UV Light Water Treatment: Purify Water Without Chemicals
Clean drinking water is essential for your daily life and your family’s health. If your private well contains bacteria or other contaminants, you may be wondering what the best way is to treat it and improve your water quality.
American Aqua’s ultraviolet water filtration systems provide an effective, chemical-free way to eliminate bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms from your water supply. UV water treatment delivers reliable protection for people throughout Michigan.
To learn about our UV product options, contact us today!
What Is UV Light Water Treatment?
UV light water treatment uses ultraviolet light to purify water without chemicals. A UV water filter system contains a special lamp that produces UV-C light, the same type of light that naturally occurs in sunlight, but at much higher concentrations. When water passes through the UV water treatment system, this powerful light destroys microorganisms.
UV water purification doesn’t leave behind any taste or odor. Chemical treatment, while effective, can cause water to have an unpleasant smell or flavor. For example, many people compare chlorine-treated water to smelling like a pool.
How UV Filtration Works
UV water filtration systems work through a simple but highly effective process. When water enters the UV water purifier, it flows past a UV lamp housed in a protective quartz sleeve. The UV light penetrates the cell walls of bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms. It destroys their DNA and prevents them from reproducing, making them harmless.
This process happens quickly as water flows through the system. Most UV water filtration systems can treat water at flow rates that meet typical household demands.
What UV Light Removes From Water
UV light water purifiers excel at eliminating biological contaminants. A properly sized UV system destroys:
- Bacteria, including E. coli and coliform bacteria
- Viruses
- Parasites, including cryptosporidium and giardia
- Other microorganisms that cause waterborne illness
For comprehensive home water treatment, American Aqua often recommends combining UV systems with other filtration methods. This is because UV filters do not remove chemical contaminants, heavy metals, minerals, or sediment.
Benefits & Disadvantages of UV Water Treatment
Benefits
UV light for well water offers several advantages over other treatment methods:
- Chemical-free – No chlorine or other chemicals added to your water
- No taste or odor changes – Doesn’t alter the natural taste, smell, or appearance of water
- Instant purification – Works immediately without storage tanks or extended contact time
- Cost-effective operation – Uses about the same electricity as a standard light bulb
- Minimal maintenance – Simple system with few moving parts
- Proven reliability – Works continuously as long as the system has power and bulbs are replaced regularly
Disadvantages
While UV water treatment is highly effective, it has some limitations:
- Requires electricity – Power outages temporarily disable protection
- Limited contaminant removal – Cannot remove chemicals, metals, or physical particles
- Water quality dependent – Hard water, high metal content, or turbidity and sediment can reduce effectiveness
- Regular lamp replacement – The UV lamp needs replacement approximately every year
- Pre-filtration is often needed – May require additional filters for optimal performance
Is Pre-Filtration Necessary With UV Treatment?
Pre-filtration is often required for optimal UV water treatment performance. Sediment, iron, and other particles can block UV light from reaching microorganisms. American Aqua typically recommends installing a sediment filter before your UV water filter to remove particles that could interfere with disinfection.
We may suggest additional pre- or post-treatment to ensure your water filtration system works optimally. Our water quality experts will test your water and recommend the right combination of treatment methods. Schedule your free water test in Michigan today!
Do You Need UV Treatment and a Reverse Osmosis System?
UV water treatment and reverse osmosis (RO) are two distinct water purification technologies, each with unique strengths and limitations.
RO is best for removing a broad spectrum of dissolved and particulate contaminants, like lead and arsenic. UV treatment is for microbial disinfection. What option you choose depends on the specific contaminants present in your water supply. For best results, especially with mixed contamination, you can opt for an RO system plus UV treatment.
UV Lamp Replacement & Maintenance
UV lamps in treatment systems typically last 9,000 to 12,000 hours of operation. This equals about one year of continuous use. Even though the lamp may still produce visible light after this time, its UV output decreases significantly, reducing the system’s ability to destroy microorganisms.
Annual lamp replacement helps ensure reliable water purification. At American Aqua, we offer convenient maintenance plans that include lamp replacement and system inspection. We make sure your UV water purification system operates reliably. Contact us to schedule a service appointment.
Can You Drink UV-Treated Water?
Yes, you can drink UV-treated water. UV water treatment adds no chemicals to your water and creates no harmful byproducts. The process damages waterborne microorganisms while leaving beneficial minerals untouched.
UV Water Treatment Solutions From American Aqua
American Aqua expertly installs UV water filtration systems throughout Michigan. Our trained water quality specialists understand the unique water problems in our region. Since 1975, we’ve offered professional installation, maintenance, and prompt service to keep customers’ water treatment equipment working perfectly.
With every UV water filter system we install, we provide thorough testing to ensure optimal performance. We also provide complete training on system operation and maintenance, so you understand exactly how your equipment works.
If you want to enjoy the benefits of chemical-free water purification, contact American Aqua for a free water test. We’ll recommend the perfect UV water treatment solution for your needs. We offer elevated technological innovation and comprehensive manufacturer warranties. Find out more about our UV water treatment systems today.