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ITS™ Controls Bacteria
 All innowave bottleless systems are
available with the ITS™ In-Tank Sanitization feature thus offering an effective method to
prevent the potential for biofilm (slime) buildup in the cold water storage tank. Ultraviolet
technology also helps reduce any heterotrophic bacteria that may occur in drinking
water.
Ultraviolet light works by disrupting
the DNA structure of microorganisms like bacteria, leaving them unable to grow and multiply. In
other water coolers, stored water that is unchlorinated can create ideal conditions for the growth
of biofilm, a slimy coating of bacteria that adheres to the tank surface. While most experts
consider heterotrophic bacteria harmless, it can create an unpleasant taste and smell in your
drinking water.
Heterotrophic Bacteria and Chlorine
Most experts agree that the use of chlorine in public drinking water was
one of the greatest advancements in public health during the twentieth century. The disadvantage of
chlorine is that it creates a bad taste and smell in drinking water, so many consumers utilize
carbon filtration or other water treatment methods to take it out. Unfortunately, this creates a
new set of problems. Many consumers don’t realize that unchlorinated water can be a prime breeding
ground for bacteria, much like an unchlorinated swimming pool. Whether unchlorinated water is
stored in a bottle or in a water cooler, bacteria can quickly grow and multiply. It may even create
a biofilm, or slimy coating around the storage container. While in most cases this bacteria isn’t
disease causing, it’s still not pleasant knowing that you’re paying money for bottled water or for
a filter cooler where bacteria is growing. To control this bacteria growth, bottled water coolers
and filter coolers should be sanitized with a chlorine solution on a regular basis or should
utilize a water treatment technology that eliminates the need for periodic cooler
sanitizing.
Ultraviolet Technology
Today, new technology exists to control the growth of bacteria in stored
drinking water. innowave bottleless systems utilize advancements in ultraviolet technology to
control the growth of heterotrophic bacteria and biofilm. An ultraviolet light, placed inside a
reflective, stainless steel cold water reservoir, emits ultraviolet rays that destroy the cell
structure of bacteria. This prevents the formation of biofilm and heterotrophic bacteria in the
stored, unchlorinated drinking water.
innowave’s patented In-Tank UV technology harnesses the power of UV light
for water purification by featuring a UV lamp placed in the very center of the cold tank. The
design of each water tank and UV lamp specification are matched and tested to provide the highest
water sanitization levels possible.
UV light destroys the growth of bacteria by destroying its DNA core, thus
rendering it incapable of reproducing. The ultraviolet lamp within Waterlogic UV systems operates
at a frequency of 253.7 nm, which is proven to be the most effective wavelength against
bacteria.
All bacteria and viruses are destroyed by UV light, though some more
easily than others. innowave UV technology is effective against all bacteria, including the more
resistant pathogens, E. Coli, Legionella, Salmonella, Hepatitis, and the Poliovirus, to name just a
few.
Research released by NSF and WQA now confirm that the UV light system, as
used by innowave, is extremely effective against Cryptosporidium. Unique to innowave’s range of
water dispensers is the patented Automatic Purification Monitoring System (APMS) on select models.
The APMS monitors the effectiveness of the UV light and will trigger an alarm should the lamp be
defective. The unit will also stop the supply of water until the faulty lamp has been replaced,
thus guaranteeing the purity of water at all times. innowave technology has been tested to NSF/ANSI
standards. The innowave UVF series of water treatment systems have been awarded with NSF/ANSI 55B,
a certification of drinking water purification using ultraviolet light.
More about UV Light
Ultraviolet (UV) light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength
shorter than that of visible light, but longer than soft X-rays.
•The "visible light" which our eyes can see makes up only a small part of the
total spectrum.
•Visible light runs from the familiar blue to green to yellow to orange to red. Red light is the
least energetic of the colors of visible light, and blue is the most energetic.
•Beyond the red end of the visible part of the spectrum lies ultraviolet light, X-rays and
gamma-rays.
What is UV?
The ultraviolet radiation in sunlight is divided into three bands:
•UVA (320-to-400 nm) light, which is responsible for sun tanning.
•UVB (280-to-320 nm) light, which causes sun burning and the danger of skin cancer.
•UVC (200-to-280 nm), which is absorbed by DNA causing genetic damage and the inactivation of
bacteria and viruses, also called “Germicidal”.
UVC
•UV light is most commonly generated by low- and medium-pressure mercury vapor lamps.
•The energy is emitted at 253.7 nm which is proven to be the most effective wavelength against
bacteria.
•innowave uses the Philips TUV range of lamps for bottleless systems and are effective against all
bacteria including the more resistant Pathogens, E. Coli, Legionella, Salmonella, Hepatitis, and
the Poliovirus.
Lamp Construction
The process
•The actual lamp(s) is housed in
a quartz sleeve. This sleeve not only helps maintain maximum operating temperature, but also
prevents the lamp from coming in contact with the water.
•While in the chamber, the water receives doses of UV energy. To be effective, a minimum dosage of
16,000 microwatt second per square centimeter is applied based upon a 2L stainless steel tank.
•Since the treatment does not change either physical or chemical properties, the water is ready for
use when it leaves the purifying unit.
Fundamental mechanism of UV disinfection or inactivation:
•Studies show that DNA molecules in the nucleus of the organism absorb ultraviolet light.
•If two thymine bases are located adjacent to each other, absorption of a UV photon by one of the
thymines leads to formation of a chemical bond between the two thymines (called a thymine
dimer).
•This disrupts the structure of the DNA.
•DNA cannot replicate in cell mitosis, thus sterilization has taken place.
Benefits of utilizing UV technology for water
purification:
•No need for toxic and expensive chemicals
•Fast treatment
•Scalable to treat millions of gallons per day.
•Extremely reliable
•Simple handling
•Extremely low cost operation
•Low maintenance
•Once installed, the units will only need periodic cleaning and lamp replacement as recommended by
your authorized innowave dealer.
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