In Sweden, roughly 2.4 million residents receive their drinking water from individual drinking water sources, such as their own well or via seawater *. It is the property owner's own duty to ensure that the water is of good quality. Do you keep a close eye on your drinking water?

Many well owners only sample the drinking water when they notice changes in taste, smell or color. Therefore, many people have problems with elevated levels of bacteria, viruses and microorganisms without even knowing it. A water filter for own well can be the answer

The usual common harmful bacteria are:

Cultivable microorganisms , which gives an overall view of the total number of bacteria in the water. Elevated values ​​may be due to leaking surface water or insufficient water turnover. The presence of excessively high values ​​can mean an increased risk of waterborne infection

Coliform bacteria , which are in the intestinal tract of animals and humans but are also found naturally in soil and water. increased values ​​show primarily that surface water affects the water source, but the effect of faeces from humans or animals, e.g. via sewers or by manure, can not be excluded.

E. coli (coli bacterium) , is found in the lower intestines of humans and warm-blooded animals, including birds and mammals. Most E. coli are harmless, but in the worst case can lead to several different types of infections in the urinary tract, blood vessels, meninges and intestines. Therefore, drinking water is considered unusable in the detection of E. coli. As early as 1877, it was understood that there was a disinfectant effect in sunlight, and in 1906 came the first solution of UV disinfection for drinking water in France. But in the 1930s, chlorination instead had a major breakthrough in water disinfection. During the 50's, UV technology began to be used again, but it took until the early 90's before the big breakthrough came. To some extent as a result of the health effects of chlorination becoming more debated, but perhaps mainly because it was found that UV treatment was effective against cryptosporidium and giardia. Both microorganisms are highly resistant to chlorine and a number of disease outbreaks caused by these had occurred. When it comes to the application of UV light in Sweden, attention has increased all the time since the mid-90s.

The UV system consists of a UV chamber through which the water passes. A lamp is placed in the chamber. The lamp is not in direct contact with the water but is placed in quartz glass tubes.

Some of the benefits of UV light for disinfecting drinking water through water filters for your own well:

- UV disinfection provides a successful inactivation of bacteria, parasites and most virus
- UV generally does not cause serious changes in water quality or formation of disinfection by-products
- UV disinfection has relatively low investment and operating costs compared to other processes
- A water filter for own well with UV system is relatively uncomplicated to operate and requires the least possible maintenance (only replacement of lamp once a year and replacement of quartz glass every 5 years)
- A water filter for your own well with UV system is relatively compact and easy to integrate into existing plumbing installation.
- The operation of the plant does not require the addition of any chemicals

What type of water filter for my own well should I choose?

If you have got bacteria in your drinking water you need to make some kind of effort. The most common and easiest is to install so-called water filter with UV filter that sterilizes the water from viruses and bacteria.There are today very compact systems that can handle up to 2000 l / h. If they also have an integrated flow meter, they do not release more water than they have time to disinfect, to always ensure a safe drinking water.

Something that is good to keep in mind is that the water must be clean of dirt and particles before it passes the UV filter, this to get the optimal effect from the UV treatment. It is therefore recommended to have some form of particle filter installed directly before the UV filter. A popular alternative is a so-called "Combi filter" where you can combine different types of filter containers such as. particulate filter and carbon filter with a UV filter. Then you get several functions in one and the same filter, but there will only be a single installation of water filters for your own well

* Source Livsmedelsverket

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