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[[Image:CPF1.jpg|thumb|right|150px250px| Potters for Peace filter model.]][[Image:CPF2.png|thumb|right|150px250px| Cross section through a Ceramic Pot Filter.]]
A ceramic pot filter consists of a flowerpot-shaped pot, made from a porous ceramic material. Water poured into a ceramic pot filter percolates through the pot material, and is collected in a second container.
There are many variations of the ceramic filter: some are made entirely from ceramics such as the
Potters for Peace filters, some have a ceramic pot hanging in a plastic container such as Filter Pure (Agua Pure). Frequently, a colloidal silver coating is added to the ceramic filter. Some ceramic pot filters also include activated charcoal in the clay mixture to improve odour, taste, and colour.
Locally produced ceramics have been used to filter water for hundreds of years. Today, 150,000 filters are used in Central America, Asia and Africa.
CARE, UNICEF, Red Cross amongst others use the filter.
In Nicaragua, Guatemala and Cambodia the production of this filter is a commercial activity and production is starting up in six other countries.
==Suitable conditions ==
The ceramic pot filter is suitable to process 8 litres of water per batch. This produces a daily water supply of 20-30 litres.
{{procontable | pro=
- Dissolved compounds are not removed (same as other filters) <br>
}}
==History and social context==
Locally produced ceramics have been used to filter water for hundreds of years. Today, 150,000 filters are used in Central America, Asia and Africa.
CARE, UNICEF, Red Cross amongst others use the filter.
In Nicaragua, Guatemala and Cambodia the production of this filter is a commercial activity and production is starting up in six other countries.
==Suitable conditions ==
The ceramic pot filter is suitable to process 8 litres of water per batch. This produces a daily water supply of 20-30 litres.
{{Potential_Treatment_Capacity_table
}}
==Technical specificationConstruction, operations and maintenance==
Ceramic pot filters usually have a diameter of about 30 cm by 25 cm deep, with an 8 litre capacity. Two variations of ceramic filters, flat-bottom and round-bottom, are currently manufactured. The ceramic pot typically sits or hangs in the top of a larger plastic or ceramic container (20-30 litres), which is fitted with a tap at the bottom. A lid is placed on top of the filter to prevent contamination.
The estimated flow rate is 1-3 litres/hour. This is highest when the pot is full. It declines with use and accumulation of contaminants within the filter pores.
====Manufacturing====
[[Image:CPF3.jpg|thumb|right|250px| Hydraulic press used to make the filters.]]
[[Image:CPF4.jpg|thumb|right|250px| Small local filter factory.]]
Local production of the filters is common and preferable. A quality control process to ensure filter effectiveness is required. The lower container, lid and tap can usually be purchased locally.
Materials and facilities required are:
* Clay
* Combustible material (e.g. sawdust, rice husks, coffee husks)
* Colloidal silver (optional)
* Lid
* 20-30 litre ceramic or plastic container with tap
* A ceramic factory requires at least 100 m<sup>2</sup> of covered area
* 15 to 20 ton hydraulic press (can be fabricated locally)
* Filter molds (can be fabricated locally)
* Mixer for clay and combustible material (can be fabricated locally)
* Hammer mill (can be fabricated locally)
* Kiln with an internal area of at least 1 cubic metre (can be fabricated locally)
* Racks
* Work benches
* Miscellaneous tools (e.g. traditional pottery tools)
A professional potter with experience in collecting clay, making ceramic articles, semi-industrial or mass production is required. Assistants, preferably potters are required. Skill and quality control in manufacturing is essential to ensure optimum pore size, flow rate and effectiveness.
Working with presses and kilns is potentially hazardous and adequate safety precautions should be used.
====Treatment Efficiency====
====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.
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.
====Manufacturing====
[[Image:CPF3.jpg|thumb|right|150px| Hydraulic press used to make the filters.]]
[[Image:CPF4.jpg|thumb|right|150px| Small local filter factory.]]
Local production of the filters is common and preferable. A quality control process to ensure filter effectiveness is required. The lower container, lid and tap can usually be purchased locally.
Materials and facilities required are:
* Clay
* Combustible material (e.g. sawdust, rice husks, coffee husks)
* Colloidal silver (optional)
* Lid
* 20-30 litre ceramic or plastic container with tap
* A ceramic factory requires at least 100 m<sup>2</sup> of covered area
* 15 to 20 ton hydraulic press (can be fabricated locally)
* Filter molds (can be fabricated locally)
* Mixer for clay and combustible material (can be fabricated locally)
* Hammer mill (can be fabricated locally)
* Kiln with an internal area of at least 1 cubic metre (can be fabricated locally)
* Racks
* Work benches
* Miscellaneous tools (e.g. traditional pottery tools)
A professional potter with experience in collecting clay, making ceramic articles, semi-industrial or mass production is required. Assistants, preferably potters are required. Skill and quality control in manufacturing is essential to ensure optimum pore size, flow rate and effectiveness.
Working with presses and kilns is potentially hazardous and adequate safety precautions should be used.
====Estimated Lifespan====
Free press and kiln designs are available from Potters for Peace.
==CostCosts==
{{Treatment_Cost
|CapCost=US$ 10-25
Cost of introduction: US$ 15,000 - 30,000 for project incl. training, machinery and a first production of 500 filters. US$ 50,000 - 100,000 for project incl. production shop, training, first promotion, and 5,000 filters.
==Country Field experiences== ==ManualsReference manuals, videos, and links==
* [http://s189535770.onlinehome.us/pottersforpeace/?page_id=125 Complete production manual is available from Potters for Peace]
* [http://www.rdic.org/waterceramicfiltration.htm RDIC Ceramic Water Filter Factory Manual]
==Movies==
* construction video [http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=JSBU-MLwDmk&feature=related nl.youtube.com/watch?v=JSBU-MLwDmk&feature=related ]
* Explanation Espanol [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2c2bmg7yCM www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2c2bmg7yCM ]
* The Pot with the Silver Lining - Part 2 [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puUid4LZCwM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puUid4LZCwM]
==External Links==
*[http://www.cdc.gov/safewater/publications_pages/options-ceramic.pdf Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]
*[http://www.filterpurefilters.org Filter Pure, Inc]
<references/>
==ReferencesAcknowledgements==
* Brown, J. and M. Sobsey (2006) Independent Appraisal of Ceramic Water Filtration Interventions in Cambodia: Final Report, Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina, USA.
* Lantagne, D. (2001) Investigation of the Potters for Peace Colloidal Silver Impregnated Ceramic Filter Report 2: Field Investigations. Alethia Environmental for USAID, USA.
* Van Halem, D. (2006) Ceramic silver impregnated pot filters for household drinking water treatment in developing countries. Masters of Science in Civil Engineering Thesis, Department of Water Resources, Delft University of Technology, Netherlands.
* Vinka, A. et al. (2007) Sustainable Colloidal-Silver-Impregnated Ceramic Filter for Point-of-Use Water Treatment, Environmental Science & Technology, Vol. 42, No. 3, 927–933
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