Quick take
Choose a validated whole-house UV system sized above actual peak flow at the dose relevant to the product’s validation. Pair it with prefiltration and confirm treatment success with follow-up testing.
Test before and after treatment
CDC recommends identifying the contaminant first and testing again after treatment to verify the approach worked.
Use validated performance data
VIQUA publishes microbial-testing and dose/flow data for its Arros family rather than relying only on lamp wattage.
Do not exceed the validated flow
Higher flow shortens exposure time in the chamber. If the household can exceed the rated flow, use the next larger system.
UV does not solve chemical contamination
If bacteria coexists with nitrate, arsenic or other chemicals, additional treatment is necessary because UV does not remove those contaminants.