WATER BUG SCARE

16 September 2008

PHS Waterlogic helps Northamptonshire Schools avoid Cryptosporidium Scare. Thousands of pupils and staff at Northamptonshire Schools recently avoided the serious risks of the local Cryptosporidium water bug scare thanks to PHS Waterlogic’s point of use drinking water dispensers and PHS Waterlogic’s swift reaction to the news.

Proven to eradicate Cryptosporidium bacteria found recently in the region’s drinking water, PHS Waterlogic’s UV technology is incorporated into the WL2500 and WL3000 units used by many schools in the area. As a result, PHS Waterlogic prevented the risk to schools, their pupils and staff in the Northamptonshire region by eliminating the risk of infection and subsequent school closures.

PHS Waterlogic was quick to respond to the crisis, servicing all 474 of its units across the area as soon as the shocking news broke. Across the 360 affected sites, which included many schools, PHS Waterlogic checked all units, replacing any affected filters where needed.

PHS Waterlogic coolers use an in-tank UV-c water purification process, combined with a one micron filter, to eliminate potentially harmful bacteria. This technology is scientifically proven to destroy 99.999% of water borne bacteria, without adding any chemicals or removing beneficial minerals from the water.

Although the one micron filters included in PHS Waterlogic units are sufficient to act as a physical barrier to the vast majority of Cryptosporidium, the additional UV-c light used in this filtration process is the recommended and most effective way to eliminate the Cryptosporidium bacteria.

Cryptosporidium presence in water is eliminated at UV-c levels as low as 1 or 2 mWs/cm2; PHS Waterlogic’s WL2500 and WL3000 units are fitted with an 8w germicidal UV-c UV lamp, which generates 25mWs/cm2, significantly more than required to render the bacteria ineffective.

Installing a PHS Waterlogic unit, especially in a school environment, provides an added line of defence, which is particularly important when considering the vulnerability of children. In addition, the unit eliminates the need to impose unnecessary school closures whilst relevant solutions are put into place.