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UV water treatment for your swimming pool

The beautiful days are coming and you just can't wait to dive into your pool.

However, anyone who says they can enjoy their pool this summer also says: maintain it. Sometimes cleaning it takes longer than swimming! You are also looking for more ecological solutions to obtain quality bathing water. We also speak of a UV clarifier or sterilizer.

UV treatment of swimming pool water

An ecological and sustainable treatment for the maintenance of your swimming pool

Let's discover an alternative that could simultaneously respect your comfort and the environment : this is UV water treatment.

Unlike filtration methods that use chemicals to disinfect water, UV treatment effectively and sustainably eliminates bacteria in water by preventing them from reproducing without leaving harmful residue.

In addition to being natural , this method requires little maintenance. You will therefore enjoy your swimming pool more while bathing in healthier water .

 

How does a UV pool lamp work?

A UV lamp reproduces the ultraviolet rays emitted by the sun. To be precise, it produces UV type C. Ultraviolet energy is actually broken down into three distinct wavelengths: UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C.

Sunlight is made up of these three UV rays . It is actually the UV-C part that is used to disinfect water, as it is deadly to microorganisms such as E. coli.

The water passes through the inlet tube, the tube activated, returning UV-c rays to the water and the bacteria it contains.

How does a UV pool lamp work?

The bacteria are not killed, but they are rendered “ inactive ” and sterile . Which completely prevents their proliferation and their harmfulness at the exit of the treatment tube.

UVC rays emit a wavelength of 100 to 280 nanometers. Very rich in energy, they can destroy bacteria, algae and viruses.

UVC light is therefore used in sterilization : the fields of application of this solution are also found in medical, agricultural, etc. environments.

 

How does UV treatment work?

The 3 elements that make up your disinfection system are:

  • the disinfection device
  • the dosing pump
  • pH regulation (optional)

 

Firstly, the water from the swimming pool is sucked in to be filtered: it is exposed to UV lamps, within the disinfection device. This destroys bacteria, viruses and algae.

After that, the injector will pass through to regulate the PH of the water which will then be sucked in by the probe.

Thanks to the addition of residual products, the cleaning process will be complete and the water will be returned to the pool clean and purified of any micro-organisms.

 

How does UV destroy bacteria and microorganisms?

When a bacteria or other type of microbe is directly exposed to UV light, the cell's DNA (its basic building block) is damaged. Therefore, it can no longer reproduce: it can no longer cause infection.

UV light thus kills bacteria.

The UV process is a physical process , unlike adding chlorine to water to treat microbiological problems, which is a chemical process .

This is important: it allows UV to kill bacteria without adding anything to the water or creating disinfection byproducts (as

e trihalomethanes, called THMs for short, which are proven to be carcinogenic).

 

8 benefits of UV-C treatment for your swimming pool

  • Bathing comfort: no skin irritation or red eyes
  • Thanks to this technique, reduce your consumption of chemicals (-75%): an ecological treatment. Some manufacturers even speak of “organic” treatment.
  • A curative solution: this is an effective method that eliminates bacteria, even those most resistant to chlorine, without deteriorating water quality or generating harmful residues.
  • A preventive solution: bacteriologically decontaminated water
  • A solution that has no taste or odor unlike less natural methods such as chlorine, electrolysis or salt. Air quality is improved, particularly for pools protected by a bubble.
  • Combined with active oxygen, opt for a 100% clean and pure swimming pool, for the greatest pleasure of bathers.
  • Requires little maintenance : a durable treatment that does not deteriorate easily.
  • UV lamps designed for 9,000 hours of use: approximately 4 seasons of peace (3 months per year)

 

Read the article on maintaining a water treatment plant

 

The disadvantages of ultraviolet treatment of swimming pool water

  • The action of the lamps does not improve the taste of the water.
  • If your water is cloudy, this technology cannot clarify it: it must be pre-filtered.
  • No action on filamentous algae
  • No afterglow like some products can do

 

A 100% natural solution with active oxygen

Although it is one of the best alternatives in the eco-friendly maintenance of a swimming pool or spa, this treatment needs a supplement to be 100% effective: active oxygen. It acts as a residual product.

UV treatment is a curative treatment, which helps eliminate micro-organisms. However, for a preventive treatment which prevents them from developing, it is necessary to add a few doses of active oxygen (which is a persistent product ensuring guaranteed cleaning performance).

Active oxygen is a natural product, unlike chlorine.

 

Is UV treatment possible with my pool?

Consider two parameters:

  • Your filtration system
  • The residue used

On the first point, filtration, good news, UV treatment works with all existing solutions (cartridge, sand, etc.). However, the pre-filtering must be of good quality to complement the action of ultraviolet rays.

To put it simply, if the filtering is poor, there will be too many particles that are too large in the water. This will prevent the UV bulbs from working properly.

Also note that it becomes essential that the recommendations on filtration time are scrupulously respected. To put it simply: the daily filtration time is equal to the water temperature divided by two.

For example: if you have water at 28°, turn the water on for 14 hours a day.

Regarding the residual product, you can use active oxygen, bromine or chlorine. Be careful to find out about the respective specificities.

Active oxygen is not recommended for water temperatures above 30°, when the volume is too large (+90 m³).

In other cases, it is recommended to use chlorine or bromine. With UV treatment, the doses are much low and destroys residues (chloramine).

 

How much does a UV treatment installation for swimming pools cost?

A complete station for treating water with UV starts at around €1,400, which varies depending on the characteristics of your pool. Next, let's add the dosing pump for active oxygen.

It is also possible to install this system on an above-ground swimming pool.

 

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How much does a UV-C lamp cost?

The average price is around a hundred euros. Obviously, depending on the model and the power, this will change the budget to replace these lamps .

Remember to check the lifespan indicated by the manufacturer to know when you should change it. The order of magnitude is 9,000 to 13,000 hours depending on the model.

The most practical installations incorporate an hour counter to know precisely whether it is time to replace your UV lamps .

A word of advice: express delivery of these lamps is recommended.

For what ? Less delivery time often means less handling, therefore less breakage once it arrives at your home.

 

How to choose the power of your UV lamps for swimming pools?

There are 4 ways to determine the flow rate to choose the power of the UVc station:

  • Max flow rate of the pump used,

  • Precise calculation of the flow rate at the different withdrawal points which can be used simultaneously (shower 1, shower 2, toilet 1, 1 toilet 2, sink, etc.). In this case, use a graduated container and a stopwatch to determine the flow rate at each withdrawal point then add up.

  • An average estimate of the flow depending on the number and type of water feature, the number of people by adding a flow limiter in line with the chosen station. For example, for a family of 4 people with 1 bathroom/1 toilet, take the 36 W station and the 1.8 m³/h flow limiter or always for a family of 4 people, with 2 bathroom/2 toilet take the 55 W station and the 1.8 m³/h flow limiter. flow limiter 2.28 m³/h

  • Allow 3 W per cubic meter of water. So, for a pool measuring 6 m x 4 x 1.5 m deep, or 36 m³, select a UV sterilizer of at least 108 W to keep the water clear.

 

What dosage for active oxygen?

Active Oxygen is a hydrogen peroxide with which an anti-limescale and an anti-algae is associated.

Active Oxygen is a light residue which allows the water to remain clean for a long time while passing through the UV station while maintaining exceptional bathing comfort (no odor, no irritation).tations of the eyes or skin).

It is injected in liquid form in daily micro-dosing using a dosing pump.


The daily injection is adjusted according to the volume of the pool and the water temperature:

These dosages are announced for a water temperature of 25°.

For any higher degree, 10% of the initial dose should be added.

In addition, we can provide you with active oxygen or anti-algae on request.

We recommend Bayrol or CTX brand products which are more effective and more stable over time.

These products are available in large retailers without the significant shipping costs for these specific products.

 

Tips for using active oxygen

  • Active oxygen is volatile at high temperatures and is not recommended for water temperatures exceeding 28°, and more particularly for covered pools.
  • It is not recommended for cartridge and diatom filtration, because the presence of anti-algae can quickly clog these filters.
  • Prefer the PH of the water to 7.0 or even 7.2 maximum, otherwise, provide a DUO dosing pump with integrated PH dosing pump.
  • When starting up at the start of the season or during the season, in the event of storms or a large number of bathers, shock treatments should be carried out. This involves pouring a certain quantity of liquid oxidant (Ovychoc for example: 1L / 10m3) directly into the pool, preferably in the evening (follow the instructions given in the instructions for the selected product).
  • For any pond equipped with a shelter, a shutter, a solar cover, we must uncover the pond during the day so that the water becomes oxygenated and thus prevent the water temperature from increasing during the day. above 28°C.

 

Have you already opted for another filtration method?

It's not late to switch to natural treatment of your swimming pool water

We could see that there was a more natural and effective method than chlorine. However, if you have already used chlorine, it is possible to switch to a greener, more organic treatment. There are alternatives to chlorine tablets!

For any advice on installing the necessary equipment, Benjamin is here to assist you. All types of swimming pools, spas and ponds can use this treatment, so contact us.

We even just recommended a spa owner! We respond to your messages within 24 hours maximum. In addition, you can also go to the UV RER website, French manufacturer of UV disinfectors .

 

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