Specifying the Best Disinfection Technology Options in Residential/Commercial Applications

Disinfection/Sanitization Procedures of Water Softeners & RO Units

By: Justin Ramsey

Sanitization

• Definition: The process of killing pathogenic organisms or rendering them inert.

– Mosby's Medical Dictionary, 8th edition. © 2009, Elsevier.

• EPA Standards:– Sanitizer: 99.9% Kill Rate– Disinfectant: 99.99% Kill

Rate

• When to Sanitize– Well Water

Contamination– Boil Water Advisory– Installation– During Service

Why Sanitize?Within distribution systems there exist points called cross-connections where nonpotable water can be connected to potable sources … Backsiphonage may be caused by a variety of circumstances, such as main breaks, flushing, pump failure, or emergency firefighting water drawdown. Backpressure may occur when heating/cooling, waste disposal, or industrial manufacturing systems are connected to potable supplies and the pressure in the external system exceeds the pressure in the distribution system … During incidents of backflow, these chemical and biological contaminants have caused illness and deaths. The number of incidents actually reported is believed to be a small percentage of the total number of backflow incidents in the United States.

From 1981 to 1998, CDC documented 57 waterborne disease outbreaks related to cross connections, resulting in 9,734 illnesses. These include 20 outbreaks (6,333 cases of illness) caused by microbiological contamination, 15 outbreaks (679 cases of illness) caused by chemical contamination, and 22 outbreaks (2,722 cases of illness) where the contaminant was not reported.

*Potential Contamination Due to Cross-Connections and Backflow and the Associated Health Riskshttp://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/rulesregs/sdwa/tcr/upload/2007_05_18_disinfection_tcr_issuepaper_tcr_crossconnection-backflow.pdf

Why Sanitize?Within distribution systems there exist points called cross-connections where nonpotable water can be connected to potable sources … Backsiphonage may be caused by a variety of circumstances, such as main breaks, flushing, pump failure, or emergency firefighting water drawdown. Backpressure may occur when heating/cooling, waste disposal, or industrial manufacturing systems are connected to potable supplies and the pressure in the external system exceeds the pressure in the distribution system … During incidents of backflow, these chemical and biological contaminants have caused illness and deaths. The number of incidents actually reported is believed to be a small percentage of the total number of backflow incidents in the United States.

From 1981 to 1998, CDC documented 57 waterborne disease outbreaks related to cross connections, resulting in 9,734 illnesses. These include 20 outbreaks (6,333 cases of illness) caused by microbiological contamination, 15 outbreaks (679 cases of illness) caused by chemical contamination, and 22 outbreaks (2,722 cases of illness) where the contaminant was not reported.

*Potential Contamination Due to Cross-Connections and Backflow and the Associated Health Riskshttp://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/rulesregs/sdwa/tcr/upload/2007_05_18_disinfection_tcr_issuepaper_tcr_crossconnection-backflow.pdf

Nonpotable water can be connected to potable sources caused bymain breaks, flushing, pump failure, or emergency firefighting water drawdown.

From 1981 to 1998, 57 waterborne disease outbreaks related to cross connections, resulting in 9,734 illnesses. The number of incidents actually reported is believed to be a small percentage

Why Sanitize?From backflow incident records collected by EPA, the most common microbial contaminants and their potential health effects are listed below:– Shigella

• The associated symptoms are vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and convulsions (US EPA, 2002b).

– E. coli• The most common effect is watery diarrhea, with some strains causing fever or dysentery.

– Salmonella• Depending on the strain, health effects can include typhoid fever, gastroenteritis

(salmonellosis) (Benenson, 1995), and septicemia (US EPA, 2002b)

– Campylobacter jejuni• This bacteria can cause gastroenteritis with symptoms including bloody diarrhea, fever,

and abdominal cramping (US EPA, 2002b)

– Giardia • Giardia are intestinal parasites that exist in natural waters in a nonreproductive stage

(cysts). They can cause diarrhea, as well as vomiting, cramps, and bloating (US EPA, 2002b).

*Potential Contamination Due to Cross-Connections and Backflow and the Associated Health Riskshttp://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/rulesregs/sdwa/tcr/upload/2007_05_18_disinfection_tcr_issuepaper_tcr_crossconnection-backflow.pdf

Why Sanitize?• Pierre Payment (University of

Quebec) studied 600 families: 300 families had RO systems, and 300 families drank tap water.

• End of the 18-month study, water from an unsanitized RO caused 10 times more illness than tap water

• The bacteria levels were 100,000 per milliliter (ml) and higher

Why Sanitize?

Why Sanitize?

WQA & Sanitization• “Water must be considered as a

food… water treatment equipment must be maintained in the same manner as would be required to safeguard the sanitary condition of any food.”

• “Water treatment systems are susceptible to contamination from airborne, waterborne and human transmitted sources.”

• “Only U.S. EPA registered chemicals should be used … to sanitize/disinfect water treatment equipment.”

Sanitization Market Research• Market Research performed Q1 of 2010• Surveyed 359 independent dealers• Spoke with several distributors, dealership owners, service

men, trainers and magazine editors• Interviewed corporate dealer group buyers & trainers• Brief sampling of interviewees:

Research Results

• 72% currently using chlorine• 57% of sanitizers are purchased outside of the WT

channel• 63% are unsure that the system is properly sanitized

when complete• 84% want an EPA certified sanitizer

Determining a Solution• 5 ¼% Chlorine Solution (50 ppm

concentration)– Requires only 2 minutes of

contact time. Readily available– Stains, corrosive to resin &

membranes, smells, tastes & difficult to determine proper dosage due to continual gassing off of the Chlorine

• Hydrogen Peroxide (3, 7, or 35%) (30,000 ppm concentration)– Requires 3 hours of contact time– Scentless & tasteless but

requires 3 hours & difficult to determine proper dosage

• Quaternary Ammonium (200 ppm concentration)– Sanitizes in just 60 seconds.

Available in single-dose packets– Non-corrosive, non-staining but

leaves an aftertaste if too much is used

• Iodine (12.5 ppm)– Sanitizes in 15 minutes– Liquid stains just about

everything it comes in contact with

Determining a Solution

• CHLOROX"Dear Mr. Ramsey,[Sanitizing water softeners is] actually not a use for which we've tested our Clorox Regular Bleach, so you may want to check with the water softener manufacturer and see if they offer an alternative (for sanitization)."

• IODINE TABLETS"Our Potable Aqua water purification tablets are NOT INTENDED TO BE USED TO SANITIZE WATER SOFTENERS. They cannot be used for this purpose. They are regulated by the FDA for the purpose of purifying water only."

Determining a Solution• 5 ¼% Chlorine Solution (50 ppm

concentration)– Requires only 2 minutes of

contact time. Readily available– Stains, corrosive to resin &

membranes, smells, tastes & difficult to determine proper dosage due to continual gassing off of the Chlorine

• Hydrogen Peroxide (3, 7, or 35%) (30,000 ppm concentration)– Requires 3 hours of contact time– Scentless & tasteless but

requires 3 hours & difficult to determine proper dosage

• Quaternary Ammonium (200 ppm concentration)– Sanitizes in just 60 seconds.

Available in single-dose packets– Non-corrosive, non-staining but

leaves an aftertaste if too much is used

• Iodine (12.5 ppm)– Sanitizes in 15 minutes– Liquid stains just about

everything it comes in contact with

How to SanitizeWater Softeners – two easy steps

One:

Open and pour the entire contents of

the packet into the brine well.

If no brine well is present, pour

contents into the bottom of brine tank

when salt is nearly empty.

Two:

Manually regenerate softener according

to manufacturer specifications.

Regenerate again if necessary.

How to SanitizeReverse Osmosis Units – five easy steps

One:

Shut off water to RO unit.

Remove membrane and filter or filters.

Store in water to prevent damage.

Two:

Open pure water faucet and

depressurize system.

How to SanitizeReverse Osmosis Units – five easy steps

Three:

Pour entire packet directly into first

main housing unit.

Make sure pure water faucet is

closed and turn on water supply.

Four:

Allow system to fill with water.

Flush system two times.

How to SanitizeReverse Osmosis Units – five easy steps

FIve:

Replace and re-install membranes

and filter or filters.

Educating your Customer• Tell your customer you’re sanitizing

the water treatment equipment and tell them why (best practice, safeguarding the customer, etc)

• Explain the modest fee and point out the line item on the invoice

• Attach an educational brochure to the invoice

Educating your Customer• Begin developing the "service mentality" with

your customer by using service stickers & hangers

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Questions?