The new EcoClean UV Sterilizer from Coast Spas promises faster and more-effective elimination of water-borne bugs such as giardia and cryptosporidium.

Using ultraviolet rays generated at the 254 nm wavelength – which Coast says is the optimal figure for eradicating micro-organisms – EcoClean is designed to kill off bacteria and viruses by penetrating their cell walls and destroying their DNA.

According to the company (citing health officials) certain water-borne bugs are resistant to traditional water treatment solutions such as chlorine and ozone. It says that giardia can take up to 45 minutes to become deactivated with chlorine, the noro virus takes 30-60 minutes to deactivate, while cryptosporidium is highly resistant to chlorine and can remain in a pool for up to a week.

The EcoClean unit is designed to block out rays of every wavelength except those of 254 nm to protect the effectiveness of chlorine and bromine. Coast says the UV lamp will need replacing only ever 13,000 operating hours.