Water Filters
The cheap and easy to use "Kisii" water filter was developed in 2003 by the staff of the Rural Water Development (RWD) project in Kisii in Western Kenya, as a response to the high pollution levels of the springs and wells in that area.
One of the reasons to come up with this innovative and simple idea, was that people did not like to spent money for boiling water all the time. Boiling water is also cumbersome and besides, the charcoal and gas used for this, imposes an additional pressure on the fragile environment.
The Kisii filter low-cost household filter became rapidly popular in Kenya, not only in the rural areas, but also in the towns, where people also needed to boil tap water. Many NGOs are now also promoting and copying this simple system. It is estimated that world wide already over 100.000 unit locally made units are in use.FairWater continued this work and facilitates NGOs in starting water filter projects in Africa.
The specific (out-of-the-box) idea of the “Kisii Filters” is to use high quality replacement ceramic candles that are normally used for more expensive "fancy" systems in simple and cheap PVC buckets.
After an extensive market search on the available water filters, FairWater recommends that the best quality / price ration can be found with the Pozzani and Stephani ceramic filters, made in Brazil for already about 40 years. They can be ordered through FairWater, but only in larger quantities.
FairWater is now promoting 3 basic types of filters systems, ranging from very low cost to medium cost.
1. The Siphon Bucket system
2. The Mono-filter system
3. The Double Bucket system
The "Siphon Filter" (SF) system; this is the most simple solution, just a replacement candle in a protection jar with a plastic tube, that hangs outside any bucket filled with water. Gives about 15 liter a day.
Operation: The ceramic candle is placed in a protective jar and a plastic tube is inserted in the spout of the filter element. The filter with the tube are placed in the water. When the filter stone and the tube are full of water, the end of the tube is taken out, below the level of the filter and the filtered water will drip out of the tube in any object that people prefer to store the water in. To increase the quantity, more filter elements can be used in the same bucket.
The "Bucket Filter" (BF) system; easy to use, can be made by simply making a hole in any plastic bucket. Gives about 20 liter a day.
Operation: The same ceramic filter element can be used. In this case a simple hole will be made near the bottom of any plastic bucket and the filter spout is attached with a PVC screw in that hole. Simply poor the water in the bucket and after a while, when the filter stone is saturated with water, the spout will start to drip.
The "Kisii Filter" system (DB); It has 2 buckets, one for raw water on top and one with a tap to store and use the filtered water below. Specific advantage is the safe storage in the lower bucket, with always safe drinking water available. Gives about 20 liter a day.
Operation: One or more of the same ceramic filter elements can be used for this system. The lower bucket has a small PVC tap for easy use of the filtered water. Typical buckets are 10 to 20 liter large, which is about the quantity that one filter element will provide overnight.
Maintenance aspects of all ceramic filter systems
All ceramic filters must be cleaned once a week, with a "Schotch-Brite" tissue that comes with the filter system. Contact with soap is not allowed; this may clog the fine pores in the filter stone. When the water is dirty, obviously the cleaning of the outside of the stone should be done more often.
The stones can be used from 6 month to over a year , depending on the intensity of use. Normal operation will give about 20 litre of water per day to filter clean water from bacteries etc. In such conditions, the filter stone can be used for about a year. If the filter is used in dirty water, the filter will last about 6 month due to the fact that the outside of the filter stone will be more eroded by the necessary scrubbing. If about 5mm has been removed from the outside, the filter stone should be replaced.
Cost apects: Starts with 3 Euro for the ceramic filter element and 1 Euro for the Tap. This is affordable for low-income families. It is important to realize that the use of water filters will reduce the cost of medicine and illlness, and charcoal or gas, so in fact the filter will pay itself back within its period of use.
In local shops, similar filters are often available, ranging in price from 1 euro (India made, cheap but rather poor quality, but may work for a while) to about 10 euro and up to 30 euro for the more expensive Berkeley and Katadyn filter elements.
Sustainability aspects
It may become clear from the above, that the ceramic filter element works very well, but only for a relative short periode, 6 to 12 month max. Therefore, for sustainability and a long lasting impact of introduction of water filters, it is crucial that the filter elements can be bought later on the local market, or on the internet.
Therefore FairWater stresses that only such low-cost systems should be introduced that can easilly use local available replacement water filter elements. In addition to that, through this FairWater internet site and with the many local FairWater partners, replacement filters can alway be obtained in larger quanitities for special NGO prices.
How to start with a Kisii Filter Project?
NGOs that want to start with a Kisii Filter project can order the ceramic candles and taps via FairWater. We advise to use local plastic buckets, but if needed, also plastic buckets (preferably "paint buckets") can be send as well. The filters and sets can be send by airfreight to any place in the world within a few weeks notice.
For instance: The Kisii Siphon Filter system (see picture) can be obtained through FairWater, starting with only 5 Euro each for the complete set (ceramic filter, pre-filter scrub pad, housing and tube). It can be used in any ordinary bucket in the kitchen and can be taken to the field as well to be used in tents for nomads or in refugee camps.
Just contact us for more info or if you want to start with a Kisii filter project, filter candles, taps etc. with one of the above mentionned low-cost water filter systems.
For more information on water filters, see also the following links:
http://www.waterfiltercomparisons.com/?d=gp
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