Hanovia News - from Halma PR - visit www.hanovia.com

No more sore eyes or chlorine smell in the ‘Learn to Swim’ pool since switch to UV

A new Hanovia UV water treatment system installed in the ‘Learn to Swim’ pool at AC Baths in Taupo in New Zealand has made swimming a much more pleasant experience for babies, children and instructors.

A mother and baby in the Learn to Swim pool at AC Baths

Photo 1: http://www.halmapr.com/hanovia/AC_Baths_pool_2.jpg ( KB)
(Photo caption: A mother and baby in the Learn to Swim pool at AC Baths)

“Since we installed the UV system combined chlorine levels have been reduced from as much as 1.2ppm to 0.1 ppm or even less,” said AC Baths Manager Virginia Munro. “The pool is now much nicer to swim in – the kids don’t come out with sore eyes and smelling of chlorine and the water is also much clearer. Feedback from parents and staff regarding the pool environment has also been very positive”.

Other benefits of the Hanovia UV system include reduced running costs and reduced maintenance. Also, the regular replacement of fresh water, commonly required with a standard, chlorine-based treatment regime, is much reduced. “We see this as a positive improvement, not just environmentally but also as a cost saving exercise,” added Ms Munro.

The Hanovia UV water treatment system installed at AC Baths

Photo 2: http://www.halmapr.com/hanovia/AC_Baths_UV_system.jpg (645 KB)
(Photo caption: The Hanovia UV water treatment system installed at AC Baths)

Because of the success of the Learn to Swim pool unit, AC Baths has ordered a larger Hanovia UV system for the indoor/outdoor leisure pool.

UV is well known for reducing combined chlorines, the unpleasant chemicals formed when chlorine combines with the organic compounds deriving from human use of the water. Combined chlorines are also responsible for cloudy, murky water and are very corrosive of metal building structures.

The UV unit installed at AC Baths is a Hanovia medium pressure PSP UV system, supplied by Davey Water Products, capable of treating up to 200 m3/hour, based on a UV dose of 60 mJ/cm2. Automatic wipers keep the quartz sleeves housing the UV lamps clean, so the only regular maintenance is an annual service at which the UV lamp is changed. In addition, Hanovia systems are compact and can usually be installed within existing pipework, making installation a straightforward process.

About AC Baths
The Taupo area was first settled by the Maori people late in the 14th century and has a long history associated with the Tuwharetoa people. During the 1870s men of the Armed Constabulary (AC) bathed and socialised at the thermal area called Lofley’s Glen (now the Spa Hotel site). When owner Edward Lofley raised the price of beer, the enraged constables boycotted his bar, and Lofley countered by forbidding them the use of his bath house. They then made their own thermal baths nearby, beside a promising hot spring now called the AC spring. In 1883 the Armed Constabulary dug their own pool, lined it with totara slabs and built a small changing shed alongside. The pools were a success and eventually the AC Baths Domain came under the control of the Taupo Domain Board established in 1895.

The AC Baths were more than a hot pool treat, though – they were a necessity for hygiene as there was no electricity or mains water in private homes in Taupo until the 1950s, meaning that generations of locals and visitors washed at the old AC Baths. The baths underwent re-development in early 1920s, 1950s, 1970s, and again in 2003, with the latest improvement being the addition of UV treatment.

Comments (0) »

UV effective against sulphate reducing bacteria

Bacteria control has become an important topic for discussion in the oil and gas industry. Inadequate biocidal treatments can have negative consequences, ranging from souring the reservoir with hydrogen sulphide gas to microbial induced corrosion or the loss of fluid stability during stimulation.

Hanovia UV Disinfection Technology Helps Oil Drilling Go Green

With stricter regulations on stimulation fluid (also known as downhole injection fluid) additives there has been an increasing effort to reduce or eliminate hazardous chemicals such as biocides that are present in these fluids. This challenge has been complicated by water use restrictions, placing the oil and gas industry under increased pressure to move away from using fresh water. Instead, oil producers have turned to non-pristine water sources, such as produced or flowback waters, which can often have high levels of bacterial contamination.

The use of ultraviolet (UV) light for disinfection is well established in many industrial processes and Hanovia has been at the forefront of its implementation for the past several decades. Partnering with a major oil and gas servicing company, Hanovia helped prove this technology successfully in pilot trials that have been operating since early 2009. Using an enhanced version of its standard product, field experience has proven the robustness of the equipment in extreme conditions

A plethora of data is available on bacteria species that are human pathogens, and on the effectiveness of UV disinfection for these particular species. But in the oilfield, sulphate reducing bacteria (SRB) are the target of interest. Unfortunately, there is little published data on the effectiveness of UV disinfection on SRBs.

Through its development partnership, Hanovia has employed advanced laboratory testing to validate the effectiveness of UV disinfection against specific SRB species that are commonly found in fluids used in the oil and gas industry. These studies verified that UV disinfection can be an effective method for treating the target SRB species and revealed some other interesting results.

A typical Hanovia UV disinfection system is highly compact, modular and easy to install within existing pipework with minimal disruption. Shock dosing with chemicals does not require the complex monitoring equipment which is necessary if biocides are used as a primary disinfectant. In addition, UV does not produce any unwanted by-products.

Oliver Lawal, Hanovia’s Vice President of Technology, presented a paper at this year’s Singapore International Water Week (http://www.siww.com.sg/) which outlined some of the techniques used in the laboratory and field testing, while detailing the operational considerations unique to this application.

Comments (0) »

Hanovia wins Disinfection Technology category in Food and Beverage sector

UV disinfection specialist Hanovia has won the Ringier Technology Innovation Award for the Food and Beverage Industry (Disinfection Technology category) at a ceremony held recently in Shanghai, China. The Award was given for Hanovia’s medium pressure UV disinfection technology which has been adopted by many of China’s leading bottled water and beverage manufacturers in the last 12 months.

Keith Watson, Hanovia’s Sales and Marketing Director (right) receiving the Technology Innovation Award from Mike Hay, President of Ringier Trade Publishing Ltd

Photo 1:  http://www.halmapr.com/hanovia/RingierAward1.jpg (689 KB)
(Photo caption: Keith Watson, Hanovia’s Sales and Marketing Director (right) receiving the Technology Innovation Award from Mike Hay, President of Ringier Trade Publishing Ltd)

Keith Watson (right) and George Wang, Hanovia’s China Sales Manager, with the Technology Innovation Award

Photo 2:  http://www.halmapr.com/hanovia/RingierAward2.jpg (541 KB)
(Photo caption: Keith Watson (right) and George Wang, Hanovia’s China Sales Manager, with the Technology Innovation Award)

The Ringier Technology Innovation Award for the Food and Beverage Industry is held annually in China and gives recognition to those who have made the most significant contributions to the industry though increased productivity, economic efficiency, production processes, and the creation of market opportunities. The Award also demonstrates the companies’ continuous commitment to deliver quality products and innovative solutions to their customers.

“I am delighted with this Award,” said Hanovia’s Sales and Marketing Director Keith Watson. “The credit for this success really goes to our Chinese team, particularly our Country Manager George Wang, whose tireless efforts have made Hanovia UV technology the first choice for China’s leading beverage producers.”

The award judges were composed of an independent panel of key food industry leaders in China including Wang Wei, Vice Secretary-General of the China National Food Industry Association; You Xin, Honorary Chairman of the  China Food Additives and Ingredients Association; Huang Shengming, Vice Director of the Committee of Experts of the Chinese Institution of Food Science and Technology; and Liu Xiaojie, from the R&D Centre of Wahaha Group Co., Ltd.

Comments (0) »

UV produces dramatic fall in combined chlorines even with heavy bather loads

Adelaide Aquatic Centre is the major municipal swimming pool servicing the city of Adelaide, the capital city of South Australia. The Aquatic Centre began its life as an outdoor pool way back in 1969. Since then it has undergone a series of redevelopments, including being enclosed by a roof in 1985 and the addition of the leisure pools and two 16-person spas in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Today, the Aquatic Centre comprises four pools and two spas. The four pools comprise a 4.25 million litre main pool (split into a 50 metre lap pool and a 33 metre dive pool) and a 588 m3 free-form leisure pool which is split into two sections to effectively become two pools, the Cascade and the Octopool.

Team Leader Gordon “Gordo” Friend by the lap pool

Photo :  http://www.halmapr.com/hanovia/AdelaideGordo.jpg (821 KB)
(Photo caption: Team Leader Gordon “Gordo” Friend by the lap pool)

Gordon “Gordo” Friend is Team Leader – Aquatic Operations for the Adelaide Aquatic Centre. He has worked at the Aquatic Centre for more years than he would care to remember and has personally witnessed most of the changes that have taken place over the years. “This place has gone through many changes and plant improvements over the years, but the installation of the Hanovia UV systems has had by far the largest impact of all in improving the water quality”, says Gordo. “We looked at ozone at the time but decided on UV because it was reported as being more reliable, and that has certainly proven to be the case!”

The first of the Hanovia UV systems was installed on the leisure pool system back in the mid-1990s. Three more Hanovia UV systems have been added since then – one on the main/dive pool and one on each of the spa pools. “We liked the ‘single-chamber’ design of the Hanovia system”, commented Gordo. “This allowed us to handle the entire flow from the very large main pool with a single system”.  Gordo commented that prior to the installation of the UV systems, the leisure pools in particular experienced high combined chlorine levels during heavy bather loads. Since the UV installation, the chloramine levels are consistently in the 0.1 – 0.2 ppm range in winter and they never exceed 1 ppm.  “We noticed an immediate improvement in the water quality as soon as the UV systems were commissioned – it was a very significant and positive upgrade”, said Gordo. “Both pool supervisors and pool customers have commented on the improvement”.

Gordo has also been very pleased with the support he has received from Fluidquip Australia, the Australian distributor for Hanovia UV systems. “Since Fluidquip has been providing the maintenance and servicing of the Hanovia systems, we have been more than happy with the level of support we are receiving”.

Comments (0) »

- £100m earmarked for acquisitions -

Halma p.l.c. (www.halma.com), the leading global safety, health and sensor technology group and parent company of Hanovia, has announced record results with profits up 9% to £86m and revenue rising by 1% to £459m. The UK-based group has posted strong financials to raise shareholder dividends by 7%, the thirty-first consecutive year of increases greater than 5%. The company plans to augment its organic growth efforts through acquisition of complementary technology companies, as it has done for many years.

Halma’s subsidiaries operate in three main market sectors: Health and Analysis (which includes Halma’s fluid technology companies), Infrastructure Sensors, and Industrial Safety, creating shareholder value with consistent organic growth and sound acquisitions. Halma companies operate as independent entities under the day-to-day direction of their local management, while reaping the capital and network benefits of a larger multi-national parent.

The company is seeking successful and profitable companies that are closely allied to any of its current market sectors, although fluid technology is a particular focus. It has £100m earmarked for acquisitions.

Halma’s fluid technology companies make critical components such as pumps, valves, probes, connectors and tubing used by scientific and medical diagnostic instrument manufacturers for demanding fluid handling applications. Its companies also manufacture dryers, humidifiers, and sample conditioning components and equipment used in medical, environmental and scientific analytical equipment. Its UV water treatment equipment is used all over the world in a wide variety of applications for progressive, non-chemical disinfection and microbiological control.

“There continues to be strong demand for our fluid technology products, both on the component and the water treatment side,” explains Chuck Dubois, Divisional Chief Executive of Halma’s Fluid Technology Division. “Scientific and medical diagnostic fields are expanding with new equipment and technology. Water resources and access to safe, clean water are global concerns. We are looking for companies with products and technologies that can meet these demands. The capital, marketing and technical resources Halma can offer, to the right company, can enable these technologies to reach their full market potential.”

Headquartered in the United Kingdom, Halma is a holding company of approximately 35 worldwide subsidiaries that develop and manufacture products that protect lives and improve quality of life for people worldwide. The company’s business groups focus on industrial safety, health and analysis and infrastructure sensors.

To present potential acquisitions opportunities, please contact Chuck Dubois, Chief Executive, Fluid Technology Division (chuck.dubois@halma.com), Tel: + 1 203 731 0200.

Comments (0) »

Combined chlorines fall from 0.9 ppm to just 0.3 ppm

Since replacing its ozone water treatment system with two Hanovia UV disinfection systems, Alton Towers Resort, the UK’s leading theme park resort, has seen a dramatic fall in combined chlorines in its large indoor leisure pool – from 0.9 ppm to just 0.3 ppm. Combined chlorine levels in its whirl pool are also lower.

Alton Towers Resort’s Indoor Pool Transformed with Hanovia UV Disinfection Technology

Combined chlorines (or chloramines) are responsible for the distinctive ‘chlorine’ smell associated with indoor chlorinated pools. They also cause sore eyes and irritated skin and are a major cause of rust within indoor pool complexes.

“Prior to installing UV, on a typical busy Saturday with over 3,000 visitors, we’d see combined chlorine levels of around 0.9 ppm in the main pool,” said Waterpark Manager Kevin Carr. “That was a good figure, but since we switched to UV it’s closer to 0.3 ppm – this is an incredibly low value. From the perspective of swimmers and employees the difference means a much better poolside environment, with none of the chlorine smell or sore eyes typically associated with indoor pools. Last summer some of the life guards complained about having sore, red eyes, but that is now a thing of the past.”

Chlorine dosing is still required in UK indoor public pools, even if UV or ozone is used as the primary disinfectant. “We add 1.0 ppm of free chlorine at pH 7.25 and this is sufficient to ensure a high level of residual protection for our visitors,” added Kevin.

The Hanovia UV systems installed at Alton Towers Resort are medium pressure PSP units. The system for the main pool treats up to 1,018 m3/hour; that for the whirl pool treats up to 166 m3/hour, based on a UV dose of 60 mJ/cm2. For both systems automatic wipers keep the quartz sleeves housing the UV lamps clean, so the only regular maintenance required is changing the lamps every twelve months.

Commenting on the installation, Hanovia’s UK Sales and Service Manager Diane White said: “The UV systems were purchased and installed by FT Leisure, the swimming pool water treatment and filtration specialists, who have been very professional and easy to deal with throughout the project. FT Leisure now also has the contract to service the entire pool water treatment system.”

“The fact the Hanovia UV systems are so easy to use is a major advantage,” continued Kevin. Our employees are all busy, so knowing that they can just rely on the systems to work effectively in the background has a tangible value. Someone simply checks the UV systems’ control panels once a day and logs the parameters to record usage and condition.”

The water treatment process for both the main pool and the whirl pool are the same, with 100% of the water passing through six medium sand filters before passing through the UV systems. This is followed by an injection of free chlorine before the water passes back to the pool or whirl pool.

Comments (0) »

Hanovia UV disinfection system helps operators meet IMO discharge regulations

To assist operators of cruise ships, tankers, semi-submersibles, jack-up rigs and other large ocean-going vessels to meet the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO’s) ballast water discharge requirements, UV disinfection specialist Hanovia has partnered with three of the world’s leading systems integrators to provide validated, on-board water treatment systems that are easy to install and use.

Disinfecting Marine Vessel Ballast Water with Hanovia UV

All ocean-going vessels take on water to provide ballast and stability. It is usually taken on in coastal port areas and transported to the next port of call – sometimes on the other side of the world – where it may be discharged. Much of this water contains marine microorganisms such as zooplankton, algae, bacteria and the eggs, cysts and larvae of various species. While many die in transit, some survive and invade the local marine environment, out-competing native species and causing serious damage to native ecosystems. Environmental damage caused by ballast water is now regarded as one of the greatest threats to the world’s oceans.

Two methods have been proposed to combat this problem: onboard ballast water treatment and ballast water exchange. As the name suggests, ballast water treatment involves treatment of ballast water prior to discharge, while ballast water exchange involves ballasting and de-ballasting in the open ocean before coming into ports and coastal waters. This open ocean exchange is not an ideal solution as it is potentially unsafe and can destabilise the vessel. Also, because existing ballast water exchange systems do not completely drain the tanks, sediment and a residual amount of water can remain, leaving behind non-indigenous species which could be discharged in port later.

As well as being unsafe, open ocean ballast water exchange is difficult to regulate and to monitor, so many operators simply do not do it. Because of this the IMO is setting much tougher standards to control ballast water practices and has published two Conventions to tackle the problem. The first is the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), dealing with waste and sewage discharge from ships (ratified in 2003), and the second is the Ballast Water Management (BWM) Convention, to control the spread of alien species (due for ratification in 2009). Under the BWM Convention, vessels will have to treat all ballast water so that discharges contain less than 10 viable organisms per cubic metre equal to or greater in size than 50 µm in size.

To help operators confront these requirements Hanovia, in tandem with the leading systems integrators, has devised a UV disinfection system that, in conjunction with a filter, kills or removes virtually all microorganisms present in ballast water. The combined system comprises a high intensity, medium pressure UV disinfection unit and an automatic back-flush filter. After passing through the filter to remove larger organisms, the ballast water flows into the UV chamber to destroy smaller organisms. During de-ballasting, the water bypasses the filter but again flows through the UV chamber where further irradiation kills any remaining microorganisms.

The entire system has a very small footprint and can be mounted at any angle, making it easy to install even in the confined spaces of a vessel’s equipment room. Once installed, the system requires little effort to operate by the crew. It can be controlled by a master PLC unit which can be integrated into the vessel’s machinery automation network. The UV unit is equipped with automatic wipers to keep the UV lamps clean, and the only maintenance required by the crew is the replacement of the UV lamps once a year and occasional preventative maintenance procedures.

Comments (0) »

New employees  reinforce Hanovia’s long-term commitment to China

UV disinfection specialist Hanovia has recently appointed two new employees in China. The new recruits will be based in Hanovia’s Shanghai office and are further proof of Hanovia’s long-term commitment to the Chinese market, particularly in industries such as bottled water production, electronics and pharmaceutical manufacturing, leisure and marine applications.

Helen Zhang, Hanovia’s new sales engineer in China

Photo 1:  http://www.halmapr.com/hanovia/helen_zhang.jpg (692 KB)
(Photo caption: Helen Zhang, Hanovia’s new sales engineer)

Joey Huang, Hanovia’s new service manager

Photo 2:  http://www.halmapr.com/hanovia/joey_huang.jpg (552 KB)
(Photo caption: Joey Huang, Hanovia’s new service manager)

Helen Zhang is the company’s new sales engineer and, to start with, will be working mostly with Hanovia’s existing customers in the bottled water and electronics industries. With an engineering degree, Helen has extensive previous experience in the water treatment industry in China, most recently with Konzen Environment in Tianjin, where she worked in the ultrapure water department.

Joey Huang is Hanovia’s new service manager. With a degree in electrical engineering and automation, Joey was formerly a technical support engineer with Elga Lab Water, although his most recent job was with another British company, Servomex, where he was a design engineer. He is not only familiar with water treatment but also has experience of running customer support in China. By taking over customer support for Hanovia in China, Joey will help to provide an even better service for customers.

“I am delighted to have Helen and Joey on the team,” commented Hanovia’s sales and marketing director Keith Watson. “They will help to cement our reputation in China and allow our existing staff to develop new areas of business for our world-leading UV water disinfection technology.”

Comments (0) »

Hanovia has recently been working with Nongfu Spring Co. Ltd., one of China’s leading producers of bottled water and beverages, to supply UV disinfection systems for their production plants across China. This is a major milestone in the bottled water industry – particularly in China – because presently in that country virtually all bottled water is disinfected using ozone. Around the world ozone is still the disinfection method of choice for many producers.

The decision by Nongfu Spring to opt for UV was driven by a number of reasons, not least of which were concerns about ozonation by-products such as bromate. In fact, Hanovia has noticed that more and more bottled water and soft drinks producers are now looking for ozone alternatives, and enquires about UV are on the increase.

UV Disinfection Ensures Safe Bottled Water Treatment Without Unwanted Disinfection By-Products

Bromide ions occur naturally in many spring waters and on their own pose no problem. However, the presence of ozone can cause conversion of bromide into bromate, with the consequent potential for consumer health problems. The World Health Organization (WHO) lists bromate as a carcinogenic substance and recommends its maximum limit in mineral water be set at 0.01mg/l (10ppb). In July 2008 the Chinese General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ), recommended in a revised draft national standard for drinking water and mineral water that a maximum limit for bromate in bottled water be in line the WHO guidelines. This new limit has now been in force since October 2009.

As an alternative to ozonation, UV has many advantages. It is already widely used across a wide spectrum of the food and beverage industries, and also in industries where water of the highest purity is required, such as pharmaceutical manufacturing. UV kills all known spoilage microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, yeasts and moulds (and their spores) without producing any disinfection by-products. It is a low maintenance, environmentally friendly technology which eliminates the need for chemical treatment while ensuring very high levels of disinfection.

Commenting on the Nongfu Spring contract, Hanovia’s Managing Director John Ryan says, “Around the world many bottled water and soft drinks companies already use our UV technology to disinfect their products safely, avoiding the problems associated with ozonation and other chemical disinfection methods. We are therefore well placed to provide a leadership role in the reform of China’s bottled water industry.”

How UV disinfection works

UV is the part of the electromagnetic spectrum between visible light and X-rays. The specific portion of the UV spectrum between 185-400nm (also known as UV-C) has a strong germicidal effect, with peak effectiveness at 265nm. At these wavelengths UV kills microorganisms by penetrating their cell membranes and damaging the DNA, making them unable to reproduce and effectively killing them.

A typical UV disinfection system consists of a UV lamp housed in a protective quartz sleeve which is mounted within a cylindrical stainless steel chamber. The water to be treated enters at one end and passes along the entire length of the chamber before exiting at the other end. Virtually any liquid can be effectively treated with UV, including spring, surface or municipal water, filtered process water, viscous sugar syrups and effluent.

There are two main types of UV technology, based on the type of UV lamps used: low pressure and medium pressure. Low pressure lamps have a monochromatic UV output (limited to a single wavelength at 254nm), whereas medium pressure lamps have a polychromatic UV output (with an output between 185-400nm). Generally speaking, low pressure systems are best suited for small, intermittent flow applications, while medium pressure technology is better suited to higher flow rates.

Benefits of UV disinfection

UV disinfection has many advantages over alternative methods. Unlike chemical biocides, UV does not introduce toxins, residues or by-products into the process and does not alter the taste, odour or pH of the water.

UV treatment can be used for primary water disinfection or as a back-up for other water purification methods such as carbon filtration, reverse osmosis or pasteurization. As UV has no residual effect, the best position for a treatment system is immediately prior to the point of use. This ensures incoming microbiological contaminants are destroyed and there is a minimal chance of post-treatment contamination.

UV applications in the bottled water industry

Incoming water supplies
Although natural springs and municipal water supplies are normally free from harmful or pathogenic microorganisms, this should not be assumed. Surface water from wells, rivers or lakes can be contaminated and should be disinfected.

CIP (Clean-in-Place) rinse water
It is essential that the CIP final rinse water used to flush out foreign matter and disinfecting solutions is microbiologically safe. Fully automated UV disinfection systems can be integrated with CIP rinse cycles to ensure final rinse water does not reintroduce microbiological contaminants. Medium pressure lamps are ideal for this application because of their mechanical strength, meaning they are not affected by any sudden changes in the temperature of the CIP water, such as when hot (80oC) liquid is instantly followed by cold (10oC).

Filter disinfection
Stored reverse osmosis (RO) and granular activated carbon (GAC) filtrate can be a breeding ground for bacteria. UV is an effective way of disinfecting both stored RO and GAC filtered water and has been used in the process industries for many years.

Dechlorination
GAC filters are also often used to dechlorinate process water, removing the ‘off’ flavours often associated with chlorine disinfection, meaning the flavour of the final product remains untainted and free from unwanted flavours or odours. Placing UV systems ahead of GAC filters used for dechlorination improves the performance of the filters and results in longer carbon runs, so decreasing operating costs.

Packaging and surface disinfection
Surface disinfection systems are used to reduce microbial counts on all kinds of packaging, including glass and plastic bottles, cans, lids and foils. By irradiating the surfaces with UV prior to filling, spoilage organisms are eliminated, extending the shelf life of the product and reducing the risk of contamination.

Sugar syrups
Sugar syrups used as flavourings can be a prime breeding ground for microorganisms. Although syrups with a very high sugar content do not support microbial growth, any dormant spores may become active after the syrup has been diluted. Treating the syrup and dilution water with UV prior to use will ensure any dormant microorganisms are deactivated.

Tank head space disinfection
UV systems can be used to disinfect displacement air for pressuring tanks or pipelines holding perishable fluids. Storage tanks are particularly susceptible to bacterial colonization and contamination by air-borne spores. To prevent this, immersible UV treatment systems have been designed to fit in the tank head air space and disinfect the air present.

Effluent disinfection and/or re-use
UV allows effluent from processing facilities to be treated without the use of environmentally hazardous chemicals. This ensures all discharges meet with local environmental regulations. As already mentioned, because process water can be treated and re-used with UV, this also leads to a significant reduction in the amount of waste water produced.

Case Study

Angel Springs Limited, United Kingdom
Angel Springs Limited, situated in the Chiltern Hills in the United Kingdom, bottles natural spring water for use in water coolers. The company replaced its ozone water disinfection unit with a Hanovia UV system several years ago. It decided to make the switch because of concerns about bromate being formed as a result of ozone treatment.

“We were put off ozone by the potential for bromate formation as part of the ozonation process,” said Andrew Glaister of Angel Springs. “Even though bromide ion levels in our source water are not particularly high, we decided to go for the safer option and use UV instead,” Mr Glaister added. “UV has no disadvantages, only advantages, and since its installation we have been happy with its performance. The UV lamp only needs to be replaced after 8000 hours’ operation, so it is also very efficient.”

Angel Springs’ water originates from a natural spring on the site. After filtration to remove physical particles it passes through the UV chamber and is then bottled. There is no further water treatment and no chemical treatment.

Conclusion

Meeting the increasingly rigorous hygiene standards required in the production of bottled water is becoming more of a challenge, particularly in the light of impending regulations in China on bromate levels. Customers are also demanding a product that has not been treated with chemicals. If improvements need to be made to plant and equipment, they need to bring quick returns on the investment and measurable improvements in product quality.

For those producers seeking to improve the quality of the end product, UV is an economic, realistic option. It is already a well established method of disinfecting drinking water throughout the world. It is also widely used for high purity applications such as pharmaceutical processing and semiconductor manufacturing, where water of the highest quality is required.

UV disinfection systems are easy to install, with minimum disruption to the plant. They need very little maintenance, the only requirement being replacement of the UV lamps every 8000 months, depending on use. This is a simple operation that takes only a few minutes and can be carried out by general maintenance staff.

Comments (0) »

Norwood swim school in Adelaide, South Australia is the latest success story

Keith Weidner is no newcomer when it comes to owning and operating swim schools. He has been in the swim school business for many years, having interests in a number of swim schools in South Australia’s capital city, Adelaide.

“As a swim school owner, the best thing you can do for your pool is to provide a pleasant environment for your customers”, says Keith. “If the pool is sparkling and the air is fresh you will find swimmers, staff and parents will all be satisfied – and let’s face it, perception is everything!”

Keith Weidner, the owner of Norwood swim school in Adelaide

Photo 1: http://www.halmapr.com/hanovia/StateSwimNorwoodPool.jpg (976 KB)
(Photo caption 1: Keith Weidner, the owner of Norwood swim school in Adelaide, beside the pool)

Keith installed his Hanovia UV system into his Norwood swim school two years ago, but had many years of experience with Hanovia’s UV systems prior to this. He has interests in both the Seaton and Mount Barker swim schools, both of which already have UV systems. Keith’s business associates, who own and operate the Unley and Morphett Road swim schools, have had Hanovia UV systems for around nine years.

“I did my research and knew the reputation and reliability of the Hanovia product was outstanding. Having already had very positive experiences with the UV systems at our other two swim schools, I was very confident the Hanovia system would deliver similar results for Norwood. Our chloramines were up around 1.5 parts per million (ppm), but after introducing the UV system, they are now routinely in the range of 0.3 – 0.7 ppm, which is a very positive outcome.”

The compact Hanovia UV system at the Norwood swim school in Adelaide

Photo 2: http://www.halmapr.com/hanovia/StateSwimNorwoodUV.jpg (620 KB)
(Photo caption 2: The compact Hanovia UV system at the Norwood swim school in Adelaide)

Prior to UV, Keith would use a combination of super chlorination and water replacement to keep chloramines in check. These measures have now been significantly curtailed. Keith comments that “keeping chloramines consistently below the 1 ppm level is nearly impossible without the use of UV, especially when you have a pool that has a very high load and is only 350,000 litres.”

The Hanovia systems at the Norwood swim school, supplied and supported by Hanovia’s Australian distributor Fluidquip Australia, continue to perform reliably. “Fluidquip have proved to be very accessible and have responded quickly when needed” says Keith. “The Hanovia UV system has been fantastic. It has certainly contributed to a very comfortable environment both in the water and in the pool surrounds.”

Comments (0) »