Comparison Chart of Water Disinfection Methods in a Hospital Environment
Item
Disinfection System
 Combination Disinfection Systems
Super Heating & Flush
Auto - Chlorinating / Inhibitor System
Auto-Chloramine System (Mono-Chloramine)
Chlorine Dioxide
Copper-Silver Ionization System
OzoniationYes
Yes
Yes
FEASIBLE - RETURN LOOP WITH FIXTURE / EQUIPMENT BACK FLOW PREVENTION REQUIRED
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
USED ON DOMESTIC HOT WATER SYSTEM
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
CHEMICAL UTILIZED
None
SODIUM HYPOCHLORITE
CHLORAMINE (CHLORINE & AMMONIA)
CHLORINE DIOXIDE (SODIUM CHLORITE)
COPPER & SILVER (MINERALS)
NONE
NONE
SODIUM HYPOCHLORITE
CHLORAMINE (CHLORINE & AMMONIA)
CHLORINE DIOXIDE (SODIUM CHLORITE)
BY-PRODUCT
None
TRIHALOMETHANES (THM'S)
TRIHALOMETHANES (THM'S) (FAR LESS THAN CHLORINE)
SOME CHEMICAL DECOMPOSITION IN FORM OF CHLORITE AND CHLORATE
NONE
BROMATE
OZONE
TRIHALOMETHANES (THM'S)
TRIHALOMETHANES (THM'S) (FAR LESS THAN CHLORINE)
SOME CHEMICAL DECOMPOSITION IN FORM OF CHLORITE AND CHLORATE
EFFECTIVE MAX. pH
None
7.8 pH
9 pH
10 pH
8 pH
NA
NA
7.8 pH
9 pH
10 pH
TASTE & ODORS
None
YES - CAN CAUSE TASTE AND ODOR PROBLEMS
YES - CAN CAUSE TASTE AND ODOR PROBLEMS
NONE (BELOW .8 PPM) - REMOVES MOST TASTE AND ODORS PROBLEMS
NONE
YES - WILL ADD ODOR
NONE - PROVIDED HIGH INTENSITY OZONE LAMPS ARE NOT USED
YES - CAN CAUSE TASTE AND ODOR PROBLEMS / ONLY IF HIGH INTENSITY OZONE LAMPS ARE USED
YES - CAN CAUSE TASTE AND ODOR PROBLEMS / ONLY IF HIGH INTENSITY OZONE LAMPS ARE USED
NONE (BELOW .8 PPM) - REMOVES MOST TASTE AND ODORS PROBLEMS / ONLY IF HIGH INTENSITY OZONE LAMPS ARE USED
IMPACT ON EQUIPMENT AND SYSTEMS
Potential
POTENTIAL CORROSION PROBLEMS
MINIMAL POTENTIAL CORROSION PROBLEMS
MINIMAL POTENTIAL CORROSION PROBLEMS
MINIMAL POTENTIAL DEPOSITION OF COPPER ON MILD STEEL / LOCALIZED CORROSION - NONE REPORTED
POTENTIAL CORROSION PROBLEMS
POTENTIAL - CORROSION PROBLEMS IF HIGH INTENSITY OZONE LAMPS ARE USED
POTENTIAL CORROSION PROBLEMS / ADDITIONAL CORROSION PROBLEMS IF HIGH INTENSITY OZONE LAMPS ARE USED
MINIMAL POTENTIAL CORROSION PROBLEMS / ADDITIONAL CORROSION PROBLEMS IF HIGH INTENSITY OZONE LAMPS ARE USED
MINIMAL POTENTIAL CORROSION PROBLEMS / ADDITIONAL CORROSION PROBLEMS IF HIGH INTENSITY OZONE LAMPS ARE USED
IMPACT ON DIALYSIS EQUIPMENT
None
NONE (BELOW 4 PPM) - CARBON FILTERS AND RO EQUIPMENT EFFECTIVELY REMOVES CHLORINE AND BY-PRODUCTS
SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFICULT TO REMOVE CHLORAMINES (MONO-CHLORAMINES) AND BY-PRODUCTS AT 4 PPM AND BELOW - CARBON FILTERS EFFECTIVE, RO MEMBRANE NOT EFFECTIVE, MEMBRANE DAMAGE
NONE (BELOW .8 PPM) - CARBON FILTERS AND RO EQUIPMENT EFFECTIVELY REMOVES CHLORINE DIOXIDE AND BY-PRODUCTS
INFORMATION CURRENTLY NOT AVAILABLE
INFORMATION CURRENTLY NOT AVAILABLE
NONE
NONE (BELOW 4 PPM) - CARBON FILTERS AND RO EQUIPMENT EFFECTIVELY REMOVES CHLORINE AND BY-PRODUCTS
SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFICULT TO REMOVE CHLORAMINES (MONO-CHLORAMINES) AND BY-PRODUCTS AT 4 PPM AND BELOW - CARBON FILTERS EFFECTIVE, RO MEMBRANE NOT EFFECTIVE, MEMBRANE DAMAGE
NONE (BELOW .8 PPM) - CARBON FILTERS AND RO EQUIPMENT EFFECTIVELY REMOVES CHLORINE DIOXIDE AND BY-PRODUCTS
ENVIRONMENTAL & HEALTH EFFECTS
WATER IS AT SCALDING TEMPERATURE
PRODUCES CARCINOGENIC THM'S.
PRODUCES CARCINOGENIC THM'S (less than chlorine).
NONE - DOES NOT PRODUCE THM'S AND CAN DESTROY SOME THM'S.
COPPER IS ACUTELY TOXIC TO MANY AQUATIC SPECIES AT LEVELS LOW AS 50 PPB. SYSTEM OPERATES BETWEEN 200 - 600 PPB COPPER, 10 TO 60 PPB SILVER.
NONE - BROMITE IDENTIFIED AS AN ANIMAL CARCINOGEN - EFFECTS ON HUMANS UNKNOWN
NONE
PRODUCES CARCINOGENIC THM'S.
PRODUCES CARCINOGENIC THM'S (less than chlorine).
NONE - DOES NOT PRODUCE THM'S AND CAN DESTROY SOME THM'S.
EPA APPROVED PRIMARY DRINKING WATER DISINFECTANT
No
YES (below 4 ppm)
YES (below 4 ppm)
YES (below .8 ppm)
NO
NO
NO
YES (below 4 ppm)
YES (below 4 ppm)
YES (below .8 ppm)
BREAKS DOWN BIOFILM (AT NOMINAL OPERATING CONDITIONS)
Yes
NO @ BELOW 50 PPM - MINIMAL ABOVE 50 PPM (SYSTEM OPERATES BETWEEN 2 - 3 PPM)
NO - (SYSTEM OPERATES AT 2-3 PPM)
YES
YES / NO - DEPENDING ON PPM
NO
NO
NO @ BELOW 50 PPM - MINIMAL ABOVE 50 PPM (SYSTEM OPERATES BETWEEN 2 - 3 PPM)
NO - (SYSTEM OPERATES AT 2-3 PPM)
YES
INHIBITS BIOFILM (AT NOMINAL OPERATING CONDITIONS)
No
MINIMAL
MINIMAL
YES
YES / NO - DEPENDING ON PPM
NO
NO
MINIMAL
MINIMAL
YES
SHORT TERM RESIDUAL EFFECTIVENESS AGAINST LEGIONELLA (SYSTEM NOT OPERATING)
YES - (APPROX. ONE WEEK)
YES
YES - FAR LESS EFFECTIVE AS CHLORINE
YES
YES
NO
NO
YES
YES - (FAR LESS EFFECTIVE AS CHLORINE)
YES
LONG TERM RESIDUAL EFFECTIVENESS AGAINST LEGIONELLA (SYSTEM NOT OPERATING)
None
NONE
NONE
MINIMAL - SOME RESIDUAL PROTECTION UNTIL BIOFILM IS RE-ESTABLISHED - NONE FOR BULK WATER
YES FOR HOT WATER SYSTEMS ONLY - (LONG TERM STUDIES [4 YEARS] INDICATE LEGIONELLA MAY DEVELOP A TOLERANCE TO SILVER )
NONE
NONE
NONE
NONE
MINIMAL - SOME RESIDUAL PROTECTION UNTIL BIOFILM IS RE-ESTABLISHED NONE FOR BULK WATER
FLUSHING REQUIRED AT ALL FIXTURES AT START UP AND ON PERIODIC BASES
Yes
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
CHLORINE SHOCKING OF WATER SYSTEM REQUIRED PRIOR TO SYSTEM OPERATING (SHOCKING EFFECTS BULK WATER ONLY - NO EFFECT ON BIOFILM)
NA
YES
YES
NOT REQUIRED
NOT REQUIRED
YES
YES
YES
YES
NOT REQUIRED
ESTIMATED FOR A 600 GPM SYSTEM (NOT INSTALLED)
NA
$9,000 (approx.)
$9,000 (approx.)
$12,000
$36,000
NOT AVAILABLE
$27,000
$36,000 (approx.)
$42,000 (approx.)
$39,000
ESTIMATED INSTALLATION COST
NA
$5,000 (approx.)
$5,000 (approx.)
$3,000
$5,000
NOT AVAILABLE
$10,000
$15,000 (approx.)
$15,000 (approx.)
$13,000
ESTIMATED ANNUAL MAINTENANCE COST
$12,500 (PER EVENT)
$8,000
$8,000
$16,650 @ 1 LB CIO2 OR $28,250 @ 2 LBS CIO2
$25,250
NOT AVAILABLE
$12,600
$20,600
$20,600
$20,000 @ 1 LB CIO2 OR
$32,000 @ 2 LBS CIO2
Prepared by Gregory Bova - JHH Facilities Engineering (Last updated January 30, 2001)