Clinically proven

A study completed in 1994 with copper and silver ionisation of a hospital water distribution system found complete inactivation of Legionella pneumophila and L. bozemanii when exposed to 0.4 mg/l copper and 0.04 mg/l silver and continued inactivation 2 months after the copper and silver ionisation unit was switched off.

Results of tests carried out during a research project completed in 1996 by BSRIA in the UK showed that copper and silver ionisation was effective against Legionella bacteria in both cold and hot water systems with reduced water temperatures as low as 35°C. This study also showed that the copper and silver ions not only reduce the biofilm coverage in cisterns and within pipework circuits, they also reduce the number of Legionella bacteria present within the biofilm.

Conclusions from a study carried out in the U.S.A in 1998 by the University of Pittsburgh were that copper and silver ionisation for the control of Legionella bacteria outperformed conventional treatment techniques such as hyperchlorination, superheating and flush, and UV light systems because of the following advantages: (i) installation and maintenance are easy; (ii) efficacy is not affected by high water temperatures (unlike with chlorine and UV light systems); (iii) residual disinfectant protection occurs throughout the system (unlike with UV light); and (iv) re-colonisation is delayed because the copper and silver ions kill rather than suppress Legionella bacteria (unlike with chlorine).

A study into the long-term (5 to 11 years) efficacy of copper and silver ionisation to control Legionella in 16 hospital water systems and reducing the incidence of hospital-acquired legionnaires disease concluded that copper and silver ionisation is the only disinfection modality to have fulfilled all evaluation criteria that the U.S.A. recommend to be applied to Legionella control approaches.

ProEconomy have been analysing water since 1993 and have built up substantial data on results. This data shows that where silver and copper ion concentrations are maintained at outlets at between 0.02 and 0.08 mg/l and at between 0.2 and 0.4 mg/l respectively, Legionella contamination is avoided.

Much more research proving the efficacy of the Orca system is available and Birgitta Bedford, who is studying for a PhD in Legionella control at Cranfield University UK, has compiled a list of references of over 40 papers that support copper and silver ionisation. Furthermore, Birgitta is continuously carrying out research as part of her PhD.

Scientific papers are available upon request.