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Ceramic Pot & Candle Filters

Ceramic water filters are produced by mixing local terracotta clay with combustible organic material (sawdust, rice husks, or coffee grounds) and firing in a kiln at ~900°C.

Production & Colloidal Silver Impregnation

  • Pore Formation: As the pot fires, the organic material burns away, leaving microscopic tortuous pores (0.6 to 3.0 microns).
  • Colloidal Silver Treatment: The fired pot is painted or dipped in a 3.2% colloidal silver solution. The silver acts as a powerful disinfectant and bacteriostatic agent, killing bacteria on contact and preventing biofilm growth within the pores.
  • Global Standardization: Champions include Potters for Peace, Ecofiltro (Guatemala), and Filter Pure.

Specifications

  • Lifespan: 2 to 3 Years (scrubbed periodically; pores gradually clog with minerals).
  • Cost: $15 to $35 USD per filter.
  • Pathogen Removal: 99.88% bacteria, 100% protozoa.

Official CAWST Ceramic Filter Training Toolkits & Field Manuals

All resources below are open-access, licensed under Creative Commons, and directly downloadable for field training:

1. Facilitator Toolkits & Training Manuals

  • 📄 Ceramic Candle Filter Promotion Facilitator Toolkit: Download Facilitator Toolkit — A complete behavior-change facilitator toolkit (tested in Nepal) covering community triggering, household adoption, correct use, and periodic maintenance.
  • 📄 Facilitator Field Diary & Monitoring Tool: Download Facilitator Diary — Field tracking tool for community workers recording household filter visits, flow rate checks, and cleaning adherence.

2. Maintenance & User Instructions

  • 📄 Ceramic Candle Filter Instructional Leaflet: Download Maintenance Leaflet — Illustrated user guide explaining proper handling, gentle brush scrubbing without soap, and boiling or chemical disinfection protocols.
  • 📄 Ceramic Pot Filter Maintenance Sheet: Download Pot Filter Cleaning Guide — Step-by-step pictorial protocol for cleaning ceramic pot elements, preventing rim cross-contamination, and replacing silicone tap gaskets.
  • 📄 Ceramic Candle Filter Health Post Poster: Download Educational Clinic Poster — Visual educational poster for village health posts explaining how ceramic filtration prevents waterborne diarrheal diseases.