Drinking water producers often face situations where water extracted from a verified well and passed through all purification stages spoils on store shelves. The cause is secondary contamination directly on the bottling line through contact with air, equipment and non-sterile containers.
Final ozonation solves this problem comprehensively: ozone not only disinfects water but also disinfects bottling equipment and sterilizes containers. After capping bottles, ozone decomposes to oxygen within several hours, leaving no traces and improving water taste.
Advantages of final ozonation
- Simultaneous sterilization of water, bottle, headspace and cap
- Environment remains sterile until package opening
- Oxygen saturation — mandatory requirement for premium category water
- Complete ozone decay to oxygen without chemical residues
- Only permitted preservation method for baby water
- No need for additional container disinfection
Regulatory requirements
| Parameter | First category | Premium category |
|---|---|---|
| Residual ozone | ≤ 0.1 mg/L | ≤ 0.1 mg/L |
| Oxygen content | ≥ 5 mg/L | ≥ 9 mg/L |
| Ozone contact time | ≥ 12 minutes | ≥ 12 minutes |
| Chlorine use | Prohibited | Prohibited |
| Silver (baby water) | Permitted | Prohibited |
Final ozonation schematic
Ozonation system is placed directly before the bottling machine. The system includes oxygen generator, ozone generator, ozone delivery and dissolution system, as well as ozone analyzer or ORP meter for control.
| Component | Purpose | Specifications |
|---|---|---|
| Oxygen generator | Pure oxygen supply | O₂ concentration ≥ 90% |
| Ozone generator | Ozone production | 1 g/hour per 1 m³/hour water |
| Ejector / diffuser | Ozone dissolution in water | Efficiency > 90% |
| Contact tank | Contact time provision | ≥ 12 minutes |
| Ozone analyzer | Concentration control | 0-2 mg/L |
Limitations for mineral water
When ozonating mineral water, impurities oxidizable by ozone are not permitted: iron, manganese, hydrogen sulfide, bromide, natural organic substances. Ozone reaction with bromide leads to bromate formation, the standard content of which in drinking water is 10 μg/L.
Dissolved metals after interaction with ozone convert to insoluble oxides, leading to color and sediment in water. Therefore, before final ozonation, water must be pre-treated in accordance with standards.
Water disinfection method comparison
| Parameter | Ozonation | UV treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Container sterilization | Yes | No |
| Oxygen saturation | Yes | No |
| Residual effect | Yes | No |
| Equipment disinfection | Yes | No |
| Taste improvement | Yes | No |
| Requires contact | ≥ 12 minutes | Instant |
Ozonation advantages for producers
Regulatory compliance
Full compliance with standards and technical regulations
Extended shelf life
Sterile environment maintained until package opening — product does not spoil
Baby water
Only permitted preservation method for baby water
Chemical savings
No separate container disinfection with chemicals required