The history of UV water treatment
At UV Water Filter we supply UV water treatment systems and spare parts via our online shop. As we specialise in UV equipment we often get asked ‘how did ultraviolet (UV) light come to be such a trusted tool for disinfection?’
Let’s take a journey through the history of UV water treatment and find out.
The discovery and development of UV disinfection
UV light was discovered in 1801, yet its potential for disinfection wasn’t realised until almost a century later. It was Niels Ryberg Finsen, a renowned physician and scientist, who first explored UV rays as a treatment for bacterial infections. Finsen’s ground breaking work on UV based phototherapy led him to develop a successful treatment for skin tuberculosis using UV light. His innovation earned him the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1903.
“Developed a light source** that was successful in curing patients with skin tuberculosis and other ailments. He treated 804 patients with skin tuberculosis and similar microbial infections with the lamp, achieving 83% cure rate. He received the Nobel Prize for this work in 1903. The Finsen lamp became popular.”
Early applications of UV for water treatment
The first major application of UV for water treatment occurred in Marseille, France, in 1910. Just six years later, UV disinfection technology reached the United States, where it was implemented in Kentucky. By 1930, UV lamps became commercially available, marking a pivotal moment in the widespread use of UV technology.
“Landmark events in the development of modern UV treatment include the use of mercury lamps as an artificial germicidal light source (1901), the development of quartz as a UV transmitting medium (1906), and finally the development of the first genuine drinking water application of ultraviolet as a disinfectant in France in 1910.”
Post-war expansion and modern use
Following World War II, the use of UV lamps expanded, particularly for air disinfection in environments like factories and hospitals. By 1985, around 1,500 UV water treatment plants were operating across Europe. This number grew rapidly, and by the year 2000, over 6,000 plants were in operation.
The adoption of UV disinfection in wastewater treatment has seen significant growth as European countries strive to meet the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD) (Council Directive 91/271/EEC), which requires the collection and treatment of urban wastewater to reduce environmental and health risks.
UV technology has continued to evolve, offering solutions for water treatment in various contexts, including process water treatment, effluent water treatment, and Legionella prevention.
Leading the way in UV water treatment
UV Water Filter offer a full range of UV units along with maintenance and spare parts. We have a knowledgeable team that are always on hand to answer any UV related questions you might have.
Do feel free to contact us with any queries or look at our How to videos and FAQs for further help.
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