Improved Operating Practices for Emerging UV Systems

UV systems are emerging as a cost-effective, reliable approach to disinfect treated wastewater effluent. As these new UV systems are brought to the market, effective operation and maintenance approaches must be developed and validated to ensure that facilities using these emerging UV alternatives can maintain compliance at sustainable and reliable operating costs. Over the past several years, two emerging UV systems that have shown promise for implementation at water resource recovery facilities are HOD UV and the UVC-LED systems. With these new UV systems entering the market, there is a need to understand the operating procedures required by these new systems and to determine how to improve existing operating practices. A comparison of operational and maintenance activities of Hydro Optic Disinfection Ultraviolet light (HOD UV) and Ultraviolet Light C - light emitting diodes (UVC-LED) was made to practices employed by WRRF staff. Proper operation and maintenance activities may result in longer life, resulting in lower operating costs.