What is the equivalent % of 3 log removal?

The concept of log removal is used to quantify the effectiveness of a treatment process in reducing microorganisms in water. Each "log" represents a tenfold reduction in the concentration of a particular microorganism.

Achieving 3 log removal means reducing the number of target pathogens by 1,000 times. To translate this into a percentage, the formula for calculating this is:

1 - (1 / 10^n) where n is the number of logs removed.

In this case, for 3 logs:

1 - (1 / 1,000) = 1 - 0.001 = 0.999, or 99.9%.

This means that if you achieve 3 log removal, you are safeguarding the water supply by ensuring that 99.9% of the targeted pathogens have been removed or killed. This high level of log removal is critical in preparing drinking water to meet health standards and ensuring public safety.