Slow Sand Filtration: Fundamentals, Design and Recent Advances
Prof. M. Robin Collins, Department of Civil Engineering, University of New Hampshire, Durham
Under appropriate circumstances, slow sand filtration (SSF) may not only be the cheapest and simplest, but also the most efficient method of water treatment. According to the World Health Organization, SSF is simple, inexpensive, and reliable and is still the chosen method of purifying water supplies for some of the major cities of the world. Comparative studies between SSF and other filtration systems concluded that slow sand filters were superior especially where simple operation is of substantial importance. This presentation will review the basic removal mechanisms of slow-rate biofilters, outline the established SSF design criteria, and provide a state-of-the-art review of proven modifications to enhance performance of conventional slow sand filters.