What is the purpose of using UV light in wastewater treatment?

The purpose of using UV light in wastewater treatment is primarily for disinfection. UV light effectively inactivates microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and protozoa, by damaging their DNA or RNA, making it impossible for them to replicate and cause infections. This non-chemical method is particularly valuable because it does not introduce any residual chemicals into the treated water, which can be beneficial when the treated water is discharged into natural waterways or reused.

Using UV light helps ensure the safety of effluent by reducing pathogen levels and lowers the risk of waterborne diseases. It is commonly employed in both municipal wastewater facilities and smaller systems due to its efficiency and effectiveness.

The other options relate to different aspects of wastewater treatment. While solids removal generally involves physical processes like sedimentation and filtration, reducing chemical oxygen demand targets the reduction of organic material in the water, which may be managed through biological treatment methods. Enhancing nutrient removal typically focuses on processes that target nitrogen and phosphorus, rather than disinfection methods like UV treatment. Each of these processes serves distinct purposes within the overall wastewater treatment process, but UV light's role is specifically centered on disinfection.