Filters in Cold Climates

[Guest]

#623

We are considering the possibility of implementing a concrete water filter project in Badakshan. Would you be able to send me some information about the previous Medair projects of this type? Evaluations, proposals and budgets would be particularly relevant. Have these projects ever been run in colder climates? I foresee two possible problems:

1) Freezing of water during winter
2) Killing of bacteria because of cold and reduced effectiveness of filter??

What are your thoughts on this? I think that in Badakshan there would be enough community motivation for a programme like this to succeed (perhaps unlike Kaabong!) We are rushing to put this all together for a proposal submission in 2 weeks so a quick response would be greatly appreciated.

[Eric]

#624

About SSFs operating in cold conditions, I quote from Huisman and Wood in the book ‘Slow Sand Filtration’: “In climates where the winters are very cold it may be necessary to install expensive structural precautions against freezing. At the same time the efficiency of purification will be adversely affected by low temperatures. Rapid filters will be equally affected, but because of theis smaller area they are cheaper to cover.”
In an article about removal of microcystins (products from cyanobacterial blooms) in slow sand filters, Grutzmacher et al found that temperature of <4 degrees C was a likely reason for incomplete biodegradation of microcystins.
In an article by Laurent et al on biodegradable organics removal in biological filters, there is a graph that shows biological activity against temperature. At 0-5 degrees C, it seems that there is between 15 and 30% activity in varying bacteria groups – some are more adapted to cold conditions. It can’t be denied then that cold temperatures reduce the efficiency of the sand filtration process.
With this in mind, a household sand filter project would have to ensure that all filters made are kept in the house, for example the kitchen. What is the average temperature in the coldest time of year in an average Badakshan kitchen?

Hope this helps, let me know if you want me to forward other stuff.
Eric