Water contamination from bacteria and viruses is not exclusive to developing countries. This risk also exists in places where the water is extracted directly from wells. Easy to install under the counter, the new GCM filter with ultraviolet technology permits water disinfection and purification. Without having to use chlorine with its adverse effects, it eliminates 99.99% of all micro-organisms devastating to the health like Cholera, Legionnaire's disease, Salmonella, E. Coli, Staphylococcus or Streptococcus, among many others.
Although not new, this ecological principle has now been implemented in Spain so that it is accessible to any user due to its low cost. The filtration is made possible thanks to an ultraviolet radiation lamp, with a wavelength of 254 nanometres. Through this system of disinfection no by-products harmful to man are created as occurs in disinfection through chlorination, that produces the carcinogenic trihalomethanes in chlorine’s reaction with organic matter.
UV radiation has proven to be a rapid, efficient and secure technique for the disinfection of microbiologically contaminated water and in the prevention of infectious diseases. The system easily disinfects without altering the water’s physical or chemical properties, neither adding to its taste, smell or colour, nor changing the PH.
Moreover, if a small screen sediment filter is placed before the UV disinfection, and an activated carbon filter, suspended particles are removed like the cysts from certain micro-organisms, heavy metals and organic matter. In the case of treated water, the by-products also associated with chlorination and the odour and taste of chlorine also disappear.
As bacteria can also develop in the surface of the activated carbon, the disinfection using UV eliminates these possible risks. The conjunction of these three stages in the GCM filter’s action guarantees the quality of the disinfected water and eliminates the possibility of pathogenic diseases.
The UV reactor’s power supply can be sourced from the conventional electricity network or from renewable energy sources – solar, wind, or hydraulic – making the system very useful in the context of development aid or in zones without electricity supply.
The kit’s dimensions are 360 mm high, 300 mm long, and 150 mm wide. The water passes at a distance of 6.5 mm, practically brushing the radiation source whose section is 602 mm2, minimizing any loss by dispersion. The design allows easy maintenance, operating with a flow of up to 400 litres per hour while the lamp has a life of 9,000 hours (continuous use).
There are 2,500 million people in the world without access to drinkable water and 80% of all infectious diseases produced in developing countries are the result of conditions arising from unsafe water consumption.
1: Solid sediments pre-filter with casing (the filter cartridge is removed by unscrewing from the top). |
2: Activated carbon pre-filter with casing (the filter cartridge is removed by unscrewing from the top). |
3: Reactor UV-C radiation chamber (contains a UV lamp and a quartz cover). |
4: Electric control compartment (on/off switch, ballast, operating control indicator). |
5: Power supply to the radiation tube (UV lamp extraction access). |
6: Reactor jacket head (un-screws from the body to access the quartz cover). |
7: Unit bracket fixing. |
8: Entrance for water to be treated by the filters. |
9: Exit for water treated by the filters. |
10: Entrance for water into the UV radiation reactor for disinfection. |
11: Exit for water from the UV reactor. |
Tests performed in CIEMAT’s laboratories with the 100% elimination of the E.Coli. |
ULTRAVIOLET DOSAGE REQUIRED TO ELIMINATE MORE THAN 99.99% OF |
The reactor is designed for a radiation dosage of 40 mjoules/cm2 for the designed flow. The following shows examples of the radiation dose for some bacteria and viruses with a neutralization of 99.99%: BACTERIA
YEAST
MOLD SPORES
ALGAE
VIRUSES
RANGO 2.1 - 26.4 mjoules/cm2 |
Image: well - Chechi Pe
More information:
Product Overview - UV Water Purifier GCM-400
UV Water Purifier GCM-400 - Technical Specifications
UV Water Purifier GCM-400 - Characteristics & Bacteria Dosage