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Recreational Water Illnesses (RWI)
Common Problems Effecting Commercial Swim Facilities
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Recreational Water Illnesses (RWI) are caused by germs that include: Cryptosporidium, Giardia and E. Coli. Spread by bathers swallowing fecal matter,
RWI's are a common problem in public swimming facilities.
UV Disinfection inactivates Cryptosporidium spp. and other harmful waterborne pathogens instantly!
It's true, with a UV System sized correctly (considering the largest target microorganism's uv dose requirement in conjunction with the pool's flow rate) RWI's can be inactivated with each pass through the UV vessel.
Chlorine can kill those contaminants, but in certain cases may take up to 10 days.
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| AGENT |
Disinfectant Times for Fecal Contaminants in Chlorinated Water* |
| E. Coli 0157:H7 (Bacterium) |
<<1 minute |
| Hepatitis A (Virus) |
approximately 16 minutes |
| Giardia (Parasite) |
approximately 45 minutes |
| Cryptosporidium (Parasite) |
approximately 15300 minutes (10.6 days) |
- 1 mg/L (1ppm) free-chlorine at pH 7.5 and 25° C (77° F)
- These disinfectant times are only for pools that don not use chlorine stabilizers such as cyanuric acid. Disinfection times would be expected
to be longer in the presence of a chlorine stabilizer.
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Center for Disease Control (CDC) - June 2008
In 2003-2004 Giardia sp. and Cryptosporidium spp. were responsible for 61.2% of gastroenteritis outbreaks associated with treated swimming pool venues
(e.g. swimming pool, water parks) in the United States. Cryptosporidium's key role in these outbreaks is likely because of its small size, low infectious
dose and high tolerance to chlorine. Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia intestinalis have been found in swimming pool filter backwash during
outbreaks. To determine baseline prevalence, the CDC sampled pools not associated with outbreaks and found that out of 160 sampled pools, 13 (8.1%)
were positive for one or both parasites; 10 (6.2%) for Giardia sp., 2 (1.2%) for Cryptosporidium spp. and 1 (0.6%) for both.
-Reference; CDC volume 14, number 6 - June 2008
CLICK HERE for Full Study
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Type |
Name |
UV Dose |
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Bacteria |
E.Coli |
6.6 mJ/cm² |
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Protozoa |
Cryptosporidium sp. |
36 mJ/cm² |
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Protozoa |
Giardia intestinalis |
34 mJ/cm² |
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Low-Pressure UV Systems are the ANSWER!
Establishing a bio-secure swimming facility begins at the pool design stage. Brake-through research in the past few years establishes Low-Pressure
UV Systems as the proven solution to harmful waterborne pathogen problems and irritating chloramines. Additionally, Low-Pressure UV Systems reduce
Free-Chlorine usage.
View Lamp Information
The United States Center for Disease
Control (CDC) recommends supplementary in-line disinfection
(e.g. UV treatment) to inactivate cryptosporidium spp. and improve water quality.
SafeGUARD CLP Series UV Sterilizers
SafeGUARD CLS Series UV Sterilizers |
Prerequisites of achieving successful UV Disinfection
- Identify the "Target Microorganism", consider its physical and life cycle characteristics
- Determine its "Required" UV Dose
- Determine the condition of the water to be treated (water temperature & UV transmissibility)
- Contact your UV manufacturer, ask questions regarding their UV equipment's capacity compared
to your specific needs
- Select the UV Sterilizer model that best suits your application requirements
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