Household Water filters

Asian Table top filter including a mineral pot
Photo left, Tulip Siphon filter

A Table top filter, Safi partly produced in Malawi

Another option for treatment are water filters. In the last years new lower cost filters entered the market in Malawi

– Good quality filters do eliminate Cryptosporidium.
– Filters do not give a taste or smell like chlorine so people like it better
– In general the consistence of use of filters is much higher than Chlorine. Once people are used to take water from a filter they will do that daily.

– High upfront cost
– Not yet available everywhere, since it is still new, the supply chain needs to develop more
– The Siphon model is more complicated than the Table top model so needs more training in maintenance

Filters remove germs in a mechanical way, no chemicals or additives are used
Filters like Safi model and Tulip siphon filters comply with the WHO standards for Bacteria and Protozoa (removal 99.995%)
Filter elements last for 1 to 1.5 years , after that they need replacement
Table top filters like the Asian model have a filer capacity of 25 -30 litres. The Safi filter is 50 Litres per day. The siphon model is 100 litres per day
Cost; Safi filter ca 18 US$. Filter elements ca 7 US$
Cost; Asian Filters 40 – 100 US$
Producers. Info at all SMART Centres

Water Filtering