Effect of turbidity on the ultraviolet disinfection performance in recirculating aquaculture systems with low water exchange

Abstract

This research was carried out to study the effect of turbidity on the effectiveness of ultraviolet light (UVC) for removing heterotrophic bacteria (HB) from two commercial recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). We developed a simple and straightforward UV disinfection model based on water turbidity to predict the cost-effectiveness of disinfection. The UVC from RAS1 (12.8 m3, 80 L min−1, indoor system) was tested at 9.2, 9.9, 16.3, 17.2, 23.1 and 28.2 nephelometric turbidity units (NTU) after 24 h of exposure. The RAS2 (140 m3, 1140 L min−1, outdoor system) was tested at 8.0, 9.2, 11.0, 12.1, 16.0, 24.2, 27.0, 31.3 and 31.7 NTU after 72 h. An increase in turbidity in the water was achieved by rearing Oreochromis niloticus fish. The RAS1 achieved a maximum UV efficiency (89.8%≈1 Log) at 9.2 NTU after 24 h and RAS2 at 8.0 NTU (86.4%≈0.9 Log) after 72 h of exposure. For RAS1, the UVC removed 90% of HB in 24 h when the turbidity was <9.9 NTU. For RAS2, without restrictions on particle size and relatively high phytoplankton abundance, the UV was unlikely to be a cost-effective way of removing HB at turbidity above 11.0 NTU.