Ozone Treatment

Ozone has been used since 1903 for the treatment of drinking water. This use, which was developed in Europe, is the largest application for ozone and today there are many thousands of such water treatment installations worldwide. Outside of the area of water treatment, ozone has a multiplicity of other uses such as odour control on industrial installations and wastewater treatment plants, swimming pool water treatment and on a large scale for the treatment of municipal secondary effluent. Industrial high quality water supplies are also treated by ozone. It is used in the manufacture of specific chemical products and pharmaceutical intermediates. Ozone is also used to bleach inorganic products such as clays.

Ozone is the second most powerful oxidant exceeded only by Fluorine. It is 3125 times more powerful a disinfecting agent than Chlorine when used against E Coli. It is also widely recognized as the most effective agent in the destruction of Cryptosporidium Oocysts.

Specific Uses in Water Treatment

  • Sterilization of all forms of Bacteria and Viruses.
  • Increased settling of solids.
  • Removal of tastes and odours.
  • Removal of colour.
  • Oxidation of Sulphides and Cyanides.
  • Oxidation of Algae.
  • Removal of Trihalomethane and other DBP Precursors
  • Oxidation of organic materials e.g. Phenolics, Detergents, Pesticides, Hydrocarbons, and Humic, Fulvic and Tannic acids.
  • Destruction of Cryptosporidium Oocysts.
  • Followed by filtration it is employed for the removal of Iron and Manganese.


Advantages in the use of Ozone in Drinking Water Treatment

The application of ozone ensures that the following FUNDAMENTAL CRITERIA in relation to the production of an acceptable standard of Drinking Water are satisfied.

  1. Water should taste pleasant
    Ozone vastly improves taste by removal of objectionable elements
  2. Water should not smell unpleasantly
    Ozone oxidizes dissolved gases
  3. Water should not be coloured
    Ozone breaks up vegetative organic molecules and increases settling of solids
  4. Water should not be harmful to health
    Ozonation is one of the most powerful means of water disinfection.