I am on a small community system in the United States, and I have been informed that our water has a coliform problem, is chlorination the best approach for our entire community system?
A. Generally, yes. Public health agencies want to make sure that there is a small residual of “free” or available chlorine out in the distribution system or piping of community, to make sure that any bacteria are killed that occur or originate out in the distribution system. An ultraviolet sterilizer or ozone system will provide no disinfectant residual. Often we use ozone as a primary oxidizer or disinfectant at the main holding tank, as part of a treatment process, but we almost always recommend that a slight chlorine residual be used as a final step, to protect the distribution system piping. Q.
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