Ozone is one of the many naturally occurring gasses in the earth’s atmosphere and acts as a very powerful oxidizer. An oxidizer (or oxidizing agent) is a chemical species that undergoes a chemical reaction in which it gains one or more electrons and neutralizes harmful substances. In terms of the benefit it has on our planet, in our upper atmosphere it protects us from harmful radiation by filtering out the sun’s ultraviolet light.

Ozone water treatment is very versatile and can be used in both commercial and at-home settings. The process of water filtration uses ozone’s oxidative strength to filter out and oxidize impurities. Essentially, an ozone system contains an ozone generator, and that generator creates and then injects ozone into your water supply, and immediately starts oxidizing contaminants like bacteria, viruses, and metals.

What is Ozone Water Treatment?

Ozone water treatment is versatile in its filtration. Through the process, it will oxidize organic materials like bacteria, viruses, and parasites by removing their electrons, and killing their cells, eliminating the contaminants. Ozone does double duty though, actively eliminating other more metallic contaminants like iron, manganese, and copper. Through oxidation, ozone makes those contaminants more solid large, so essentially they become easier to filter out with mechanical filtration or other activated carbon filters. Oxidation can even go as far as to purify water and rid it of bad tastes and smells caused by chlorine as well.

How Does it Work?

With the chemical formula O3 , ozone is an inorganic molecule that is an unstable form of pure oxygen. Ozone is a potent oxidizing agent that may destroy bacteria and viruses in water, just like chlorine. Large creatures cannot be killed by ozone, so either the water must be filtered or another technique must be employed.

Ozone is used to oxidize iron and manganese to enhance or regulate their color, taste, and odor in addition to eliminating bacteria and viruses.

Ozone is mixed with the water being treated in ozone water treatment devices, which are installed as a point-of-entry system. To make sure the ozone treats as much of the water as possible, turbulence and bubbles are produced. More water flow results in more turbulence, which makes ozone water treatment more effective.

There are certain drawbacks to utilizing ozone to disinfect water, even though it has been used professionally since 1904 as a potent oxidizing agent for water treatment systems.

Types of Ozone Water Treatment

Ozone can also be produced by electrolytic and chemical reactions, but UV and electrical ozone generators are the most common for water treatment.

Electrical ozone generators

Electrical ozone generators produce ozone through corona discharge, which mirrors the way ozone is created during a thunderstorm. Instead of lightning, a high voltage electrical discharge is passed through oxygen inside a glass, ceramic, or steel chamber. This facilitates the breakdown of molecular oxygen into atomic oxygen and allows for the formation of ozone. The ozone is then either bubbled into water or vacuumed in through a venturi tube and the oxidation process begins immediately.

Ultraviolet light ozone generators

Ultraviolet light in the 160-240 nanometer (nm) range can create ozone from oxygen. Similar to the corona discharge process, UV light disrupts oxygen molecules and splits them into two oxygen atoms. The free atoms then combine with whole oxygen molecules to form ozone. In a UV ozone generator, ozone is produced as oxygen is passed between the lamp and the quartz sleeve of a UV light. The ozone is then drawn into water using a venturi and the water treatment process begins. However, UV ozone generators are not as powerful as electrical ozone generators and produce ozone at lower concentrations.

What Does Ozone Water Treatment Remove?

Bacteria
Viruses
Parasites, such as giardia and cryptosporidium
Hydrogen sulfide
Bad tastes and odors
Turbidity
Iron, manganese, and copper (when combined with another filtration method)

Benefits of Ozone Water Treatment

Effectiveness

Ozone is a strong oxidizer that instantly neutralizes biological matter, such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites, and has stronger disinfectant properties than chlorine. Ozone’s oxidative strength also helps eliminate otherwise stubborn metals from water. Ozone is effective over a wide range of pH, so even if you have acidic water, the effectiveness of ozone water treatment will not be hampered.

Chemical free

Ozone water treatment does not add chemicals to water. No pollutants are created in the ozone water treatment process, and any wastewater produced is safe to enter waterways and drains.

Tried-and-true technology

Ozone water treatment is a tried-and-true technology that has been used to treat municipal water supplies since the early 1900s. A water treatment plant in Nice, France began using ozone water treatment commercially in 1906, and today it is used at more than 2,000 installations worldwide.

Speed

Ozone water treatment is incredibly fast. Most water treatment systems require extended contact time to eliminate or reduce contaminants, but ozone works in mere seconds.

Disadvantages of Ozone Water Treatment

In wastewater and sewage systems that contain organic and carbon-based compounds as well as other water contaminants, ozone is crucial. There are a few drawbacks that should be noted even if ozone is superior to chlorine in getting rid of pollutants and pathogens.

Potential corrosion and toxicity

Ozone is a toxic gas, so if an ozone generator leaks, it could create a hazard in your home. Common side effects of ozone exposure include headache and irritation of the eyes and throat. Also, because ozone is a strong oxidizer, it can corrode pipes and fixtures if they are not made of ozone resistant materials, such as stainless steel or Teflon.

High Cost

Ozone water treatment is expensive compared to more well-known water treatment methods, such as chlorination. It has high equipment and operational costs, and it may be difficult to find a professional who is proficient in ozone water treatment. Home ozone water treatment systems cost between a few hundred and a few thousand dollars. Although, for municipalities ozone water treatment could be cost effective overtime, because it offsets the chemical costs required for chlorination.

Transporting it is challenging

Ozone has a short half-life once dissolved in water, as its natural reaction is to turn back into oxygen. Therefore, it is difficult to store and transport and must be generated onsite for immediate use.

Byproducts & Reactivity

Ozone produces byproducts when it interacts with organic substances in the water. For instance, ozone can react with bromide ions in water to create brominated chemicals (such as bromate ions or salts), which can lead to cancer in humans. Therefore, if the water has a high concentration of bromide salts, treatment operators need to manage the pH level in the water or refrain from applying ozone.

Applications of Ozone Water Treatment

Ozone water treatment is used in commercial, industrial, and municipal water treatment systems, as well as in home systems. Major beverage companies rely on ozone water treatment technology and it is often used to disinfect bottled water.

Cities also use ozone to purify and sterilize their municipal water supply. Finally, you can buy a home ozone water treatment equipment for your house. People on a city water supply may use them as an additional line of defense against contaminants, while well owners who are worried about the presence of germs and viruses in their water may find their disinfecting qualities appealing. Additionally, ozone water treatment works well for disinfecting ice makers. To produce clean, odorless ice, the Oxidice Ozone Sanitation System, for instance, sanitizes the air, water, and surfaces inside an ice maker.

Conclusion

ozone water treatment is an effective and powerful method for purifying water by eliminating harmful contaminants such as bacteria, viruses, and metals. Its ability to function without chemicals and its rapid action make it a preferred choice for both commercial and residential applications. Despite some drawbacks, like potential toxicity and high costs, its long-standing use and proven effectiveness highlight its importance in modern water treatment solutions.

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