Charcoal/Bio-Sand Water Filter made from Garbage Cans? Part 2.wmv

[eizrah]

yeah, i have started to move away from this project for these reasons. just to much to maintain until you need it. i will build and store this project with written material as wall as physical materials for now. either way good thing to know. thank you

[eizrah]

so... where is the third video... now i got to figure out a consistent feed system. and what to do with all the excess water :/... come on, keep up with the videos, ide hate to actually have to do some foot work.

[lad18913290]

@eizrah lol, there is no third video and there will not be a third. i know i initially intended on continuing the series, but i don't really need this system hooked up to my house; it was really just a project to do for the sake of doing it and learning from the experience. if you want to hook something like this up to your house, then design it as i described in the other comment section. install a float activated pump to control the feed, and install an overflow drain to reroute...(cont...)

[lad18913290]

@eizrah ...excess water back to it's source (well, spring, etc.) so that you don't end up with a mess on your floor. the access filtered water would be best stored in a rain barrel or something of the like, to be pumped out later into conventional house plumbing via any method your creative mind chooses, like a small utility pump with a pressure switch to match your pressure tank in your house...(cont...)

[lad18913290]

@eizrah ...you could also incorporate a timer switch with the filter pump to ensure there's at least an "intermittent" flow of water in the filter - not necessarily 'through' it, but as long as the bacteria on the top layer of sand gets fresh water every couple of hours then they'll survive. this is called an intermittent flow system, which general household water consumption typically accommodates, but there's no doubt a bio-sand filter is better suited for third world countries...(cont..)

[lad18913290]

@eizrah ...because of the extra pumps and storage container(s) needed to make this system work with conventional plumbing, which is a lot of the reason why I didn't continue the project. It was hard to justify the cost for something that I didn't need, but it's possible to do, that's for sure. and if you do, the most important thing to remember is making the overflow drain larger in diameter than the feed to allow excess water to drain faster than it comes in.

[lad18913290]

@eizrah ...and ultimately, your design will depend on your unique circumstances, like for instance, the elevation of your home vs. that of your water source will stipulate whether or not you can employ the help of gravity, especially with the overflow drain. if your home is lower in elevation than your water source, then - depending on the drop - you could use gravity to feed the filter and storage tanks. my neighbor's plumbing (minus the filter) is actually set up in this way, works great too.

[MrB0TT]

Use pre washed "Play Sand" and you dont have to wonder if an animal shit in it.

[iiinsaiii]

I would put a fine screen on top to catch anything. I would rather it be on the screen then in the filter. Easy to clean off.

[comandocohino]

hey i got a question for an expert........i build a sand filter with dr manz prints, its been running for about 4 weeks with well water ,ph going inn is 7.4, ppm 1300,,,coming out of the filter ph is 7.2 and ppm still 1300 . is it possible to lower ppm as much as possible to 0 with this filter ????

[lad18913290]

@comandocohino unfortunately, i don't think so - but i'm no expert! i think what you want is a 'water softener'. a bio-sand filter will remove 'some' minerals and chemicals, but it's main purpose is to trap/kill 'bad' bacteria, viruses, and other impurities...the 'good' bacteria colony that forms at the top of the sand layer does most of the work....the sand, gravel & charcoal layers just help to trap debris and other impurities to make the water more palatable and aesthetically pleasing.

[thefeet]

could you BOIL the filtered water and it be safe to drink up until the 2-3 week colonization period has lapsed?

[lad18913290]

@thefeet yep, for sure - boiling would work fine.

[tacprotection]

Do you have to add anything to it to get the colony of good bacteria growing? Or is it just a natural process?

Thanks :)

[lad18913290]

@tacprotection

no problem. it's all natural - it takes anywhere from 2 - 3 weeks for the bacteria to colonize. a nasty brown slime will form on the top of the sand, and within the first few centimeters of the top layer - this is the 'media' - the bacteria's home so to speak. you can probably kick start the process by adding bacteria, but you need to be sure it's the right bacteria - if a foul odor/rotten egg smell in the filter develops, it's a good indicator that 'bad' bacteria is colonizing

[lad18913290]

@tacprotection

sorry, damn character limits!

you shouldn't need to 'feed' the bacteria to get it started - it will feed on what is already present in the water, provided it isn't 'distilled' - but it needs a constant flow - the bacteria requires oxygen to thrive and a constant water flow will ensure it gets it.

[tacprotection]

@lad18913290

That's great. Thanks for the info!