Patent ID: 8562803

Claim:
A fluid treatment apparatus comprising: (a) an electrochemical cell comprising (i) a plurality of fluid orifices to receive an input fluid and release an output fluid, the input fluid comprising a first level of active microorganisms; (ii) first and second electrodes; and (iii) an ion exchange membrane between the first and second electrodes to treat the input fluid to form the output fluid; (b) a power supply having an output to apply a current to, and an output voltage across, the first and second electrodes; and (c) a control module comprising program code to: (i) receive a signal from the power supply to detect the current through the first and second electrodes; and (ii) send a signal to the power supply to apply an output voltage across the first and second electrodes to maintain a current having a current density which is sufficiently high to deactivate the microorganisms in the fluid such that the output fluid comprises a second level of active microorganisms which is less than the first level of active microorganisms in the input fluid.