UV Water Sterilizer
medium
11 / 11 models (Inspector)
A UV sterilizer disinfects potable water by exposing it to ultraviolet light as it flows past a lamp, with no chemical residual left behind, which means it protects the water at the point of treatment but not further down the pipe run to a cabin tap.
Read more — UV Water Sterilizer explained ▾
What Sets UV Disinfection Apart
Chlorination and other chemical dosing leave a residual disinfectant that keeps working as water sits in tanks and pipework. UV sterilizers do the opposite: ultraviolet light at the germicidal wavelength damages the DNA of bacteria, viruses and protozoa as they pass the lamp, inactivating them instantly, but the moment the water leaves the unit there is no ongoing protection. That makes UV effective against organisms like Legionella that thrive in warm, stagnant pipe runs, but only if the system is sized and positioned so no untreated dead leg exists between the UV unit and the tap, and only if the water is clear enough for the light to actually reach the organisms.
Main Components
UV Lamp and Quartz Sleeve
A low-pressure or medium-pressure mercury vapour lamp, or increasingly a UV-C LED array, sits inside a quartz sleeve that keeps the lamp dry while letting UV light pass through into the water chamber.
Reactor Chamber
Stainless steel housing directs water flow past the lamp in a pattern designed to give every parcel of water an adequate dose, rather than letting some water short-circuit past the lamp with minimal exposure.
UV Intensity Sensor
A sensor monitors actual UV output through the water, since lamp intensity fades with age and quartz sleeve fouling reduces transmission; the sensor is what tells the system dose is falling before the water quality is actually compromised.
Flow Control and Alarm
A flow sensor or valve limits water speed through the chamber so contact time stays adequate at the design dose, and an alarm diverts or shuts flow if UV intensity or flow rate falls outside the validated range.
Selection and Sizing
Dose is measured in millijoules per square centimetre, with a common minimum target around 40 mJ/cm2 for potable water disinfection, though the ship's flag state or class notation may specify a figure. Sizing depends on peak flow rate through the unit and the water's UV transmittance, which drops if the feed water carries iron, tannins or turbidity, so pre-filtration ahead of the UV stage is normally required rather than optional.
Typical Faults
| Fault | Consequence |
|---|---|
| Quartz sleeve scaled with hardness deposits | UV transmission drops, effective dose falls below validated level without a visible change in the water |
| Lamp past its rated service life left in use | Output intensity decays well before the lamp visibly stops working |
| Upstream filter bypassed or clogged and left in bypass | Turbid water shields organisms from UV exposure, disinfection fails silently |
| Dead leg or unused branch downstream of the UV unit | Stagnant water in that branch has no residual protection and can regrow bacteria |
What to Look for in a Supplier
- Third-party validation data for the specific dose delivered at rated flow, not just a nameplate wattage figure.
- Lamp and sleeve replacement parts readily available on the ship's trading routes, since lamp life is measured in months, not years.
- Sensor and alarm design that actually shuts or diverts flow on low dose, rather than only logging a warning that can be missed.
Log lamp running hours and replace on schedule regardless of whether the lamp still lights; a lamp glowing at reduced output looks fine to the eye but may already be well under the dose the water needs.
5 manufacturers · 11 models
Trojan
6
Trojan UVMax D4
unverified
10 m³/h
· 0.04 kW
· UV sterilization
Uv type
point-of-use UV sterilizer
Flow Rate
10 m³/h
Lamp power (kW)
0.04
Application
marine potable water treatment
Common Failures & Inspection Points
- Reduced treatment performance caused by fouled filters, exhausted media, scaled membranes, aged lamps or contaminated process surfaces, resulting in poor water quality or increased pressure drop
- Dosing, regeneration or process-control failure caused by empty consumables, pump faults or control errors, resulting in incorrect treatment conditions
- Sensor or conductivity fault caused by fouling, calibration drift or wiring problems, resulting in implausible readings or alarms
- Pump or valve failure caused by wear, blockage or electrical faults, resulting in low treatment flow or inability to route water correctly
- Leakage caused by seal, housing, membrane, pressure-vessel or piping deterioration, resulting in water loss and unstable process conditions
Service: Inspect filters, membranes, lamps, dosing equipment, treatment vessels, pumps, valves, sensors and sample points as applicable to the installed process. Maintain hygienic conditions during opening of potable-water equipment. Trend pressure drop and water-quality indications and investigate abnormal values promptly. Verify alarms, regeneration, diversion or shutdown functions after maintenance. Store chemicals and treatment media according to approved procedures. Refer to the manufacturer documentation for the exact figure for dosing, replacement, cleaning and water-quality settings.
Spare Parts: Keep filter elements, membrane or lamp components, approved treatment media, dosing-pump service parts, seals, valves, sensors and sampling consumables recommended for the installed process. Chemicals must be approved for the intended water service.
Use Cases: It is used for freshwater, potable-water and sanitary treatment on merchant ships, passenger vessels, offshore units or other vessel types where this equipment category is fitted.
Trojan UVMax E4
unverified
20 m³/h
· 0.04 kW
· UV sterilization
Uv type
point-of-use UV sterilizer
Flow Rate
20 m³/h
Lamp power (kW)
0.04
Application
marine potable water treatment
Common Failures & Inspection Points
- Reduced treatment performance caused by fouled filters, exhausted media, scaled membranes, aged lamps or contaminated process surfaces, resulting in poor water quality or increased pressure drop
- Dosing, regeneration or process-control failure caused by empty consumables, pump faults or control errors, resulting in incorrect treatment conditions
- Sensor or conductivity fault caused by fouling, calibration drift or wiring problems, resulting in implausible readings or alarms
- Pump or valve failure caused by wear, blockage or electrical faults, resulting in low treatment flow or inability to route water correctly
- Leakage caused by seal, housing, membrane, pressure-vessel or piping deterioration, resulting in water loss and unstable process conditions
Service: Inspect filters, membranes, lamps, dosing equipment, treatment vessels, pumps, valves, sensors and sample points as applicable to the installed process. Maintain hygienic conditions during opening of potable-water equipment. Trend pressure drop and water-quality indications and investigate abnormal values promptly. Verify alarms, regeneration, diversion or shutdown functions after maintenance. Store chemicals and treatment media according to approved procedures. Refer to the manufacturer documentation for the exact figure for dosing, replacement, cleaning and water-quality settings.
Spare Parts: Keep filter elements, membrane or lamp components, approved treatment media, dosing-pump service parts, seals, valves, sensors and sampling consumables recommended for the installed process. Chemicals must be approved for the intended water service.
Use Cases: It is used for freshwater, potable-water and sanitary treatment on merchant ships, passenger vessels, offshore units or other vessel types where this equipment category is fitted.
Trojan UVMax F4
unverified
30 m³/h
· 0.09 kW
· UV sterilization
Uv type
point-of-use UV sterilizer
Flow Rate
30 m³/h
Lamp power (kW)
0.09
Application
marine potable water treatment
Common Failures & Inspection Points
- Reduced treatment performance caused by fouled filters, exhausted media, scaled membranes, aged lamps or contaminated process surfaces, resulting in poor water quality or increased pressure drop
- Dosing, regeneration or process-control failure caused by empty consumables, pump faults or control errors, resulting in incorrect treatment conditions
- Sensor or conductivity fault caused by fouling, calibration drift or wiring problems, resulting in implausible readings or alarms
- Pump or valve failure caused by wear, blockage or electrical faults, resulting in low treatment flow or inability to route water correctly
- Leakage caused by seal, housing, membrane, pressure-vessel or piping deterioration, resulting in water loss and unstable process conditions
Service: Inspect filters, membranes, lamps, dosing equipment, treatment vessels, pumps, valves, sensors and sample points as applicable to the installed process. Maintain hygienic conditions during opening of potable-water equipment. Trend pressure drop and water-quality indications and investigate abnormal values promptly. Verify alarms, regeneration, diversion or shutdown functions after maintenance. Store chemicals and treatment media according to approved procedures. Refer to the manufacturer documentation for the exact figure for dosing, replacement, cleaning and water-quality settings.
Spare Parts: Keep filter elements, membrane or lamp components, approved treatment media, dosing-pump service parts, seals, valves, sensors and sampling consumables recommended for the installed process. Chemicals must be approved for the intended water service.
Use Cases: It is used for freshwater, potable-water and sanitary treatment on merchant ships, passenger vessels, offshore units or other vessel types where this equipment category is fitted.
Trojan UVMax Pro 10
unverified
10 m³/h
· 0.04 kW
· UV sterilization
Uv type
point-of-use UV sterilizer
Flow Rate
10 m³/h
Lamp power (kW)
0.04
Application
marine potable water treatment
Common Failures & Inspection Points
- Fouling or exhausted treatment media can reduce treatment effectiveness, seen as deteriorating outlet-water quality or rising differential pressure
- Dosing-pump or chemical-feed faults can interrupt treatment, noticed as unstable readings, low dosing indication or quality alarms
- Blocked strainers or restricted piping can reduce flow, seen as low throughput or abnormal pump loading
- Sensor drift or contamination can give incorrect control feedback, noticed as implausible readings or unnecessary alarms
- Valve, seal or hose leakage can cause loss of treatment fluid or water, seen as wetness around the skid and inability to maintain normal operation
Service: Check water quality indicators, strainers, dosing points, media condition, pumps, valves, sensors and leak tightness. Confirm the unit changes state correctly between service, regeneration, flushing or standby modes where fitted. For chemical concentration, flow limits or replacement criteria not stated in the source entry, refer to the manufacturer documentation for the exact figure.
Spare Parts: Carry the maker-recommended filter elements or treatment consumables, dosing-pump service parts, seals, hoses, sensor consumables and common electrical fuses.
Use Cases: Applied to potable-water production and conditioning, domestic-water systems and other shipboard water services on merchant, passenger and offshore vessels.
Trojan UVMax Pro 20
unverified
20 m³/h
· 0.06 kW
· UV sterilization
Uv type
point-of-use UV sterilizer
Flow Rate
20 m³/h
Lamp power (kW)
0.06
Application
marine potable water treatment
Common Failures & Inspection Points
- Fouling or exhausted treatment media can reduce treatment effectiveness, seen as deteriorating outlet-water quality or rising differential pressure
- Dosing-pump or chemical-feed faults can interrupt treatment, noticed as unstable readings, low dosing indication or quality alarms
- Blocked strainers or restricted piping can reduce flow, seen as low throughput or abnormal pump loading
- Sensor drift or contamination can give incorrect control feedback, noticed as implausible readings or unnecessary alarms
- Valve, seal or hose leakage can cause loss of treatment fluid or water, seen as wetness around the skid and inability to maintain normal operation
Service: Check water quality indicators, strainers, dosing points, media condition, pumps, valves, sensors and leak tightness. Confirm the unit changes state correctly between service, regeneration, flushing or standby modes where fitted. For chemical concentration, flow limits or replacement criteria not stated in the source entry, refer to the manufacturer documentation for the exact figure.
Spare Parts: Carry the maker-recommended filter elements or treatment consumables, dosing-pump service parts, seals, hoses, sensor consumables and common electrical fuses.
Use Cases: Applied to potable-water production and conditioning, domestic-water systems and other shipboard water services on merchant, passenger and offshore vessels.
Trojan UVMax Pro 30
unverified
30 m³/h
· 0.09 kW
· UV sterilization
Uv type
point-of-use UV sterilizer
Flow Rate
30 m³/h
Lamp power (kW)
0.09
Application
marine potable water treatment
Common Failures & Inspection Points
- Fouling or exhausted treatment media can reduce treatment effectiveness, seen as deteriorating outlet-water quality or rising differential pressure
- Dosing-pump or chemical-feed faults can interrupt treatment, noticed as unstable readings, low dosing indication or quality alarms
- Blocked strainers or restricted piping can reduce flow, seen as low throughput or abnormal pump loading
- Sensor drift or contamination can give incorrect control feedback, noticed as implausible readings or unnecessary alarms
- Valve, seal or hose leakage can cause loss of treatment fluid or water, seen as wetness around the skid and inability to maintain normal operation
Service: Check water quality indicators, strainers, dosing points, media condition, pumps, valves, sensors and leak tightness. Confirm the unit changes state correctly between service, regeneration, flushing or standby modes where fitted. For chemical concentration, flow limits or replacement criteria not stated in the source entry, refer to the manufacturer documentation for the exact figure.
Spare Parts: Carry the maker-recommended filter elements or treatment consumables, dosing-pump service parts, seals, hoses, sensor consumables and common electrical fuses.
Use Cases: Applied to potable-water production and conditioning, domestic-water systems and other shipboard water services on merchant, passenger and offshore vessels.
Wärtsilä
2
Wärtsilä Hamworthy UV-C 10
unverified
· UV sterilization
Treatment Type
UV sterilization
Application
marine water treatment
Common Failures & Inspection Points
- Fouling or exhausted treatment media can reduce treatment effectiveness, seen as deteriorating outlet-water quality or rising differential pressure
- Dosing-pump or chemical-feed faults can interrupt treatment, noticed as unstable readings, low dosing indication or quality alarms
- Blocked strainers or restricted piping can reduce flow, seen as low throughput or abnormal pump loading
- Sensor drift or contamination can give incorrect control feedback, noticed as implausible readings or unnecessary alarms
- Valve, seal or hose leakage can cause loss of treatment fluid or water, seen as wetness around the skid and inability to maintain normal operation
Service: Check water quality indicators, strainers, dosing points, media condition, pumps, valves, sensors and leak tightness. Confirm the unit changes state correctly between service, regeneration, flushing or standby modes where fitted. For chemical concentration, flow limits or replacement criteria not stated in the source entry, refer to the manufacturer documentation for the exact figure.
Spare Parts: Carry the maker-recommended filter elements or treatment consumables, dosing-pump service parts, seals, hoses, sensor consumables and common electrical fuses.
Use Cases: Applied to potable-water production and conditioning, domestic-water systems and other shipboard water services on merchant, passenger and offshore vessels.
Wärtsilä Hamworthy UV-C 25
unverified
· UV sterilization
Treatment Type
UV sterilization
Application
marine water treatment
Common Failures & Inspection Points
- Fouling or exhausted treatment media can reduce treatment effectiveness, seen as deteriorating outlet-water quality or rising differential pressure
- Dosing-pump or chemical-feed faults can interrupt treatment, noticed as unstable readings, low dosing indication or quality alarms
- Blocked strainers or restricted piping can reduce flow, seen as low throughput or abnormal pump loading
- Sensor drift or contamination can give incorrect control feedback, noticed as implausible readings or unnecessary alarms
- Valve, seal or hose leakage can cause loss of treatment fluid or water, seen as wetness around the skid and inability to maintain normal operation
Service: Check water quality indicators, strainers, dosing points, media condition, pumps, valves, sensors and leak tightness. Confirm the unit changes state correctly between service, regeneration, flushing or standby modes where fitted. For chemical concentration, flow limits or replacement criteria not stated in the source entry, refer to the manufacturer documentation for the exact figure.
Spare Parts: Carry the maker-recommended filter elements or treatment consumables, dosing-pump service parts, seals, hoses, sensor consumables and common electrical fuses.
Use Cases: Applied to potable-water production and conditioning, domestic-water systems and other shipboard water services on merchant, passenger and offshore vessels.
BIO-UV
1
Marine UV
0.5-30 m³/h
· Marine Equipment
· UV Water Sterilizer
Type
UV Water Sterilizer
Common Failures & Inspection Points
- Scale, membrane fouling, biological growth or dirty optical surfaces reduce treatment capacity or water quality
- Pump, vacuum, lamp, blower or power-supply faults cause low production, low treatment intensity or shutdown
- Conductivity, salinity, level or treatment sensors drift and cause false acceptance, rejection or alarms
- Seal, gasket or piping leakage causes loss of pressure, vacuum or visible water leakage
- Pretreatment, strainer or discharge blockage causes unstable flow and poor process performance
Service: Inspect feed and discharge paths, strainers, pumps, treatment elements, monitoring and diverting arrangements. Trend production, pressure and water quality where applicable and keep pretreatment equipment clean. Prevent doubtful product water or inadequately treated effluent from entering the wrong system. Refer to the manufacturer documentation for the exact figure for pressure, cleaning, dosing and quality criteria.
Spare Parts: Carry filters, strainers, pump seals, membrane or UV parts where applicable, sensors, valve parts, blower service items and approved treatment consumables.
Strengths
- Small footprint – fits easily into limited engine room or galley spaces.
- Chemical‑free disinfection – no residual taste or hazardous by‑products.
- Quick kill rate – water is treated in seconds as it passes the lamp.
- Predictable maintenance schedule – lamp replacement every 8,000 hrs and annual quartz sleeve inspection.
- Compatible with standard marine power supplies.
Weaknesses
- Requires continuous electrical power; loss of power stops disinfection.
- UV lamp effectiveness declines after 8,000 hrs, necessitating replacement.
- Quartz sleeve can develop cracks over time, requiring careful inspection.
- Performance drops in highly turbid or heavily fouled water unless pre‑filtered.
- Reported occasional flow switch and power supply faults.
Typical Vessels:
YachtFishing vesselCoastal cargo shipOffshore supply vesselResearch vessel
Decision Guide: Choose if: you need a compact, chemical‑free solution for potable water disinfection on small to medium vessels with reliable power and can perform regular lamp and sleeve maintenance. Avoid if: the vessel requires very high flow rates, treats highly turbid water without adequate pre‑filtration, or has limited access for scheduled maintenance.
Use Cases: Freshwater production, potable-water conditioning, hydrophore service and sewage treatment.
Sika Services
1
Sikaflex-295 UV
Per ship freshwater demand
· Marine Equipment
Common Failures & Inspection Points
- Membrane fouling in reverse osmosis plants
- UV-Lampe End-of-Life
- Chemical dosing pump failure
- Chlorinator-Fehlfunktion
Service: Membrane cleaning quarterly. UV lamp per operating hours. Check water quality daily.
Spare Parts: Spare parts via Sika Services AG or authorized distributors. Lead time: 2–6 weeks.
Trojan Technologies
1
UV Marine Sterilizer
1-50 m³/h
· Marine Equipment
· UV water sterilizer
Type
UV Water Sterilizer
Common Failures & Inspection Points
- Scale, membrane fouling, biological growth or dirty optical surfaces reduce treatment capacity or water quality
- Pump, vacuum, lamp, blower or power-supply faults cause low production, low treatment intensity or shutdown
- Conductivity, salinity, level or treatment sensors drift and cause false acceptance, rejection or alarms
- Seal, gasket or piping leakage causes loss of pressure, vacuum or visible water leakage
- Pretreatment, strainer or discharge blockage causes unstable flow and poor process performance
Service: Inspect feed and discharge paths, strainers, pumps, treatment elements, monitoring and diverting arrangements. Trend production, pressure and water quality where applicable and keep pretreatment equipment clean. Prevent doubtful product water or inadequately treated effluent from entering the wrong system. Refer to the manufacturer documentation for the exact figure for pressure, cleaning, dosing and quality criteria.
Spare Parts: Carry filters, strainers, pump seals, membrane or UV parts where applicable, sensors, valve parts, blower service items and approved treatment consumables.
Strengths
- Chemical‑free microbial control eliminates the need for chlorine or other disinfectants
- Integrated UV dose monitor provides real‑time verification of performance
- Compact design fits within typical marine potable‑water loops
- Low operating energy compared with thermal disinfection methods
- Predictable maintenance schedule (lamp replacement annually, quartz cleaning quarterly)
Weaknesses
- UV lamp reaches end‑of‑life after ~8,000 hrs and must be replaced yearly
- Quartz sleeve can foul in high‑turbidity water, requiring regular cleaning
- UV sensor may drift over time, necessitating periodic calibration
- Ballast/driver electronics are a known failure point and add to spare‑parts inventory
- Effectiveness drops if water flow exceeds design specifications
Typical Vessels:
Cruise shipFerryOffshore supply vesselYachtResearch vessel
Decision Guide: Choose if: you need reliable, chemical‑free disinfection for potable water, have the ability to perform annual lamp changes and quarterly quartz cleaning, and want real‑time UV dose verification. Avoid if: power budget is extremely limited, maintenance windows are scarce, or water quality leads to rapid fouling of the quartz sleeve.
Use Cases: Freshwater production, potable-water conditioning, hydrophore service and sewage treatment.