General UV Questions

What is Ultraviolet (UV) technology?

UV technology is an environmentally-friendly way to utilize ultraviolet energy to neutralize the microscopic microorganisms that live in pool water.

How does UV work?

Unlike most disinfectants, ultraviolet (UV) radiation does not use a chemical reaction to neutralize microorganisms. Rather, UV radiation inactivates organisms through the absorption of light to cause photochemical damage to the target organism by altering components essential to cell function. This does not necessarily kill the microorganism, but the disruption of the DNA or RNA prohibits future replication rendering the microorganism incapable of infection. It is important to note that only the water that comes into direct contact with the UV light is being disinfected.

What type of microorganisms does UV neutralize?

E. coli, Legionella, Pseudomonas, Salmonella, Cryptosporidium, Giardia, Hepatitis A, and many more. Inactivation is dependent upon many factors such as UV dosage, water quality, and contact time which is based on the flow rate through the device.

What other industries use UV technology?

Use of UV technology is prevalent throughout the municipal waste water, drinking water, pharmaceutical, microelectronics, beverage and brewing, and the food and meat processing industries.

Are there other uses of UV technology in the pool industry?

Pools also use UV to generate ozone in ozonators. This technology is different and should not be confused with the BioLab^® UV systems. The major difference is that ozonators use UV to generate ozone, which is toxic and used as an oxidizer in the water before it has to be vented off. BioLab UV generates no ozone and uses UV at a special wavelength to neutralize contaminants in the water.

What are the advantages of UV technology?

• UV light is effective at neutralizing microorganisms including chlorine resistant parasites like Cryptosporidium and Giardia, thus enabling more efficient use of chlorine to kill bacteria and eliminate swimmer waste.
• This technology is a physical process rather than a chemical disinfectant; therefore it does not affect water balance.
• UV technology is environmentally-friendly and the devices are user-friendly for operators.
• It reduces combined chlorine by up to 47%, which reduces the "chlorine smell" caused by chloramines to enhance bather comfort.

Will chlorine usage be reduced when using UV?

There are many factors that affect chlorine consumption. UV has an indirect effect on chlorine by allowing it to work more efficiently because there are less contaminants in the water that contribute to chlorine demand.

We add CYA to prevent chlorine degradation from sunlight. Will UV degrade chlorine?

Yes. If left unstabilized, UV will readily degrade free chorine. This is why BioLab UV should always be used within balanced pool water that is stabilized with cyanuric acid.

Does UV affect pH or water balance?

No, UV does not affect water balance or pH. However, it is very important to maintain proper pH and alkalinity, since these factors affect the scaling potential of metals (iron, manganese, copper, calcium) which can then precipitate on the quartz sleeve and impair the performance of the unit.

How does UV affect chloramines?

At proper dosages, UV light can destroy chloramines up to 47% through a process called photo-oxidation.

Is there any residual effect from UV?

No, UV energy does not leave a measurable residual in your pool. It is a supplemental system that treats water only as it passes inside the unit's wet chamber and comes into visual contact with UV energy from the lamp. The use of an EPA registered chlorine sanitizer is needed to maintain a 1-3 ppm free chlorine residual at all times.

Do I still need to use chlorine with my UV device?

Yes, you must maintain a 1-3 ppm free available chlorine residual in conjunction with the UV device.

What chemical program should I use with UV?

UV is ideal with all chlorine-based programs. Because of its PVC housing, the LC10 system is to be used with all chlorine generator pools and pools using bleach.

Can I use UV with biguanide treated systems?

No, UV technology is only compatible with pools using a chlorine program.

Can I use UV with an ionizer like Nature 2^® or Frog^®?

Yes. Even though such sytems use metal ions, the concentrations are low enough to not interfere with the UV transmission. Remember that any auxiliary equipment such as an ionizer is to be installed after the UV system.

Does UV work with traditional alternative chemical feeders and generators?

Yes, BioLab^® UV systems work with any chlorine chemical feeder or saline chlorination. However, the BioLab UV LC10 must be used since its plastic components are compatible with pools equipped with saline generators. Because of its stainless steel construction, the LC20 housing will not be covered under the limited warranty if installed on a saline generator pool.