[[Image:iron {{Language-box|english_link= Iron filter icon.png|right]][[Image:iron filter.jpgfrench_link= Coming soon | spanish_link= Coming soon | hindi_link= Coming soon | malayalam_link= Coming soon | tamil_link= Coming soon | swahili_link=coming soon |thumbkorean_link= Coming soon |rightchinese_link=除铁过滤器 |250pxindonesian_link= Coming soon |Building an iron filter. <br>Photo: PCWS]]japanese_link= Coming soon }}
[[Image:iron filter icon.png|right|80px]][[Image:iron filter.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Building an iron filter. <br>Photo: PCWS]] Iron is a naturally occurring element in the earth's crust and tends to leave a reddish-brown residue in water that tastes unpleasant and stains clothing, therefore removal is required. It is recommended, however, to check to see if the iron is geological or residue from water pumps with iron parts. If it is from the pump, replacement with a non-iron pump (i.e. stainless steel) could remove the iron from the water so that it is back to a drinkable standard. <ref name="Uganda study"/> There are a few different ways to remove iron, but generally filtration and biologically-enhanced methods are used and most practiced. Sometimes using multiple filters gives the best results. For instance, installing an [[upflow roughing filter]] before a [[slow sand filter]] increases iron removal to an acceptable level, even with high initial concentrations as high as 42mg/l (like in Uganda).<refname="Uganda study"> [http://www.lboro.ac.uk/garnet/tncironm.html Iron and manganese removal.] Andersson, Hanna and Jenny Johansson. Iron removal from groundwater in Rakai District, Uganda: a minor field study. </ref>
'''IRF'''<br>
The iron removal filter (IRF) is a cylinder built using ferrocement construction techniques. Inside, from top to bottom order, is a plastic basin full of charcoal, a layer of gravel, and an empty space for sedimentation. The media size is not critical, but if the grains are too fine (less than about 1mm diameter) the filter clogs very quickly.<ref> [http://www.lboro.ac.uk/garnet/tncironm.html Iron and manganese removal.] Andersson, Hanna and Jenny Johansson. Iron removal from groundwater in Rakai District, name="Uganda: a minor field study. <"/ref> The water to be treated (in this model the water is assumed to be from a hand pump spout) first passes through the charcoal, aerating it, flows to the empty space at the bottom via a pipe where sedimentation of the precipitated iron takes place, then wells up through the gravel for filtration purposes. The finished water accumulates above the gravel filter, and this elevation enables users to draw it.
'''Biologically-enhanced method'''<br>
Certain bacteria are capable of oxidising and immobilising iron. The bacteria responsible for the process appear to be natural inhabitants of the well environment and therefore, the microorganisms necessary to initiate the process are carried with the groundwater on to the filters. The active population of iron-oxidisers, which requires aeration in order to stimulate its growth, grows on the surface of the filter bed in the form of a slimy orange mat. It is within this zone of bacterial activity that the iron removal process appears to occur. Proponents of biological iron removal claim that this biologically-enhanced process is more efficient than the chemical process.
===Construction, operations, and maintenance===
====IRF====
To use it for the first time, the filter is filled with water and allowed to overflow a little. The first discharge is turbid from the gravel, but this clears up after a day or so of use. After placing their buckets under the tap, the users just pump the hand pump, and by gravity the water enters and flows
====Biologically-enhanced method====
[[Image:biosand filter diagram.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A biosand filter diagram. It can remove about 95% of iron (plus many other contaminants). Diagram: [http://www.cawst.org/en/resources/biosand-filter CAWST.]]]
The key components of the filter are outlined in Diagram 1 (see below). Water from the handpump enters the filter and is directed onto an aeration tray. Water droplets fall from the aeration tray onto a few millimetres of standing water before infiltrating into the filter sand. A slotted drainpipe, set into a thin gravel blanket, collects the filtered water which exits via an outlet at a height of 0.45 m.
The water entering the filter must contain some oxygen in order to promote the oxidation of iron. Do some checks on the DO from the handpump itself. The water only needs to reach about 40-50% oxygen saturation and this may be achieved due to the aeration that naturally occurs in the handpump spout plus that provided by a perforated aeration plate.
[[Image:bio iron filter.jpg|thumb|centernone|600px|Sketch diagram of the iron removal filter. Diagram: Dr Sean Tyrrel, Cranfield University.]]
For greater detail about construction as well as operation and maintenance (how to clean the filter, etc.), refer to [http://ec.europa.eu/echo/files/evaluation/watsan2005/annex_files/SILSOE/SILSOE1%20-%20Iron%20Reducing%20Filter%20-%20Tyrrel.pdf Interim Design, Construction and Operation Guidelines for a Biologically-Enhanced Iron Removal Filter for Attachment to Handpumps].
===Costs===
====Biologically-enhanced method====
A prototype built in Uganda (circa 1997) cost about £235 of which £200 was the cost of the tank (which could be made more cheaply). The principal recurrent cost would be the employment of a caretaker. Even if a donor is prepared to pay for the filter itself, it may be that the community have to pay the caretaker’s wages. This is another example of where user motivation is important. Perhaps the caretaker could have a combined role for the upkeep of both the handpump and the filter. Such an arrangement would depend on how water supply is organised at a given location. The caretaker is likely to need additional, occasional support in the event of more serious problems with the operation and maintenance of the system.
===Field experiences==={|style="width: 70%; text-align: justify; background-color: #f5f5f5;" |[[Image:rsr 769.jpg|thumb|none|200px|<font size="2"><center>Project 769</center></font>|link=http://rsr.akvo.org/project/769/]]|'''Akvo RSR Project:''' [http://rsr.akvo.org/project/769/ Life-WASH]Similar to natural disasters, the project area is severely affected with excessive saline intrusion both in the groundwater and surface water mixed with unacceptable level of iron and arsenic (in the groundwater). The project will directly benefit 3350 households to have a solution regarding the problems of safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene.|} {|style="width: 70%; text-align: justify; background-color: #f5f5f5;" |[[Image:rsr 770.jpg|thumb|none|200px|<font size="2"><center>Project 770</center></font>|link=http://rsr.akvo.org/project/770/]]|'''Akvo RSR Project:''' [http://rsr.akvo.org/project/770/ Intervention Efforts in WASH]The project is located at Magura Union under Tala Upazila of Satkhira district, covering 14 villages. The project proposed for 2 years and the total population coverage is about 22,000 with the household number at 4,500. The site is in a remote area, socioeconomically backwards with a lack of WASH facilities. The project planned to educate the community and install PSF, Rainwater harvesting, TW & WATSAN.|} ===Manuals, videos and links===The video on the left shows how to make a simple treatment plant to remove iron from groundwater, since iron is often found in ground water. It stains the laundry, stains some foods during cooking, and gives the water a nasty taste. However, in normal concentrations it is harmless to health. People often refuse this water and therefore abandon very useful sources of drinking water. Using a simple method described in this video, the iron can be removed. The video on the right: [http://www.rainyfilters.com FARMLAND RAIN WATER HARVESTING FILTERS], CONTACT +919448130524, Email: [email protected]. {|style="font-size: 125%"|-|{{#ev:vimeo|20835173|200|auto|<center>Simple treatment plant <br>for removing iron</center>}}|{{#ev:youtube|TrCWOKipYlY|200|auto|<center>FARMLAND - iron <br>removal filter system</center>}}|} ===References
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===Acknowledgements===* [http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CKoBEBYwAQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.itnphil.org.ph/docs/Iron%2Fdocs%2FIron%2520Removal20Removal%2520Filter20Filter.PDF&ei=PT_ZT8vKBOjD2QWp942rBw&usg=AFQjCNFNm2C1AYQdDm5RCYXIYTiSApR4yg&sig2=cZ3xdyp7j_aozRydD4jLGg IRON REMOVAL FILTER.] PHILIPPINE CENTER for WATER and SANITATION.
* Dr. Sean Tyrrel, [http://ec.europa.eu/echo/files/evaluation/watsan2005/annex_files/SILSOE/SILSOE1%20-%20Iron%20Reducing%20Filter%20-%20Tyrrel.pdf Interim Design, Construction and Operation Guidelines for a Biologically-Enhanced Iron Removal Filter for Attachment to Handpumps.] Cranfield University.