Ceramic Filtration - for low-cost household water treatment systems

Ceramic filters can be produced cheaply (about $0.50) in developing countries that already have established pottery skills for making conventional water storage vessels. Simple production skills and materials can produce ceramic filters that equal the performance of mass-produced filters or imported filters in removing bacteria.

Step 1.
Locally sourced materials (clay, organic temper) are prepared and 30 cm diameter pots made by locally preferred coiling or slab forming techniques

 

Step 2.
Firing in a simple bonfire kiln (about 800 - 900 C)

 

 

Finished Ceramic Filters

Rejection of Escherichia coli (E. coli) typically >99.9% with filtration a filtration rate of 1 - 3  L.m-2.h-1 (LMH), enough for 10 Litres of good quality drinking water per day.

 

 

 

Filter Assembly

(a) The ceramic filter is housed in a two-tier filter assembly with integrated water storage container below (if cost and local preferences demand, all the plastic containers could be made locally as pottery items using conventional methods). Total cost  < $5 (including the filter element (at $0.50).

(b). Improvised unit from recycled containers

       a                                                                        b

     

 

 

 

Water Storage

The critical cost component for storage containers is often the tap. These can be sourced cheaply in Bangladesh at less than $0.20 each (for tap costing 12 Taka with a threaded spigot and rubber tap washer).