Updated on January 11, 2024

·

Created on June 17, 2014

CT Filtron

Open-source

CT Filtron is a household ceramic water filration system distributed in Ghana.

Developed By
  1. Potters for Peace
Tested By
  • Council for Scientific and Indisutrial Research (CSIR)
  • University of Ghana Medical School
  • Water Research Institute, Ghana
Content Partners
Unknown

Author

Product Description

CT Filtron are silver enhanced ceramic ‘pot’ water filters for point of use drinking water treatment manufactured in Ghana based on the open source technology promoted by Potters for Peace.

Target SDGs

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being

Market Suggested Retail Price

$13.00

Target Users (Target Impact Group)

Household, Public Sector Agencies, NGOs

Distributors / Implementing Organizations

The International Committee of the Red Cross, UNHCR, International Office Of Migration, GIZ-Integrated Water Resources Management Project; CARE International; Social Fund for Development, ADRA, Partner Aid International.

Manufacturing/Building Method

Locally sourced clay and sawdust are processed then mixed with water, pressed into the filter shape, fired to a ceramic state, flow rate tested to ensure production consistency and coated with silver nanoparticle solution.

Intellectural Property Type

Open-source

User Provision Model

From local distributor, accredited distributor in Accra or online retailer.

Distributions to Date Status

More than 10,000 units

Type of filter

Ceramic pot filter

Primary material of construction

Clay, sawdust, silver nanoparticles.

Additives

There is a potential for silver in filtered water, below secondary guideline values of 0.1 mg/L

Manufacturer-specified flow rate (L/hr)

2-4 Liters per hour when full

Bacteria reduction

log 2

Virus reduction

Unknown

Protozoa reduction

Unknown

Heavy metals and/or arsenic reduction

Unknown

Maximum recommended influent turbidity level (NTU)

5 NTU

Effluent turbidity levels (NTU)

99% removal

Maintenance schedule

Scrub filter when flow rate slows.

Manufacturer-specified lifetime volume (L)

~35,000 L

Safe water storage integration

~6 L

Design Specifications

The CT Filtron filtering element is made from porous clay that removes particles and bacteria from water. The ceramic filtering element is also treated with silver nanoparticles.

Product Schematics

Technical Support

Technical support is left to the users. When filters clog, users must scrub ceramic filtering element with a brush.

Replacement Components

Replacement pieces are available through a local CT filtron distributor.

Lifecycle

3 years

Manufacturer Specified Performance Parameters

Performance targets: removes Guinea Worm, Cholera, E. coli and other common pathogenic bacteria. Bacteria reduction of >2 log and 2-4 liter per hour flow rate (when full).

Vetted Performance Status

Test results from the Water Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Ghana indicate elimination of Guinea Worm, Cholera, E. coli and other listed bacteria. The results from Dept. Of Microbiology, University of Ghana Medical School indicate that the CT Filtron is effective in removal of pathogenic parasitic protozoa, other macroscopic organisms and debris from water. CT Filtron removed 99.5% of total coliform when measured by membrane filtration.

Safety

Unknown

Complementary Technical Systems

Pre-filter for turbid water (> 5 NTU).

Academic Research and References

Claire Mattelet, 2006, Household Ceramic Water Filter Evaluation Using Three Simple Low-Cost Methods: Membrane Filtration, 3M Petrifilm and Hydrogen Sulfide Bacteria in Northern Region, Ghana

Pure Home Water: Household Water Treatment and Safe Storage Implementation in the Northern Region of Ghana

“Yemen,” International Committee of the Red Cross, 24-Apr-2023. Available: https://www.icrc.org/en/where-we-work/middle-east/yemen

“UNHCR US,” UNHCR US. Available: https://www.unhcr.org/us/

“IOM Yemen,” Iom.int. Available: https://yemen.iom.int/

giz, “Yemen,” Giz.de, 30-Oct-2023. Available: https://www.giz.de/en/worldwide/369.html

“Yemen,” CARE International. Available: https://www.care-international.org/our-work/where-we-work/yemen

“Social Fund for Development (SFD) – Home page,” Sfd-yemen.org. Available: https://www.sfd-yemen.org/

“ADRA,” ADRA. Available: https://adra.org/

“PartnerAid UK,” Org.uk. Available: https://partneraid.org.uk/

“Goal 6,” Sdgs.un.org. Available: https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal6

Steppingstonesforafrica.org. Available: https://www.steppingstonesforafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/CT

C. (claire E. H. Y. ). Mattelet, “Household ceramic water filter evaluation using three simple low-cost methods?: membrane filtration, 3M Petrifilm and hydrogen sulfide bacteria in northern region, Ghana,” Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2006.

“Water Research Institute,” Org.gh. Available: https://wri.csir.org.gh/

“The Council for Scientific & Industrial Research – Home,” CSIR Ghana. Available: http://csir.org.gh/

“Department of Medical Microbiology, UGMS,” Edu.gh. Available: https://dmm.ug.edu.gh/

“Theses – Ghana,” Mit.edu. Available: https://web.mit.edu/watsan/docs_theses_ghana.html

Steppingstonesforafrica.org. Available: https://www.steppingstonesforafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/CT%20FILTRON%20BROCHURE.pdf

kwamefilms, “CT Filtron Installation and Cleaning,” 23-Feb-2011. Available: https://vimeo.com/20281061

Compliance with regulations

Unknown

Evaluation methods

Field and laboratory evaluations.

Other Information

The Filtron has won the World Bank Sponsored GDMP Innovation award at local and international levels. Video on installation and cleaning.

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