Uvidis is a company that has now been developing concepts and products based on UV-C light for 20 years and specializes in legionella prevention systems.
Uvidis develops practical, safe and environmentally-friendly concepts and products based on UV-C light principles, so that obtaining a pure form of water is guaranteed.
The legionella bacteria
The legionella bacteria are rod-shaped bacteria that belong to the category of thermophile bacteria, which means that they thrive at temperatures that kill most bacteria. There are approximately 35 different types of legionella bacteria, 17 of which can cause sickness among people. The legionella pneumophila bacteria are responsible for 80% of all cases of Legionnaire’s disease.
Legionnaire’s disease
Legionnaire’s disease first became known when a large number of participants in a reunion of veterans contracted a serious lung infection in Philadelphia in 1976. Following a lengthy investigation, a new type of bacteria was identified as the cause: legionella pneumophila. The discovery of these bacteria led to a large amount of research into its properties and how it spreads.
Legionnaire’s disease is caused by the legionella bacteria. Infection can result in a serious lung infection. There is also a less serious form of infection, known as Pontiac fever. Infection takes place via the lungs: drinking contaminated water is not harmful. It is generally believed that the infection is transmitted by inhaling airborne bacteria when water is sprayed, in aerosols for example.
Preventing infection
If the water at the tap point is higher than 60 °C and is mixed with cold water with a temperature lower than 25 °C and the tap point is regularly used, there is little chance of infection taking place. In situations where those temperatures are not attainable owing to the way in which the system is built and the tap point is rarely or never used, other preventative measures can be taken. The use of UV-C light with a sediment filter in combination with disinfection of the water pipe is a physical technique that is recognized by the Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment and which can have a cost-saving effect. It is advisable to remove or regularly flush tap points that are rarely used. The presence of ‘dead’ pipe ends can result in an outbreak because the water in the pipes often stays still for very long periods.
UV-C light
It has been known since 1878 (Downes and Blunt) and 1891 (Schenk) that the ultraviolet wavelengths in sunlight have a disinfectant effect and contribute to preventing diseases from spreading. Without providing any explanation for the antibacterial effect, scientists have demonstrated that the invisible part of sunlight has this effect under 320 nm. It was established that this part of the sunlight is able to kill micro-organisms such as bacteria, fungi, yeasts and viruses. UV-C light damages the DNA of micro-organisms, so that they become inactive.
Because we were already able to produce this light artificially as far back as at the beginning of 1900, the use of UV-C light became a known disinfection method that is still used in many different applications to this very day. UV-C light is a good, hygienic, environmentally-friendly and economical alternative for countless other disinfection methods for air, water and surface infections.
The UV-Lifeshower
The UV-Lifeshower has been comprehensively tested by the renowned and independent research laboratory KIWA. The test involved passing drinking water containing protozoa and approx. 50 million legionella bacteria through the UV-Lifeshower. It was no longer possible to detect the presence of legionella bacteria in the treated water samples. Extensive scientific research has demonstrated the effectiveness of UV-C light, which has resulted in it becoming a universally tried-and-tested method for killing off bacteria. Water companies have successfully been using UV-C light on a large scale for many years.
Advantages
- Optimum safety through a unique combination of tried-and-tested technologies
- Environmentally friendly owing to limited power consumption
- No addition of chemicals
- Easy to install and maintain
- Direct disinfection of all dangerous aerosol-forming water
- Elimination of other harmful micro-organisms such as salmonella and e-coli
- The comfort of an integrated thermostatic mixer tap
- Technology encased in a designer housing
- Effectively applicable at all times and all places
Applications
Uv-Lifeshower is effectively applicable at all times and all places.
Some areas of application:
- Sport centres
- Hospitals
- Nursing homes
- Sanatoriums
- Health resorts
- Apartments
- Swimming pools
- Sheltered housing
- Hotels
- Holiday homes
- Houses
- Saunas
- Boats
- Offices
- Camping sites
- Harbours
- Prisons
