Where UV makes the difference in water treatment
UV plays a critical role in water treatment to:
- Safeguard the process by protecting against microbiological breakthrough
- Deliver reliable disinfection
- Prevent the formation of harmful disinfection byproducts
In these situations, UV adds a robust, chemical-free barrier that strengthens overall treatment performance and water quality.
Situations where UV is preferred
Whilst UV is used as a standalone disinfection treatment option, you will usually find it working in a combination with other treatment steps. The better the water quality is, the higher the efficiency, the smaller the size and the lower the energy usage of a UV disinfection system will be. Therefore pretreatment of the water and use of the UV system as the last and final treatment (disinfection) step gives the best disinfection result.
Each application needs its own optimal mix. But UV treatment always adds clear value if positioned right.
Examples of applications where UV add real value:
- Where chemical use must be avoided (e.g. food, pharma, aquaculture)
- When Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) or chlorine-resistant pathogens pose a risk
- In water reuse projects (to eliminate microbiological risks)
- When biofilm control is key (e.g. in food industry)
- When energy efficiency and sustainability are priorities
Today, around 80% of global wastewater is discharged into waterways, posing health, environmental, and climate hazards. Wastewater treatment capacity stands at 70% in high-income countries but only 8% in low-income countries. Source: IWA
Why pretreatment
Effective pretreatment increases UV transmittance by removing particles and dissolved substances that absorb or scatter UV light. Higher transmittance allows UV systems to deliver the required UV-C dose more efficiently, directly reducing energy consumption.
Pretreatment increases UV-C transmittance and lowers turbidity. Common use cases of UV-C technology are:
- Drinking water treatment
- Swimming pools
- Wastewater treatment
- Fish farming (RAS)
- Food and beverage
Criteria and challenges when treating water
You face many choices when you treat water. Each combination of technologies performs differently under real-world conditions. This section helps you compare key criteria and understand common challenges, so you select the right solution-mix with confidence.
While effectiveness against pathogens is a key criterion, other factors also play an important role, such as safety aspects, energy use, system complexity, operational costs, and the presence of residual disinfection. It also highlights how these technologies can work in synergy with UV.
Use cases of UV technology
In many water treatment applications, UV is used alongside other technologies to improve overall performance and reliability. The following examples illustrate how UV can complement processes to create more robust and effective treatment systems.
Reduction of combined chlorine levels with UV treatment
Installing a UV system significantly reduced water and energy costs. Additionally, it created a more enjoyable swimming environment and improved comfort for staff due to demonstrably better water and air quality.
UV-AOP Technology in wastewater treatment
In chemical processes, the very toxic substance dioxane can be generated. UV-AOP Technology prevents this substance from ending up in nature and eventually drinking water by supporting the chemical industry with a sustainable and innovative advanced oxidation technology.
UV-C water disinfection in horticulture
In modern horticulture, reusing drain water helps reduce water consumption and limit environmental emissions. However, recirculating untreated water can also spread plant pathogens through the irrigation system. UV disinfection provides a reliable way to treat drain water before reuse by inactivating microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and moulds.