Why UV-C water sterilizers are useless in developed countries...
We, residents of developed countries, are very fortunate: our tap water is made potable by municipal/national commitment.
And you know what? It works quite well, nothing compared to developing countries where access to drinking water is more of an exception than a general rule.
In hot countries (which is almost the entire third world), such as those in Africa, there are numerous problems with bacterial pollution, which causes dysentery and repeated deaths. Thus, despite all our efforts, approximately 1.2 million people die from a water quality-related disease.
It is quite possible that these figures will rise as chemical pollution increasingly adds to bacterial pollution: endocrine disruptors, textile dye residues, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, microplastics, the list is long.
To this effect, chlorine is generally used to prevent bacteria from proliferating in drinking water, but UV-C radiation can also be used (do not confuse it with UV-A radiation from LaVie; UV-C is lethal to humans and does not reach the earth as it is blocked by the ozone layer, thanks to it!).
This UV-C radiation is absorbed by bacterial DNA, causing it to mutate, thus making bacterial reproduction impossible (we refer to bacterial division as it splits in two to multiply).
Thus, with little power, we can “sterilize” water of its bacteria; they will not die, but will no longer be able to multiply in your stomach, and you will therefore not fall ill. We achieve exactly the same result by boiling the water for a few minutes. It is simpler, but consumes more energy.
However, UV-C sterilization, just like boiling, is not purification, contrary to what some UV-C sterilizer sellers claim: they do not change the chlorine level, taste, odors, or the chemical compounds present in the water.
A simple filter jug will do much better for less money.
So, do not be fooled by attractive designs or pretty sirens of false promises: it is absolutely unnecessary in France to acquire such products.
Also read: The filter carafe: a good idea?
Why want to kill bacteria that do not exist?
The only utility of these UV-C bottles (polluting because equipped with a non-replaceable lithium battery that will last two to three years at most…) is hiking, if you only have lake or river water available.
If I were you, however, I would think twice before drinking this water, because as explained above, you will only remove the bacteria; prepare to drink chemical pollutants such as glyphosate, or why not lead, arsenic, etc…
In our LaVie process, for example, to dissociate chlorine molecules, we use 50 times the amount of energy of commercially available UV-C bottles.
A true purifier must be capable of reducing chlorine as well as its derivatives, chemicals, pesticides, traces of medications, endocrine disruptors, etc.
For these UV-C bottles, you will only find evidence of bacterial reduction on the manufacturer’s website, and for good reason…
Regarding developing countries, we have an initiative through our solar product, LaVie SUN, featured on the site www.lavie.foundation, and we fully intend to make an impact very soon.
I hope that now, you will make choices based on your needs, with complete clarity, and will never again confuse UVA purification with “flash” UVC.
The only UV-A water purifiers: LaVie
LaVie water purifiers operate without filters or maintenance and allow you to purify your tap water in 15 minutes.
They use an innovative, patented, and exclusive technology from LaVie®: the photolysis of chlorine by UV-A radiation.
This treatment allows for the reduction of chlorine and its derivatives, chemical compounds such as certain pesticides or traces of medications, and tastes and odors that can be found in tap water.
The result, very high quality, allows you to definitively eliminate the consumption of plastic bottled water.
Read: Our comparative article on the tap water purifier and other filtration solutions available on the market.
The carbon footprint related to the production of the aluminum tube of the UV water purifier is neutralized within a few days of use compared to the equivalent consumption of water in plastic bottles.
To your health!
Article written on 15/02/2021 by Pascal Nuti – CIO Solable – Passionate about energy, I am constantly seeking new targets for improvement, exploring cross-cutting paths using innovative methods.
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