Designing an economical slow sand filter for households to improve water quality parameters

Abstract

Abstract Fresh and clean water is basic need for human health. However unclean and impure water creates access to illness and many diseases which influence the economic growth of the country. A very traditional method i.e. SSF has been used for removing fine suspended particles, microbes, minerals and flocs present in water. The aim of this research article is to invent and install an economic and non-conventional slow sand filter for treating water to resolve the issues related with impure water. Deigned SSF has been operated under the hydraulic loading of 4.6296 L/sec/m2 and an operational period of one hour. Cross sectional area of bed has been taken as 0.0576 m2. This technique is a small-scale scheme and easily employed for intermittent use that made it suitable for household purpose. Four processes namely Mechanical trappings, Predation, Adsorption and Natural death that has been taken place during the filtration process has been widely discussed in this paper. Various chemical and physical characteristics of water has been tested. Major parameters like pH, TDS, turbidity, Salinity, conductivity and salinity of filtered water have been tested for raw water and test results has been compared with Indian standard parameters. Various results from SSF revealed the successful removal of suspended solids, natural and organic materials from raw water. Test results shows that designed SSF is highly efficient for improving the household water quality parameters. Designed SSF removes large number of impurities as compared to other filters and it is socially acceptable.