UV Facts - Quiz 3
1. UV rays are more harmful than radiation. (True or False)
2. If you turn a UV lamp off while it is not in use it will last longer. (True or False)
3. A UV system can be used to treat the water for an entire house. (True or False)
4. A UV lamp is working effectively as long as it continues to glow. (True or False)
5. The quartz sleeve on a UV system cannot be cleaned and must be replaced annually. (True or False)
6. The UV light is exposed directly to the water. (True or False)
7. A UV system does not require any pre-filtration. (True or False)
8. UV water purification makes the water taste better (True or False)
9. A UV water purification system requires 60 psi of pressure to operate. (True or False)
10. Hot water can never run through any UV system. (True or False)
Answers to Quiz #3
1. False: The UV light only penetrates the water and is very much like sunlight. There is no residue or residual of any kind in the water that has been treated with the UV light. UV systems are designed so that no exposure to the UV light is possible. Caution is advised when servicing a UV system.
2. False: It is not recommended that the UV light be turned on and off unless the system has been specifically designed for it. The lamp is designed to be left on and can lose approximately six (6) hours of lamp life each time it is turned off and on. The on and off cycling can cause premature failure of the lamp.
3. True: A UV system can be used to treat an entire home or business.
4. False: The UV lamp is designed to operate for one (1) year of continuous use. The lamp will slowly lose energy over this time period. Although the lamp may continue to glow, it is recommended the lamp be changed annually to guarantee the amount of available UV energy is sufficient to deactivate waterborne micro-organisms.
5. False: The UV sleeve can be cleaned eliminating any accumulation of scale and hard water deposits. The quartz sleeve should be inspected and cleaned if needed each time the UV lamp is replaced or the system is serviced.
6. True: The UV lamp is installed in the center and runs the length of the disinfection chamber. The UV light rays penetrate the quartz sleeve, which surrounds the lamp, and penetrate the water.
7. False: A pre-filter of 5-10 micron is always recommended prior to the UV system. This pre filtration is needed to trap any unwanted particles that may shield micro organisms from the UV light as they pass through the UV chamber. It is best that the UV system be the last treatment method before point of use or point of entry.
8. False: The UV energy entering the water has no effect on the taste and/or odor of the water. The only exception would be if certain chemicals were oxidized when exposed to the UV light. This oxidation would only take place if the water is standing for a long period of time in front of the UV light.
9. False: Many UV systems can operate with less than 20 PSI of water pressure. There is very little resistance as the water passes through the UV chamber, most of the resistance is from any pre-filtration that is used.
10. False: The standard UV system is not designed to handle water temperatures above 104 degrees F. Although specialty UV systems are designed for hot water applications, handling water temperatures as high as 148 degrees F.