Abstract

BATALLER, Mayra O.; FERNANDEZ, Lidia A.  and  VELIZ, Eliet. Efficiency and sustainability of the ozone use in the water sources management. Rev. Int. Contam. Ambient [online]. 2010, vol.26, n.1, pp.85-95. ISSN 0188-4999.

Different aspects on the evaluation of the impact of ozone drinking water treatment on efficiency and sustainability in water resources management are discussed. In the last decades, an increase in ozone applications is observed. This is due to several factors: ozone's powerful disinfection capacity that inactivates pathogenic microorganisms, including chlorine resistant ones, without producing toxic compounds. Ozone's high oxidant power improves other stages of the drinking water treatment process. When bromide ions are present in raw water, the bromate ion can be generated, which is reported as the only ozonation by-product under standard control. However, the formation of the bromate ion can be controlled. Nowadays, considerations on the new requirements of CT (concentration and contact time), which is the product of the dissolved ozone concentration (mg/L) and the contact time (min), for designing ozone systems for Cryptosporidium inactivation are in progress. These improve the formation control of bromate ion and reduce costs. On the other hand, concentration of bromate ions in ozonated waters is fairly low. The results of studies at several water drinking treatment plants in Europe and the United States of America showed that only a low percentage did not fulfill USEPA's standard of 10 μg/L. An adequate epidemiological study has been recommended in order to provide new evidence on the toxicity of the bromate ion. Taking into account these aspects, ozone water drinking treatment has a favourable impact, due to its potentiality and efficiency, contributing to sustainable development.

Keywords : ozonation; drinking water; disinfection; sustainable development.

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