What are UV Water Filters?

UV water filtration is a chemical-free process that uses ultraviolet (UV) light to disinfect water by killing or inactivating harmful microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and protozoa. The UV light penetrates the microorganisms' DNA, disrupting their ability to reproduce and cause illness. This method is highly effective in eliminating 99.99% of harmful microbes without altering the taste or quality of the water, making it a safe and eco-friendly option for water purification in both residential and commercial settings.

A UV water filter uses ultraviolet light to disinfect water by killing 99.99% of harmful microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, and protozoa without adding chemicals. It's an effective, environmentally friendly solution for ensuring safe drinking water.

The UV water disinfection process utilizes special UV lamps or bulbs that emit UV light of a particular wavelength. These UV light waves have the ability, based on their length, to disrupt the DNA of microorganisms. These UV light waves are referred to as the Germicidal Spectrum or Frequency, the frequency used in killing micro-organisms is 254 nanometers (nm).

During the UV water disinfection process, as water passes through a UV water treatment system, living organisms in water are exposed to UV light which attacks the genetic code of the microorganism and rearranges the DNA /RNA, eliminating the microorganism's ability to function and reproduce.

If a microorganism can no longer reproduce, it cannot replicate, therefore it cannot infect other organisms with which it has contact. This process of exposing water to UV light is simple and effective.

Check out our UV System Buyer's Guide or take our Interactive UV Filter Selection Quiz to help you choose the UV sterilizer that's the right fit for your home or commercial application.

The UV light, 254 nm, is measured in water treatment as Milli-joules per Centimeter square. The United States Department of Health has determined that an effective UV system should provide a minimum of 30,000 Milli-joules per Centimeter Square for drinking water applications.

Municipal water suppliers perform the necessary operations to meet water quality standards, but UV purification systems take water treatment to a higher level—providing a safe solution against chlorine-resistant microorganisms such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium which cause thousands of documented health cases each year.

Before purchasing a UV water disinfection system, it's important to examine UV water purifier pros and cons.

There are a variety of ultraviolet water purification system makes and models, but most of them have the same basic components. Below is a list of the nine most common components of a UV sterilizer.

Options available when purchasing a UV system include:

• UV Sensor - Available option on most UV systems, the UV sensor monitors and indicates the intensity of the UV light. If the intensity becomes too low, even though the UV bulb is on, an alarm is triggered.
• Solenoid Valve - Available option on most UV systems, the solenoid valve automatically shuts the water off if the system is not functioning properly, preventing the possibility of contaminated water flowing through the system that is not treated properly.
• Flow Meter - Standard on some UV systems, the flow meter calculates the actual real-time UV dose delivered for a particular flow rate, ensuring water is treated properly.