How does the filter work?
The ceramic filter is filled with silver–impregnated carbon, preventing bacterial contamination through mitosis, while creating a hostile environment for microbiological organisms. It has a filtration efficiency of 0.2 micron. This is sufficient to filter cholera and other water-borne bacterium. This is a gravity-operated system with nothing to plumb and no electricity needed.

How do I maintain the filter?
The ceramic element itself can be cleaned with a damp cloth or soft brush five or six times a month if necessary up to 100 times or more. There is nothing to back-wash, and no cartridges to replace. To prevent packing, the filter element may be shaken from time to time. For more detailed information about taking care of your filters, check out our article How To Maintain Your Ceramic Filter.

Is the Filter hard to assemble?
No. Part of the beauty of this filtration method is its simplicity and portability. The filter is small and light-weight. All you need are two same-size plastic buckets and something sharp enough to cut plastic. Putting it all together is simple. Instructions are included with the filter. Click here to view detailed, step-by-step assembly instructions.

Are instructions available in other languages?
Yes. Currently assembly instructions are available in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole.  

What about the flow rate? A 0.2 micron filter is really small!
You are right. A 0.2 micron filter is really small. However, the tiny pore size is necessary to remove cholera and other nasty little critters. Even so, a gravity-fed system should produce a flow rate of up to one gallon of clean water per hour. Check out our Lab Reports page for information about the filter's effectiveness!

I am not involved in Humanitarian or mission work. Would this filter be right for me?
This filter will provide higher quality water than most water pitchers and bottled waters. However, if two plastic buckets stacked atop one another on your kitchen counter clashes with your kitchen décor, you may want to select an under-the-sink model for daily residential use. We believe our ceramic filter should be part of every home’s emergency kit. This is especially true if you live in a coastal area where water is routinely stored for hurricane preparedness.

How long does the filter last?
If the ceramic filter is used to purify a municipal source, it should be efficient for a minimum of one year. If you are using it to filter water from rivers and streams or in disaster or third-world environments, the longevity will be relative to the contaminant level of the water source but should be reliable from six to eight months when cleaned properly. Proper care of the filter will increase longevity. This includes the use of a pre-filter, keeping the ceramic element clean and shaking the filter occasionally to prevent packing.

Is there anything else that I have to buy to make these filters work?
You must have two same-size plastic buckets, and something sharp enough to cut plastic. FDA-approved food-safe buckets are recommended. For more information on food-safe plastics, see our page Selecting Buckets For Your Water Station. For ease of use, we recommend the spigot. The sock is not essential to the process if you are filtering a clean water source. In addition to this you’ll only require water and gravity and you’re in business!

Flying into disaster areas with a load of buckets doesn’t sound like fun. Must I take the buckets?
No. You can easily find plastic buckets in a third world country. Municipal water sources are few and far between. Therefore buckets are sold in villages everywhere so that the average person can fetch water from any water source within walking distance.

I want to take these filters to _______. How should I transport them?
Transport should be determined by the recipient country and the quantity of filters to be transported. Individually boxed, these filters can fit into a standard suitcase and be checked as baggage. If you are purchasing filters for a specific country and need information about getting them there, contact us. We will do what we can to help.

We want to take water filters with us on our next mission trip. Will we have to pay duty on the filters?
This is an important question. Sometimes the answer is not set in stone, regardless of what one is told. In countries suffering in the aftermath of a disaster, items brought in, or sent in for disaster relief often qualify as “duty-free.” If you are serving and assisting an established organization in the country you are visiting, ask them to inform you and to help you clear customs. We are here to answer any questions we can. 
Read all about using our filter on Mission Trips and Church Outreaches in our Get Involved! section.

I just want a filter to keep at home and at work “just in case.” How long can I store the filter if there are no disasters for many years?
We hope you never need our filter to survive a disaster. But if you do, as long as the filters remain dry, they will be there for you for decades. You’ll never buy peace-of-mind this cheap. Check out our page Storing Water Filters For Emergencies for more information.