__NOTOC__{{Language-box|english_link= Ceramic candle filter | french_link= Coming soon | spanish_link= Coming soon | hindi_link= Coming soon | malayalam_link= Coming soon | tamil_link= Coming soon | swahili_link=coming soon | korean_link= Coming soon | chinese_link=陶瓷烛型过滤器 | indonesian_link= Coming soon | japanese_link= Coming soon }} [[Image:Ceramic candle filterCeramic_filter_icon.jpg|thumbpng|right|150px|Diagram of a ceramic candle filter80px]][[Image:filter in use.jpg|thumb|right|150px200px|Man using the ceramic candle filter]]
There are several producers of ceramic candle filters. The product discussed here is the Water4life Gravity Unit ceramic candle filter.
The filter candles are from India, China, Indonesia or Brazil. Layer 1 is made from clay which is fired to attain a fine pore structure. The size of these pores differ. But the Brazil Stefani candles can stop any particles / bacteria larger than 0,5 micrometer. The second layer is impregnated with colloidal silver on the inside and outside which deactivates bacteria. In layer 3, it is filled up with activated carbon. This is a material that has huge potential to adsorb. Contaminants slide into the holes of this honeycomb and hold fast. thereby it can hold iron, chlorine, odour and colour.
===Suitable conditions ==={| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" align="center"{{procontable | pro-! width="50%" style="background:#efefef;" | Advantages! style="background:#f0f8ff;" | Disadvantages|-| valign="top" | - High acceptance by user <br>
- Simple operation <br>
- Low frequency of maintenance<br>
- In field training and/or training manual are available by request to Water4life <br>
- Provide safe storage <br>
| convalign= "top" | - From surveys it appeared that users do not clean or clean the lower reservoir in a wrong manner. Consequently bacteria can again grow and multiply in the clean water and recontaminate it. <br>
- No reliable means to check the water quality, especially in regards to the end of life of the product which could cause the consumption of unsafe drinking water. <br>
- Several hours of waiting time until clean water is available. <br>
- Silver release on ppb level; <50 ppb Ag <br>
- Low flow rate; but if it could be filled before going to sleep, there will be 8 litres of water. And if filled 3 times a day, it could produce 24 litres enough for family consumption. <br>
|}}
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===Construction, operations and maintenance===[[Image:Ceramic candle filter.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Diagram of a ceramic candle filter]]
When new candles are used, don’t consume the first 5 litres for drinking water. Do not clean the unit and candles every day. Filter candles need to be cleaned when flow rate is very low. Use some water an a piece of cloth to rub the dirt off the candles. Never use soap or other detergents. If the dirt has penetrated the outer layers of the ceramics, scrapping off the outer layer is needed. This can be done by using hard brush. Take care that no crack is introduced. Once a crack is created the water is no longer safe.
As for the steel vessels, they will easily last 10 years.
===Costs===
{{Treatment_Cost2
|CapCost= [a] € 25,00 <br> [b] ~US$ 25 = €18,00 <br> [c] 485 Rs = €7,13 <br> [d] €15,00 <br> [e] €2,30
[a] based on the Water4life filter; include production cost, training and education of users and manufacturers .[b] based on the filter system used in Charinco. Assuming daily usage of 25 litres/system. [c] price in India with 1 nanosilver candle [d] metal design water purifier with one candle [e] plastic water purifier consists of two plastic buckets that cost €1 each, a tap costs €0,30 and one candle. For all filters, extra carbon cartridge cost €1,30
===Field experiences===According to the UN in 2009 over a quarter of the population of Senegal still did not have access to clean drinking water. However, even the “clean” drinking water can pose a problem due to contamination of pipes that are left open to aspirate with the municipal water supply is not adequate or from the contamination of wells. Ceramic candle filters are a cheap and cost effective means of combating water born illnesses for families in cities and villages alike. However, candle filters are not used as widely in Senegal as they are in other parts of the developing world, most notably South America. In Senegal the use of the filters suffers from a lack of availability and publicity about their effectiveness. Entrepreneurs are starting to import them from abroad but without a serious promotion campaign, most Senegalese are unaware of their benefits. However, there is no question about the quality of the filters available. A comparative study between a variety of ceramic candle filters, including the low cost filters imported into Senegal and the top of the line British Birkfield filters, showed very little statistical difference between the performance of the filters. The $4 USD filters imported from Brazil work just as well as the $40 USD filters made in the UK. The study, titled “A Performance Study of Ceramic Candle Filters in Kenya,” can be found on the MIT.edu website. To read the full study: [http://peacecorpssenegal.org/ Canary Water Filter Case Study]. ====RSR project====<br>{|style="border: 2px solid #e0e0e0; width: 20%; text-align: justify; background-color: #e9f5fd;" cellpadding="2"<!--rsr logo here-->|- style="vertical-align: top"|[[Image:akvorsr logo_lite.png|center|60px|link=http://akvo.org/products/rsr/]]<!--project blocks here-->|- style="vertical-align: bottom"|[[Image:rsr 351.jpg |thumb|center|140px|<font size="2"><center>[http://rsr.akvo.org/project/351/ RSR Project 351]<br>Cost effective means of financing WASH</center></font>|link=http://rsr.akvo.org/project/351/ ]] |}
==Reference manuals, videos, links==<br>
==Acknowledgements=Manuals, videos and links===* Commercial: [http://www.alibaba.com/showroom/ceramic-candle-filter.html Ceramic Candle filter parts]. Alibaba.comThis article is based on a factsheet from Aqua For All…* [http://www.sswm.info/sites/default/files/reference_attachments/FRANZ%202005%20A%20Performance%20Study%20of%20Ceramic%20Candle%20Filters%20in%20Kenya%20Including%20Tests%20for%20Coliphage%20Removal.pdf A Performance Study of Ceramic Candle Filters in Kenya Including Test for Coliphage Removal.] By Amber Franz.MIT, June 2005.
==References=Acknowledgements===* This article is, in part, based on a factsheet from Aqua For All….* Zach Swank. [http://wwwpeacecorpssenegal.solarsolutionsorg/ Canary Water Filter Case Study] Peace Corps Senegal.info/main2011.html