VRTX Technology Proven Effective In Controlling Legionella
Third-Party, Independent Testing Validates Field Data
Schertz, TX — Results from a recent laboratory analysis in the United Kingdom demonstrate the patented VRTX™ controlled-cavitation technology has the ability to effectively control Legionella.
Legionella is a bacterium known to cause Legionnaires' disease, a lung infection. Common sources of Legionella include cooling towers, large central air conditioning systems, domestic hot water systems, fountains, swimming pools and other sources that draw upon a public water supply. Legionella can also be found naturally in freshwater ponds and creeks.
Testing results show conclusively that VRTX reduced the number of Legionella Pneumophila Serogroup 1 from concentrations of 1 x 107 CFU/liter to below detection limits. Three separate trials were conducted with various starting concentrations of Legionella, and in all three cases the concentrations were non-detectable after being subjected to the VRTX technology.
Independent Legionella analysis was conducted for VRTXuk on the VRTX technology by Principle Consultant Alan Edwards of Alan Edwards and Partners and Mercian Science, an accredited laboratory. Alan Edwards and Partners consulted in the U.K. with the Health and Safety Commissions (HSC) ACoP L8 – Approved Code of Practice and Guidance document titled "Legionnaires' disease: The control of Legionella bacteria in water systems." This document provides practical advice on how to comply with the U.K. health and safety law with respect to the control of Legionella bacteria.
In microorganisms most of the organic material is located in the microbial cell. Microorganism cell walls are stable, semi-rigid structures that protect the cell from lysis. The VRTX technology is designed to achieve partial or complete bacteria cell disintegration. In other words, destruction of the cell wall and release of organic substances present inside the cells. By measuring the release of these organic materials, the degree of destruction can be determined. Measuring Soluble Chemical Oxygen Demand (SCOD) is a simple and effective method for determining the effectiveness of VRTX for cell destruction. In a recent third-party evaluation, a reported increase of over 140% in SCOD, ammonia and phosphate (other components of the microbial cell) were observed, thus indicating destruction of the bacteria cell wall.
VRTX Technologies, a Schertz, Texas-based fluid technology company, specializes in environmentally-friendly chemical free treatment of water used in cooling towers and evaporative condensers. The VRTX system relies on kinetic energy, hydrodynamic cavitation, and chemical equilibrium to control scale, corrosion, and bio-fouling without the hazards of chemical treatment. VRTX also minimizes corrosion and microbiological growth, reduces system operating costs, and conserves water and energy. Studies show that a typical VRTX-treated cooling tower system could see annual potable water savings of nearly 1 million gallons.
SOURCE: VRTX