UV Disinfection: Design Optimization Tools

The use of UV disinfection for wastewater and water reuse applications is a well-established technology
that continues to gain popularity, but it is not without its problems. In many cases, particularly in highdose,
reuse applications, facilities are not meeting their design requirements even though design flow and
UV transmittance are properly accounted for. This can occur for a number of reasons, but three likely
culprits are an insufficient UV dose, poor channel hydraulics and/or flow distribution, solids
accumulation, and sleeve fouling. Presented herein are descriptions of intelligent design tools and
practices that can be used to optimize the design of UV disinfection systems. Use of these tools may
increase the cost of design, but can also result in long-term cost savings by optimizing the equipment size,
avoiding fines associated with excursions of permit limits.