Performance of a storage tank coupled with UV light on enteric virus inactivation in drinking water

Abstract

Abstract Water destined for personal and household consumption should be safe and acceptable in taste, odor and color. However, complaints about drinking water quality are a common issue among the Brazilian population. Also, due to the pollution of water bodies, social groups that are not supplied by treated water may be exposed to different contaminants. The aim of this study was to assess the efficiency of a water treatment tank coupled with UV light on the inactivation of enteric viruses and the reduction of chlorine concentration for use in residences, as well as in rural and isolated communities. Viral disinfection and chlorine concentration decay assays were performed in a tank with capacity of 300 L and a 36-W UV lamp coupled, with controlled temperature. Recombinant human adenovirus (AdHu5-GFP) and murine norovirus (MNV-1) infectivity were assessed after 0, 3, 6 and 12 h of water recirculation. 99.99% inactivation was reached after 12 h for AdHu5-GFP and before 6 h for MNV-1. Chlorine concentration had a decay of 0.77 mg/L after 12 h. Regarding the efficiency observed, a product model was designed. This tank model was efficient in ensuring viral inactivation as well as in reducing residual chlorine and can be adjusted to other scales.