Microbes caught at the lights
15 Jan 2000
Purified water of the highest standard is needed to manufacture pharmaceuticals. Ultra Violet (UV) light treatment from Hanovia is an integral part of this purification process at the Eli Lilly plant in Basingstoke.
UV light penetrates the cell walls of microorganisms and destroys their DNA. It has a kill rate greater than 99.99 per cent and is effective against all micro organisms.
The town's raw water supply is filtered and fed into a break tank. Before entering the plant's primary circulation loop, it is fed through twin bed deionisers, twin resin polishers and twin UV treatment chambers.
Water from the primary loop is fed into a storage tank, which is also fitted with a UV air treatment unit. This tank supplies the main supply (secondary loop) which is fitted with another UV treatment chamber.
