Introduction: Biosand Cooler

The Biosand Cooler is currently a prototype of a biosand filter with storage and an optional addition of a solar powered cooler function. This allows for the storage of water as well as the function to keep water refreshing. This is, of course, still in the making and needs some critical feedback on ways to improve the design and usability. Any suggestion is greatly appreciated to better the materials used to make it and the method it is made.

Attachments

Step 1: Gathering Materials

The materials needed are rather simple. For our prototype, we decided to shell the whole thing within a standard Coleman cooler. You are going to need the following:

  • Drainage Gravel
  • Separation Gravel
  • Sand
  • Tubing

Step 2: Optional Additions

The following listed are options that could be added to the Biosand Cooler such as:

  • Solar powered fans to keep the water cool.
  • A divider (could be plexiglass or something solid that can divide the cooler) to create a storage compartment in the cooler itself.

Step 3: Layering the Materials

Now that you have your materials, it is time to create the filter with them by layering them accordingly.

  • The first layer should be a moderately thin layer of drainage gravel on the bottom and flatten it out.
  • Once the drainage gravel is leveled out put a layer of separation gravel on top of it and flatten it out.
  • Once that is done, put a large layer of filtration sand on top of it and then level that out.

Now that you have the layers complete, it is time to run water through.

Step 4: Running Water Through It

Now that the layers are done, we need to clean all of the layers. To do this, we simply use it and run water through it a couple of times in all areas. Use the tubing and put one end on the bottom and the other end into something that can contain the filtered water. As soon as this is done a couple of times your Biosand Cooler is ready for use!

Step 5: Maintenance

Overtime, some solids may accumulate on the top layer of the Biosand Cooler, this is easy to clean as you can just pick it up with your hands and a paper towel, or just use your hands.