A portable, filtration and purification system

A portable, filtration and purification system intended for the treatment of non-saline water drawn from a variety of sources e.g. surface water, river, borehole etc. to drinking water conditions. This is achieved by the water passing through two primary filters 7, (14 Fig. 3) and a ceramic cartridge filter 8. This high efficiency filter is capable of removing more than 99.99% of pathogenic bacteria, disease causing cysts such as Cryptosporidium, and Giardia, and reduces turbidity by more than 97%. Whereas the primary filters are rated at 5 micron the ceramic filter is rated between 0.5 and 0.8 micron. In this way, both pathogenic organisms are removed and any suspended particles filtered out. Both the primary filters and the ceramic filter are capable of cleaning by washing or in the case of the ceramic filter, with additional scrubbing. The treated water is stored in an incorporated holding tank (2C Fig. 4) ready for later use. Further polishing of the water may be achieved through the use of a silver impregnated activated carbon unit 11 which brings the water to bottled water standards. This unit can be used for high concentrations of Fluoride in the water utilising Activated Alumina. The system as described, when operating under pressurised conditions, produces 400 litres per hour of good potable water meeting the needs of approximately 800 people. When under non-pressurised conditions, using 1.9 metre head of water, the system produces 66 litres per hour, meeting the needs of approximately 130 people. Increased head of water will produce a higher flow rate.