Legionella & Pathogen Control Ultrafiltration (UF) Systems

An ultrafiltration water system is a highly effective water treatment process for removing Legionella, as well as other harmful bacteria and some viruses from the water. It also removes endotoxins and the smallest of suspended solids (TSS) in water, which are often are a food source for Legionella and other bacteria. Ultrafiltration is used for safe drinking water for millions of people in cities around the world and is a proven method to pretreat fresh or seawater for reverse osmosis systems.

How Do You Size an Ultrafiltration System?

Legionella Control Ultrafiltration (UF) Systems are sized using water chemistry, suspended solids (TSS), pH, turbidity and temperature. Once the variables of the water are known, the flux (volume per area per unit of time) can be calculated. With this information, the size and amount UF modules, piping, pump and CIP system can be designed.

How Do Ultrafiltration Systems Work?

Ultrafiltration (UF) is a pressure-driven barrier to suspended solids, bacteria, viruses, endotoxins and other water pathogens to produce water with very high purity. The pore sizes of UF membranes are from 0.1 – 0.01 micron. Ultrafiltration has a very high effectiveness in removing harmful protozoa like Cryptosporidium and Giardia as well as all dangerous bacteria including but not limited to Campylobacter, Salmonella, Shigella and E. coli.

Ultrafiltration is not fundamentally different from reverse osmosis, microfiltration or nanofiltration, except in terms of the size of the pores in the membranes. UF membranes have the smallest pore size available to remove suspended solids (TSS). Suspended solids and solutes of high molecular weight are retained, while water and low molecular weight solutes pass through the membrane. UF does not remove or reduce dissolved solids (TDS) like reverse osmosis, nanofiltration or deionization (DI) systems.

Ultrafiltration effects on Disinfectants:

Ultrafiltration greatly improves the effectiveness of your disinfectant treatments because it removes 99.99% of organic particles. Removing these particles from the water before the disinfectant is introduced leaves more of the disinfectant to act upon the pathogens and not consume by organic particles.

Industrial Water System Service

Ready to buy an ultrafiltration system, or just need more information? Contact Legionella Control Systems at info@legionellacontrolsystems.com or 888-416-8626 for design, service and sales of industrial UF water systems in Indiana, the Midwest and throughout the U.S. Our experienced engineers are ready to help.

Contact Legionella Control Systems for CDC Legionella risk assessment and Legionella testing.