Waterborne pathogen inactivation at a point-of-use device: A proof-of-concept study using a UV-LEDs integrated showerhead
Citation:
Oh, Y., H. Kim, L. Boczek, H. Woo, D. Williams, AND H. Ryu. Waterborne pathogen inactivation at a point-of-use device: A proof-of-concept study using a UV-LEDs integrated showerhead. Presented at WQTC 23, Dallas, TX, November 05 - 09, 2023.
Impact/Purpose:
Opportunistic premise plumbing pathogens can lead to a range of illnesses, from gastrointestinal problems to severe respiratory infections. In premise plumbing systems (PPSs), stagnant water, especially at warm temperatures, provides a conducive environment for the growth of microbes, which can form biofilms as well as interact with unicellular organisms such as amoeba that shield them from disinfectants like chlorine. Therefore, it is imperative to implement effective water disinfection technologies to minimize the risk of waterborne pathogens and subsequent illnesses for end users. Point-of-use (POU) water disinfection technologies are a promising solution that can effectively reduce the risk of microbial contamination in PPSs and provide an additional layer of protection for the users. We propose the use of ultraviolet-light emitting diodes (UV-LEDs) technology, as UV-LEDs can be designed to fit a wide range of shapes and sizes of PPSs and POU devices. In this study, we integrated UV-LEDs within a showerhead to test its ability to inactivate waterborne pathogens. We first fabricated a prototype of a rain showerhead equipped with UV-LED technology, which is patented by the agency. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of a proof-of-concept for the integration of UV-LEDs into a showerhead. Our research showcases the promising potential of UV-LEDs technology for disinfecting water and provides valuable insights into for developing UV-LEDs POU devices.
Description:
This presentation describes a proof-of-concept study designed for a novel point-of-use (POU) device integrated with ultraviolet-light emitting diodes (UV-LEDs). The study mainly focuses on how the integration works effectively for water disinfection in home plumbing systems. We fabricated a prototype showerhead containing UV-LEDs that is patented by U.S. EPA and evaluated its inactivation efficacy against waterborne pathogens under different operating conditions. Our presentation will also provide an overview of the UV-LEDs technology and its applications for disinfecting water, as well as discussing opportunities and challenges for developing UV-LEDs POU devices.