analyzed to characterize the nature and amount of contamination using bod cod plate count or other method well known in the art the liquid influent tank is supplied with contaminated water the pump is turned on and the pump speed is adjusted to generate liquid pressure at the hydrocyclone entrance commensurate with the desired flow rate and formation of the liquid 16 and vacuum 17 vortices after the liquid vortex 16 is established the xenon lamp 13 is energized this sequence ensures that the xenon lamp 13 is properly cooled and that the liquid cyclone photon interface is not damaged through heat buildup the xenon photon source 13 is then energized the contaminated water 3 is now being irradiated by the photon source and the contaminants are being destroyed or altered due to the photon flux into the liquid vortex the effluent liquid 8 passes into the effluent tank the effluent liquid 8 is analyzed to characterize the extent of the kill efficiency the treated water is then sent to the desired process or disposed of in this xenon lightwave form a primary usefulness of the apparatus is the destruction of microbiological entities such as bacteria fungal spores oocysts viruses etc this use finds application in the sterilization and or disinfection of potable wastewater or industrial process waters in addition it can reduce biofouling of membrane filtration systems the apparatus has other uses such as induced photochemical processes used in chemical manufacturing pharmaceutical manufacturing ultra purification of water for semiconductor manufacturing etc while the direct actinic.