Abstract: Disclosed are water treatment systems and methods that are characterized by reduced leaching of color-bearing material (i.e., color-bearing leachates) into effluent water. The disclosed systems and methods may include or utilize filtering systems comprising selected mixed ion-exchange resin beds of a strong acid sulfonated cation exchange resin and an anion exchange resin.

Abstract: A cartridge for a water treatment system, effective to assist in the removal of contaminants by photocatalytic oxidation and by adsorption, includes a plurality of stacked disks, preferably made of a UV light transmissive material, which disks define circuitous flow paths for water being treated. In a preferred embodiment, the disk surfaces contacted by the water are provided with a coating of a catalyst, such as TiO2, activated by a UV light source positioned in the center of the cartridge.