Disinfection, Safety & Sanitation

The removal, deactivation, or destruction of harmful bacteria from water is known as disinfection. Microorganisms are killed or forced inactive, put a stop its growth and reproduction. Drinking water usage will cause people to become ill if bacteria are not eliminated from it.

Sterilization is a disinfection-related process. During the sterilising procedure, however, all current bacteria, both hazardous and harmless, are eliminated.

For physical disinfection of water the following disinfectants can be used:

- Ultraviolet light (UV)
- Electronic radiation
- Gamma rays
- Sounds
- Heat

How does disinfection work?

After production, (drinking) water is safe due to a combination of water purification stages (oxidation, coagulation, settling, disinfection, and filtration). To safeguard the water against microbial contamination in the water distribution system, many countries add a second disinfection step at the end of the water purification process. During distribution, the disinfection ensures that bacteria do not proliferate in the water. Bacteria can stay in the water after the first disinfection stage, or they can get into the water when contaminated water is back flushed (which can contain groundwater bacteria as a result of cracks in the plumbing).

Disinfection mechanism:

Disinfection is often caused by cell wall erosion in microorganism cells, as well as changes in cell permeability, protoplasm, or enzyme activity (because of a structural change in enzymes). Microorganisms are unable to reproduce as a result of these disruptions in cell function. The bacteria will perish as a result of this. Organic stuff in the water is also demolished by oxidising disinfectants, resulting in nutrient deficiency.

Physically or chemically disinfectants can be used to induce disinfection. Organic pollutants in water, which act both nourishment or habitat for bacteria, also are destroyed by the agents. Disinfectants should do more than just destroy bacteria. Disinfectants must also have a residual function, which means that after disinfection, they must remain active in the water. After disinfection, a disinfectant should prevent harmful bacteria from growing in the plumbing or decontaminating the water.

Removal and Chemical Sanitization of RO Systems

It is important to chemically clean the first-pass RO system. This will help to disrupt any biofilm that protects viable bacteria from contact with the sanitant. It also removes foulants that will react with and chemically deplete the sanitizing agent.

Typically this is done in a two-step process. The first step commonly involves the use of an acid cleaner such as citric acid to remove the inorganic foulants. Next, a high-pH cleaner such as sodium hydroxide is used in order to remove organic foulants.