Viqua / Sterilight S8Q-PA Ultraviolet (UV) Sterilizer
one of the world's top selling and most affordable whole house UV sterilizers
Viqua / Sterilight S8Q-PA UV Sterilizer |
The Viqua / Sterilight S8Q-PA UV Sterilizer has been replaced by the Viqua VH200 which features: Latest Technology Smaller Size - Click here for more info - |
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- Description
- Specs
- Parts & Accessories
- Similar Models
- Reviews
- About UV
- Install / Manual
- Warranty
Description, Features & Benefits
The Viqua / Sterilight S8Q-PA ultraviolet (UV) water purifier is one of the world's top selling and most affordable whole house UV sterilizers. It is recommended for flow rates up to a maximum of 8 gallons per minute (GPM) or about 17 liters per minute (LPM), making it an ideal choice for most whole house (point-of-entry) treatment applications.
Economical and easy to install!
The S8Q-PA is designed to treat bacteria (such as e.coli and coliforms), viruses, and other microbiological contaminants including giardia (beaver fever) and cryptosporidium without the use of chemicals. It is suitable for the treatment of private wells and surface water supplies, as well as municipal water for those seeking a higher level of confidence in the safety of their water supply. The S8Q-PA provides a UV dose of no less than 40 mJ/cm2 for flow rates up to 8 gallons per minute (at the end of its stated lamp life based on a UVT level of 95%).
The S8Q-PA uses Viqua's extremely popular Sterilight Silver Series controller/ballast which features a large LCD display which indicates the lamp life remaining in days so you always know when to replace your UV lamp. The Silver Series controller is arguably one of the best selling UV water treatment controllers of all time.
Until the release of the Viqua VH200, the S8Q-PA was our #1 selling UV sterilizer. The Viqua VH200's more compact size and similar disinfection capacity has resulted in the S8Q-PA slipping from our top spot, but if tight space is not an issue for your installation, the S8Q-PA remains an excellent choice for its robust controller and great value.
All Viqua / Sterilight Silver Series units feature a stainless steel reactor chamber, a fire-polished domed quartz sleeve, and a Sterilight Sterilume-EX coated low pressure germicidal UV lamp which can be conveniently changed without interrupting the water flow. The S8Q-PA is equipped with 3/4 inch male NPT inlet and outlet connection ports.
UV disinfection is safe, effective, economical, and best of all, does not add undesirable chemicals to your water like chlorine or chloramine.
- World leader in UV water disinfection
- Quality at an economical price
- Made in Canada (Lamps Made in USA)
- Lamp life countdown display
- Stainless steel reactor chamber
- Robust controller - great value!
- Simple annual lamp replacement
- No tools required
Not all UV systems are created equal; it is not just a UV lamp stuck in a tube. You rely on your UV sterilizer to protect the quality and safety of your drinking water and the health of your family. You deserve the best insurance that you can buy for your money. Viqua and its parent company Trojan Technologies are literally the world leaders in UV technology. Their systems are backed by decades of bio-assay validation, computer-aided flow dynamics testing, and millions of dollars in lamp and ballast/power supply research and product development. The result is a product that you can have confidence in to work when you need it.
Proper pre-treatment is important to ensure that your UV system performs at its best. See UV Pre-Treatment Requirements for details.
Why UV? - UV Advantages
UV water treatment offers many advantages for the treatment of microbiological contaminants like bacteria (including coliform and e.coli), viruses, molds, algae, yeast, and oocysts like cryptosporidium and giardia. Every year, these contaminants are responsible for thousands of serious illnesses due to the failure of city treatment plants or consumption of untreated well or surface water.
Unlike other disinfection options, UV sterilizers do not add any chemicals to the water, do not produce harmful by-products (THMs and HAs), and do not alter the taste, pH, mineral content, or other properties of the water. Accordingly, in addition to producing safe drinking water, UV disinfection is not harmful to your plumbing and septic system. Furthermore, it is easy and cost-effective to install and maintain without any special training.
UV sterilizers are one of the most popular and respected water treatment technologies in use today. They can be found in a wide range of water treatment applications ranging from simple under sink water filters to huge city water treatment plants.
- Treats bacteria including coliforms and e.coli
- Treats very wide range of harmful viruses
- Inactivates cryptosporidium and giardia
- Absolutely no chemicals added
- No disinfection by-products
- Doesn't change taste or smell
- Just clean the sleeve and replace the lamp once per year (or 2)
- No tools maintenance
- Low operating cost
With the infrastructure of cities all over North America crumbling under neglect and budget constraints, many customers have asked us if there was a product that they could add to their water system that would provide them with additional insurance and peace-of-mind against the possibility of a failure of their municipal water treatment system. These concerns have arisen due to several high-profile cases of contamination in city water supplies across the continent, some of which have resulted in illness and even death. UV disinfection is a great option to provide this extra level of insurance in your water supply.
Specifications & Operating Conditions - Viqua / Sterilight S8Q-PA
| Viqua / Sterilight S8Q-PA Features & Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Application: | whole house treatment for average homes |
| Maximum Flow Rate (UV Dose > 40mJ/cm2)* Recommended!: | 8 GPM (29 LPM) |
| Maximum Flow Rate (UV Dose > 30mJ/cm2):* | 10 GPM (38 LPM) |
| Visual Power-on Indicator: |  |
| Audible Lamp Failure Alarm: | |
| Lamp Replacement Reminder: | |
| LCD Display (Lamp Life Remaining and Controller Runtime): | |
| Integrated Ballast / Lamp Connector: | |
| No Tools Maintenance: | |
| Water Chamber Material: | Stainless Steel (304) |
| Inlet/Oulet: | 3/4" MNPT |
| Electrical: | 100-240v, 50/60HZ |
| Max. Power (Watts): | 46 |
| Lamp Power (Watts): | 37 watts |
| Replacement Lamp Part #: | Sterilume-EX Model S810RL |
| Replacement Quartz UV Sleeve Part #: | QS-810 |
| Replacement Lamp/Sleeve Combo Part # (SAVE!): | S810-QL |
| Replacement Controller Part #: | Viqua BA-ICE-S |
| Chamber Length: | 35.5 inches / 89 cm |
| Chamber Diameter: | 2.5 inches / 6.5 cm |
| Controller Size: | 7.3 x 3.2 x 2.5 inches / (19.0 x 8.1 x 6.4 cm) |
| Installation: | Vertical (Recommended) or Horizontal |
| Electrical Safety Certification: | UL U.S. / Canada |
| Country of Manufacture: | Made in Canada (Lamps Made in U.S.A.) |
Pre-Treatment Requirements
Minimum pre-filtration shall consist of a 5 micron sediment filter. All UV sterilizers require sediment pre-filtration to reduce or eliminate the possibility that a targeted contaminant could "hide" behind a sediment particle in the "shadow" of the UV light and therefore not receive a full dose of UV light. Accordingly, the manufacturer strongly recommends sediment pre-filtration down to a level of 5 microns or smaller.
Water exceeding 120 ppm in hardness (7 grains per gallon) should be softened or treated with a salt-free hard water conditioner to reduce the risk that hard water mineral scale will build-up on the UV sleeve thereby reducing UV light distribution into the UV chamber. Similarly, iron levels exceeding 0.3 ppm or manganese levels exceeding 0.05 ppm should also be treated to prevent staining of the UV sleeve.
Elevated levels of certain other contaminants, such as tannins, can cause a reduction in UV transmittance (the ability of the water to transmit UV light). If the UV transmittance (UVT) of your water is less than 75% after the above-mentioned pre-treatment, activated carbon filtration may be desirable to improve UV transmittance. The majority of deep wells have a UVT of 85% or greater. If your UVT is unknown, select a model with a higher flow rate capacity than the one you originally sized at 95% UVT (this will provide a higher UV dose at your desired flow rate), or add an activated carbon pre-filter to your system.
We recommend that you have your water tested for the following parameters before selecting a UV sterilizer. Proper pre-treatment to ensure that your water meets these parameters will maximize the performance of your UV system. It will also reduce your maintenance requirements. If your conditions do not meet these parameters, please call us toll free at 1-866-376-2690 to discuss pre-treatment options or to discuss how the performance of your UV system will be affected.
Not sure about your feed water quality? We do free water testing for all of the parameters necessary to ensure proper operation of your UV sterilizer! Click Here for details!
| Feed Water Quality Parameters | |
|---|---|
| UV Transmittance (UVT): | Minimum 75% |
| Hardness: | less than 120 ppm (7 grains per gallon) |
| Iron: | less than 0.3 ppm (0.3 mg/L) |
| Manganese: | less than 0.05 ppm (0.05 mg/L) |
| Maximum Water Temperature: | 86F (30C) |
| Maximum Recommended Water Pressure: | 90 psi |
Replacement Parts and Popular Accessories
Similar Models
The following UV models are similar to the S8Q-PA in that they are from the same product family or provide similar treatment capacity.
CDN$765.00
- More Info -
CDN$995.00
- More Info -
CDN$465.00
- More Info -
Viqua / Sterilight S8Q-PA UV Sterilizer Reviews
.S8QPA Uv filter
So far so good but we'll see how long the lamp lasts. The previous one, from an older, now obsolete, filter gave out after only 5 months of service so I decided to go with a larger and more up to date unit. The S8QAPA would have been easy to install except that it is much longer than the unit it replaced so I had to do a couple of hours of replumbing plus switch pipe sizes. Oh well. - George L
Service
Alex was very helpful in answering my questions and providing ideas about the testing of the unit - Sally F
Finally
After 42 years we finally don't have to lug water bottles to the cottage as the lake water passing through our system comes out 100 percent potable. Easy installation backed up by really great customer service make HomeWater the place to buy. - William Ward
How Ultraviolet (UV) Disinfection Works
UV sterilizers are an innovative technology that deactivate bacteria, viruses, and other microbiological water contaminants without the use of chemicals.
A great way to understand a UV sterilizer is to consider the effect of ordinary sunlight when we spend too much time outdoors in the sun - we can get a sunburn and our skin can be damaged. UV water disinfection is a similar process, except that it is dramatically more powerful than sunlight. A special lamp, surrounded by a quartz glass sleeve inside the stainless steel chamber that the water flows through, produces concentrated UV light at a specific wavelength tested to be the most damaging to microorganisms. Inside the chamber, the microbes are exposed to the UV light which damages their DNA. Once the DNA of the organism is damaged, the microorganism is unable to regulate its functions and reproduce. It either dies or is no longer able to reproduce and cause illness. We call this inactivation.
Just as the extent of your sunburn can vary depending on how much time you spend in the sun and the intensity of the sunlight, the amount of UV light the contaminants are exposed to determines the effectiveness of the UV sterilizer. This is known as the UV dose. The 2 factors that contribute to UV dose are the exposure time (which is directly related to the flow rate of the water through the UV chamber), and the intensity of the UV light (related to the effectiveness and design of the UV lamp and chamber, the age of the lamp, the clarity of the sleeve, and the clarity of the water being treated). We refer to the clarity of the water as UV transmittance or UVT. It is important to note that water with a high level of organics can sometimes appear virtually clear but have poor UVT (since many organics can absorb UV light). We recommend that you have the UVT of your water tested to ensure you are getting the right level of UV treatment.
UV Dose = UV Intensity x Exposure Time (Flow Rate)
To ensure a high UV intensity, it is important that the UV sleeve be cleaned periodically and that the water is properly pre-treated to remove minerals that can foul the UV sleeve (hardness, iron, and manganese). It is also important to pre-treat to remove sediment as well as organics and tannins that could absorb UV light. Pre-filtration of sediment to a minimum level of 5 microns is required by all UV manufacturers.
As a UV lamp ages, the intensity of the UV light it produces will decline. UV manufacturers test the performance of their UV systems to ensure that they are capable of safely treating the water based on the UV output of their lamp at the end of its stated life. Beyond this point, the UV lamp might still be illuminated, but the specific wavelength of UV light might not be intense enough to safely sterilize the water. This is why it is very important to replace the UV lamp based on the manufacturer's stated lamp life. Most UV lamps have a service life of 9,000 hours or 1 year.
Many of our competitors advertise the capacity of their UV sterilizers based on a dosage of 30 mJ/cm2. We provide this information for comparative purposes, however, we strongly recommend that you size your UV sterilizer based on a dosage of 40 mJ/cm2. This ensures better disinfection when the UVT is less than optimal and provides extra protection against more resistant viruses. See our UV dose chart for a list of UV dosage levels required to treat for common bacteria and other waterborne pathogens.
With proper pre-treatment and scheduled lamp replacement, UV disinfection is a highly effective and economical means of disinfecting drinking water. It is the most popular disinfection technology for well water and other private water supplies. It is also growing in popularity as a whole house treatment for homes connected to a city water supply as homeowners seek additional assurance that their water supply is safe, especially in light of recent prominent infrastructure failures in the news across the country.
Learn More
UV dose required to kill common bacteria, viruses, and cysts
Alternative treatment technologies
Installation, Manuals & Resources
We recommend that UV sterilizers be installed by a licensed plumber; however, your warranty is valid as long as your system is installed in accordance with local plumbing codes and the manufacturer's Owner's Manual. For a homeowner with basic plumbing experience, the installation of a UV sterilizer is relatively simple.
We generally recommend that all UV sterilizers be installed with the treatment chamber in a vertical position, however, it is acceptable to install the S8Q-PA horizontally. You will need access to a nearby standard electrical outlet to power the unit.
 Viqua / Sterilight S8Q-PA Installation and Owners Manual |
Viqua Home Series Brochure |
Viqua / Sterilight S8Q-PA Lamp/Sleeve Replacement Instructions |
Viqua / Sterilight S8Q-PA UV Sterilizer Manufacturer's Warranty
All Viqua UV sterilizers are backed by a comprehensive manufacturer's warranty against defects in material and workmanship so you can have the highest confidence in your UV system. In addition to the manufacturer's warranty, when you purchase from HomePlus Water, you have access to some of the country's foremost experts in residential and light commercial UV treatment. We would be pleased to assist you in resolving any technical problem you encounter.
Ten-Year Limited Warranty for VIQUA UV Chamber
VIQUA warrants the UV chamber on the VIQUA product to be free from defects in material and workmanship for a period
of ten (10) years from the date of purchase. During this time, VIQUA will repair or replace, at its option, any defective
VIQUA UV chamber.
Three-Year Limited Warranty for Electrical and Hardware Components
VIQUA warrants the electrical (controller) and hardware components to be free from defects in material and workmanship
for a period of three (3) years from the date of purchase. During this time, VIQUA will repair or replace, at its option, any
defective parts covered by the warranty.
One-Year Limited Warranty for Lamps, Sleeves, and UV Sensors
VIQUA warrants lamps, sleeves, and UV sensors to be free from defects in material and workmanship for a period of one
(1) year from the date of purchase. During this time, VIQUA will repair or replace, at its option, any defective parts covered
by the warranty.
Note: Use only genuine VIQUA replacement lamps and sleeves in your system. Failure to do so may seriously compromise disinfection performance and affect warranty coverage.
General Conditions and Limitations
None of the above warranties cover damage caused by improper use or maintenance, accidents, acts of God or minor scratches or imperfections that do not materially impair the operation of the product. The warranties also do not cover products that are not installed as outlined in the applicable Owner's Manual.
Parts repaired or replaced under these warranties will be covered under warranty up to the end of the warranty period applicable to the original part.
The above warranties do not include the cost of shipping and handling of returned items The limited warranties described above are the only warranties applicable to the VIQUA range of products. These limited warranties outline the exclusive remedy for all claims based on a failure of or defect in any of these products, whether the claim is based on contract, tort (including negligence), strict liability or otherwise. These warranties are in lieu of all other warranties whether written, oral, implied or statutory. Without limitation, no warranty of merchantability or of fitness for a particular purpose shall apply to any of these products.
VIQUA does not assume any liability for personal injury or property damage caused by the use or misuse of any of the above products. VIQUA shall not in any event be liable for special, incidental, indirect or consequential damages. VIQUA's liability shall, in all instances, be limited to repair or replacement of the defective product or part and this liability will terminate upon expiration of the applicable warranty period.
If you are unsure whether an equipment problem or failure is covered by warranty, contact the Viqua Technical Support team at 1-800-265-7246 or e-mail technicalsupport@viqua.com. Their technicians will help you troubleshoot the problem and identify a solution. Have ready the model number, system serial number, the date of purchase, the name of the dealer from whom you purchased your VIQUA product, as well as a description of the problem you are experiencing.
