Slow Sand Water Filter

[RonOverdrive]

I'd still boil the water or treat it with ozone to kill any microbes that may have gotten past the filter.

[MrCalathea]

doe sis it filter awya chemicals?

[suwalih]

i wouldn't drink that :p

[TheColors22]

doing this exp for national india projects

[LeagueOnFire]

This is pointless. Instead of showing it off, teach us how to make one.

[zillsburyy1]

why fuck around with sand, just get ZERO WATER!

[donavan1010]

To get better flow the filter should be elevated and the water should not have to travel back up to get down to your clean container. Back washing is a very bad idea as was previously stated it will mix the toxins around and after a few runs you will end up with super toxic water. When it gets dirty dig some of the sand out and refill don't mix it. As to it not taking care of bacteria its not 100% but this same basic idea is used in sewage plants around the country, it does work if used right.

[alicenami]

wow ... 

[colombiak]

In this world we need people like you!!!

[jamvaru]

how does this help with chemicals and radiation? You want to drink the [dead?] bacteria?

what about distilling?

[Imanalientraveler]

Also one can obtain STILL lol Sodium chlorite not "chloride" The later being table salt. It has been used in the food industry for years and is safe Just dont drink more than a few drops as it will clean out your colon real quick. But it will sterilize your drinking water in a few minutes and it is cheap.

[Imanalientraveler]

The piping is all wrong. Potassium permanganate available in most farm coop stores for water treatment is safe and very good at sterilizing your water. You use just enough to leave water with a very pale pink color VERY pale. Good to go any where. Oh Use same with a little sugar mixed and crush together poof you will get fire So be careful but there you go you ahve a new sorce of fire starter Take care.

[mountain177]

that would flow hetter if you didn't have the outlet pipe going straight up. you could try straight out. that should improve your flow. to about 1 to 2 GPM.

[4Botyok]

You just wasting your Activated Carbon ;)

[waterfiltersystems1]

nice video!

[contreeman]

can you tell me how make one or do video on the making of one. good video

[defuzed28]

ok its pretty kool you can backwash but in survival situations when the electric goes out we will not be able to back wash it just saying ;)

[ssj7warrior]

How often do you have to change the sand?

[gadgetmanubuntu]

@aquaponicsFL PVC leaches chemicals into water. Your drains are use copper.use PVC because you don't drink it, but pipes for drinking water.

[aquaponicsFL]

@gadgetmanubuntu INCORRECT, PVC is SAFE for drinking water, my house is NOT plumbed with copper as I said already, you moron. Learn to read.

PVC designed for potable water applications are usually designated with either "NSF-PW" or "NSF-61" to indicate that the product complies with the health effects requirements of NSF/ANSI Standard 61 for materials designed for contact with potable water. Most likely you live in a poor and uneducated country with no access to safe materials.

[nicklike13]

Darn i came here thinking this was a giant bong thing, but instead something more interesting (:

[edvac1]

I hope people actually read some real studies with documented results before they actually try to build one of those filters and use it. after several backwash events the entire filter would be filled with toxic bacteria. The bacterial action occurs at the top of the filter. The sand forms its own layers due to the action of water and gravity the bad stuff is removed at the top – it needs to stay there along with the beneficial life – backwashing will mix the bad and good bacteria. Bad design.

[TexasPreppersNetwork]

@edvac1 ... Agreed , the back flushing of this type of design should not be used to clean this filter . The scum layer 'schmutzdecke' should be removed down to several inches , depending on the size of the reservoir . Multiple small container filters like this design could be used in tandem to allow the filtration medium to dry and then be skimmed and cleaned , with the scum layer being disposed of . Also the use of a weir , or de-gassing chamber is recommended . Simple spillway design works OK 

[thawdani]

how is the water coming out of the pipe? its not gravity, did u pressurize it?

[aquaponicsFL]

@thawdani It's gravity.

[gadgetmanubuntu]

Don't use pvc for drinking water.

[aquaponicsFL]

@gadgetmanubuntu Why? That's what my entire house is plumbed with, PVC.

[MrAndrews300]

very cool!!! good music!!

[Izaana030505]

great filter, a better video wouldn't of been on how to back flush but a detailed one on how to make one of these filters??

[TheRizki23]

Thanks !

[juankeyboard1]

Excelente amigo! ...pero necesitamos ver el paso a paso! How do you DIY?

[euro106]

how do you make one of these?

[pofrani]

very interesting! thanks for the post

[Elsupertodo]

if you put in the water some alcohol or something to kill bacteria and then you filter it?

[johnnykaos313]

i like the system but what is the point of the back wash process when you dont have any clean water to run through a hose to back wash it with.

if you were to use dirty water to back wash wouldnt that just negate your the whole idea of the backwash

[crazeyspivey]

Great design! Question for you: I am a "silver stacker", and preparing for the dollar collapse. Would a clean 1 ounce Silver Eagle dropped into a 5 gallon container of water help to kill any bacteria in the water? Im curious to get your opinion.......would rather drop an eagle in the water than drops of chorine.

[mikesoja]

all he did was put in ice coffee with oreo crumbs

[gladtidings4all]

this video doesn't explain how to build it so what is the use?

[NaturalBushcraft]

Great video Oasis26, Thanks for sharing.

Two quick questions:

Where do the microbiological organisms come from? The gravel? sand? carbon?

Also is there another article or video where you show the making of this or any other relevant water-filtering system?

Thanks for your time and sharing.

- Ashley Cawley.

[Annergize]

How did you make it?

[Conager415]

Why does every one show the finished product and not how to build one. This was a waste of time.

[bestowo]

do you use any pumps?

it seems that you did it from under to the top.

[WurledPeas]

@bestowo Municipal water pressure. You'd need to arrange a gravity feed from up higher to get the same results unless you have a pump of some kind.

[OneWithGuns93]

I wouldnt expect it to kill any bacteria but thats where boiling comes in handy, you made it perfect to filter out dirt and other stuff.

awesome job!

[Ebiczebulanious]

@OneWithGuns93 This system is verry efficent at killing bacteria. It is being used in 3rd worled countries all over and has save countless lives.

[yamsack1]

Hey Oasis26,

I'm thinking about building one for myself. How did you attach/seal the pvc piping to the bucket so that it was watertight? Secondly, how did you connect the pvc parts together to form the piping? Was there sealant used or did you just screw them together? Thanks a bunch.

[sniperusg50]

ok the shits hit the fan ww3 is over there is no central goverment. how do i get clean water?

[stevntyler101]

also you need a diffuser on top

[stevntyler101]

also you should wait 3 weeks before drinking the water that gives it time to produce your scum layer need to make your filter work and it not big enough that filter will make you sick or worse thats nothing more than a miltary survial filter

[stevntyler101]

you should not backwash your filter fill top with water ehen with your clean hand stir gentle without touching the sand donot move your bucket leave put and plug outlet before cleaning

[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.

[Tekmatic]

@CodexAlimentarius1 flouride is safe. It's put into our drinking water, because it prevents cavities.

[starywron]

@Tekmatic

flouride is very toxic chemical waste.

Especially dangerous if digested.

Prevents nothing and it is proven.

Another way for goverment to make you weak in slow steps

and then suck your money when you eventually get sick.

In normal live its waste products of the phosphate fertilizer industry.

before they add it to our water it comes in bag with label: hazardous

[Tekmatic]

@starywron Chlorine is also hazardous at high doses. Pure H2O is poisonous, if enough is injested. Want me to keep going?

[bckw39283]

ok is this just sand or carbon

[jimbob3514]

Ive got some carbon but i can't activate it? do i have to plug it in to the mains?

[tesladude19]

NO!!!! activated carbon means tht it has been "treated" in ways to increase surface area...

[thehappierbunny]

Activated carbon is carbon that has been 'baked' in a no oxygen environment at 1000 degrees.

[tesladude19]

which creates a porus surface thus resulting in increased surface area...

[336042]

where did you buy your activated carbon from?

[brianwesley28]

@336042

Yeah. I've looked for a good source of inexpensive activated carbon in the past, as well. Difficult to find in bulk, I discovered. Isn't it strange how there are certain things that one would think would be readily available on the Internet and they eitehr are not, or are very difficult to find? I've had many issues locating certain things that I thought should be simple to locate. What's the deal with that? I'd also like to know where you got the activated carbon?

[000Winter000]

@brianwesley28 You can by Activated carbon by the pound at your local pet store..not the fine powder though, just grains..

[000Winter000]

@000Winter000 buy*

[tesladude19]

i have found 9 oz (weight) containers at walmart...its about 8 cups or so...

[cnvw974]

I thought water should be filtered through 3 feet of sand for good filtering?

[balancex3]

nice toons, looks like a nice working filter. Going to make one similar.

[navarre1095]

The World Health Organisation says that slow sand filtration is the most effective way to treat drinking water for 3rd world countries. A biological layer called the schmutzdecke forms on top of the sand and EATS all bacteria and protozoa. No other chemicals are necessary if the filter has been in operation for more than 2 weeks.

[mountaindweller44]

At no point did you mention the limits of this filtration method...if only using sand, stone and carbon as aggregate, you are not filtering bio out...what is your largest pass-thru particles (microns)? Have you tested output for bacteria? There are only four mainstream ways to 'purify' water: blacklight, sub-micron filter media, chlorination/chem or high heat/time. What are you using for sterilization downstream?

[mountaindweller44]

FYI...if your final particle size is below 2-3 microns, you might want to finish-out with a blacklight (UV) sterilizer...cheap, fairly durable, very dependable on sustained quality filtered water.

[Plum369]

@mountaindweller44 this is not sterilization of water, but purification to safe drinking levels. go to biosandfilterdotorg for the technical information you seek.

[izzzzzz6]

how can the water leave the spout which is higher than the water being filtered? Is there some sort of wicking system?

[Oasis26]

I haven't forgotten about all you other people either!

Things to do still:

> How to

> Filter at least a couple gallons of some dirty water... let's say from a gutter or something

Does not remove Chlorine/Chloramines.

[plord28]

have you done experimentation and analysis on the water using water testing kits and viewing the results under a lab microscope?

In addition, have you tried silver impregnated filters? Is this like beach sand, or high grade processed fine sand?

[apauln]

hey, i'm not done yet... cut it out youtube... anyway... and 30secs later start putting water in the glass.... i'm sure the filter works but that is not enough time for the water to circulate through the system, when it's probibly rated at a half pint a minute...

[apauln]

opps not done... and till you put the hose on at 1:56 is 101secs minus putting the glass under for 25sec is 76secs... that measuring cup barely went up a couple of ounces...

which doesn't prove the filter works because you start to pour the dirty water in at 38secs

[apauln]

a lot less than a quart a minute. the measuring cup aready has water in it at 15sec

[Oasis26]

Filtration rate was calculated before the video. The measuring cup was just to catch the water.

[fishcake1235]

:) :) :) :) grate thanks :) :) :) :)

[Astonish666]

does it filter out chlorine or chloramine?

[thegoodlifefarm]

Really neat video you got here, would be very interested to see plans/details... perhaps you have a video where you explain the components used, ratio of ingredients in the filter, etc... I have set up a water catchment system I am really happy with but would love to get drinking water out of it! Any more info would I'm sure be appreciated by the folks watching this!

[86fierose]

What's the song playing called?

[Ezlife2]

very cool just one thing i would like to addd to this is copper piping to kill bacteria

[sublimepatriot1776]

Ive read before that copper patina kills bacteria, do you know of any reliable sources on this? Another metal that is antimicrobial(all microbes, not just bacteria) is silver, but this is much more expensive. Im trying to find something cheap to add to a homemade back pack carbon filter.

Thanks for any help

[IC2720]

You would be better off getting a ceramic micro filter that is already on the market. They filter better and are proven to work safely. Try REI for a source.

[Oasis26]

I looked. Found a MSR ceramic filter CARTRIDGE (not even the whole pump) for $40. Slow Sand filters can be made for a fraction of that cost and can be made virtually anywhere with easy to locate materials. If I was backpacking, sure, I'd definitely invest in a nice, small filter. Slow Sand filters have a different application. So, define "better off" to the people who may live in the slums of Mexico who may make just a few dollars a week.

[plord28]

another side question... what is the "suck up" rate of the sand? That is to say if you put 1 gallon of water in dry media, how much water will be sucked up by the dry sand?

[savemyplaylist]

@IC2720 HAHAHAHHA!! Oasis26 pwned you!

[Ebiczebulanious]

@IC2720 ceramic micro filters plug up too easy with any sediment in the water. This system is by far better than anyting on the market and a whole lot cheaper.

[Oasis26]

Chlorine Dioxide tablets. Safe. Proven. Effective. Cheap ($15 will get you enough to do 30 quarts)

[Cstrife234]

@Oasis26 Do you one better. After you filter, boil the water with a bunch of minced garlic for at least 5 minutes. Garlic is a very good anti-microbial. Lot of natural organic anti-microbial plants. Oregano oil is really good to.

[disclosurenow9]

@Oasis26 You should filter the solids out of water prior to disinfecting with chemical otherwise it is ineffective.

[aaronpetersutherland]

@Oasis26 check out calcium hypochlorite (pool shock). Cheaper still, but you still need to filter out the solids and cloudiness and this fits the bill nicely. You can take swamp water and just add chlorine, but I wouldn't recommend it. You also have to let the chlorinated product stand till the chlorine evaporates.

[jayluketa]

@sublimepatriot1776 brass is anti microbial too

[enochseyes3]

@sublimepatriot1776 - There is, I believe, a video on YT somewhere about bacteria dying on a cooper plate in a petri dish. Copper will even kill MERSA. (I believe that's how it's abbreviated) You can buy colloidal Gold, Silver and Copper already in Ionized water from Utopia Silver dot com. Sometimes they have a sale on it. Gold used to be used for the treatment of Arthritis, but they stopped doing that. It actually healed the patients of all forms. Drug co.s don't want you healed, only treat.

[MrSheissen1]

@enochseyes3 Youre one of thoseeee people. I bet you look at your shit every day to see if it changed color or something.Coloidal silver, what the fuck is wrong with you people?

[tubefreak90]

@MrSheissen1 yea would like to see those pretty colors for ur specail ed self wouldnt u? Fuckin peebrain bitch!

[MrSheissen1]

@tubefreak90 Haha, my nuts, your mouth. 3 inch dicked stalker.

[Oasis26]

Copper is biostatic. It doesn't kill bacteria, it simply does not promote the growth of bacteria.

[sublimepatriot1776]

You may be right about copper not killing bacteria. I do know that certain forms of silver however do, or at least render microbes inactive. Ive had great success with colloidal silver as a topical disinfectant and curing ear aches ( the last one prior ruptured my ear drum). I need a different ppm to take orally.

Totally agree about making your own on the cheap. For my application I think carbon is a better option than sand. I can repack in the field, and doesn't run out like purification tabs

[purplefetus3]

@Oasis26 I've heard silver is anti-bacterial.

[WaKeZnDrAnKz]

@Oasis26 this is very interesting is there a video on how u made it if not can u show plz

[pshiel]

@Ezlife2 Surely this would harm any invertibrates within the pond

[DCVU2]

@Ezlife2 you make a good point, definitely don't want to overlook the bacteria. I read that silver kills bacteria, I wonder if a silver bracelet dropped in there would do the trick. What do you think?

[killeninicent]

great filter man. its very nice and i like the design.

[edvac1]

Nice gadget, and well done video . . but - Why would anyone want to "backwash" a slow sand filter? That would totally destroy the biolayer and mix all the other layers of different organisms which would completely destroy the mini ecosystem. Have you had any tests done on the output of your filter after you backwash it?

[IdahoViewing]

One thing I can think of is if your flow rate deteriorates to a point where it is ineffective. The back-flush would not totally destroy the bio system and it would recover quite a bit faster than a total rebuild of the filter even with reseeding of the bio system.

[k3nx007]

I think this is cool!

[mavue]

waiting for the how to

[ArashiNage]

Amazing

[myshadowz205]

the chemicals can still harm you

[Oasis26]

Ah yes, the "chemicals"... tell me, what chemicals specifically would you be referring to?

[tekinak007]

myshadowz, please take a moment to think about what your talking about before actually saying anything... the following key information can help you with all sorts of situtations in life... whenever you go to make a comment on something, make sure you are aware of as much information possible on said topic before blundering in and making yourself look... foolish

[myshadowz205]

ya'll some dumbass, by the time u get those water to filter out you'd be dead or thirsty as FWck, like how the OG's always say, JUST BOIL THE WATER!!!!!! what are you gonna do if those bacteria didn't get filter,,,"that's why we use bleach in our water system to kill them" in the USA...then what? go ahead and risk it...gayyy ya'll need to grow up dumbasses

[tekinak007]

lol, I dont think there is anyone here who could find more of a dumbass than you son.

This is not emergency filtration retard, and if you think boiling water solves all problems your more of a retard than I thought.

Bloody hicks like you need to read a book or google things a little more else "ya'll be smakin dem sticks to make dat dere fire" soon enough.

You started with a retardly stupid comment, and your followup is just as hilariously stupid. This shit happens when you leave school early.

[Oasis26]

Thanks tekinak!

I'm not building this filter for ME... I'm building filters similar to this one for people who AREN'T fortunate enough to have the resources available to keep a fire going hot enough to boil a pot of water for 15 minutes (Yes, it takes 15 minutes). This type of filter requires no fire, and can remove a good chunk of the types of pathogens that can make you sick.

Here in the US, I drink water right from the tap.

[myshadowz205]

tekinak007 i see, so what you're saying is that because i "left school early" i dont know what im talking about? Looks like im talking to a kid so i'll just back off. if you talk about filtering water, what about e coli or or microrganisms? im not saying that its a bad idea but it needs to be tweek...the one making a dumb remark is the one who doesn't have any solutions or any strategy to improve it's capable of...i like to see you drink from it TEKINAK. if you can't drink it why have others

[Oasis26]

Biologically mature slow sand filters (with a good layer of schmutzdecke) are showing effective removal of E. coli.

I'd drink the water from mine in my backyard any day of the week depending on the water being filtered. I'm not gonna open a manhole, scoop out some sewage and expect great results from the filter, but rainwater, gutter water are no problem.

[myshadowz205]

yeah i'll drink tap water but just any water, think about it, water from the gutter can contain fertilizer from people doing their lawn, and all the weed killer chemical ppl use now days, no matter how much you Biologically filter it, you'll still end up with a great amount of chemical/water percentage that can be consume.  next time do some further research b4 thinking you're the only one who knows something

[Oasis26]

It was just a "for instance" example. Of course I'd examine my source first. If I know there's arsenic (say) in the water... I know I'm gonna need something more than a fancy bucket filled with sand.

[myshadowz205]

that's what i thought.. if you don't remember what i said in the very FIRST comment scroll back down VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV­VVVVVV and read my VERY FIRST POST!!!!!!!1

i rest my case

[Oasis26]

And yet STILL I think you fail to see the application of such a filter. I'm not looking to restore a contaminated well site found to have traces of MTBE or a source water found to have high levels of arsenic. America, especially Orange County, is home some of the worlds most advanced water treatment technology available.

Families in Mexico in the ghettos buy water from a rusty old tanker truck with lots of susp. solids and probably a lot of biologicals. This "fancy bucket" can help a lot.

[myshadowz205]

i fail? wow i clearly made my point and you're still tryin to argue.......am im talking to a kid? watever the case is, filtering and boiling the water is a MUST before consuming just any water...i think you fail for not applying ALL the nessecary Applications

[myshadowz205]

i'd like to see you make a video and drink out of your "filter unit"......i bet you'll get sick after wards for not boiling it

[IdahoViewing]

Your case is not at rest, there was no case to be made at all. Your point made above is valid but is not within the design or intended purpose of the filter.

This filter is ONLY designed for removal of suspended and micro organism materials (organics). Additional filtering would be required for removal of heavy metals and non organics.

I do not see anywhere in the material provided where a claim to accomplish that is stated.

[bwhite53]

Will activated charcoal remove heavy metals and chemical pollutants, or do you know of another method?

[firstwave2]

With a comment like that myshadowz205, we

know you have shit for brains.What do you think

your eating when you buy your food at store.

Look up Monsantos'

[myshadowz205]

yo WHITEBOI you been eating SH1T??? damz you dont even anythang, no wonder dumb

[grymmtymm]

this comment makes absolutely no sense. sounds like it came from someone who can't even speak english properly

[grymmtymm]

QUOTE-"damz you dont even anythang, no wonder dumb"

1. you spelt damn wrong

2. you spelt anything wrong

3. you missed a few words, you don't even know how to articulate your thoughts that well

"no wonder dumb" "you don't even anythang"

4. you're a dumbass

[grymmtymm]

sounds like you're mad that he posted this video before (yes, I actually spelled out before, not just b-4 like a junior high kid) you did.

re-learn the english language B4 you rail someone for 'thinking they are the only one who knows something'

[myshadowz205]

wow sounds pretty racist. but i shouldn't be saying anythang right WHITE BOI, like that they whiteboi can't jump, white boi cant talk slang as well huh

[grymmtymm]

no, i don't need to speak slang because i was taught english, not slang. and where's the racism in that? and how do you know i'm white? i simply stated that you don't know how to use the english language. your genetic makeup doesn't determine how well you can speak a language, dumbass. i think your the one with the racism problem.

[uswdkb42]

OWNED! He'll think twice before he pulls the race card again. On second thought, since it's an education problem, maybe he won't even think once.  :P

[grymmtymm]

boo-yah!

[riverlifeva]

@grymmtymm capitalize your I Mr english;)

[grymmtymm]

good use of the english language, i bet you won lots of spelling contests when you were young

[breezyage]

how much time does it need to mature? is it ready to use immedietly?

[Oasis26]

Depends I suppose on what all you've been putting into the water and what you're expecting it to do. Couple of weeks maybe?

I'm in the works of building a 2nd one. I'll have samples taken at different stages (hopefully) and see what I can come up with.

[altroop]

A fantastic sand filter, if you have time for a how to video that would be greatly appreciated.

[browniethunder]

nice

[Samsoknite]

that was amazing i learned so much from this experience