Cooling Water Systems

Disinfecting Potable Water

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Legionella Bacteria Issues

Disinfecting Potable Water Including the Effective Control of Legionella Bacteria

Several chemical oxidants have been used throughout the world for many years to disinfect potable water systems. Oxidizers in use include chlorine, ozone, chloramines, chlorine dioxide, and others. Chlorine is the most common oxidizing chemical used in potable water in the United States, however, it is not effective in killing many bacteria at normal use rates, including Legionella bacteria and cryptosporidium.

Chlorine dioxide on the other hand is very effective at killing Legionella, and without the limitations of other oxidants. Waterchem recommends the new patented HALOX system to generate chlorine dioxide at a customer site. The slide show noted below provides photographs of a HALOX unit and a description of the process. The following are advantages of chlorine dioxide over the alternative products:

  1. Rated good by the UK Health, Safety Executive and BSRIA for all applications with no limitations.
  2. Rated good for biofilm control also. Biofilm is considered a contributing factor in Legionella growth.
  3. No pH limitations.
  4. Removes most taste and odors.
  5. Low ORP compared to most oxidizers, therefore results in minimum system corrosion.
  6. Does not produce THM (tri halo methane).
  7. Works in both hard and soft water systems.
  8. Sodium chlorite, the chemical used to generate chlorine dioxide, does not produce vapors.
  9. HALOX system is simple and safe to operate.
  10. Chlorine dioxide produced is high purity resulting in minimum chlorite and chlorate by-products.
  11. HALOX system is capable of automatic feed based on ORP.

 

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