3 of the challenges to wastewater disinfection

UV disinfection systems can be an important tool in any disinfection process for wastewater. Unlike some other applications, there are a number of different variables and varying regulations that can play into how a UV system is designed for wastewater disinfection. Three of the bigger challenges that are faced when disinfecting wastewater are raw water composition changes, varying flow rates, and differing treatment targets.

1. Composition of raw water can change

Raw wastewater is not always the same. Whether the wastewater is coming from a municipal or industrial source will dictate the composition of wastewater at any given time. The time of day can also play a role in the composition of water running through a system at any given time. Knowing the sources that impact the composition of the raw water that you are disinfecting will be important to the design of your UV system.

2. Flow Rates are not constant

Water sources that flow into a wastewater disinfection system can vary a lot. There can be different peak times throughout the day as well as seasonal changes that impact the flow rate of the water source. When designing a UV system for any wastewater plant it is important to know the different peaks in the water flow so that the system is able to handle those flow changes properly.

3. Treatment targets differ

Depending on where water is being discharged after flowing through a wastewater impact how a system needs to be designed. There are a variety of regulations that impact how wastewater needs to be disinfected before it gets discharged into rivers, lakes, or oceans or gets reused for purposes like irrigation or service water. When designing the system for your plant it is important to know how the water is being discharged so that the proper treatment targets can be set to meet the regulations impacting that water.