DIY Biosand Drinking Water Filter

My version of a homemade "biosand" water filter. This simple homemade water filter is large enough to treat drinking water for a small household. The filter is portable and made from commonly available materials. The filter media is sand and pea gravel. Solar disinfection can be used to disinfect the filtered water. As a result your off grid drinking water supply is never dependent on consumable items like fuel, electricity, chemicals, activated charcoal.

For more information about "biosand" water filtration technology and a different design, check out this web address: http://www.cawst.org/en/resources/pubs/

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Howto & Style

Tags:

• homemade
• biosand water filter
• DIY
• drinking water
• filtration
• survival
• natural disaster
• SHTF
• cawst
• slow sand
• disaster
• preparedness
• clean
• water
• filter
• potable

[Ebiczebulanious]

Nice job on this video. Q. Can I assume you always keep the filter filed with water at all times? BTY: You do not want to add Chlorine or Activated Charcoal to the filter as it will kill off the Bio-zone. You will need a 2 stage filter to do that.

[CrypticCRICKET]

@Ebiczebulanious Yes that is correct. The filter (when in use) is always kept topped off at it's static water level. You must "feed" the biolayer every couple of days at a minimum by adding more raw water to the filter. In normal use you would be adding water every day. I recommend that anyone building / using a Biosand filter, download and read the CAWST source information about building and using a biosand filter. It's very important to do the homework. LINK to the info is in video description

[gatorDennis]

@CrypticCRICKET Would the secondary activated charcoal filter be another PVC pipe with layer of large gravel, small gravel & charcoa? Making something like this with synthetic cloth to filter out the big trash. Then chlorine to purify it after it is filtered. I think I would need my system or yours but not both. Yours after my charcoal runs out of usefulness ( using another posters travel kit on a larger scale). Do yu know where to buy 'Polar Pure iodine crystals' & 'sodium hypochlorite' powder?

[CrypticCRICKET]

@gatorDennis A biosand filter doesn't use any charcoal as a filter media. It's my understanding that Activated Charcoal removes chemical compounds. A biosand filter doesn't do that.

Sodium hypochlorate is sold as a pool shock. You might try a pool supply store for that.

I just Googled 'Polar Pure iodine crystals' and Amazon.com was a search result.

[Jerath24]

How do you drill the hole in the bottom and how do you attach the 90degree mettal fitting. I made one and tried to use a drill bit a little small so it could screw in but that didn't work well and I found I had to expand the hole with got messy and then had to fill it in with liquid cement. Any tips pls?

[CrypticCRICKET]

@Jerath24

Hi Jarath24.

I drilled a hole through the side of the PVC pipe cap that was smaller than the largest diameter of the pipe thread of the 90 degree fitting. Then I screwed the fitting into the side of the PVC end cap to form threads in the PVC pipe cap. Just like you did. I glued the fitting into the threaded hole to make certain it was sealed well. I used "Goop" adhesive to glue the fitting into the threaded hole.

[gatorDennis]

I have made the charcoal filter & know it removes chemicals & that biosand filter does not. I am hoping my 5' long, 2" PVC pipe is sufficient for my biosand filter.

I will check the pool shock to make sure it is not stabilized like pool chlorine tablets. The stabilized products are not to be used for potable water. Thansk again for a great video.

I understood the charcoal was not in the biosand

[gatorDennis]

@CrypticCRICKET Now there is two - they want $29.98 & $35.98 with shipping for what the manufacturer says is a $10 - $15 product. I contacted Polar Pure & they told me that the EPA has put new requirements on obtaining iodine. They have not been able to acquire iodine for about 3 months. They may not be able to ever make Polar Pure again. Most sites on the Internet are out of stock. I found one site for $12.99 + $4.95 shipping for you need some while it lasts.

[gatorDennis]

@CrypticCRICKET I understood the charcoal was not in the biosand filter & I know from the Internet that activated charcoal filters out chemicals. I have made the charcoal filter. I am hoping my 5' long, 2" PVC pipe is sufficient for my biosand filter. I will check the pool shock to make sure it is not stabilized like pool chlorine tablets. The stabilized products are not to be used for potable water.

[CallOnYahweh]

@CrypticCRICKET You can add small amounts of ammonia (measured in drops) depending on how much water is available in the top of the filter. One teaspoon per 10 gallons of water is what I use to rapidly create the beneficial bacteria within 7-13 days during summer temps. It needs to be at least 85 degrees for this to work. You could also use urea (human pee works in emergency) to rapidly establish the top beneficial bacteria as well.