The effect of increasing grain size in biosand water filters in combination with ultraviolet disinfection

With sand less than 0.70 mm often difficult to source in the field, it is of interest to study larger grained sand for use in biosand water filters (BSF). This study examined how sand grain size affects biological sand water filtration and how the combination of biological sand filtration and ultrav...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of water, sanitation, and hygiene for development sanitation, and hygiene for development, 2014-06, Vol.4 (2), p.206-213
Main Authors: FRANK, Timothy E, SCHEIE, Matthew L, CACHRO, Victoria, MUNOZ, Andrew S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Applied sciences
Bacteria
Biofiltration
Data points
Disinfection
Drinking water
Drinking water and swimming-pool water. Desalination
Duration
E coli
Effluents
Exact sciences and technology
Filters
Grain size
Guidelines
Organizations
Particle size
Plastics
Pollution
Removal
Sand
Turbidity
Ultraviolet radiation
Wastewater
Water filters
Water filtration
Water purification
Water quality
Water quality control
Water treatment and pollution
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Summary:With sand less than 0.70 mm often difficult to source in the field, it is of interest to study larger grained sand for use in biosand water filters (BSF). This study examined how sand grain size affects biological sand water filtration and how the combination of biological sand filtration and ultraviolet (UV) disinfection affects drinking water quality. Two BSFs were built: a control with maximum grain size, dmax = 0.70 mm and an experimental with grain sizes ranging from 0.70 mm to dmax = 2.0 mm. Untreated water was passed through each BSF daily. Results show Escherichia coli and turbidity removal characteristics of the control and experimental BSFs were not significantly different from one another. Both BSFs produced water that met World Health Organization (WHO) drinking water guidelines for turbidity, and although E. coli reduction was over 98% for each BSF, a high initial bacteria concentration resulted in effluent levels above WHO guidelines. Subsequently, effluent from each BSF was placed in clear plastic bottles under UV light, after which water from each BSF met E. coli guidelines. The data yielded promising results for using larger sand in BSFs, but longer duration studies with more data points are needed.
ISSN:2043-9083
2408-9362
DOI:10.2166/washdev.2013.171