Treatment technology profile
Ultraviolet (UV) Disinfection
Chemical-free germicidal irradiation inactivating pathogenic bacteria, viruses, and parasitic protozoan cysts.
Capability, not a blanket claim
A technology can be potentially relevant to a contaminant family without every product carrying the required certified reduction claim.
Learn how claims are verified →Profile counts only These counts summarize the published technology record. They are not removal percentages, performance ratings, or recommendations for your water.
How it worksMechanism describes the treatment process. Actual performance depends on the product, water chemistry, flow, maintenance, and certified claim.
Water travels through a quartz sleeve surrounded by a germicidal UV-C lamp emitting light at 254 nanometers. The UV photon energy penetrates microbial cell walls and disrupts their DNA/RNA dimer bonds, preventing replication and infection.
Potentially relevant contaminant families“Potentially relevant” means the mechanism may address members of the family. It does not mean every compound is reduced or that a specific product is certified for it.
Known limitations and trade-offs
- Does not remove any dissolved chemicals, heavy metals, minerals, or particulates
- Requires clear water: Turbidity and iron above 0.3 mg/L shadow microbes from the light (requires 5-micron pre-filtration)
- Requires continuous electricity; water does not receive residual disinfection downpipe
Installation
Maintenance requirements
- 1
Replace UV-C lamp every 9,000 hours (annually)
- 2
Clean quartz sleeve twice per year
Certification and claim verificationA certification standard defines a category of testing. The product listing must also name the contaminant-specific reduction claim you need.
NSF/ANSI 55
Ultraviolet Microbiological Water Treatment Systems
Specifies ultraviolet light treatment systems. Class A systems deliver a minimum UV dose of 40 mJ/cm² to inactivate pathogenic bacteria, viruses, and Cryptosporidium. Class B systems deliver 16 mJ/cm² for supplemental bactericidal treatment of safe water.
Ensure Class A certification if treating untreated well water with potential microbial pathogens.
Products using this technologyThese are catalog products classified under this technology. Classification is not proof that a model carries every claim described above.
Sources and methodology
This page uses PurityMap’s governed treatment-technology, certification, and product records. It does not infer treatment need from the technology itself; need begins with a documented local finding or household test.
How PurityMap evaluates treatment relevance →