Investigation of Maintenance Impacts on Flow Rates in Ceramic Disc Water Filters

Abstract

While many low-tech drinking water treatment technologies have been developed in an effort to improve delivery of safe drinking water to low income populations in the developing world, a continuing challenge for ceramic water filters (CWFs) is the deterioration over time of flow rate throughput. While the initial flow rate may be acceptable, significant declines in the flow throughput take place in the absence of a maintenance regime. In response, attaining more acceptable long-term performance is critical, to ensure adequacy of volumes to low income populations and imperative that improved guidance for the end-user as to the frequency and impact of cleaning regimes which is currently deficient in the literature be made available. This study describes research into the flow throughput trends of ceramic water filters and concludes that brushing the external surface of a CWF every 2 ~ 3 days maintains acceptable flow rates (> 1 L/h) for extended periods of time (average over 2.5 years of acceptable performance). An average lifetime throughput volume of 7308 L was observed; corresponding to a per area lifetime throughput volume of 9.7 L/cm 2 (for a 20 cm dual disc apparatus with surface area = 648 cm 2 ).

A Novel Low-Tech Water Treatment System to Provide Safe Water for the Rural Poor

“…Further, CPF factories recommend employing a stiff laundry brush for scraping the filter surface, and this is sometimes advised to be done once every 4 weeks (Brown and Sobsey, 2010). By others, with a primary focus on restoring water flow, McBean et al (2019) and Farrow et al (2018) suggest that ceramic filters should be brushed regularly every 2 ~ 3 days using a soft brush, to maintain optimal flow rates and extend the filter's lifespan. It is noted that brushing a CPF is challenging for both old and young individuals due to the weight (about 7 kg) so heavy to remove the CPF from the receptacle tank while also avoid touching the outside of the CPF to avoid contaminating the treated water, underscores both the importance of, and need for, careful maintenance to ensure performance of CPFs.…”

Design and Performance for A Novel Low-Tech Water Filter System

“…Evaluation of ceramic disc filters (HT design) indicated a lifetime throughput volume of 7,300 L (throughput volume is defined as the volume of water treated prior to the flow rate dropping below 1 L/h and an expected filter life of 2.5 years (assuming a consumption rate of 2 L/person/day and a household of 4 people) (McBean et al, 2019).…”

“…(e.g. Farrow et al, 2018;Brown et al, 2019;McBean et al, 2019). Analysis of the Guelph Water Filter system indicates E. coli removal of 3.5 ~ 4.5 LRV.…”

Biological Treatment for Greywater Reclamation

“…In recent years, many studies have examined various physical, chemical, and biological processes for greywater reclamation (Yu et al, 2011;Chen et al, 2017;Zhang et al, 2019). Typical physical treatment processes may include coarse sand filtration, soil filtration, or membrane filtration, followed by disinfection (An et al, 2016;McBean et al, 2019). However, physical treatment processes alone are not sufficient to guarantee adequate reductions of dissolved organics, nutrients, or surfactants (Li et al, 2009;Ghunmi et al, 2011;Zhao et al, 2017).…”