Disinfection Using Biosand Filter

Two lab scale Biosand filters were constructed using sand and gravel available in
Civil Engineering materials laboratory of University of Nizwa as per the
specifications of Abhilash Nair et al..[56]. The first filters had a 5 cm under drain
gravel and 15 cm of sand layer (Figure 1). The first filters had a 5 cm under drain
gravel and 10 cm of sand layer (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Biosand filters used in the study

Working mechanism
Figure 2 shows the components of the Biosand filter. To use a Biosand filter, initially
pours raw water poured into the reservoir above uniformly and the water moves
through the filter by gravity. The raw water should be poured slowly to prevent it from
disturbing the biological layer (also known as the schmutzdecke) in the top few
centimeters of sand. It is believed that most removals of microbes and particles occur
in the upper biological layer (CAWST, 2008; Unger and Collins, 2008) and filter
performance improves over time as the filter ripens (Ahammed, 2011; Stauber, 2007).
The influent water displaces the water in the filter, was collected by a drain system at

the bottom of the filter and removed via a vertical tube whose outlet is a few
centimeters above the surface of the sand. This allows a standing layer of water to
remain above the top of the sand, which keeps the media saturated, prevents it from
drying out, and preserves the microbial community. After a charge of water has been
put into the filter, the filter must remain idle for some time, usually 6 to 12 hours. This
allows the microbes to complete the degradation of contaminants (CAWST, 2008).

Figure 2. Schematic of Biosand filter

Efficiency of Biosand filter in disinfecting Falaj water
To know the efficiency of Biosand filter in removing pathogen bacteria present in the
falaj water, falaj water has been put into the filter, the filter kept remain idle for 12
hours. This allows the microbes to complete the degradation of contaminants
(CAWST, 2008). After 12 hours of idle flooding, effluent was collected from the
under drain at different time intervals. Microbial concentration in the effluent
collected from two bio-filters at different time intervals is presented in table 1 and
graphically represented in figure 3.

Table: 1 Efficiency of bio sand filter in disinfecting falaj water

Time since
start of the
experiment
(hr)
24
48
72
96
120
144
168
192
216
240

Depth of The Filter= 10 cm

Depth of The Filter= 15 cm

Initial

Final

%
Removal

Initial

Final

%
Removal

609
609
609
609
609
609
609
609
609
609

560
500
450
352
302
253
198
196
195
195

8
18
26
42
50
59
67
68
68
68

609
609
609
609
609
609
609
609
609
609

520
460
400
320
240
190
160
141
139
138

15
24
34
47
61
69
74
77
77
78

80
70
60
50

% Removal

40
30

10 cm

15 cm

20
10
0
0

50

100

150

200

250

300

Time since start of experiment(hr)

Figure 3 . Efficiency of bio-filter in treating Falaj water

From figure 3 it was observed that percentage removal of pathogen organisms
depends on time since start of the experiment ie sample collection time and depth of
the filter. As depth of the filter and time of sampling increased percentage removal
increased. It is believed that most removals of microbes and particles occur in the
upper biological layer (CAWST, 2008; Unger and Collins, 2008) and filter
performance improves over time as the filter ripens (Ahammed, 2011; Stauber, 2007).

Death and predation are mainly responsible for the removal of pathogenic bacteria.
The bacteria are preyed upon by the organism colonised in biological layer developed
over the top of filtering media called as Schmutzdecke layer (Buzuniz 1995). The
pathogens also starve due to lack of food in the filter as the organic matter in the
influent water is trapped on the top layer and consumed by the microbes colonised in
Schmutzdecke (Buzuniz 1995).

Efficiency of Biosand filter in disinfecting treated effluent

To know the efficiency of Biosand filter in removing pathogen bacteria present in the
treated effluent, treated effluent has been put into the filter, the filter kept remain idle
for 12 hours. This allows the microbes to complete the degradation of contaminants
(CAWST, 2008). After 12 hours of idle flooding, effluent was collected from the
under drain at different time intervals. Microbial concentration in the effluent
collected from two bio-filters at different time intervals is presented in table 1 and
graphically represented in figure 4.
Table: 2 Efficiency of bio sand filter in disinfecting treated effluent
Time since
start of the
experiment
(hr)
24
48
72
96
120
144
168
192
216
240

Depth of The Filter= 10 cm

Depth of The Filter= 15 cm

Initial

Final

%
Removal

Initial

Final

%
Removal

1012
1012
1012
1012
1012
1012
1012
1012
1012
1012

900
845
789
650
576
502
434
403
400
398

11
17
22
36
43
50
57
60
61
61

1012
1012
1012
1012
1012
1012
1012
1012
1012
1012

845
780
652
570
498
422
360
300
298
296

17
23
36
44
51
58
65
70
71
71

80
70
60
50

% Removal

40
30

10 cm

15 cm

20
10
0
0

50

100

150

200

250

300

Time since start of experiment(hr)

Figure 4 . Efficiency of bio-filter in treating Falaj water

From figure 4 it was observed that percentage removal of pathogen organisms
depends on time since start of the experiment ie sample collection time and depth of
the filter. As depth of the filter and time of sampling increased percentage removal
increased. It is believed that most removals of microbes and particles occur in the
upper biological layer (CAWST, 2008; Unger and Collins, 2008) and filter
performance improves over time as the filter ripens (Ahammed, 2011; Stauber, 2007).
Death and predation are mainly responsible for the removal of pathogenic bacteria.
The bacteria are preyed upon by the organism colonised in biological layer developed
over the top of filtering media called as Schmutzdecke layer (Buzuniz 1995). The
pathogens also starve due to lack of food in the filter as the organic matter in the
influent water is trapped on the top layer and consumed by the microbes colonised in
Schmutzdecke (Buzuniz 1995).