Brazil Filter Project

Thirst Relief's ground partners in Brazil, Xingu Mission, work closely with the indigenous peoples that live along the Amazon river and/or basin. There is no lack of water on the … Read More »

Thirst Relief's ground partners in Brazil, Xingu Mission, work closely with the indigenous peoples that live along the Amazon river and/or basin. There is no lack of water on the Amazon. However, the water is filled with a deadly combination of viruses, bacteria and parasites.

The installed cost of each filter is $72, with enough daily output of clean drinking water to meet the needs of 10-20 people.

Biosand Filter

The Biosand filter is an innovative version of the slow sand filter specifically designed for intermittent and/or household use. These filters are produced locally at the point of need using locally available materials and labor. The installed cost of each filter is $50-$90 depending upon location, with enough daily output of 99.9% pure drinking water to meet the needs of up to 20 people.

The Biosand filter is comprised of a concrete container (the approximate size of an office water cooler) with an inset plastic pipe, and filled with layers of sand and gravel. Contaminated water is poured into the top of the filter, where a diffuser plate distributes the water over the sand bed. The water travels through the sand bed, passes through multiple layers of gravel, and collects in the plastic pipe at the base of the filter. The clean water then exits the plastic piping for the user to collect.

The removal of waterborne pathogens and contaminants occurs in the Biosand filter due to a combination of biological degradation and mechanical filtration processes. The organic material present in the contaminated water is trapped at the surface of the sand bed, forming a biological layer, or "schmutzdecke", to actively remove the pathogens and contaminants. The water produced by the Biosand filter process is odorless, tasteless, clear in color, and safe for human consumption.
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Brazil

Population	196,342,592
Per Capita GDP	$10,300
Life Expectancy	72 years
H2O Access	90%
Sanitation Access	75%

Brazil is the largest country in South America and the fourth most populated democracy in the world. Brazil's economy is larger than any other South American country due to its strong agricultural, mining and industrial sectors, though the country still struggles with a 10 percent unemployment rate. The Brazilian government has made the alleviation of poverty one of its top priorities. While many Brazilians enjoy access to improved water sources, nearly 20 million are still without access in forgotten or neglected rural areas. Brazil boasts amazing plant and animal diversity and is home to approximately 40 percent of the world's remaining rainforest.