Water energy matrix control

Abstract

A system and method for controlling microbiological growth in a water system and premise plumbing system which uses stabilized hydrogen peroxide as a disinfectant and maintains water energy matrix control. Maintenance of stable hydrogen peroxide residual in the system in combination with active temperature monitoring enables better control of the water energy matrix and reduction of hot water temperature while maintaining microbiological control.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A hot water premise plumbing system comprising:
 a water heater with a temperature controller for maintaining the water heater below a threshold temperature for thermal disinfection;   a dosing pump for dosing stabilized hydrogen peroxide into the premise plumbing system;   an in-line apparatus for measuring the hydrogen peroxide concentration in the premise plumbing system;   a control system for receiving hydrogen peroxide concentration data from the in-line apparatus and controlling the dosing pump based on the hydrogen peroxide concentration in the premise plumbing system; and   a network of pipes connecting the water heater, dosing pump, in-line apparatus, and control system, the network of pipes comprising a cold water inlet and a recirculating loop to direct return water from peripheral pipes in the network of pipes to the water heater,   wherein the control system maintains a residual concentration of hydrogen peroxide of at least 1 ppm in the premise plumbing system.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising more than one water heater. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the cold water inlet is connected to one or more of a natural water supply, aquifer, well, and municipal water supply. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a flow meter to detect one or more of volume and flow rate of the return water. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the in-line apparatus measures the hydrogen peroxide concentration of the return water. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  comprising more than one dosing pump. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a thermometer to measure temperature of the return water. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the control system receives temperature data of the return water from the thermometer to control the water heater temperature. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a hot water circulation pump to circulate hot water through the network of pipes. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the premise plumbing system is in a hotel, hospital, school, apartment building, healthcare office, building, office building, library, community centre, or single family house. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more of an ATP sensor and a pH sensor. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the in-line apparatus comprises a colorimeter. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a decrease in hydrogen peroxide concentration measured by the in-line apparatus is indicative of increased microbial load and increased requirement for disinfection in the premise plumbing system. 
     
     
         14 . A method for measuring microbial load in a water system, the method comprising:
 dosing the water system with stabilized hydrogen peroxide to maintain the concentration of stabilized hydrogen peroxide at a minimal threshold concentration of at least 1 ppm;   monitoring concentration of stabilized hydrogen peroxide in the water system using an in-line apparatus to maintain the concentration of stabilized hydrogen peroxide at a minimal threshold concentration of at least 1 ppm; and   monitoring microbiological growth in the water system by measuring concentration of peroxide in the water system,   wherein a decrease in peroxide concentration measured by the in-line apparatus is indicative of increased microbial load and increased requirement disinfection in the water system.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the water system is a hot water premise plumbing system. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the water system is a recirculating water system. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising monitoring microbiological growth in the hot water system by one or more of measuring concentration of ATP and detection of microbiological DNA. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the stabilized hydrogen peroxide further provides microbiological control disinfection in the water treatment system without thermal disinfection through water heating. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising increasing dosing of stabilized hydrogen peroxide in the water system to increase microbial oxidation. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the in-line apparatus comprises a colorimeter to determine the peroxide residual concentration in the water system. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the water system comprises one or more cooling tower, HVAC system, evaporative condenser, pool, spa, and water tank.