Low cost innovative ceramic water filters

Klaas van der Ven - Friday 12 May 2006

Dear All

Basic Water Needs Foundation (BWNF) from the Netherlands has developed a new approach for a low cost ceramic water purification unit
At the moment BWNF operates mainly in India.

We expect that during at the end of 2007 the following models can be exported from India:

CSF filter: Output 5 litres of water per hour or more. The ceramic filter can be backwashed and is easy to clean. Expected price for a complete unit in bulk quantities will be around $ 2.50 A replacement filter (silver impregnated) will be offered for around $ 1.10
CSF HD filter: This will be the same model with added washable pre-filter (cloth) combined with coagulation agent. This model can treat very turbid water without premature clogging of the ceramic filter element. Price will be low, but at this stage we do not have a clear picture yet about future pricing.

Status:
CSF filter: Consumer tests with 50 families starts in India and Zambia around September 2006. Larger pilot projects planned in the beginning of 2007.
CSF HD filter: Successful prototype tests. Consumer test planned for 50 families in India at the end of 2006. Pilot project for 1000 or 2000 families planned in India around April 2007.

Social marketing policy: Delivering CSF filters to NGO's worldwide. NGO's could sell the filters with a modest margin to the public, to cover costs for awareness campaigns and distribution costs. Probably the filters could be sold using a micro-credit approach.

BWNF has developed a small scale water purification unit (DWS unit) for villages or slum areas. Safe drinking water is sold for in India for 1.25 US cents per 20 litres.
One pilot project, in combination with an innovative awareness campaign, has been launched in India (October 2005). In the beginning of 2007 BWNF will install around 10 water purification units in India. BWNF expects that when 300 families are buying safe drinking water from the DWS unit, all costs can be covered (depreciation, maintenance, electricity, water distribution costs, etc.),
Specifications: sandfilter (backwashable), activated carbon filters (backwashable), UV disinfection, electronic safety system. Capacity is 450 litres per hour.
We expect to offer the DWS unit (made in India) at the end of 2007 for around $ 750. This is excluding the (brick) housing of the unit, storage tanks, pump and electricity connection.

At this moment BWNF prefers to stay low-profile. We are training technicians in India, setting up assembling facilities and will wait for the results of the consumer tests.

Contact: Klaas van der Ven at watersafe@hetnet.nl