How a biosand filter works - Animation Style!

[Kenzofeis]

watch?v=LyAniSKkAiE

[takforalt]

It seems to me that you should have coarser media on top, like smooth pebbles then gravel then sand. This way the filter will not plug up from debris on top and you can 'back wash" the filter to get it clean again. The larger sized material on top will also allow more oxygen in and that will promote a healthy biofilter.

[herbanscout]

Is the "biolayer" just more of the same sand as what is below it? Why is it called "biolayer" and why is it darker than the sand below it if it is the same sand? Just trying to clarify.

[garyshouse305]

Water Crisis - A Solution.wmv

[nodesnetwork]

Does it remove radiation? If so, we need to tell the world.

[joejoemorgan]

Put a towel on top of the water drum before you fill it and you save yourself a lot of time skimming the muck off the top of your sand.

[diisopropylamine]

also use people as sources for poop in water bodies

[chrisdeli7158]

yes, these type of filters are commonly usesd in 3rd world countries such as Africa.

[firmanz95]

how does the gravel work?

[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 ????

[HomoGnosticus]

You can improve this design by adding layers of self made ceramic and charcoal filters.

[kilx81]

the video has 1 rather unfortunate lie "clean safe water" it should be "cleaner safer water" for those who does not have "clean safe water" now.

there are a lot of issues to this subject!

[stopglobalswarming]

"Humanitarians" are retarded. They aren't "developing countries", they are aiding their natural competitors and sabotaging themselves in the process.

[artwearsusa]

great for Grey water, but you'll need miracle microbes for black water, plus also ozone or ionized in the final process in filtering the water, one down side, you'll need to change the sand and charcoal often as well, unless you use miracle microbes to eat up the waste in a settling pool which take up to 30 days.

[mrpepperoriginal]

Cool vid friend! :)

Its simple and funny and clear :).

[jcisL69]

you have the best video on here! simple is always better!

[2skullscrushing]

does this have success filtering flouride as well?

[angus506]

and people ask why, when i say i have no sympathy for the retarded nations of this world, unless theres a sand shortage on this planet

[Austiu7395]

what is the top layer made of

[videogamefan98]

@Austiu7395  sand

[visualkeirockstar]

survivorman didn't need a filter 

[GlobalizeThis]

@visualkeirockstar haha. I saw an episode where he drank some water from a stream and then later that night he was puking his guts up.

[visualkeirockstar]

@GlobalizeThis i haven't seen that one but the other ones he was fine

[highlanderdurp]

@visualkeirockstar haha

[Zatataw]

After a certain period of usage, many dirt and particles will be stuck inside the sand, right? How to clean them?

[GlobalizeThis]

@Zatataw You use your fingers to swirl the top inch of sand, and then you remove the dirty water from that process. The flow should return to normal afterwards.

[Zatataw]

After a certain period of usage, many dirt and particles will be stuck inside the sand, right? How to clean them?

[Zatataw]

After a certain period of usage, many dirt and particles will be stuck inside the sand, right? How to clean them?

[cutuopen1]

I learned something new today

[Conager415]

This was much better.

[CoolKillerClan]

cuz animal dont shit in wather only humans cuz of some eropiens the where a bit to fancy

[Thunderhook715]

a layer of charred wood near the middle would help

[GlobalizeThis]

@Thunderhook715 Yes, but unsustainable. The wood would eventually dissipate and then the person would have to rebuild the filter and wait for the biolayer to reform. I actually use Sawyer Point One filters now though. They are much easier and efficient for humanitarian work.

[chamitataxus]

how do you make the biolayer, with the good bacteria?

[GlobalizeThis]

@chamitataxus The biolayer develops on its own naturally over time. How much time it takes depends on many factors such as water quality, temperature, etc. The typical time is between 2 - 4 weeks.

[HydraidBioSandFilter]

it is naturally forming. Learn more and purchase biosand filters at hydraid.org

[KarliKawaii]

This biosand system should have had a layer of activated charcoal that has been treated with oxygen to open up millions of tiny pores in the carbon. It can be a layer to catch chemicals that are colorless and odorless in a natural way. also your tank doodle should be conected to a boiler to kill everything else. You only covered one step to a two-step process to obtaining clean, safe drinking water.

[GlobalizeThis]

@KarliKawaii

Well see, now you're running into the situation that sometimes the "best" solution isn't the "best" solution. Although it would be nice to have activated charcoal and a boiler system, we're dealing with a real world situation here with human beings living in 3rd world conditions. Activated charcoal can't be used because it is a depletable resource. That means it would be a reoccurring cost for the villagers and they can't afford that.

[GlobalizeThis]

@KarliKawaii

A boiler system would be nice, but it increases the complexity of the system. For a water filtration system to work, it has to be incredibly symplistic, or the people will not adopt it and start using it.  If it is too confusing or too much work, they will simply not use it.

[benjorgensen1]

that song is by ratatat right?

[NWPsilocybe]

All that effort into making a video to reach even the dumbest in the population and you didn't mention anything about the "biolayer" except that it eats the bad stuff. What does it contain? It seems important enough to warrant a description of its function, duh.

[rushin2]

Thank You for easy, simple know-how... I will create and install one for rainwater catchment...

[ScopedOUT2]

You skipped the part about gravel.....

[Death7ifying]

But won't the bacteria filled piss water flow faster than the rate the "good bacteria" eats it?

[GlobalizeThis]

@Death7ifying The filter isn't used continuously. A bucket is poured in when needed. The bucket that is poured in, isn't the water that comes out. The water that comes out is the water that has already been sitting in the filter for a time. This water has had enough time for the bacteria to eliminate the harmful bacteria. Thanks!

[CodexAlimentarius1]

Filters don't remove fluoride which is rat poison, get a water distiller which gives you pure water. there only 100 bucks and you will pure water for life.

[101101101777]

That's what's so fascinating about N America, it's all inter-connected. I don't mean Nature tho. The Fecal I mean Meat industry produces the filth so we need chlorine and other things in the water, the mass consumption of meat ensures a very lucrative medical industry, the pharmaceuticals then contaminate the water, and so on. You just have to laugh at it all to keep from going insane.

Simple solutions on a mass scale are the way to go!!

[CapitanoGUC]

can i piss in it and then drink it ?????

[mountaindweller44]

I have seen a lot on this 'biosand filter" concept...but haven't seen any test data on it. What is the bacteria count downstream? Filters work based upon 'largest pore' concepts, and most 'sand-based' filters can't get much below 100-microns, while bacteria filters require 2-4 micron sizes, and virii require 0.2-0.4 microns...otherwise, you are just removing detrius by filtering...and still require sterilization by UV, chemicals or high heat.

[GlobalizeThis]

The sand isn't the most important part of a biosand filter. Actually it's the biolayer which does most of the bacterial and viral filtration. The biolayer develops on top of the sand and contains good bacteria that eat the bad bacteria. Make sense?

[mountaindweller44]

Yes, same principle as civil filtration (water plants in cities in 1st world). HOWEVER, they chlorine gas the water and UV it (in most places) after the sediment flitration...otherwise, there are many bacterias which pass the sediment stage.

I can see cyst removal, most granular detrius, but I don't see the cleaning action method for bacteria...I understand what you are saying ("good" eats "bad"), an improvement over "Ganges" water...but compare lifeform counts pre-to-post...

[000Winter000]

@GlobalizeThis Does the Biolayer eat bacteria faster than the water passing through it?

[b1naryd1g1t5]

Virii is not a word. And Viruses require smaller pores than 0.2-0.4 microns, as some are as small as 20nm (0.02 microns). The only nanofilter I am aware of that can filter all viruses is the "lifesaver" bottle (there are probably others as well, but the lifesaver has gotten a lot of press attention). Besides using nanofilters, the only other way to kill viruses, of course, is boiling, UV, distillation, RO, or chemical treatment.

[fishcake1235]

fantastic fantastic fantastic fantastic fantastic fantastic fantastic fantastic fantastic fantastic fantastic fantastic fantastic fantastic fantastic fantastic fantastic fantastic fantastic fantastic fantastic fantastic fantastic fantastic fantastic fantastic fantastic fantastic fantastic fantastic

[Nightmareee918]

awesome cow :)

[dclx5i]

for more detailed explanation (including the bio-layer) check the youtube video titled ...

How the BioSand Water Filter works - Samaritan's Purse CANADA

[boomtao]

Please explain about the biosand. How do you get the layer of friendly bacteria?

[GlobalizeThis]

The friendly bacteria develops naturally over time. In the world there is both "friendly" bacteria and "harmful" bacteria. "Harmful" bacteria has the upper hand in environments that mimic your stomach (temperature, acidity, etc). The environment of the biosand filter allows the "friendly" bacteria to get the upper hand and predate on the harmful bacteria.

[boomtao]

Thank you for your reply. How long does it take for those beneficial bacteria to develop? Does that depend on climate, and the source of water used (pH level and such)?

[Hopefl1]

Can you please post this as a video response to my lastest video on water.

[wh333t]

What "is" the bio layer?

Also, how do you clean the sand? I read your reply below, but there is too many grammar errors in it for me to understand.

[GlobalizeThis]

lol, I just reread it and there is a lot of grammer errors.

[ronprivat]

Interesting, this is the most informative video so far on this very simple and natural filter method. Still it lacks those bits that makes it easy to understand to everyone.

Would it be of any value if the video was added a few things? I could do it over a weekend.

The bio layer is really the natural defence flora of bacteria and chemistry that exists in the filter material. Nothing is added. Still, a few rusty nails would complete it (!)

[GlobalizeThis]

sure dude, do you want me to send you the flash file? I'm in Mexico now working on filtration systems, so I'm kind of bogged down at the moment. Would love someone to take over some of the explanation work.

[Advorec]

You've got mail

[breezyage]

So is it only sand? Or is it added with other material?

Also , How long does the sand last? Can this be done with gravel or rock?

[GlobalizeThis]

It is a combination of sand, "pea" gravel, and then large gravel.

The sand should preferably be the finest sand you can find. There's specs I could send you, but just try to find really fine sand. Also try to get the finest sand towards the top.

The sand last forever, because the cleaning process doesn't removing the sand. Just rough up the top 2" of sand and then decant the water. This will free up the pores enough to return normal flow.

[chikkenjoy]

How long does the biolayer take to grow ?

[GlobalizeThis]

Depends on the conditions of the weather and the water, but most studies show around 2 weeks to a month.

Do you do water stuff?

[kumbayagrl09]

...nice cow and bacteria drawings. creative and fun way to explain the process.