Tag Archives: Legionella

MIOX ballast water management article in Maritime Reporter and Engineering News

MIOX Blog, , , , , , ,

MIOX Article in Maritime ReporterMaritime Reporter and Engineering News magazine publishes an article about MIOX for water management on cruise ships.  The article “MIOX Safe Water Management for Cruise Ships” focuses on numerous water treatment challenges facing the cruise industry today from prevention of gastrointestinal illness and legionella outbreaks.

This week MIOX co-presents “Available Options for Disinfection in Ballast Water Treatment” with marine distribution partners, Howell Laboratories, Inc. at the Ballast Water Management Summit in Long Beach, California.  For more information about this presentation, read the previous blog post here.

If you want to learn more about MIOX water management solutions for cruise ships, click here to contact an industry expert.

 

 

Tags: , , , , , , ,

Legionella Prevention at Large Hospital in Indiana, USA

Cooling Water, Installation Profiles, MIOX Blog, , , , , , , , ,

Waterborne illness from microbial growth in building water distribution systems is a real threat to water safety and communities. MIOX’s patented Mixed Oxidant Solution (MOS) chemistry for secondary disinfection can help eradicate biofilm that can harbor Legionella and other microorganisms without the use of Chlorine Dioxide. MIOX Mixed Oxidant Solution and sodium hypochlorite generators improve workplace safety by eliminating the handling and storage of hazardous chemicals while maintaining steady disinfection residuals.

On-site generated Mixed Oxidant Solution (MOS) using salt, water, and electricity provide one of the best options available for control of Legionella, ultimately resulting improved safety and elimination of biological hazards. Legionnaires’ disease (LD), the more severe form of legionellosis, is characterized as a type of pneumonia. Legionellosis is caused when Legionella pneumophila or other Legionella species are introduced to a host as an aerosol, such as from the spray from a shower. The infection can be fatal. Easy to kill in its free-floating form, Legionella can harbor in biofilms, which then slough off and can aerosolize in faucets and shower heads.  By controlling biofilm, Legionella can be effectively controlled.  Mixed Oxidants offers the most effective, safest and lowest cost option for the control of biofilm.  Mixed Oxidants also meet ASHRAE standards for secondary disinfection of institutional piping.

The chart below shows the results of MOS at pH 8.5 against Legionella.  MOS provided better disinfection (>5.5 log inactivation) compared to the other biocides and validated field data whereby bromine chemistry and non-oxidizing biocides are easily replaced with MOS chemistry.  Hypochlorite (bleach only achieved a 4 log inactivation and bromine showed 4 log initially and then decreased in efficacy over time.

Legionella control in Cooling Tower Water

Legionella control in Cooling Tower Water

 

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Biofilm Removal and Other Advantages

MIOX Blog, ,

What is biofilm?

Biofilm is a substance that often forms in water distribution lines, cooling towers, and any other aqueous environment. A biofilm forms when bacteria begin to excrete a slimy, sticky substance that allows them to adhere to surfaces.

The biofilm mass usually consists of many species of bacteria, and can also include:

– Fungi
– Algae
– Protozoa

Biofilm is resistant to chlorine and is difficult to remove once initial adhesion occurs. The biofilm slime shelters disease-causing microorganisms, protecting them from chlorine disinfection. Notably, Legionella pneumophila requires biofilm to survive in piping systems. In addition, biofilm exerts an oxidant demand, consuming disinfectant and requiring higher doses for adequate biological control.

MIOX Mixed Oxidant Solution chemistry effectively eliminates biofilm.

Other side benefits of the MIOX technology in drinking water applications include:

– Microflocculation (reduction of both final turbidity and coagulant chemical doses)
– Iron bacteria control
– Oxidation of iron and manganese
– Oxidation of sulfides
– Breakpoint reaction at low chlorine to nitrogen ratios

Added benefits also carry through to other applications, including cooling towers by:

– Eliminating microbiologically-induced corrosion
– Improving heat transfer efficiencies

Tags: , ,

Large University Hospital Reduces Biofouling

Cooling Water, Installation Profiles, MIOX Blog,
My MIOX: AE-4 City: Chicago
Company Name: Earthwise Environmental State: Illinois
Name: Larry McLaughlin, CWT Country: UNITED STATES
Title: District Manager Application: Cooling Towers
MY MIOX EXPERIENCE: One of the largest and most well-respected teaching hospitals in Illinois is also home to a central plant with 7,000-tons of cooling tower capacity and a 100,000-gallon central chilled water loop. When new corporate responsibility guidelines were released, encouraging sustainability and green practices in facilities, the hospital turned to Earthwise for advice. The discovery of positive Legionella counts in the hospital’s cooling tower system required immediate intervention.Committed to providing our clients with the safest, most environmentally beneficial technologies, we installed a MIOX AE-4 on-site mixed oxidant disinfection system in July 2011, replacing a 12.5% bulk liquid sodium hypochlorite for the 3,000 ton cooling tower in the hospital’s neurosurgery center. Located near both a diesel generator and kitchen exhaust fan, the cooling tower was experiencing excessive biofouling from fats, oils, and greases. A common regimen required several biocides including bleach, DBNPA, and a specific algaecide, along with frequent manual brushing of the outer fill and upper distribution decks by hospital personnel. Legionella testing was routinely conducted by hospital staff and positive readings were noted on several occasions in 2010.

Since MIOX was installed in July, no positive results have been noted. The operating engineer noted that the cooling tower is visibly cleaner this year and the slime and live green algae is gone from the hot distribution decks. Storage and handling of hazardous chemical bleach have been eliminated and the hospital’s biocide program is more effective and efficient.

 

Tags: ,