| Abstract |
A recent field study has demonstrated silver-impregnated ceramic filters (manufactured according to the design criteria of the non-governmental organization Potters for Peace) can effectively remove E.coli and reduce turbidity in untreated tap water. Ceramic filters were locally produced in San Mateo de Ixtatan, Guatemala from clay and sawdust and then treated with colloidal silver (which acts as a disinfectant). Thirty filters were distributed and observed for one year. An additional 42 filters were observed for nine weeks. They were analyzed for E. coli, total coliform, turbidity, silver concentration, and social acceptance. Over the course of the study, the average percent reduction in total coliforms and E.coli was 86.86% and 91.75%, respectively. The average effluent turbidity was 0.18 NTUs and average concentration of colloidal silver was 0.02 mg/L. Ten percent of samples showed an increase in effluent bacteria concentration relative to influent concentration. An additional ten locally produced filters were tested daily under ideal user conditions for 26 days. Average reduction in total coliform and E.coli bacteria were 90.90% and 95.72%, with 1.5% of samples showing an increase in effluent bacteria concentration. Overall users were satisfied with the filters, citing them as easy to use and maintain while improving both health and water quality. The findings of this study suggest the successful uptake of ceramic filters as a point-of-use water treatment technology in San Mateo de Ixtatan
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| Bio |
Erin Kallman received the B.S. degree in Chemistry from the University of Virginia in 2006. Following a year working as an environmental scientist, she returned to the University of Virginia to pursue a Ph.D. degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering with a concentration in environmental engineering. Since 2007, she has been studying point-of-use treatment technologies with a focus on the Potters for Peace ceramic filter design.
Katherine Kline is in her third year of studies at the University of Virginia, pursuing B.A. degrees in Anthropology and Spanish. She hopes to continue her studies after graduation with a possible concentration in public health policy.
Rachel Massey received B.A. degrees in Spanish and Sociology from the University of Virginia in 2008. Currently, she is working for a non-profit organization, Phoenix of New Orleans. She plans on returning to graduate school with a focus in Biology.
Daniel Restivo received the B.S. degrees in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Virginia in 2008. His undergraduate thesis was titled “Comparing the effectiveness of silver application methods in ceramic filters”. He is continuing his studies in civil engineering with a concentration in hydrology, water resources, and environmental fluid mechanics at the University of Washington. |
| Cite this work |
Researchers should cite this work as follows:
James A Smith, Vinka Oyanedel-Craver, Erin N Kallman, Katherine Kline, Rachel Massey and Daniel Restivo, "Mechanistic laboratory and field evaluation of sustainable point-of-use water treatment technologies to remove turbidity and deactivate coliform bacteria", Trip report presented at the NSF IREE 2008 Grantees Conference, May 2008, Washington, D.C.
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(2009), "Mechanistic laboratory and field evaluation of sustainable point-of-use water treatment technologies to remove turbidity and deactivate coliform bacteria," http://globalhub.org/resources/1918.
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