SO YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT A UV DISINFECTION SYSTEM: HERE ARE SOME CONSIDERATIONS FOR YOU

In recent years, wastewater disinfection has seen a major shift in design approach from the previous standard of chlorination/dechlorination chemical feed to ultraviolet light (UV) disinfection. Many designers, operators and owners are “jumping on the bandwagon” with UV systems. This is especially true with the many facilities that are facing the added costs of dechlorination facilities to meet stricter effluent chlorine limits and toxicity testing for receiving streams, and those with local fire departments now requiring mechanical gas scrubbers on these chemical feed systems to meet the 1994 Uniform Fire Codes. Many plants are now considering this technology and the benefits to the operations staff. City Councils and board members are also considering the positive public perception associated with having a chemical-free disinfection system and the lower liability of the plant operation.There are many design factors to consider in the specification, bidding and installation of UV disinfection systems. Some of these factors can influence both the capital and operating cost of the system and are worthy of an evaluation. It is also necessary to evaluate the many system features of the various manufacturers in the market and determine which features are needed for your installation.This presentation will focus on the experience of the engineering design team and the City of Broomfield Water Reclamation Facility staff in their combined efforts and the challenges encountered to produce an equipment specification for an open bid among most major UV equipment suppliers. Graphics will also be presented on the design features to be considered and the challenges of retrofit construction in existing chlorine contact chambers. Updates from operational experience and maintenance procedures will be presented. The presentation will use extensive slides of existing systems and installations to show how these design features have been constructed in the field.