Slow sand water filter.

Thanks to Scott for the comment last week. I think it would be a great idea to take progress pictures from the same location. I think from the front might be better. I can assure you it won't be a good as your kitchen remodel, you did a great job on that one.

Camille - I don't know what to say. Your one of those people with so much wit that no matter what I say you will trump me. I think I will keep my mouth shut and just thank you for reading my blog.

Mike - This post is for you.

Even though the water from the top of the mountain seems clean and I have used it for cooking, cleaning and drinking, I don't want to take any chances.

I started with a 55 gallon plastic drum, put in an inlet fitting and an overflow fitting.

I made an outlet pipe and drilled a bunch of 1/16th holes in the sides and bottom of the pipes. I installed it 3 inches from the bottom of the barrel and put some gravel in to support the pipes.

Next I put about a foot of gravel on top of the pipes.

Then a layer of course sand from reverse screening regular sand.

Finally 4 cubic feet of fine sand.

Topped with a diffuser made from the top of the barrel with a bunch of hole drilled in it.

This rig will form a bio matt on top of the sand in a couple of days that will filter out all biologicals and 97% of everything else. It won't filter out nitrates or heavy metals like mercury.

I added an extra barrel down hill from the filter as a holding tank so if something changes in the water supply I can chlorinate the water and it will have some contact time with the water before it is used in the house. In addition to that it will allow for constant flow for high demand water use like my half hour showers. The filter will need to be backwashed from time to time to keep it from getting clogged up but that is a lot easier than changing a cartridge filter.