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our work
bioSand water filters project
A portion of all money raised by the Village Health Project goes toward the testing and implementation of BioSand Water Filters in Uganda. The filters provide an option for improving the quality of current water sources. Dr. David Manz, a Canadian engineer, designed them specifically for intermittent use, allowing the concrete filters to be built on-site at a scale suitable for individual households. It is our hope that the BioSand Water Filters, paired with the rainwater collection tanks, will be an efficient and economical way to provide clean water year round to rural Ugandan communities.
how the filter works
Water passes through sand and gravel layers and then comes out of the filter at a rate of 1L/minute. There is always a small amount of water that does not drain from the filter, and this standing water develops a slime on top, which forms a biological layer filled with aerobic bacteria that eat the bad bacteria. 90% of the bacteria are removed as water flows through this top biological layer, and then the sand filters out 100% of the parasites and larger organisms.
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