ABSTRACT

The primary purpose of disinfecting drinking water is, of course, to destroy and eliminate pathogenic organisms responsible for waterborne diseases. A major factor affecting an evaluation of the efficacy of a particular disinfectant is the test microorganism. There is a wide variation in susceptibility among bacteria, viruses, and protozoa, as well as among genera, species, and strains of these microbes. Reoviruses and polioviruses have received considerable attention in bromine disinfection studies. Iodine has had a history as an antiseptic for skin wounds and mucous surfaces of the body and as a sanitizing agent in hospitals and laboratories. It has been found useful for small-scale and emergency situations. Electromagnetic radiation, in wavelengths from 240 to 280 nm, is an effective agent for disinfection of bacteria and other microorganisms in water. An emission of ultraviolet radiation occurs at a wavelength of 253.7 nm from a low-pressure mercury arc.