[[Image:Ceramic_filter_icon.png|right|80px]][[Image:CPF1.jpg|thumb|right|250px200px| Potters for Peace filter model.]]__NOTOC__<small-title />
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.
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.
}}
===Construction, operations and maintenance===[[Image:CPF2.png|thumb|right|250px200px| Cross section through a Ceramic Pot Filter.]]
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.
====Manufacturing====
[[Image:CPF3.jpg|thumb|right|250px200px| Hydraulic press used to make the filters.]][[Image:CPF4.jpg|thumb|right|250px200px| 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.
Free press and kiln designs are available from Potters for Peace.
===Costs===
{{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.
===Field experiences===
{|style="width: 70%; text-align: justify; background-color: #f5f5f5;"
|[[Image:rsr 351.jpg|thumb|none|200px|<font size="2"><center>Project 351</center></font>|link=http://www.akvo.org/rsr/project/351/]]
|}
===Manuals, videos and links===
{| style="font-size: 125%"
* [http://www.ceramicatamakloe.com CeramicaTamakloe Limited]. Materials supplier.
===References===
<references/>
===Acknowledgements===
* Brown, J. and M. Sobsey (2006) [http://www.ideorg.org/OurStory/Brown_and_Sobsey_2006_-_UNICEF_ceramic_filter_final_report.pdf 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) [http://potterswithoutborders.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/alethia-report-2.pdf Investigation of the Potters for Peace Colloidal Silver Impregnated Ceramic Filter Report 2: Field Investigations]. Alethia Environmental for USAID, USA. Also, [http://docs.watsan.net/Downloaded_Files/PDF/Fahlin-2003-Hydraulic.pdf Report 1, 2003].