Scientists on a Russian-Swedish research team have developed a new method for disinfecting water supply facilities using ozone as a means to reduce harm to the environment.

The research team, which brings together scientists from Stockholm’s KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Moscow’s National University of Science and Technology (NUST MISiS), has found that an ozone-based treatment is more effective in the cleaning of water facilities including wells, pipes, and reservoirs than the current standard of chlorine-based disinfectants.

Disinfection and decontamination of facilities are a crucial part of ensuring a healthy water supply. Typically, these processes are carried out using chlorine-based substances such as calcium hypochlorite and sodium.

But according to the findings of the joint KTH-NUST research team, these treatments can lead to an increased rate of material corrosion in the structure of the disinfected surfaces, potentially compromising water safety. This degradation can extend even past the disinfection period if the disinfectant substances become trapped in cracks or micropores.

“Ozone is increasingly being used for water decontamination. However, it is rarely used for surface disinfection despite its numerous technological, economic and environmental benefits,” noted Valentin Romanovski, Senior Researcher at Research Center for Structural Ceramic Nanomaterials, NUST MISIS.

NUST and KTH scientists suggest that their ozone-based cleaning treatment is more effective at the deactivation of viruses, microorganisms, and other harmful contaminants compared to standard chlorine-based treatments.

The ozone treatment also significantly reduces the level of surface corrosion, increasing the lifespan of facilities and making cleaning safer.