Comparison of the Performance of Ceramic Filters in Drinking Water Treatment

Abstract

This research aimed to compare the performance of three different types of ceramic filter candles (MCC, Puro and Surya) in treating drinking water. Filter candles performance with and without colloidal silver (CS) coating was determined based on flow rate, E. coli and total coliform removal efficiency. Significant impact of CS coating in removing and/ or inactivating E. coli and total coliforms were observed for all filter candles and Puro filter candle was found to be the most efficient one. Using MCC filter candle (which was built using locally available materials) can achieve the highest filtration rate but E.Coli and total coliforms removal efficiency could not meet the standard set by World Health Organization (WHO) guideline. Further silver leaching test demonstrated that silver concentration in the filtered water through the CS coated filter was under the WHO guideline. There is a minimal difference in the flow rate before and after CS coating in the candles demonstrating the CS coating has not affected in the filtration rate. This study concludes that locally available filter candles (Puro or Surya) in Nepal after CS coating can be safely used in treating drinking water at household level.