The Role of Ozone in Multi-Barrier Processes for Drinking Water
Ozone has become a key technology in modern multi-barrier drinking water treatment processes, offering advanced oxidation, pathogen inactivation and improved removal of taste, odour and organic contaminants. This article explains the role of ozone within multi-barrier strategies and how its integration enhances safety, efficiency and regulatory compliance in potable water production.
Multi-Barrier Treatment Concepts
Multi-barrier processes combine several treatment stages to ensure consistent microbial safety, chemical stability and protection against variations in raw water quality. Typical barriers include:
– Coagulation–flocculation and clarification
– Ozonation and advanced oxidation
– Filtration (sand, GAC, or membrane filtration)
– Final disinfection (UV, chlorine/monochloramine)
Ozone is positioned as one of the core intermediate barriers, providing strong oxidation capacity and enhancing downstream performance.
Why Ozone is a Key Barrier in Drinking Water Treatment
Ozone offers several operational advantages when compared to conventional chemical disinfectants:
1. High Oxidation Capacity
Ozone rapidly oxidises organic matter, micropollutants, colour and taste- and odour-causing compounds. It also improves biodegradability prior to biological filtration.
2. Broad-Spectrum Disinfection
Its disinfection power is significantly higher than chlorine and is effective against chlorine-resistant pathogens such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium.
3. No Hazardous Chemical Residues
Ozone decomposes back to oxygen, reducing chemical consumption and the formation of harmful by-products.
4. Enhanced Performance of Downstream Stages
Ozone improves the efficiency of GAC filters, BAC filters, and membrane systems, reducing operational costs.
Ozone in Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs)
When combined with hydrogen peroxide or UV, ozone forms hydroxyl radicals—species with higher oxidation potential and extremely fast reaction kinetics. AOPs allow treatment of emerging contaminants such as:
Pharmaceuticals
PFAS precursors (partial degradation improvement)
Endocrine disruptors
Pesticides and industrial organics
This makes ozone-based AOPs a critical tool for modern drinking water treatment challenges.
Integration of Ozone Generators and UV Systems in Multi-Barrier Processes
Ozone and UV systems are central components of advanced drinking water treatment. High-efficiency ozone generators ensure stable, controlled ozone production, while UV disinfection systems provide a robust final barrier without forming disinfection by-products.
In municipal applications, the combined use of ozone and UV results in:
Improved oxidation–disinfection balance
Reduced chemical usage and lower DBP formation
Enhanced removal efficiencies for micropollutants
Reliable final disinfection through validated UV systems
Increased resilience against variable raw water quality
Optimised operation when integrated with plant SCADA systems
Longking EnTech Europe provides vertical high-capacity NLO-series ozone generators and medium- and low-pressure UV systems, both designed for drinking water facilities and compatible with advanced plant automation and real-time monitoring platforms.
Integration of Ozone into Plant Automation and Monitoring
Modern ozone systems—such as the NLO high-efficiency series from Longking EnTech Europe—are designed for:
– Automated production and dosing control
– Real-time monitoring of CT values
– Integration into SCADA
– Predictive maintenance and energy optimisation
Digital tools such as SENTINEL support advanced monitoring, alarm management, and data-driven optimisation.
Ozone plays a strategic role in multi-barrier drinking water treatment, strengthening oxidation, disinfection and overall process robustness. Its integration with UV systems completes a highly effective treatment chain that aligns with modern regulatory requirements and sustainability goals. As water quality challenges evolve and stricter standards emerge, ozone and UV technologies will continue to expand their relevance in the global drinking water sector.
If you're designing or upgrading an ozone system for drinking water, talk to our team at Longking EnTech Europe. We help you choose, size, and optimize the full process—not just the equipment—so your ozone system performs as it should: powerfully, efficiently, and safely.
Contact our commercial department at info@longkingeu.com
www.longkingeu.com