What are the two main categories for disinfectants?

Disinfectants play a crucial role in ensuring the safety of drinking water by eliminating harmful pathogens. The two main categories for disinfectants are classified as chemical and physical.

Chemical disinfectants include substances such as chlorine, chloramines, ozone, and hydrogen peroxide. These chemicals work by reacting with and destroying the cellular structures of microbes, effectively neutralizing them and preventing waterborne diseases.

Physical disinfectants, on the other hand, involve methods such as heat (boiling), ultraviolet (UV) radiation, or filtration. These methods do not add chemicals to the water but instead use physical processes to eliminate or deactivate pathogens. For instance, UV light disrupts the DNA of microorganisms, rendering them unable to reproduce and cause infection.

Understanding these two categories is essential for water operators, as the choice of disinfectant can depend on various factors such as the type of water source, the specific contaminants present, regulatory requirements, and the desired disinfection goals. The significance of this classification lies in the ability to select the most appropriate disinfection method for different water treatment scenarios.