Theory 68/Engineering & infrastructure/Disinfection
Disinfection Is Contact Against Demand
The claim
Disinfection effectiveness is set by the ratio of contact time to chlorine demand, so a turbid water consumes the disinfectant before it can act.
01Mechanism
Oxidant is consumed by competing species; the ratio determines what remains for pathogens.
02Prediction
Inactivation should track the ratio.
03Refutation
Inactivation tracking dose alone would remove demand.