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Biosand FilterConstruction Guide
Engineers Without Borders at the University of Wisconsin Madison
Muramba, RwandaSupplemental Report • Rwanda Team • January 27, 2008EWB-UW • Rwanda Team •www.ewbuw.org/donate
 
Table of Contents
Science Behind the Filter
!
2
The Layers of the Filter 
2
Filter Construction
!
 3
Step 1: Container Determination - Blue Plastic Drum
3Step 2: Sand and Gravel Procurement - Go Local
3Step 3: Sand and Gravel Purification - A Time-Intensive Step
4Step 4: Container Faucet and Plumbing - A Simple On/Off Switch
5Step 5: Diffusion Plate Creation - A Elementary Sift 
6Step 6: Filter Placement and Final Setup Instructions - A Heavy Drum
7 Step 7: Initial Priming and Flushing of System - Forward To Cleaner Water 
7 
Budget 
!
9
Biosand Filter Budget 
9
Bibliography
10
EWB-UW • Rwanda Team •www.ewbuw.org/donate
 
Science Behind the Filter
The biosand filter technology is a simple and effective technology that can be implemented with a small budget. Our group decided to pursue further research into this appropriate design solu-tion.
The Layers of the Filter 
!
The first layer is biologically the most important. In only a couple of centimeters of wa-ter, a diverse feeding sequence will emerge known as the schmutzdeke or more simply, the bio-logical layer. The sand layer filters out 95 to 99% of organic contaminates including bacteria, viruses, protozoa, worms, and particles.
1
These organic contaminates stay in this water layerabove the sand layer. A natural food chain will emerge within this layer. As more wa-ter is strained through, the filter will be-come more effective in killing off harmfulcontaminates. This biological layer doesthe work in removing these contaminates while the sand and gravel layers will per-form more aesthetic work on the water.These two layers will deodorize, refresh,and clean the water making it more enjoy-able to drink.
2
EWB-UW • Rwanda Team •www.ewbuw.org
2
 
 Figure 1 - To the right is the basic design our team used in the field to build a biosand filer.
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