Project Description

The filter is primarily intended for household use, ideally as part of an overall water delivery network combined with intensive educational efforts aimed at improving water hygiene in marginalized communities throughout the world. The filter consists of a porous clay filter unit perched inside a lidded 5-gallon spigot receptacle of plastic or clay. The filter unit is saturated with colloidal silver as a disinfectant. The unit has a flow rate of approximately 1-1.75 liters of water per hour. The filter has successfully been laboratory tested in over ten countries on four continents. This technology has been proven effective in eliminating coli forms, parasites, amoebae, and vibrio cholera from polluted water.An additional component of the project is the introduction, where appropriate, fuel efficient kilns. Potters are introduced to techniques involved in the production of insulating brick. They are trained in building and using energy efficient solid fuel burner systems utilizing agricultural waste such as rice husks, coffee husks or saw dust. If successful, it is hoped that consumption of firewood can be reduced in pottery producing areas, minimizing such attendant problems as deforestation and soil erosion which can lead to tragic consequences during severe rains.Low cost, low tech colloidal silver--saturated earthenware water filter technology is being explored, developed and/or employed across the globe. Countries include Guatemala, Ecuador, Peru, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, Cuba, Haiti, Mexico, the Ivory Coast, India, Nepal, and Indonesia. (Information from Potters for Peace.)  HistoryThe following is a brief overview of developments which led to the creation of the filter. For more detailed information on the filter, see Technical Description. To review the objectives of the Filter Project, see Project Description. A colloidal silver enhanced earthenware ceramic water filter was first developed by Dr. Fernando Mazariegos of the Central American Research Institute for Industry (ICAITI) in Guatemala, in 1981. The goal was not only to filter turbid water but to make bacterially contaminated water safe. Another goal was to develop a low cost filter which could be fabricated at the community level. In 1984 MAP International (an evangelical group involved in Third World health projects) initiated a project to train a group of indigenous Quechua potters in Cotopaxi, Ecuador to produce a colloidal silver-enhanced filter based on the original ICAITI design.

History

The following is a brief overview of developments which led to the creation of the filter. For more detailed information on the filter, see Technical Description. To review the objectives of the Filter Project, see Project Description.

A colloidal silver enhanced earthenware ceramic water filter was first developed by Dr. Fernando Mazariegos of the Central American Research Institute for Industry (ICAITI) in Guatemala, in 1981. The goal was not only to filter turbid water but to make bacterially contaminated water safe. Another goal was to develop a low cost filter which could be fabricated at the community level.

In 1984 MAP International (an evangelical group involved in Third World health projects) initiated a project to train a group of indigenous Quechua potters in Cotopaxi, Ecuador to produce a colloidal silver-enhanced filter based on the original ICAITI design.