Water Dispenser Sterilization
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Did you know a water dispenser is one of the germiest appliances in a household or office? Due to constant wetness, frequent bottle changes, and use by many people, a broad spectrum of disease-causing bacteria can enter and colonize both inside and outside the water dispenser over time.
A periodic antibacterial sterilization is mandatory for water dispensers to ensure the quality of drinking water. Our powerful Steri-Pro® antibacterial sterilization process ensures 100% sterilization of water dispensers, both inside and outside, so that you can enjoy germ-free water.
Key concerns
“More than 50% of bottled water dispensers dispense microbiologically unsafe water”
What does this mean for you and your water dispenser hygiene?
Common reasons dispensers get contaminated
- Constant wetness around internal surfaces
- Frequent bottle changes and handling
- High-touch usage by multiple people
“Microbial mutation and antibiotic resistance may cost 10 million lives by year 2050”
What does this mean for you and your water dispenser hygiene?
“Gut microbes combine to cause colon cancer, study suggests. 30% of all cancers diagnosed in the UAE are colorectal cancers”
What does this mean for you and your water dispenser hygiene?
Clean outside – germs inside?
Due to constant wetness, water dispensers attract germs like a magnet – from the neck of the bottles that go inside the water tank, from mouth of people who fill their personal bottles, from frequent usage by multiple people and from the surroundings – and provide a favorable environment for breeding and multiplication of bacteria and cyst.
Germs and bacteria, once colonized inside the water circuits and around the faucet of the water dispenser, soon transform themselves into BIOFILM – an invisible slimy layer along the wet surfaces of the tank, tubes and faucet.
BIOFILM – strong staying power
When sufficient number of planktonic (free floating) bacteria come together in a wet medium – not necessarily the same species – they release slimy Extracellular Polymeric Substances (EPS) and use EPS to stick to one another and to the surface of water body in a well-defined matrix. This assemblage of microbial cells that is irreversibly associated (not removed by gentle rinsing) with a surface and enclosed in EPS matrix is called BIOFILM. Under BIOFILM, bacteria continue to thrive, multiply and burst into water.
Water Dispenser Contamination – UAE Studies
Story at a glance
- Researchers from Sheikh Zayed University and Manipal University, Dubai, collected water samples from 49 bottled water dispensers and tested for microbiological quality.
- Of the 49 water samples collected, 25 were found to contain either P. aeruginosa, or total coliform or both. P aeruginosa colonies count ranged between 4 to 51 colonies per 250ml of water sample.
- In conclusion, overall microbiological quality of 25 water samples distributed through water dispensers was found unsatisfactory, and this could be attributed to the poor maintenance and improper hygienic conditions of the water dispensers.
* Joint study conducted by Sheikh Zayed University and Manipal University, Dubai, published on International Journal of Environmental Science and Development, Vol 6, No. 9, September 2015.
Unsatisfactory microbiological quality is commonly linked to poor maintenance and improper hygienic conditions of water dispensers.
Challenges in dispenser sterilization
Due to unique nature of the EPS matrix that bonds and covers biofilm, scrubbing and cleaning with mild disinfectants such as bleach cannot achieve effective removal of biofilm. Standard sanitary cleaning is ineffective due to strong bonding power of biofilm.
There are many hard to reach areas inside the water circuits of the dispenser that makes combination of physical and chemical cleaning impractical. The risk of chemical residue is another challenge.
Steri-Pro®
Safe sterilization technology
Using OZONE (O3), the most powerful oxidative agent that occurs naturally, Steri-Pro® Sterilization Technology achieves 100% removal of biofilm, bacteria, virus and other contaminants from water dispensers and water coolers, without leaving any residues.
Using specialized equipment based on patented technologies from University of Illinois, USA, Steri-Pro® Sterilization System generates high potency ozonized water on-site, and uses it to disinfect and sterilize dispenser water tank, water circuits, faucets, tap handles and drain tray, with 100% elimination of biofilm, bacteria, virus and fungus.
Benefits of Steri-Pro® Sterilization
- Highly effective – Achieves > 5.4 log reduction in biofilm, bacteria, viruses & fungi
- 100% safe – no disinfection residues or byproducts.
- Comprehensive – Disinfects & sterilizes all water & human contact surfaces
- Low downtime – It takes only 30 minutes to complete sterilization of a dispenser
- No mess – Use of a proprietary system ensures clean surroundings
- Avoid frequent illnesses and related absenteeism
- Avoid resorting to recurrent and powerful antibiotics
Recommended frequency
International Bottled Water Association recommends that bottled water dispensers be sterilized every 3-6 months due to biofilm in the reservoir.
Legionella guidance
Dubai Municipality guidelines for Legionella control in water bodies stipulate disinfection of water bodies every 6 months to prevent contamination of Legionella bacteria in water bodies.