Alteration of the chemical disinfection by chlorine dioxide to disinfection by UV-radiation in the water works Petersaue

In 1959 the water works Petersaue started with the treatment of drinking water from bank infiltrate of the river Rhine. Until 1997 disinfection was done by adding chlorine dioxide which may be hazardous to human health by itself or by its by-products. To avoid this, the disinfection was changed to UV-radiation to avoid the addition of chemicals to the drinking water. After the alteration, the results of intensive investigations showed, that the bacteriological standards could be held. By installation of the UV-radiation equipment for the disinfection of the Petersaue drinking water, an ecologically beneficial and guiding system was integrated into the treatment process.