CHLORINATION
Advantages:
- Lower capital cost needed
- Residual persists in the water for an extended period of time. This feature allows the chlorine to travel through the water supply system.
- More suitable for system wherein residual disinfectant is needed.
- Good color removal
- Can also be used to oxidize iron bacteria in water, but with sufficient contact time.
Disadvantages:
- Reacts with naturally occurring organic compounds found in the water supply to produce dangerous compounds, known as disinfection byproducts (DBPs). The most common DBPs are trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids.
- Hazardous upon contact
- May raise concern on odor and tastes.
- Can cuase corrosion on metal parts and equipment
OZONATION
Advantages:
- Effective in removing viruses and bacteria
- No harmful by-products are formed; unlikely to form carcinogens
- influences pH and temperature minimally on a broad spectrum.
- Higher oxidation potential than chlorine
- No remaining tastes or odors after treatment
Disadvantages:
- Ozone is less suitable for maintenance of a residual concentration (secondary disinfectant), causing it to decompose in water relatively quickly
- solubility decreases when temperatures rise
- High capital cost
- May result in corrosion of metal parts and equipment
UV DISINFECTION:
Advantages
- Effective in removing viruses and bacteria
- No harmful by-products are formed; unlikely to form carcinogens
- No remaining tastes or odors after treatment
- Does not corrode metal equipment
Disadvantages:
- Not suitable for maintenance of a residual concentration (secondary disinfectant)
- Good only for point-of-use applications
