Reid Harvey on tue 28 sep 99
Ditmar,
Thanks for your message cautioning against promoting ceramic water
filters in North Carolina. But lest anyone think that those of us
promoting the filters are irresponsible, I believe the following
observations need serious consideration. The time has most assuredly
come for use of silver impregnated, ceramic water filters in emergency
situations.** You mentioned the Red cross, and I think that rather then
asking them what they need we as ceramists should INFORM them as to what
they need. The fact is that the possibilities with ceramics offer new
hope to millions of vulnerable people, particularly children in low
income areas around the world. The greatest single cause of high infant
mortality here in Africa (where in many places half the children die
before reaching age 5) is dehydration due to dysentery due to diarrhea,
caused by drinking microbe laden water.
Right now the Red Cross and others have no sustainable approach towards
water purification in emergency situations. Go down the list: boiling
and chlorine or water purification tablets are not considered acceptable
by at risk populations. And solar distillation, disinfection through
glass or plastic depends on those materials having been made without
ultra violet inhibitors; something that cannot be known by prospective
users. The best system the Red Cross and others have come up with is
'slow sand filtration,' basically a 55 gallon drum being filled with
sand, water allowed to filter through, but this system too is widely
considered ineffective and unsustainable. The ceramic filter is URGENTLY
needed.
True, one may not want to promote the ceramic filters in places like
North Carolina, and would probably be liable for illness due to or
following their use. But in many places, places where tort law has not
been so highly evolved, after proper fabrication and education, many
thousands of lives could be saved by use of these filters. What we need
to tell people like the Red Cross is that research into a sustainable
filter is in urgent need of support. The few people who, at their own
expense are doing the research on these filters need to be supported in
finding the right combinations of temperature, clay bodies, amounts of
silver, flow rate, and other parameters, in order to make an appropriate
filter an accepted reality. Then those at risk will be able to purchase
low cost filters made within their own communities and countries.
I suppose one consequence of this would be that certified, effective
ceramic filters could one day be handed out by relief workers in places
like North Carolina, but only after enough people have become aware of
the very promising possibilities. Thank you for clarifying the legal
situation in the U.S. After working on this filter for the past five
years I can only conclude that groups like the Red Cross have failed to
embrace the filters, in large part because we ceramists have not been
enthusiastically forthcoming with possibilties that DO exist.
Reid Harvey, in need of an articulation elixir today
Ceramiques d'Afrique
Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire
http://www.geocities.com/Eureka/Boardroom/6123/CDA.html
** To answer the question of Stephen Baxter, micro-organisms are killed
when they run into the tiny amount of silver material that is disperced
throughout the porous ceramic, a process referred to as oligo-dynamic
action.
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Ditmar wrote:
I'm concerned about the potential safety and liability of the homemade
water
filters that some potters are talking about making. Water filters,
especially,
can give a dangerous sense of security and potentially do more harm
than
good. Even if they're properly made, some soluble items can still pass
through, as well as some viruses. (even with the colloidal silver) The
tragic
flooding in NC is turning the water into a witches brew, and we can't be
sure of what's in it. Contamination of groundwater is becoming a
concern.
I'm not totally against the idea. BUT what if secondary treatment of the
water might be necessary to guard against other pathogens or toxins.
With the extreme danger of some microbes in our environment these days,
even
a bit of contaminated water dropping into the water when refilling
the filter, could have serious consequences. How can you guarantee the
proper
use of the filters, and who is responsible if there is illness or worse.
I recognize the need to reach out and help others in times of hardship,
but we
need to take a realistic look at how that is best accomplished. In my
opinion,
the time and energy to sift, mix, throw, fire, test, package and ship
might be
better spent. If you're close enough to the problem area, physically
being
there and helping people clean up and offering friendship is probably
more
important. It's not as solitary as sitting at your wheel, and certainly
more
rewarding...for both parties.
If you can't be there, CALL the Red Cross or other relief organization,
and
ask WHAT they need, either monetary or other donated items. Because
we're potters and want to help, let's not assume they need or want
ceramic
filters. (There may even be regulations that forbid the their use, who
knows)
OK, I'm off the soapbox now..............next
>From Alohaland, Ditmar.
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