How a biosand filter works - Animation Style!

Here's an explanation of how a biosand filter for those of us with short attention spans.

Seriously though, these things took a lot of research by many dedicated field workers and scientists. They are deceptively simple which makes them an incredible solution for the world water crisis.

To see the animation about the biolayer and how it works:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUhO3Y-9j4c

www.globalize-this.org

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[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.

[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.

[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.

[Austiu7395]

what is the top layer made of

[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?