How to Treat Water With Ozone
Ozonation is the process of generating ozone (O3), usually by running high-purity oxygen (O2) through an electric corona. The resulting ozone gas is bubbled through water as a treatment step.
Treating water with ozone is a "green" method leaving no by-products when correctly done. Ozone destroys waterborne pathogens (disease-causing organisms in water) as well as oxidizing suspended minerals allowing the heavy oxidized particles to settle out of the water.
Home water ozonation requires specialized equipment.
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Things You'll Need
- Ozone generator
- Non-hydrocarbon-based "plastic" or clean, flexible stainless steel tubing
- Diffusing stone
- Access port to water supply
- Feed-through plate or stainless steel feed-through fitting with outer diameter matching access port
- Feed-through barb fittings to match your tubing
Instructions
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1
Set up your ozone generator exactly as the owner's manual instructs.
Ozone gas can be toxic in small concentrations. Many ozone generators use a pure oxygen, compressed gas source, which requires special safety precautions. -
2
Shut off your incoming water supply and open the access port.
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3
Cleanly cut a piece of tubing long enough to suspend the diffusing stone in the middle of the water feed pipe. Attach the other end of the tubing to the inner barb (or threaded fitting) of the feed-through plate.
Replace the access port with your feed-through fitting and diffusion stone. -
4
Connect the outer barb of the feed-through fitting to the output barb of the ozone generator.
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5
Set the ozone generator feed to the setting recommended for your expected flow of water.
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Tips & Warnings
A post-treatment filter removes any oxidized minerals and organics precipitated from the water. This is a good follow-up step to in-home ozonation.
Clean any tool, fitting or tubing with soapy water, rinse with clean water, then rinse with denatured alcohol and air dry. High-purity oxygen and ozone react to any oils they come in contact with, possibly triggering fire or explosion.
Do not overozonate your water. Although ozone has a half-life of less than 30 minutes, overozonated water releases excess ozone, which is a health hazard.
If you feel headaches after ozonation startup, stop your system immediately. Look for leaks in your ozone feed line and repair them. Reduce the ozone flow; you may be overozonating.
