One of the advantages to using ozone and other advanced oxidation processes for water treatment applications is that this treatment method minimizes the formation of harmful byproducts in the treated water. The use of chlorine, for example, can lead to the formation of chlorinated organic byproducts that can be harmful themselves.
Oxygen based oxidizers, such as ozone, and UV are much less likely to form hazardous byproducts. Ozone and hydrogen peroxide, materials typically used for advanced oxidation processes, break down to oxygen after they react.
Second, the reaction of these products with organic molecules normally results in the resulting break down products being more biodegradable and thus less toxic than the original molecule. This means that natural occurring bacteria will break down the resulting molecules to carbon dioxide and salt.
Another advantage of ozone and UV based advanced oxidation processes is that it is possible to operate without purchasing or storing chemicals. This makes them inherently simpler and safer than alternative treatment processes.
Highly sensitive ozone monitors can detect leaks of ozone as a fraction of a part per million. These monitors can be interlocked with the ozone generator to stop operation well before dangerous levels of ozone enter the atmosphere. In locations a leak of ozone from an ozone generator would be stopped at levels below the normal ozone levels found at street level. Since ozone is used as it is formed, there is no reservoir of ozone to worry about. Once the generator stops, there is not further source of ozone to enter into the area.
Combining the inherent safety of such advanced oxidation processes with their high degree of effectiveness, such processes are an ideal choice for pollution control and remediation.