Water Filters

To filter dirty or unsafe water, the SunSaluter's water tube must be attached to a water filtration system. There are quite a few options, both to build yourself and to purchase from your local city or from around the globe.  It's important to know what your community needs, different water sources need different type of filtration. We are not experts in water filtration, but there are many people who have created filters which would be a good fit for your water source's needs. We encourage you to research, investigate, and choose something that's a good fit, and of course we assume no responsibility for your final choices and outcomes!

Here are a few options we've come across:

Biosand Filters: There are substantial resources documenting the success and science behind biosand filters. Easy to construct, biosand filters last a lifetime (theoretically), are compatible with any type of water (except chlorinated water), and are easy to maintain. While a biosand filter does take more time on average to filter water, it is very cost-effective and is currently deployed in over 63 countries. Included in this manual is some introductory instructions to building your own biosand filter. For more information, visit: http://www.biosandfilters.info

LifeStraw: This device, developed in Switzerland, is a straw that purifies as you drink. With both a mesh and polyester filter inside, all the bacteria, viruses, and sediment is removed by the pressure created from sipping through the straw. A $20 straw lasts for 264 gallons or 5 years (whichever comes first).

Ceramic Pot Filters: Ceramic Filters are often made by local manufacturers. They are can be found in Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Ghana, El Salvador, the Darfur region of Sudan, Kenya, Benin, Yemen, Nigeria, Tanzania, Peru, and Somalia, among others.

Made from local materials and fired into a porous filter, the pot is coated with silver to decontaminate most unsafe water at around 2 liters per hour. The filters must be replaced once every 2-3 years, but at only $15 - $25 per filter and $4 - $6 for replacements, these are very affordable for many.

Plants that filter out sediment: While they cannot filter out small bacteria, protozoa, or viruses, an initial filtration of sediment out from water can be accomplished using moringa pods, prickly pear cactus, and other sediment attractors. These plants usually only work once, and may not be found everywhere. In addition, since they leave invisible particles behind, another purification method should be paired with this.

SODIS: Also known as solar ultraviolet water disinfection, this method uses sunlight and PET water bottles to disinfect water with the power and heat of the sun. Simply remove the labels from relatively clean and scratch-free PET or plastic soda bottles. Wash carefully before first use. Water from unclean sources can be placed into the bottles, filled up completely, and set out in the sun. On a sunny day, water can be purified in as little as 6 hours of sitting in direct sunlight. On cloudy days, it is recommended to have the bottles exposed for at least 2 days. In the case of continuous rainfall, rainwater collection should be the primary source of water, so the SODIS is best for locations with a lot of sun. For more information, see:  http://www.sodis.ch/methode/anwendung/ausbildungsmaterial/index_EN