An ultraviolet (UV) water purifier system is a mechanism of treating water that targets the elimination of living microorganisms in water such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, and cysts through the introduction of ultraviolet light/radiation at a certain wavelength. An ultraviolet water purifier is unique in the water treatment process in the sense that it does not deal with non-living organisms and pollutants in the water.
There is a wide range of UV water treatment systems that differ in terms of the cost, the flow rate of water being treated, the size such that prices range between $70 and $3,400, flow rates vary from 0.5 Gallons Per Minute (GPM) to 34 GPM and lifespans range from 5 to 10 years. This article seeks to compare some of the Best Ultraviolet Water Purifiers and act as an Ultraviolet Water Purifier Buying Guide among the common manufacturers like Pentair, Aquasana, Viqua, Bluonics, iSpring, and Crystal Quest.
Best Ultraviolet water purifiers are listed below:
- Pentair Pelican PC600-PUV-7-P
- Aquasana UV Filter
- Crystal Quest UV
- HQUA OS-124
- Bluonics UV Water Purifier
- Viqua V4 Premium
- Viqua VH410
- Pelican Premium Ultraviolet (UV) Disinfection System
- iSpring UVF11A
- Bluonics Whole House UV Water Purifier
Best Ultraviolet Water Purifier Comparison Table
| PRODUCT | DETAILS | ||
|---|---|---|---|
 | Pentair Pelican PC600-PUV-7-P |
| View On Pelican |
 | Aquasana UV Filter |
| View On Amazon |
 | Crystal Quest UV |
| View On Crystalquest |
 | HQUA OWS – 124 |
| View On Amazon |
 | Bluonics UV Water Purifier |
| View On Amazon |
 | Viqua D4 Premium |
| View On Amazon |
 | Viqua VH410 |
| View On Amazon |
 | Pelican Premium Ultra Violet (UV) Disinfection System |
| View On Pelican |
 | iSpring UVF11A |
| View On Amazon |
 | Bluonics Whole House UV Water Purifier |
| View On Amazon |
1. Pentair Pelican PC600-PUV-7-P
The Pentair Pelican PC600-PUV-7-P is a whole house carbon filter water purification system that consists of a 5-micron pre-filter, a carbon filter, and a UV unit from the reputable water treatment brand Pentair.
Pentair Pelican UV system is unique as it has a sediment filter and together with the UV component, it is able to remove a whole range of impurities and microbes from the water like sediments, chlorine, chloramines, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, industrial solvents, and the whole array of bacteria, viruses, and pathogens.
The price of the Pentair Pelican UV system ranges between $1,700 and $3,400. The UV lamp has a lifespan of 12 months. What makes the PC600-PUV-7-P stand out is the fact that it has a UV lamp lifespan display which shows a countdown of the number of days before the UV lamp reaches its lifespan of 365 days.
The Pentair Pelican PC600-PUV-7-P UV system’s main maintenance requirements include the replacement of the prefilter 6 to 9 months, annual replacement of the UV lamps, replacement of the carbon tank media after 5 years or 650,000 gallons of purified water, and the regular cleaning of the quartz sleeve.
The Pentair Pelican PC600-PUV-7-P operates at flow rates ranging between 7 and 16 gallons per minute. Pentair Pelican UV system requires 35 watts whereas the UV lamp requires a low 25 watts for the operation of the system.
The advantages of the Pentair Pelican PC600-PUV-7-P UV purification system are as follows:
- The PC600-PUV-7-P has a 4 phase purification system covering the removal of silt and suspended solids up to 5microns, the removal of chlorine and chloramines, herbicides, heavy metals, and the tackling of microorganisms.
- The Pentair Pelican PC600-PUV-7-P removes up to 97% of residual chlorine in the water.
- The Pentair Pelican PC600-PUV-7-P has inbuilt displays and alarms for warning the user when the critical criteria for its operation are getting compromised like the short lifespan of the UV lamp and low UV levels.
- The Pentair Pelican PC600-PUV-7-P has low energy requirements.
- The Pentair Pelican PC600-PUV-7-P is able to achieve high flow rates of water at peak rates.
- One just needs to replace the media after 5 years instead of the whole system.
The disadvantages of the Pentair Pelican PC600-PUV-7-P UV water purification system include:
- The Pentair Pelican PC600-PUV-7-P occupies a lot of space such that when one intends to install it in-house, the user has to be mindful of the space requirements.
- The Pentair Pelican PC600-PUV-7-P is quite expensive to buy.
2. Aquasana UV Filter
The Aquasana UV Filter is an ultraviolet water purification system that sterilizes 99.99% of microbes including viruses, bacteria like Escherichia coli, and even chlorine-resistant cysts like Cryptosporidium and Giardia. It is produced by the Aquasana brand, which is one of the most popular UV water treatment system brands in the US and can be supplied throughout the world. The Aquasana UV filter can be fitted to a whole range of the brand’s different water filtration systems, for example, the Rhino Well system. Unlike other ultraviolet water purification systems like Viqua or Pelican, the Aquasana UV treatment systems have been designed and engineered to treat 500,000 gallons of water (Rhino Well) or 1,000,000 gallons of water (EQ-1000).
The price range of the Aquasana UV filter alone is between $550-$600. The components of the Aquasana UV filter include the sub-micron post filter, a flexible hose, the UV filter, the control module that will be connected to the mains, and the brackets for mounting the filter.
The lifespan of Aquasana UV lamps is about 12 months and they should therefore be replaced annually. This is because the amount of UV released by the UV lamp decreases over time. However, the water filtration system that works with the UV component, such as the Aquasana Rhino Well UV water treatment system, lasts for 5 years.
The Aquasana UV treatment system is characterized by low maintenance requirements and costs because it has very low energy requirements of the control module of the sterilization unit, the fact that there is no backflushing of the system, and that the system does not use a drainage line which requires an additional installation and maintenance. Aquasana UV filter systems have low wattage ratings of between 36 and 48 watts meaning they have low operational costs from an energy perspective. There are 2 main maintenance mechanisms of the Aquasana UV filtration system, including the replacement of the UV lamp when it has reached its lifespan of 1 year of use. The system will notify the user when the lamp needs to be replaced through the use of an alarm. After the replacement of the lamp has taken place, the alarm should be reset so that it can go off after another 365 days.
Aquasana UV water filter system also needs regular cleaning of the quartz sleeve. This is because the mineral deposits and sediments in the water accumulate on the walls of the sleeve, reducing the amount of energy being passed for water treatment, thus reducing the UV system’s efficiency. As such the sleeve needs to be periodically disassembled, cleaned with Calcium, Lime, and Rust (CLR) remover or a mild acid before rinsing with water. After cleaning, the sleeve is assembled back before reuse.
The Aquasana UV water filter operates at a flow rate of 7 gallons per minute (GPM). Thus, there is no pressure reduction in the household as a result of the UV system installation.
The Aquasana UV treatment system has the following advantages:
- The strong sterilization ability of the Aquasana UV filter can ensure the removal of up to 99.99% of the bacteria, viruses, and chlorine-resistant cysts.
- The Aquasana UV filter produces water of a good quality that is characterized by no odors and a good taste.
- The Aquasana UV filter carries a 5-year warranty against defective parts.
- The Aquasana UV systems have an inbuilt alarm that notifies the user about the need to replace the UV lamp.
- Aquasana UV filter is easy to install.
The disadvantages of the Aquasana UV filtration system are as follows:
- Aquasana UV water filtration system is large and occupies significant space. Therefore, it might not easily fit in small rooms or houses.
- In order for the warranty benefit to be valid, one needs the Aquasana system to be professionally installed; otherwise, the warranty will become void.
- Although the Aquasana UV filter is effective in removing other water treatment chemicals like chlorine, it cannot remove fluoride from water.
3. Crystal Quest UV
The company Crystal Quest boasts a wide variety of UV purification systems for domestic, commercial, and industrial uses. Among the domestic purpose UV systems under the Crystal, Quest banner includes the 1 GPM UV, 6 GPM UV, 8 GPM UV, 12 GPM UV, 24 GPM UV up to the 84 GPM UV systems.
What makes the Crystal Quest UV stand out is its wide range of UV systems to choose from depending on one’s budget as well as the flow rate needs. For small to medium families, the 6 GPM and 8 GPM UV systems can purify enough water for their needs. The Crystal Quest UV purifiers are suitable when they are installed as an add-on to a filtration system that can remove constituents like heavy metals, suspended solids, and/or sediments but does not kill microorganisms. The UV system will complement such a system by killing bacteria, viruses, and protozoa.
The Crystal Quest 6 GPM UV, 8 GPM UV, and 12 GPM UV consist of a stainless steel reaction chamber, quartz sleeve, UV bulb, and a control module. In addition, the whole house UV systems would essentially have more filter systems before the water gets to the UV lamp.
Just like other UV systems, the Crystal Quest UV systems have low maintenance requirements mainly in the form of the annual replacement of the UV lamp and the cleaning of the quartz sleeve to remove any sediments that can reduce the penetration of the UV light thus reducing the efficiency of the UV purification process.
The prices of the modest Crystal Quest UV system ranges between $390 and $570 for the Crystal Quest 6 GPM UV, 8 GPM UV, and 12 GPM systems whilst the higher performance UV systems like the 24 GPM UV systems are priced from about $1,800. The UV lamps of all the Crystal Quest UV systems have a life span of 12 months. Whilst the modest Crystal Quest UV systems only have an alarm for indicating the UV lamp failure, the higher performance UV systems have a UV lamp remaining life display which shows the number of days before the UV lamp needs replacement.
The Crystal Quest UV systems have impressive flow rates ranging between 6 and 12 gallons per minute for the modest UV systems. On the other hand, the high-performance systems have flow rates ranging between 24 and 84 gallons per minute The flow rate can meet the water requirements of any family. Power requirements for the modest Crystal Quest UV systems range between 25 and 55 watts while the power needs of the high-performance UV systems range between 110 and 440 watts.
The advantages of the Crystal Quest UV purification system are as follows:
- The Crystal Quest UV purification system has been designed and engineered to kill 99.99% of water-borne bacteria, viruses, and protozoa. They are therefore very effective in eliminating microbes in water.
- Crystal Quest UV systems are environmentally friendly in the sense that the system does not utilize chemicals that are dangerous to the environment and to users in the purification process.
- The Crystal Quest UV systems do not use chemicals that often result in harmful byproducts for humans and the environment, for example, trihalomethanes originating from the chlorine that has been found to be carcinogenic.
- The UV systems remove up to 97% of residual chlorine in the water.
- A good range of the Crystal Quest UV systems is affordable as they are among the cheapest for UV purification systems.
- The modest Crystal Quest UV systems are suitable for homes because they have low operational costs due to their low energy requirements.
- The installation process of Crystal Quest UV is easy as it only involves a power connection as well as 2 water connections.
The disadvantages of the Crystal Quest UV systems include:
- The Crystal Quest UV systems need to be installed by a professional plumber to avoid having the manufacturer’s warranty revoked.
- The modest UV systems (6 GPM UV, 8 GPM & 12 GPM) do not possess an early warning system showing the remaining UV lamp lifespan.
4. HQUA OWS – 124
The HQUA OS – 124 is a smaller and simple design of a whole house UV purification system that is manufactured by the Beijing Charmsstone Electronics Technology Co Ltd in China.
The HQUA OS – 124 is a purification system that can deliver 12 GPM whilst killing 99.99% of the bacteria and viruses. The HQUA OS – 12 is unique in the sense that it can be connected directly to an existing house pipeline system without any problems. The casing of the chamber is made of 304 stainless steel and is small with a diameter of only 3.5 inches. The manufacturer has even introduced a smaller UV of the HQUA OS – 124 model that has a diameter of only 2.4 inches and uses less power. The UV system consists of a stainless steel reaction chamber, quartz sleeve, UV bulb, and electronic ballast (control module).
Unlike other UV systems, the HQUA OS – 124 UV system has fewer maintenance requirements for some of the components. The manufacturer recommends the cleaning of the quartz sleeve every 6 to 12 months whereas, for other systems, the frequency is 3 to 6 months. The manufacturer however recommends the replacement of the quartz sleeve every 24 months or when it can no longer be cleaned. The UV lamp requires an annual replacement except for seasonal homes where the manufacturer recommends replacing the lamp after every 2 years.
The HQUA OS – 124 UV purifier is reasonably priced at a cost of about $250. The filter replacement bulbs are free. The power requirements for the HQUA OS – 124 UV systems range between 40 and 55 watts with the newer and slightly smaller design of the UV purification system having a lower power consumption. The HQUA OS – 124 was designed to transmit an impressive 90% of the UV light which is quite high and effective for as long as the quartz sleeve is clean.
The advantages of the HQUA OS – 124 UV system are as follows:
- The slim and small size of the HQUA OS – 124 UV unit as well as the capability of installing it on an existing home pipe network makes it possible to install it even where space is confined because it does not need a lot of extra space.
- The initial cost of purchasing and installing the HQUA OS – 124 UV system is quite low compared to most of the UV purification systems thus making it one of the most affordable UV systems.
- The HQUA OS – 124 UV systems are even suitable for homes because they have low operational costs due to their low energy requirements.
- The manufacturing company for the HQUA OS – 124 UV system has good customer service. The latest HQUA OS – 124 UV is being sold with 2 spare UV lamps, a spare electronic ballast, and a spare quartz sleeve. Furthermore, the company offers a free replacement for a broken UV lamp.
- The use of the HQUA OS – 124 UV systems is environmentally and user friendly in the sense that the system does not utilize chemicals that are dangerous to the environment and to users in the purification process.
- The HQUA OS – 124 UV systems do not use chemicals that often result in harmful byproducts.
- The HQUA OS – 124 UV purifier is able to supply high-quality water at high flow rates.
The HQUA OS – 124 UV system has the following disadvantage:
- The quartz sleeve of the HQUA OS – 124 UV system has a short lifespan of 2 years.
5. Bluonics UV Water Purifier
The Bluonics Ultraviolet Light Water Purifier Reverse Osmosis UV Steriliser 0.5 GPM is a small UV system that is manufactured by the US water company Bluonics. It is ideal for use as an add-on to a reverse osmosis system in order to cater for the complete removal of microorganisms so as to supply good quality water. Bluonics UV water purifier is suitable for use as a point of use system due to its low flow rate of 0.5 GPM.
The Bluonics UV purification system consists of a strong 304 stainless steel reaction chamber, quartz sleeve, a 6 watts UV bulb, and electronic ballast. The chamber is small with a length of 9 inches. The Bluonics UV system’s small size makes it ideal for use as an under sink water purification system.
The Bluonics 0.5 GPM is a low-maintenance UV system. The UV lamp needs to be replaced annually. The quartz sleeve needs regular cleaning to remove the minerals accumulating on the sleeve to ensure that the UV light efficiency remains high for optimum microorganism elimination. The quartz sleeve needs to be replaced every 2 years.
The Bluonics 0.5 GPM UV system costs about $70. The power requirements of the Bluonics 0.5 GPM UV system are quite low as it needs 6 watts to operate the UV lamp.
The Bluonics UV water purifier has the following advantages:
- Bluonics 0.5 GPM UV system has quite low operational costs due to its low energy requirements associated with the 6 watts UV lamp.
- From an environmental and safety perspective, the use of the Bluonics 0.5 GPM UV system is friendly in the sense that the system does not utilize chemicals in the purification process that cause pollution to the environment and to users.
- The use of the Bluonics 0.5 GPM UV does not alter the characteristics of the water like changing the taste or introducing an odor like what some chemicals used in the treatment of water do.
- The Bluonics 0.5 GPM UV purification system is effective for providing good quality water at a point of use like at a sink.
The Bluonics 0.5 GPM UV system has the following disadvantages:
- The UV system has a low flow rate of 0.5 GPM thus making it unsuitable for use where high flow rates are needed.
6. Viqua D4 Premium
The Viqua D4 Premium Water Purifier is a Whole House UV purification system that can be used as a point of entry system and is supplied by Viqua, a Canadian company. The Viqua D4 Premium is a UV system that ensures the provision of reliable, economical, and chemical-free water and is characterized by top-of-the-range specifications for a seamless UV water purification process.
Viqua D4 Premium purifies and delivers water at a rate of 12 GPM. The Viqua D4 Premium Water Purifier is able to supply good quality water whilst killing 99% of bacteria like E. coli, viruses, and parasites such as the chlorine resistant Cryptosporidium and Giardia. The chamber is small with a length and diameter of 20.5 and 4 inches respectively.
The Viqua D4 Premium Purifier comprises a 304 stainless steel reaction chamber, quartz sleeve, UV bulb, and a modern LED controller and display. The LED controller which is characterized by a large backlit display for easy reading has multiple functions which include showing the remaining lifespan of the UV lamp, controlling the voltage to the UV lamp, indicating if the UV light percentage is within an acceptable range, giving lamp replacement reminders via an alarm, finding retailers for replacement parts and serving as a quick reference for the user.
The Viqua D4 Premium is a low-maintenance UV system. The UV lamp requires an annual replacement and this is made easy by a reminder and the display of the remaining life on the LED display. The quartz sleeve needs regular cleaning and the replacement of the quartz sleeve every 2 years.
The Viqua D4 Premium UV system costs about $670 and has low power requirements, 50 watts for its operation.
The Viqua D4 Premium UV system has the following advantages:
- The use of the Viqua D4 Premium UV system has low operational costs due to its low energy requirements.
- The use of the Viqua D4 Premium UV system is environmentally friendly in the sense that the system does not utilize chemicals
- The Viqua D4 Premium UV purifier is able to supply high-quality water at high flow rates that can ensure a sufficient supply for the whole family.
- The stainless steel reaction chamber comes with a safety cap and lamp plug to prevent unsafe access to UV lamps and light.
- The Viqua D4 Premium system has an additional safety feature that prevents the switching on of the UV lamp if it is out of the UV chamber to avoid exposure to the UV light.
- The chamber is small in size such that the system can even be installed where space is a challenge.
The Viqua D4 Premium UV system has the following disadvantage:
- The initial cost of installing the Viqua D4 Premium UV system is quite high compared to most of the UV purification systems.
7. Viqua VH410
The Viqua VH410 UV is a Whole House UV purification system that can be used either as a point of entry or point of use system. The Viqua VH410 is supplied by Viqua with the objective of the provision of reliable, economical, and chemical-free water.
Viqua VH410 has a flow rate of 34 GPM making this UV system suitable for both home and commercial use. The Viqua VH410 UV is able to achieve the elimination of 99.9% of bacteria like E. coli, viruses, and protozoa as well as parasites like the chlorine resistant Cryptosporidium and Giardia.
The Viqua VH410 UV Purifier comprises a 304 stainless steel reaction chamber, quartz sleeve, UV bulb, and a simplified controller. The chamber has a small footprint with a length and diameter of 23.5 and 3.5 inches respectively.
The Viqua VH410 UV system is categorized as a low-maintenance system. The UV lamp requires an annual replacement and this is simplified by the display of the remaining life (in days) on the controller and the reminder in the form of an alarm. The quartz sleeve needs cleaning every 3 months The manufacturer also recommends replacing the quartz sleeve every 2 years.
The Viqua VH410 UV system costs about $670 and has low power requirements of 60 watts to achieve such a high output of good quality water.
The Viqua D4 Premium UV system has the following advantages:
- The Viqua VH410 UV purification system kills 99.9% of water-borne bacteria, viruses, and parasites.
- The use of the Viqua VH410 UV system has relatively low operational costs due to its low energy requirements.
- The use of the Viqua VH410 UV system is environmentally friendly.
- The Viqua VH410 UV purifier is able to supply high-quality water at high flow rates of 34 GPM that can ensure a sufficient supply for the whole family or for small to medium businesses.
- The controller of the Viqua VH410 UV system has numerous uses including displaying the remaining UV lamp lifespan and warning the user of system problems like lamp failure.
- The stainless steel reaction chamber comes with a safety cap and lamp plug to prevent unsafe access to UV lamps and light.
- The reaction chamber has an additional safety feature that prevents the switching on of the UV lamp when it is outside of the UV chamber.
The Viqua VH410 UV system has the following disadvantage:
- The initial cost of installing the Viqua D4 Premium UV system is quite steep compared to most of the UV purification systems.
8. Pelican Premium Ultra Violet (UV) Disinfection System
The Pelican Premium Ultra Violet Disinfection System (PUV-8-P) is one of Pelican’s Whole House UV systems on the market.
The Pelican Premium UV purifier is able to treat and deliver water at a high rate of 8.9 GPM. The Viqua VH410 UV is able to achieve the elimination of 99.9% of microorganisms that include bacteria like E. coli, viruses, and protozoa as well as parasites like the chlorine resistant Cryptosporidium and Giardia.
The PUV-8-P UV kit consists of a 304 stainless steel reaction chamber, quartz sleeve, UV bulb, and a Viqua LED multi-function controller. The chamber is small with a length and diameter of 20.5 and 4 inches respectively.
Pelican Premium UV disinfection system is categorized as a low-maintenance system. The UV lamp needs to be replaced annually and there are 2 mechanisms for reminding the user to replace the lamp. The LED controller displays the remaining life (in days) and if the lamp still is not replaced, the controller will activate an alarm. The quartz sleeve needs regular cleaning with Calcium, Lime, and Rust (CLR) remover, vinegar, or a mild acid before rinsing with water to remove the minerals accumulating on the sleeve to ensure that the UV light efficiency remains high for optimum microorganism elimination.
The Pelican Premium UV system costs about $840. The power requirements of the Pelican Premium UV system are quite low as it only needs 50 watts for its operation.
The Pelican Premium UV system has the following advantages:
- The PUV-8-P UV purification system kills 99.9% of water-borne bacteria, viruses, and parasites.
- The use of the PUV-8-P UV system has relatively low operational costs due to its low energy requirements.
- The PUV-8-P UV purifier is able to supply good quality water that can ensure a sufficient supply for the whole family.
- The LED controller of the PUV-8-P UV system has numerous display, reminder, and technical support functionalities that make the PUV-8-P UV system very user-friendly.
- The reaction chamber has a safety feature that prevents the switching on of the UV lamp when it is outside of the UV chamber thus preventing unsafe access to UV light especially in environments where there are children.
The PUV-8-P UV system has the following disadvantage:
- The initial cost of buying and installing the PUV-8-P UV system is high compared to a lot of the UV purification systems.
9. iSpring UVF11A
The iSpring UVF11A is one of the US-based companies, iSpring’s water purification products. The iSpring UVF11A purifier is a small UV system that is suitable for use as an add-on to a reverse osmosis system or carbon filter for the removal of microorganisms so as to provide a complete water purification process. The purifier is suitable as a point of use system due to its low output of 1 GPM.
The iSpring UVF11A purification system consists of a strong 304 stainless steel reaction chamber, quartz sleeve, an 11 watt UV bulb, and electronic ballast. The chamber is small with a length of 10.25 inches. The iSpring UVF11A system’s small footprint makes it suitable for use as an under sink water purification system. The system is smart as it has a flow sensor that automatically switches the UV light on and off depending on the water flow such that it saves power and the UV light when not in use.
The iSpring UVF11A is categorized as a low-maintenance system. The UV lamp needs to be replaced annually. The quartz sleeve needs regular cleaning at least 3 times a year with vinegar before rinsing with water to remove the minerals accumulating on the sleeve. The quartz sleeve needs to be replaced every 1 to 2 years.
The iSpring UVF11A UV system is cheap both to buy and operate. It costs about $130. The power requirements of the iSpring UVF11A UV system are quite low as it needs 11 watts to operate the UV lamp.
The iSpring UVF11A system has the following advantages:
- The use of the iSpring UVF11A system has quite low operational costs due to the low energy requirements (11 watts) of the UV lamp.
- From an environmental and safety perspective, the use of the iSpring UVF11A system is friendly in the sense that the system does not utilize chemicals in the purification process that cause pollution to the environment and to users.
- The iSpring UVF11A purification system is effective for providing good quality water at a point of use like at a sink.
- The presence of a flow sensor that automatically turns the UV light on and off with water flow in an iSpring UVF11A is advantageous as it helps in saving more power when water is not being used and prolongs the lifespan of the UV lamp.
- The small size of the iSpring UVF11A makes it possible to use it even where there are space constraints, for example under the sink.
- The iSpring UVF11A has warning mechanisms for indicating that the UV system is not working including an alarm and an indicator light.
The iSpring UVF11A UV system has the following disadvantages:
- The iSpring UVF11A has a low flow rate of 1 GPM thus making it unsuitable for point of entry systems or where high flow rates are needed.
- The quartz sleeve has a short lifespan of 1 to 2 years.
10. Bluonics Whole House UV Water Purifier
The Bluonics UV Water Purifier is a whole house UV purification system that is supplied by the American Company, Bluonics.
The Bluonics 12 GPM UV system purifies and delivers water at a rate of 12 GPM. It kills 99.99% of the bacteria like E. coli and salmonella. The Bluonics Whole House UV is compatible with other purification systems that deal with the filtration of sediments and other suspended solids, for example, the whole house water purification system, reverse osmosis, or the carbon filter system. This is because just like the other UV systems, the Bluonics 12 GPM UV is only able to kill the microorganisms that might be in the water. The casing of the chamber is characterized by a diameter of 7 inches.
The Bluonics Whole House UV system consists of a stainless steel reaction chamber, quartz sleeve, UV bulb, and electronic ballast (control module). The manufacturer offers an extra electronic ballast, quartz sleeve as well as 2 extra UV lambs.
The Bluonics 12 GPM UV is a low-maintenance UV system. The UV lamp requires an annual replacement and to make this process hassle-free, the electronic ballast has an indicator that illuminates the green light when the system is working and red when the system is not working. That helps the user to note when the UV lamp needs to be replaced or when it has a problem. The quartz sleeve needs regular cleaning to remove the sediments and minerals accumulating on the sleeve and in the process reducing the UV light percentage transmitted to the water and overall the UV system efficiency.
The price of Bluonics 12 GPM UV purification system ranges between $220 and $250 depending on whether one wants extra accessories like electronic ballast, sleeve tubes, and UV lamps. The Bluonics 12 GPM UV system has low power requirements of 55 watts.
The Bluonics Whole House UV Water Purifier has the following advantages:
- The Bluonics 12 GPM UV purification system kills 99.99% of water-borne bacteria and viruses.
- The initial investment cost of installing a Bluonics 12 GPM UV system is quite low compared to most of the UV purification systems thus making it quite affordable.
- The Bluonics 12 GPM UV system has low operational costs due to its low energy requirements.
- The Bluonics 12 GPM UV purifier is able to supply high-quality water at high flow rates.
- The electronic ballast has a light indicator that shows whether the UV lamp is functional or not.
- Bluonics has a 30-day return policy for unsatisfied customers.
The Bluonics Whole House UV Water Purifier has the following disadvantage:
- The electronic ballast does not have a UV lamp remaining life indicator for showing the number of days before the lamp needs replacement.
What is an Ultraviolet Water Purifier?
What are the Advantages of Using an Ultraviolet Water Purifier?
The advantages of using an Ultraviolet water purifier are as follows:
- Removal of microorganisms: The treatment of water using UV is very effective in terms of the removal of microorganisms in water like bacteria, viruses, parasites, and chlorine-resistant cysts. UV purification systems can be highly effective in destroying up to 99.99% of the microorganisms in water making the purification system more effective than chlorine and other treatment mechanisms against viruses. Also, there are some cysts that are resistant to chlorine for example Cryptosporidium and Giardia which the UV system can efficiently destroy during the purification process.
- Environmentally friendly: The use of UV is an environmentally friendly alternative for treating water in the sense that no chemicals are used in the purification of water that can end up being in the water chain. This is particularly important in comparison with chlorination which results in chlorination by-products in water or polluting the environment. Therefore, UV purification is a green way of treating water. An added advantage is that UV purification can remove up to 97% of chlorine that could have emanated from the prior phases of the treatment of water.
- Simple installation and maintenance: The installation of UV systems is simple and can be done on an existing property or water system. Likewise, the maintenance of UV systems is minimal and just involves the replacement of parts of the system like the prefilter, carbon filter, and the annual replacement of the UV lamp. Some of the intelligent systems like the Aquasana come with an integrated alarm that alerts the users if the lamp has been in use for 365 days and is now due for the annual replacement such that even if the user has forgotten, the alarm will serve as a reminder.
- Good water flow: A good number of UV systems have a good flow rate in terms of the output of the treated water. Examples include the Aquasana Rhino and the Pentair Pelican PC1000-PUV-14-P with generous flow rates of 7 gallons per minute (26.5 liters per minute) and 12 gallons per minute (45.2 liters per minute) respectively. Under such circumstances, there is no interruption in terms of water supply and no waiting by the water users because UV treats water at fast rates.
- No taste or odor addition: Unlike other chemical water treatment methods like chlorination that add an odor or taste to water, the UV system adds neither of the two. In fact, UV purification can remove the odor associated with chlorination and improve the taste of water.
- Low energy/power requirements: The use of UV purification systems requires very low power needs for the control module that regulates the process. This translates into over 500,000 gallons of water being treated using minimal energy needs in the context of operational costs.
- Immediate water treatment: The exposure of the ultraviolet rays to the water instantly treats the water. This presents an advantage compared to other treatment methods for example chlorination where there is a need for contact tanks and a holding time in the tanks.
- Safe: UV purification is safe in the sense that there is no need to handle dangerous chemicals, for instance, chlorine. Furthermore, the UV process is safe such that the water coming out of the system will be free of the UV rays used in the killing of microorganisms.
- Water conservation: The UV system does not result in water wastage due to the fact that it does not involve backflushing like other water purification systems. The disadvantage of backflushing is that the water being used for that process gets dirty and disposed of. This practice is not in line with the principles of water conservation.
- Reliable water purification system: Due to the fact that the maintenance that is needed on the system is during the filter or UV lamp change, the UV system can be viewed as a system that can supply water anytime during the day throughout the year.
Factors to Consider When Buying a Filter Pitcher
The factors to consider when buying a filter pitcher are as follows:
- Target contaminants to be removed by the filter (e.g. lead, chromium, etc) as certified by different associations e.g. the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF), American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
- Filter lifespan
- Cost of filter pitcher
- Jug material (cost and weight)
- Size of jug (number of people to use water from the pitcher, ease of fitting pitcher into a fridge)
- Filter indicator
- Presence of meter eg TDS, pH meter
- Ease of use and cleaning of the filter pitcher (to prevent microbes from accumulating inside)
- Cost of filter replacement
What are similar water filters to Ultraviolet water purifiers?
As highlighted earlier, UV purifiers are able to remove microorganisms for instance bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and cysts. As such for any water filters to match UV purifiers in the elimination of microorganisms, they need to have pores on the walls or membranes that are able to prevent the microorganisms from passing through them. That includes hundreds of filtration systems or membranes used in the following processes:
- Reverse osmosis eg Bluonics 5 stage under sink Reverse Osmosis drinking water filter system, iSpring RCC7AK, Aquasana AQ-RO-3.56
- Nanofiltration for example Epic Nano range of filter pitchers