What main advantage does UV light have over chlorination?

The primary advantage of UV light over chlorination is its ability to provide effective disinfection with a significantly shorter contact time with microorganisms. UV light works by disrupting the DNA of bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens, rendering them unable to reproduce and effectively eliminating them from the water.

Unlike chlorination, which requires a specific contact time to achieve the desired level of disinfection, UV light can inactivate microorganisms almost instantaneously when water is exposed to the UV radiation. This feature makes UV treatment particularly advantageous in situations where rapid disinfection is necessary, such as in emergency response scenarios or for small systems where water turnover needs to be quick.

While other factors such as taste and cost-effectiveness are also important considerations in water treatment, they do not specifically highlight the compelling speed at which UV light operates compared to chlorine. Additionally, UV light does not have the capability to remove heavy metals from water, which is another distinct function of different treatment processes.