local pool supplier is now offering these usnits both for residential and commercial applications. The unit I saw was made by Delta UV.

Do you feel these systems are beneficial? What concerns have you seen with these systems? Are they cost effective and how much of a reduction in chemicals could one see? They contend the life exptency of the bulb is every three years for seasonal pools. Look forward toward anyone's thoughts and comments.

[PoolGuyNJ]

Delta UV doesn't impress me much. OTOH, Aqua Ultra Violet has had some very high praises from people I respect.

See http://www.aquaultraviolet.com/industries/swimmingpools for info.

UV in an outdoor, residential pool doesn't do a lot but is far more useful on an indoor pool where lower FC and CYA levels are needed.

Scott

[rfamily]

Delta UV doesn't impress me much. OTOH, Aqua Ultra Violet has had some very high praises from people I respect.

See http://www.aquaultraviolet.com/industries/swimmingpools for info.

UV in an outdoor, residential pool doesn't do a lot but is far more useful on an indoor pool where lower FC and CYA levels are needed.

Scott

Does all UV lights work the same? From a buyers perspective what are things to consider when purchasing a UV system? How does this compare to a Ozone unit? Is one better then the other? With UV does a stainless steel casting have any more effect then a PVC case? My pool is 23,000gals including an over flow spa. Some say there could be a 70% decrease in chemical usage. Being this is the first year being used I have no historical data to compare and not sure what my return on my investment will be if this cost between $750-$1100. Appreciate previous responses and welcome your additional thoughts.....

[waterbear]

As PoolGuyNJ said, UV is useful in an indoor pool to help reduce persistent chloramnes. However, outdoor pools are exposed to UV from sunlight so they really don't do much in this respect for an outdoor pool. They can be useful at killing cryptosproridium cysts in the water (but only in the water passing through the UV chamber. This is why they are used as a supplementary sanitizer in commercial installations but their use in outdoor residential installations really only benefits the installer/dealer who made a profit on the sale!

As far as reducing sanitizer needed...you still need to maintain the same amount of residual sanitizer (read chlorine here) to have sanitized water since UV will only have an effect on the water passing through the chamber and not on the water in the pool itself! If there is a fecal accident, for example, the pool will still need to be closed and superchlorinated whether there is a UV unit or not! There MIGHT be a reduction in chlorine demand with a UV unit installed but YMMV and it's really hard to say you will get a 70% or 40% or even 10% reduction in sanitizer usage. There are too many variable at play here. Then there is the question of whether the reduction in sanitizer offsets the cost of tue UV unit and replacement bulbs (which, depending on the unit and how long the pool runs each year, can last as little as 6 months before needing replacement....with a very short swim season I can see three years before bulb replacement but once again, that is more marketing hype than truth. In reality, UV output drops off as the bulbs age and, if you want peak performance, you really need to replace the bulb long before it burns out!

Don't believe all the marketing hype. Remember, it's trying to sell you something!

With all that being said, if you have an indoor pool then UV is certainly worth looking into and if you are running a high usage commercial pool it can be useful.

[Pool Clown]

What everyone has said is pretty much on track. The theory works, it's the maintenance that is the killer. We tried our third manufacturer about six months ago, and had the same problem. The bulbs fail prematurely. I had to do a little research while i was trying to get the last unit warranted.

* First, these units were first designed for fresh water, so they were on 24/7. The bulbs don't like to be turned on and off.
* If they aren't on, they aren't doing anything for the water. They don't produce a lingering residual like chlorine.
* The bulbs (depending on the manufacturer) are not warrantied for much more than a year(at this time).
* The turning on and off(what will be happening daily) of the bulbs "significantly" decrease the life of the bulb.
* Bulb replacement IMO is "cost prohibitive" compared to the equivalent of chems.
* Nearly all pools i have visited over 6 months old have a bulb that has gone out. This was with Paramount's O3(ozone) units, Aqua-ultrapure (UV 254). And AQUA-ultraviolet units.
* I will say that AQUA has the best units so far simply because their units offer a way to "wipe" the glass tube that encloses the bulb, so that the U/V rays aren't impeded by build up, and can make it to the water.

Another note: I would get the type of unit that has the water pass through rather than pass air through a chamber and have it drawn into the pump. This leaves the chance of your pump loosing prime if the adjuster gets knocked, or turned up (Un-educated pool guy), or if it gets turned down (because the pump keeps loosing prime) you will have effectively turned off the sanitizer.

[rfamily]

I simply would like to thank everyone for their thoughts. It was very informative and helpful in my decision to hold off at this time.

Thanks Again........

[Tradewinds]

Does anyone know if any progress been made in regards to UV Water Sanitation over the last couple of years?

Thank you,

Mike

[waterbear]

UV is NOT a primary sanitizer. There is no residual in the water and the only sanitation takes place in the reaction chamber around the bulb. It is actually more useful in an indoor pool that is not exposed to sunlight or in a high usage commercial pool to help control persistent combined chlorine than it is for sanitation. You need a fast acting residual sanitizer in the the water at all times. There are only 3 EPA approved sanitizers for pools--chlorine, bromine, and biguanide/peroxide (only the first two for commercial installations). For spas you can add silver/MPS to the list of EPA approved residual sanitizers (but once again, not for commercial installations)

[Pool Clown]

I wont even consider the advantages of UV until the price, longevity, and warranty of the bulb improves.