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Quality control on the size of the combustible materials used in the clay mix ensures that the filter pore size is small enough to prevent contaminants from passing through the filter. Colloidal silver aids treatment by breaking down pathogens’ cell membranes, causing them to die.
{{procontable | pro=
- The filter is small and lightweight <br>
- Removes most pathogens and suspended solids<br>
- The silver coating ensures disinfection, so further disinfection is not needed. <br>
- Sustainable, minimal outside resources require. Ceramic for example is produced locally in most developing countries<br>
- Household and voluntary labour can be used in the manufacturing process<br>
- Simple and cheap <br>
- Water tastes good <br>
| con=
- Low flow rate (1-3 litres per hour)<br>
- Set up is fragile, breaks easily, allowing bad water through undetectable cracks. <br>
- Turid water plugs filter <br>
- Cleaning results in removal of ceramic layer; over time, filter needs replacing. <br>
- Quality control difficult to ensure. <br>
- Dissolved compounds are not removed (same as other filters) <br>
- <br>
}}
==History and social context==
====Treatment Efficiency====
If properly constructed and operated, a ceramic filter can be very effective in producing good quality water. Ceramic filters with the silver coating have consistently tested to 99-100% removal of bacteria and parasites. These filters also eliminate the suspended sediments in the water, including any organic compounds that are adsorbed to the particles.
{{Treatment_Efficiency
|lab:bacteria=>98-100 % <ref name=Lantagne>[[#Lantagne01|Lantagne]] (2001)</ref><ref name=Smith>[[#Smith04|Smith]] (2004)</ref>
====Maintenance====
It is recommended that the filter pot be replaced every 1-2 years. This is in part to protect against fine cracks which may have developed and are not be visible. Any cracks will reduce the effectiveness since water can short-circuit through the crack without being filtered through the ceramic pores.
A supply chain and market availability for replacement filters and taps is required. A quality control process is required to ensure filter effectiveness. Recontamination is possible during cleaning; care should be taken to use clean water, not to touch the ceramic with dirty hands, and not to place the filter on a dirty surface.
Continued use of the filter causes the pore openings in the ceramic to become clogged with debris. As a result, the flow rate of water through the filter decreases.
Filters are cleaned by lightly scrubbing the surface when the flow rate is reduced. Some manufacturers recommend to boil the filter every three months to ensure effectiveness. Some manufacturers recommend that soap and chlorine should not be used to clean the filter. The lower container, tap and lid should be cleaned on a regular basis.