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Ozone
Ozone treatment has typically been used in large-scale commercial and industrial
applications. Ozone treatment oxidizes organic contaminants in much the
same way that chlorine does. An ozone generator converts the oxygen found
in air to O3, or ozone. As with chlorination, proper concentrations and
contact time is essential for disinfection.
Ozone usually requires the use of a retention tank to accomplish this, and
can be used to provide partial treatment in pools. Ozone is effective for
treating pathogens like coliform bacteria and legionella, but it is not
effective against hard-shelled cysts like Cryptosporidium or Giardia lamblia
without using high contact times and concentrations.
Ultraviolet Light (UV)
Ultraviolet light has treated water since the beginning of time through
natural sunlight. Modern ultraviolet treatment units use a UV bulb in a
clear quartz or plexi-glass housing, around which flows the untreated water.
The UV light destroys the genetic material of pathogens like coliform bacteria
and legionella, which effectively neutralizes them by preventing them from
reproducing. UV is effective for the treatment of hard-shelled cysts like
Cryptosporidium and Giardia lamblia.