Research has indicated the problem of microbial resistance to nonoxidising biocides. Very little information is further more available on the biodegradability of these compounds in natural water systems. This makes these compounds hazardous from an environmental point of view. Chlorine is the most widely used oxidizing biocide, with its own limitations. An environmentally sensible alternative to chlorine and other commonly used biocides is needed. Electrochemically activated water (ECA) solutions, may provide such an alternative. Water of varying mineralisation is passed through an electrochemical cell, the specific design of which, permits the harnessing of two distinct and electrically
opposite streams of activated water. Aside from its distinctive attributes, the negatively charged anti- oxidant solution (Catholyte) can also be channeled back into the anode chamber, thereby modulating the quality of the positively charged oxidant solution (Anolyte) that is produced.
Without maintenance of the activated state, these diverse products degrade to the relaxed state of benign water and the anomalous attributes of the activated solutions such as altered conductivity and surface tension similarly revert to pre-activation status. However, the heightened electrical activity and altered physico-chemical attributes of the solutions differ significantly from the benign state, but yet remain
non-toxic to mammalian tissue and the environment. The anti-microbial activity of the current ECA technology has been confirmed in this study. Electrochemically activated water (ECA) is less toxic, less volatile, easier to handle, compatible with other water treatment chemicals, effective against biofilms and generates no by-products compared to currently used biocides.