Safe drinking water through sustainable practices: The slow sand filter

July 27th, 2008

First; my humble apologies for being so slow to moderate comments. Vast improvement is in order. Now, on to slow sand filters.

The slow sand filter works using biological processes. Water passes through a layer of sand and after about 3 weeks a layer of biological activity forms in the upper 2 to 3 centimeters of the sand. The bacteria in this layer sometimes called the “schmutzdecke” break down harmful bacteria such as “beaver fever cysts”, all coliform including the most deadly and the resulting water out of the filter is safe for consumption. A lively discussion about these filters would be very encouraging. Anyone who has comments, questions, or experience with these filters is encouraged to leave comments. The website http://www.shared-source-initiative.com/biosand_filter/biosand.html documents a year and a half of experience building and operating 2 of these filters built from mostly recycled materials. All tests so far have shown they work very well. Also the website http://www.slowsandfilter.org has more detailed information and an FAQ page.

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January 12th, 2008

Let’s start with environmental issues. Global climate change and non renewable resources. I want to hear from someone who denies the urgency of global climate change. Show us peer reviewed research documents written by hundreds of scientists who demonstrate beyond a reasonable doubt that human caused global climate change is NOT a problem and / or does not exist and that non renewable resources will not run out for hundreds if not thousands of years. I write this because I know global climate change is real and that non-renewable resources such as petroleum will run out soon. I know that most of the “doubters” are not basing their “professional opinions” on credible scientific research. But, if there is a shred of truth to what they say I would like to see it and I think others might want to also.