Category Archives: slow sand water filter study and construction

Update July 15, 2013: New Jersey regulations do not appear to make rain barrels, or rain water harvesting for the individual home owner against the law. There are programs in the state that encourage rooftop rainwater harvesting: The official website … Continue reading →

After the failure of filter 5 in late May of this year, we changed the top 6 inches of sand from .15 mm effective size, to .25 mm effective size sand. We are now using a re-circulation system on this filter. So … Continue reading →

Following the failure of filter 4, in early June, 2013 the following modifications were made on June 5, 2013 when the filter was restarted: The top 3 inches of sand was removed and changed from .25mm effective size to .35 … Continue reading →

This is a summary in outline form of the last four posts: Critical considerations when setting up a small slow sand water filter: A. Sand size .35 mm effective size is the best overall choice B. Input water turbidity Turbidity … Continue reading →

I’ve had another comment on the YouTube video we posted regarding the first flow diverter with a float seal device. The comment is as follows: “I was wondering the same thing, there’s usually two bung holes, why not use them. … Continue reading →

Update, May 30 2013: Several issues have been brought out by the situation in the previous post regarding filter 5, which is set up to filter roofwater. Roofwater can vary considerably depending on the physical, and geographical location. Temperature, acid … Continue reading →

The most recent slow sand filter set up here (filter 5) has failed miserably. I’ve done everything right – or so I thought. There is a diverter in the line that supplies (supposedly) water with very low turbidity to the input … Continue reading →

We have had a number of questions, over the past 5 years, about drinking the water from the slow sand filters described on this blog and on the websites associated with this blog. I’ve responded periodically to each comment, but … Continue reading →

We were recently contacted by a local water district representative regarding setting up some slow sand filters for schools’ irrigation water supply. They wanted a “green” “sustainable” technology to filter water from their rainwater / roofwater harvesting system. In speaking … Continue reading →

Filter 5, the newest addition to the project, has been filtering water since the last major below freezing weather event (about 6 weeks) using only gravity feed, and manual re-circulation using a 5 gallon container. No electrical power or pumps … Continue reading →