A water treatment unit is connected to the water supply in the decontamination room. Tap water is subject to a reverse osmosis or ion exchange procedure to produce demineralized water.
Demineralized water, also called feed water or aqua dem, is required for the operation of a steam sterilizer. A washer disinfector can also be operated via a water treatment unit. Given strongly mineralized tap water, the final rinse with demineralized water prevents stain development or surface alteration of the instruments in practice and clinic. Water treatment systems provide the basis for maintaining the value of the autoclave, thermal disinfector and instruments.
The requirements placed on demineralized water are stipulated in the European Standard DIN EN 13060 Appendix C.