More about Roving Blue and our "Power of EO3" Electrolytic Ozone Technology:

Not much of a reader?

Watch this video, a 5 minute presentation by our CEO Yana DeMyer as she explains the technology to a crowd at Georgia Pacific's "Studio 1915 Pitch Night" at their Neenah, Wisconsin technical center. 

Prefer podcasts?

Listen to this iHeart Radio Podcast with Eric Paulsen when the company was just getting started. 

And, here is a more recent one, by Phoenix Survival, that talks about our products and how they can help you be more self sufficient when it comes to emergency preparedness.

Ozone Water Purification

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Page

Most people only understand ozone as some layer in the sky with a hole in it.  Or, it is an air pollutant that you get warnings about.

While both of those things are true, what most people don't know, is that if you take ozone and dissolve it into water, you create a sanitizing solution that is far more powerful than chlorine.

So, it is really good at killing things like viruses, bacteria, molds.  The neat thing about ozone, is that it is very short-lived. In fact, as soon as it is produced, its starts reverting back to ordinary oxygen.  So it is fast emerging as a very cool, natural, non-chemical, and sustainable way to purify water and to clean things.

What is Ozone?  Generated from sunlight, ultraviolet rays and lightning, ozone is a form of oxygen with an extra oxygen atom, it is "O3" instead of "O2" . It is often referred to as "nature’s disinfectant". In fact, many people notice that ozone has a distinctive sweet odor, that is the smell after a summer rainstorm - that's because because lightning is one way ozone is produced in nature.

Ozone is a natural way of controlling viral, bacterial, mold and fungal growth in our environment. Ozone has been proven to have a much higher disinfection potential compared to almost all other disinfectants available for use today. It can quickly kill viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites, including those causing food spoilage or human diseases.

 What is the chemical make-up of ozone?

A molecule of “normal” oxygen is comprised of two atoms of oxygen bonded together (O2). Ozone (O3) is created by our process,  which attaches a third oxygen atom to the oxygen molecule. As the newly formed ozone molecule is used up, (either by attacking impurities or through normal degradation), it is changed back to normal oxygen, leaving no harmful by-products in your water. Ozone has been proven to have a much higher disinfection potential compared to all other disinfectants available for use today. 

Is using ozone technology safe?

Yes. Unlike other water treatment processes, oxidation is a natural, chemical-free process that produces zero wastewater and leaves behind oxygen molecules like the ones in the air we breathe. Thousands of cities worldwide including London, Moscow, Paris, Singapore, Los Angeles, and Milwaukee, to name a few, have been using ozone water treatment systems for many years. Most top water bottling companies also rely heavily on ozone technology to disinfect bottles and provide clean, safe water for consumers.

 How is ozone different from chemical treatments?

Ozone destroys microorganisms instantly and effectively without leaving harmful residues in treated food or processing water. Therefore, ozone is safer and environmentally friendlier than most other antimicrobials. Ozone kills bacteria faster than chlorine.

 Where can ozone water treatment be used most effectively?

Ozone treatment can be used for a wide variety of applications. Commercial uses of ozone include purification of drinking water, sterilization of medical instruments and devices, decontamination of fresh produce, and food preservation. Ozone also is useful in removing odors, and not just in drinking water.

How does ozone work? 

The third oxygen atom of ozone makes it extremely reactive. This atom readily attaches itself to other molecules. When contaminants such as odors, bacteria or viruses make contact with ozone, their chemical structure is changed. As more ozone attacks the remaining compounds, the odor is eventually destroyed. This process is called oxidation. Ozone essentially reverts back to oxygen after it is used. This makes it a very environmentally friendly oxidant.

How are Roving Blue's devices different from all the others?

To make ozone, you need oxygen.  Our ozone generators are electrolytic ozone generators. They are so different, we trademarked the term "Power of EO3". Almost all other ozone generators are based on older technologies that use oxygen that is in the air that we breathe.

They do all make ozone.  However, since it is still a gas, if you want to use it in water, you have a problem.  You need to try and dissolve it by using a bubbler, like a fish tank air stone.  Its easyt to see that most of that ozone is going right into the air that you are breathing, and that can irritatate your lungs.  It is just not an efficient or safe way to dissolve ozone into water.

Our ozone generators use the "O" in H2O, the water itself, to make ozone, and that ozone is dissolved directly into the water. This hugely reduces the ozone off-gassing. Technically, it is called an electrolytic ozone generator. We know that is a real mouthfull, we just called it "The Power of EO3™" and very few companies make this kind of ozone generator.  It is the new gold standard for making ozonated water, which can be used to not only purify the water, (it will make your water smell and taste better), or it can be used to purify things, like fruits and veggies. 

OZONE QUICK FACTS:

     In 1997 the FDA approved the use of ozone as an antimicrobial agent with indirect contact with foods.

In 2002, the FDA approved ozone for use on food contact areas and directly on food with its "Generally Regarded as Safe" (GRAS) designation.

Today, the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA) identifies aqueous ozone (ozone dissolved in water) as a substance that is allowed for use in organic crop and livestock production.

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Ozone
(Published by the EPA, about using ozone to treat wastewater

How is ozone produced? 

 How long does ozone last? 

As soon as ozone is formed in the generator and dispersed in the water, it will start to revert back to oxygen. This step occurs by several processes including the following: Oxidation reactions with an organic material such as odors or micro-organisms. Reactions with bacteria etc., consumes ozone by oxidation reactions. Additionally, ozone breaks down thermally. 

Higher temperatures destroy ozone quicker than lower temperatures. The ozone that remains is referred to as residual ozone. Residual ozone will return to oxygen quickly. Within 30 minutes, it will equal to half its starting level. After each subsequent 30-minute period there would be half as much residual ozone left at the end of the period as was present at the beginning of the period. This is similar to a geometric progression of 16;8;4;2;1. In practice the half-life is usually less than 30 minutes due to temperature, dust, and other contaminants in the water. Therefore, ozone, while very powerful, doesn't last long. It does its job and then disappears back into safe oxygen.

Can I put the ozonated water in a spray bottle and use it as a disinfectant spray, like on counter tops or cutting boards?

Yes you can!  In fact a lot of people do this.  We would say it lasts about 15 minutes.  Best way to tell is with a "sniff test", if you can still smell the ozone, its is strong enough to kill germs.  Welcome to the world of chemical free cleaning!

Will the odor come back? 

No. If ozone is applied properly it destroys the source of the odor. Treatment times may vary depending on the strength of the odor but 98% of ozone treatments are successful. In the case of mildew the odor will return if you are unable to get rid of the moisture that contributes to the growth of mildew.

How does ozone kill bacteria? 

Ozone kills bacteria by destroying the cell wall of the bacteria. This is called "lysis". Once the cell wall is destroyed, the bacteria will be unable to survive.

I'm confused, your instructions say to wait 3-5 minutes to consume the water, isn't it safe to consume right away?

It is hard to walk the fine line between doing what we do - purifying water and things with that water - and providing ozonated water for folks that want to consume it while the ozone is still active.

Right now as a company, our products are regulated by the EPA.  Our devices are classified as "Pesticide Devices".  If we stick to that and only promote our products for their ability to make water safer, and things safer, we are OK.

If we start straying anywhere near the realm of health related effects of consuming ozonated water, we would come under the purview of the FDA, and their very complex and costly regulations.

We do get almost daily letters from people who are so grateful for our technology and how it has helped them fight different health conditions.  From gum disease to diabetic sores on legs, to recovering from cancer treatments.This gives us great hope for our company and its future.  However, today, we have to stick with "water purification" or "purifying things" with ozone water, period.  Hence the confusion.  In a nutshell, if you want to purify water with ozone, you must treat it, then allow a waiting period, called "contact time" for the ozone to kill the micro-organisms in the water.  That is typically 3 minutes, but we tell folks 5 just for extra time with our devices that don't have a visual cue, specifically the Ozo-pods and Ozo-Flows. (the pen and the GO-3 do have visual cues). That's what we mean by "safe to consume", that means the bugs in the water will be good and dead. It does not mean ozonated water is safe to consume while the levels still high.

if you want to use the water to purify things such as kitchen sponges, cutting boards, etc, then you want to use it right away, before the ozone has a chance to revert back to oxygen.

We can't make claims about "safety" of consuming ozonated water unless we actually test for it.  So we can't tell you its safe to consume, right away.

I will tell you that all the major water bottlers, Nestle, Coca-Cola and Perrier included, they all use ozone to purify their water. However, they too, avoid the issue, by making sure the ozone residual is between .1 to .4ppm at the time of bottling. 

From our Facebook page:

Everytime we've used it; (my wife and I) the ppm is always at 194ppm. NEVER below. It certainly doesn't go to 1ppm. And I leave it in the water for at least 10-15 mins

Hi, So it sounds like you are using a TDS meter that came with your house water filter.  That meter measures "Total Dissolved Solids" (more on that below), it is not a measurement of ozone. Our units are not filters and will not reduce TDS as a rule.  the 1PPM we are referring to in our literature and on our website refers to the parts-per-million of ozone.  So you will not see your TDS go down in general.  Sorry if our page sounded confusing, hope this clears it up.

What is TDS? 

This is a measurement of charged ions, including minerals, dissolved in water, expressed as mg/L (milligrams per liter) or as parts per million (ppm). TDS is not a measure of pollution or contamination, since most of the dissolved solids are made up of naturally found calcium and magnesium minerals. TDS is only used as an indication of aesthetics (i.e. spotting, taste, etc.). In general, higher TDS waters (also known as “mineral water”) are popular and taste great. According to the best-selling book Blue Zones, a common point in all long-lived cultures is the high mineral content of their water (around 200 mg/l). There is no doubt that mineral water is healthy for us. We obtain the minerals we need from food and water, and what our bodies do not use is expelled. Some people are led to believe that minerals in tap water can cause kidney stones – this is false. Mineral water (high TDS) has actually been shown to reduce the risk of kidney stones¹, cause favorable changes in pH, as well as inhibit calcium oxalate stone formation.²

A conductivity meter will give a rough estimate of total dissolved solids, but will not illustrate the quality of the water. Quality water means it is free of chlorine, chloramine, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and pharmaceutical residues – all of which cannot be tested for with a conductivity or TDS meter.

What are the power requirements for your products? 

Our ozo-pods are DC and can operate on 12 to 24 volts. They come standard with 110-240 power converters.

Our MVP utilizes an on-board 12V Lithium Iron Phosphate battery, and in lieu of that, has a power cord that can be attached to any DC voltage source from 10 to 30 volts via "alligator clips".

What do I do when calcium deposits form on the electrodes? 

Tap water often contains minerals such as calcium carbonate. These minerals will accumulate on the electrodes and will cause the electrolysis process to slow down. When the generation of ozone water appears weak , clean the electrodes at least once a year as follows:

1. Prepare a solution of tap water and regular kitchen vinegar (at a ratio of 5 to 1 water to vinegar or 10 to 1 water to citric acid). 


2. Dip the ozone electrode into this solution for 10 minutes. Do NOT apply power. 


3. Rinse the ozone water generator with tap water. After cleaning the electrodes, normal production volume will resume.

Alternative method: Some customers have reporded great success with CLR brand cleaner.  Use the directions for cleaning a coffee maker.

How Much Mg/H of ozone does this ozone generator generate? 

First of all, we can't answer the question in terms of Mg/hr, because that is a measure of ozone production that refers to units which produce ozone through corona discharge or other methods that use gaseous oxygen in the air to make the ozone. Our units produce ozone via electrolysis. That means we direct an electric current through the water to produce ozone. We use the O in H2O to make our ozone. The bubbles produced are so tiny that the ozone mostly dissolves directly into the water. Only a very small percentage makes it out into the air. Which is another reason why folks like our products, because ozone in the air can be powerfully irritating, and should not be breathed in. (This is why there are "ozone alerts" in some cities, to warn the very young or elderly to stay indoors).

We can only measure dissolved ozone in terms of PPM, or parts per million. The PPM that the ozone will reach is affected by many things, such as temperature, PH, and what else might present in the water that the ozone will destruct itself on. 

This is why we invest in laboratory tests by world-recognized institutions such as SGS laboratories, who actually place hundreds of thousands of disease agents such as e-Coli and salmonella, in the water, to prove that the levels dropped to zero after using our products as directed. 

Generally speaking, an ozo-pod will bring 10 liters of water to 1 PPM dissolved ozone within 10 minutes. This is a level lethal to any bacteria, virus, etc., if maintained for 3 minutes. So we tell folks to let it run for 15 minutes to be very sure. 

What is your EPA pesticide registration number? 

 What is the ideal use of the O-Pen® Silver or Tactical Black?

The O-Pen was designed for use with tap water anywhere in the world. It is perfect for travelers staying in hotels and eating at foreign restaurants. Or for campers/hikers/preppers who are interested in being able to use sources of fresh water around them.

Is the O-Pen® like any other straw or UV pen on the market?

 This unit is not a straw, it is a wand that emits ozone, a powerful germ-killer.  There are other water purification pens that are sold that use UV Light, which can look blue, however, our technology does not use light at all, it uses ozone.