EFFECTIVENESS OF SLOW SAND FILTER WITH ACTIVATED

CHARCOAL FOR WATER PURIFICATION

Chapter 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING

Background of the Study

According to Shiksha Malik, Pradeep Khyalia, & Jitender Singh Laura, ND,

water is one of the most critical parameters for the growth and sustenance of life.

Adequate access to clean water is considered a human right and is inextricably

associated with the world's economic growth and development.

Moreover, stated by John K. Maiyo, Sruthi Dasika, and Chad T. Jafvert (2023),

safe drinking water remains a major global challenge, especially in rural areas where,

according to UNICEF, 80% of those without access to improved water systems reside.

According to Eric O. Zantua, Christopher T. Madrid, Francis Jay M. Carranceja,

John Michael S. Borja, and Mike Christian B. Bautista (2022), the Philippines is one of

the few nations experiencing the tropical rainy season all year round. However, the

abundance of precipitation doesn’t always mean more water for consumption. The wet

season may also have some adverse effects on the quality of drinking water. During

rainy seasons, the Metropolitan Naga Water District (MNWD) expects a heavy amount

of water to precipitate within its service coverage area which would accumulate in the

District’s spring and groundwater sources. Although, too much rain and pressure may
cause damage to water pipelines affecting its distribution and eventually, the quality of

drinking water. Soil corrosion from surface runoffs and the instantaneous increase of

pressure might lead to water discoloration which is unsafe for consumption. Usually,

unfiltered water has a high chance of containing bacteria, metallic rust elements, toxic

materials such as copper, lead, aluminium, mercury, cadmium, chromium, pesticides,

fertilizers and many such particles contaminating the water.

Heavy floods or downpour leaves water stagnated in the open, which makes it a

carrier of multiple waterborne illnesses, cholera, jaundice, cramps in the stomach,

indigestion, multiple types of viruses, bacteria and more depending upon the level of

contamination and the exposure to dirt, dust, pollution, and toxins (Pureit 2022)

According to Journal of Chemical Education 8, 224A (2004) water sources such

as lakes, rivers, and groundwater supply much of the water for domestic use. Some of

the water that reaches our household faucets has also been used for other purposes.

Water from these various sources is treated to remove impurities and to make it suitable

for human consumption

Helen Flores (2023), stated that about 11 million Filipino families still have no

access to clean water, according to the National Water Resources Board (NWRB).

Speaking at the Laging Handa public briefing, NWRB executive director Sevillo David

noted these families get water from “unsafe” sources such as deep wells, springs, rivers,

lakes and rainwater. Aside from water, sanitation also remains a problem in the country

as many families still practice open defecation, risking water contamination and

diseases. According to a recent Philippine Statistics Authority report, a total of 53,066

Filipinos died between 2010 and 2019 due to water-borne diseases such as typhoid and

paratyphoid fever, bloody diarrhea, cholera, viral hepatitis and leptospirosis.

According to Good Neighbors International Philippines, ND. In Gigmoto,

Catanduanes, diarrhea still remains to be one of the top causes of death in Gigmoto due

to a lack of access to safe water sources in the household. In Sitio Sawa in Barangay

Sioron, getting clean water is very hard. Typhoon Rolly left massive damage to natural

resources and their water supply since households rely on deep wells and hand pumps

that are untreated and unsafe for drinking. Residents climbing mountains and crossing

rivers for a gallon of water became part of their everyday routine. These paths become

impassable when it rains.

John K. Maiyo, et al (2023), stated that for the predominantly rural regions in

need, safe water technologies must be effective, and slow sand filtration (SSF) has

distinguished itself as a suitable water treatment technology for such rural areas. Slow

sand filters (SSFs), or biological sand filters (BSFs), are ideal water treatment solutions

for these low-resource regions. SSFs are the oldest municipal drinking water treatment

systems and improve water quality by removing suspended particles, dissolved organic

chemicals, and other contaminants, effectively reducing turbidity and associated taste

and odor problems.

According to Elsevier logo (2018), slow sand filters are operated at very low

filtration rates without the use of coagulation. Slow sand filters are a simple, reliable

and easy to operate system. Contaminants are removed from water through a

combination and physical straining and microbiological processes in a slow sand filter.
When in operation, the surface of the filter bed is covered by a thin layer of medium,

known as the “schmutzdecke.” This layer contains a large variety of microorganisms

and enables these filters to remove large numbers of bacteria. Slow sand filters do not

require highly trained operators, have minimal power requirements, and can tolerate

reasonable hydraulic and solid shock loadings.

Slow sand filters can remove suspended solids but do not capture clay particles

or reduce color levels. They are simple to build and operate (Farsad Fotouhi, Neven

Kresic (2010)

According to Jeannine Marie Laforge (1995), activated carbon is the greatest

developed and one of the most efficient processes available for the removal of most

organic and some inorganic materials from wastewater. Activated carbon is also capable

of removing color from water. It can be made from variety of carbonaceous materials

including wood, cola, peat, lignin, nutshells, baggase (sugar can pulp), sawdust, lignite,

bone and petroleum residues. In the past, carbons used in industrial application have

been produced most frequently from wood, peat, and waste of vegetables origin. The

present tendency in the manufacture of granule carbon for wastewater treatment

purposes is towards use of various kinds of natural coal and coke, which are relatively

inexpensive.

This research is driven by the need for reliable and resilient water purification

solutions, especially in regions prone to seasonal variations in water quality.

Investigating the performance of this combined approach is essential for developing

adaptable water treatment strategies that can effectively manage adverse weather

conditions.

Statement of the Problem

The main purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of the water

purification using sand, gravel, and charcoal.

Specially, this study sought to answer the following questions:

1. How long will the water purification be effective?

2. Will it still be effective even if the arrangements of sand, charcoal and gravel are

changed?

3. Will the water filtration can still purify properly if black sand were used instead

of white sand?

4. Will the measurements of the materials affect the filtration of water?

5. Is the slow sand with activated charcoal (SSAC) water purification system more

effective compared to the slow sand filter method?

Hypothesis

Ho: There is no significant difference in the effectiveness of SSAC water

purification system compared to slow sand filter methods in terms of contaminant

removal from water

Ha: The SSAC water purification system is significantly more effective

compared to slow sand filter methods in terms of contaminant removal from water
 Ho: The arrangement of materials in the water purification process does not

have a significant impact on the removal of contaminants from the water.

Ha: The arrangement of materials in the water purification process significantly

affects the removal of contaminants from the water, leading to improved purification

efficiency.

Ho: There is no significant difference in water purification efficiency between

using black sand and white sand.

Ha: Using white sand in water purification results in a significantly higher level

of purification efficiency compared to using black sand.

Ho: There is no significant difference in water purification efficiency between

different measurements of materials.

Ha: Different measurements of materials significantly impact water purification

efficiency, leading to varying levels of contaminant removal.

Significance of the Study

This study was conducted to benefit the following:

Household; Implementing this method can lead to cleaner and safer drinking

water, reducing the risk of waterborne diseases due to increased contamination.

Furthermore, this method might offer a cost-effective solution for water purification,

especially for communities with limited resources. It could potentially reduce the need

for expensive treatment options.

Future Researchers; For the researchers who intend to conduct any related

research, this paper will be a great resource.

Scope and Delimitation

This study mainly focuses on evaluation of the effectiveness of slow sand

filtration integrated with activated charcoal as a method for water purification.

Additionally, the researchers used activated granulated charcoal. The investigation will

focus on the removal of contaminants such as color, odor, and microbial pathogens

from the water. This study will be conducted at Gigmoto, Catanduanes, Philippines.

Definition of terms

To help with understanding the stated facts, the following terms are defined

operationally in this study.

Charcoal. Material that can removes the color of water.

Filtration. Ability to filter dirty water using materials.

Purification. Refers to the process of removing impurities, contaminants, or

undesirable substances from water to make it safe and suitable for consumption or other

specific purpose.

Slow sand filter. Water purification using sand and gravel.

SSAC. Water purification using sand, gravel, and charcoal.

Waterborne. Disease being carried by contaminated water.

 Chapter 2

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

A variety of significant studies and works of literature are presented in this

chapter in order to help readers gain insight into the topic of the present study.

Related Literature

Ronny Berndtsson, Shynggyskhan Sultakhan (2023), Providing safe drinking

water to people in developing countries is an urgent worldwide water problem and a

main issue in the UN Sustainable Development Goals. One of the most efficient and

cheapest methods to attain these goals is to promote the use of slow sand filters. This

review shows that slow sand filters can efficiently provide safe drinking water to people

living in rural communities not served by a central water supply. Probably, the most

important aspect of SSF for developing and less-developed countries is its function as a

biological filter. WASH problems mainly relate to the spread of viruses, bacteria, and

parasites. The surface and shallow groundwater in developing countries around urban

areas and settlements are often polluted by domestic wastewater containing these

microbes and nutrients. However, factors that may adversely affect the removal of

microbiological constituents are mainly low temperature, high and intermittent flow

rates, reduced sand depth, filter immaturity, and various filter amendments.

Ulisses Costa Terin, LP Sabogal-Paz (2019), a household slow sand filter

(HSSF) is a widely used water treatment technology recognized as one of the most
effective and sustainable in reducing waterborne diseases. However, there is a lack of

knowledge concerning its behaviour in the presence of cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins.

According to Jadhav (2015), a household water treatment system can reduce the

risk of waterborne disease transmission, as well as best practices, such as water source

protection and safe storage. Household water treatment should be accessible to anyone,

easy to operate and maintain, as well as culturally accepted.

In the 1990s, David Manz adapted the conventional slow sand filter for

household level and intermittent flow, which resulted in the Household Slow Sand

Filter (HSSF).This technology has been spread by several organizations and over

300,000 HSSFs have been installed in more than 69 countries (CAWST, 2012)

Related Studies

Joel B. Njeve, Victor O. Shikuku (2022), investigated that the activated carbon

remains the most widely used absorbent for the removal of chemical pollutants in both

drinking water and wastewater treatment processes due to its unique chemical

properties and a plethora of precursor materials for development.

Synthesis of the State of the Art

Gap Bridge by the Study

Conceptual Paradigm
Conceptual Framework

The framework envisions the slow sand filter with activated charcoal as the

central element influencing and interacting with key water quality parameters. This

study shows that the slow sand filter integrated with activated charcoal will make the

contaminated water free from any microbial elements.

Independent Variable Dependent Variable

Slow Sand Filter with

Water quality
Activated Carbon
 Chapter 3

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY

The main focus of this chapter is to provide an overview of the research

methodology and procedures used by the researchers to methodically deal with the

particular research questions. This chapter provided an explanation of the study

methodology, population and samples, research instrument, data collection process, and

statistical analysis of the data that were necessary for precise data analysis and

interpretation.

Design of the Study

Sources of Data

Methods and Procedures

Data Gathering Procedures

Population of the Study

Instrumentation and Validation

Statistical Treatment of Data