Fresh Water Systems Inc. (FWS), an independent provider of water filtration systems, has launched multiple initiatives designed to increase awareness about the effectiveness and efficiency of treating household water with ultraviolet (UV) disinfection.
These initiatives include a series of original informational videos about UV made in conjunction with Viqua, a manufacturer of UV systems for whom FWS is a major distributor. Another part of the promotion is a UV facts quiz with gift cards as prizes.
"A week does not go by where we don't see numerous regional boil alerts from all over the country, and even contamination of bottled water with dangerous microorganisms such as Giardia (the most common), E. Coli, and Salmonella. UV offers a highly affordable and environmentally friendly way to eliminate these types of threats right at the point the water will be used for drinking, cooking, or even washing."
Norvell notes that according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), more than 15 million households in the U.S. use private wells as their water source. Because well owners are responsible for the safety of their water, he wants more of them to know that UV represents an efficient and reliable alternative to traditional chemical disinfection. While adding chlorine or chloramines to water provides some level of safety, these chemicals will not neutralize as wide a range of pathogens as targeted UV light. He also points out that these chemicals themselves can present their own health hazards, as well as creating a bad taste in the water. UV light in no way affects the taste or appearance of the water it treats.
While homes using private well water are prime candidates for UV systems, many areas using municipally treated water suffer from occasional or even frequent contamination due to aging infrastructure or sewage leaks. UV represents a reliable alternative to boiling water when a bacterial contamination event occurs.
Fresh Water Systems offers Viqua UV units designed to treat all water entering a home, which is recommended when the source is private well water, as well as smaller units designed for use in one location, such as the kitchen, where added safeguards may be desired for drinking and cooking.
Source: Fresh Water Systems Inc.
