History
The household biosand filter was first conceptualized by Dr. David Manz in the late 1980s, at the University of Calgary, Canada. The system was developed from the slow sand filter, a technology used for drinking water purification for almost 200 years. Initial lab and field tests were conducted in 1991, and the system was patented in 1993. That same year, the first BSF was implemented in Nicaragua. Subsequent developments on the filters have included circular designs using concrete and plastic housings. In 2001, Dr. David Manz co-founded CAWST (Center For Affordable Water and Sanitation Technology), as a worldwide distributor of BSFs. It is estimated that over 200,000 BSFs are currently in use worldwide.
Besides CAWST, there are other companies that manufacture and distribute BSFs. For example, Hydraid Biosand Water Filter is a privately owned company who holds the license for the Plastic Biosand Filter. These BSFs are manufactured by Cascade Engineering and are distributed by Triple Quest. The Hydraid BSF is the first lightweight BSF, which allows for easier transport and lower cost compared to concrete BSFs.
Read more about this topic: Bio Sand Filter
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