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Potters for Peace Ceramic Water Purifier

Ceramic FiltrationEst. CapEx: Low-cost / Locally fabricated


Technical Overview

An open‑source, low‑tech ceramic water filter program that has established over 50 factories in 30+ countries. The filter achieves ~99.88% pathogen removal by combining porous ceramic filtration with colloidal silver, and is sold at $15–$25 per unit.


Key Specifications & Engineering Parameters

Parameter Specification
Category Ceramic Filtration
Capital Cost Low-cost / Locally fabricated
Primary Mechanism Terra‑cotta clay mixed with sawdust or rice husks is pressed into a bucket‑shaped vessel and fired at ~860°C, burning out the combustible to create pores. The filter is then coated with colloidal silver, which kills trapped bacteria. Gravity pulls water through the ceramic into a plastic receptacle with a spigot.
Target Scale Household / Village Cluster
Standard Lifespan 10 - 20 Years

Engineering Trade-Offs

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Cross-Reference & Interactive Tools

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