Ultra Violet (UV) is nature's natural method of disinfection. It is a specific section of wavelength that occurs naturally in sunlight.
Manufactured UV has a greater intensity than natural UV and is concentrated in the 254nm wavelength. This wavelength will destroy or prevent the reproduction of micro-organisms through DNA disruption.
How does UV affect an organism's DNA?
The mode of action by which bacteria, viruses, and molds are inactivated is well known and was established in the 1960’s. The primary mercury emission band occurs just below 254 nm. Fortuitously, genetic material is “damaged” by photons in the range from 230 to 290 nm. Optimum damage occurs near 254 nm. “Damage” is typically Intra-strand bonding across adjacent aromatic rings. A series of enzymes try to “fix” the lesion by excision and replacement. Inactivation occurs by 1) inability to fix the bond, or 2) a deletion of a nucleic acid or 3) replacing the wrong nucleic acid. This causes the organism to improperly reproduce.
The Nature Flow Ultra Violet Water Purification Unit is manufactured to provide a greater than 99% kill rate subject to the quality of input water supply (some waters require pre-filtration, pH and mineral adjustments).