Update November 25, 2013: An important observation regarding 5 gallon slow sand filters: They are highly susceptible to disruption from freezing temperature. For the past week all of the 5 gallon filters have been frozen. The temps here, in the forest, have been … Continue reading
After 4 years of college where I learned (hopefully) how to write about what I observe; and following that, close to 7 years of designing, building, studying, and operating small scale slow sand water filters (often called biological sand water … Continue reading
To determine the uniformity coeffient of sand (from a chosen source): First: Take a small sample of the sand and determine the sand grain size (wire mesh hole size opening) at which 60% of this small sample‘s weight passes … Continue reading
A rudimentary test was done yesterday, October 2, 2013, to evaluate water clarity on all of the filters running here. The filters that have the least restricted output flow also have the clearest water output. Two of the filters that have … Continue reading
We have had water collected from a composition roof at this location tested by an EPA certified laboratory. The water passed (actually far surpassed) all epa, and local requirements for potable water purity after being run through a small slow … Continue reading
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Update September 30, 2014: Field tests have been done on filter 10a and 10b. The results are here. According to what the results of these tests show, filter 10a does not work at all. Filter 10b works, but just barely. Neither … Continue reading
Biological sand water filtration (slow sand water filtration) works mainly because of living things we can’t see with our eyes. If water flows slowly enough through sand, it can be cleansed by these living microscopic organisms with help from gravity … Continue reading
Filter 4 and 5 now have re-circulation systems installed. Both of these filters had failed miserably in April/May of this year due to lack of water throughtput, and excessive organic debris present in the input water. Since the re-circulation systems have been … Continue reading
Important: We have been researching rain water harvesting laws for some time now. This is an almost impossible task; as each state’s website is different and the regulations are unbelievably complex. Legal assistance is needed to accurately interpret the laws, rules and … Continue reading
On October 20, 2011; I wrote a bit on this blog about moss eating away at roof surfaces. Since then I’ve done more research. Moss does not “eat away” at your roof. Moss is a bryophyte. It does not have … Continue reading