Ceramic Water Filter

Originally designed by Dr. Fernando Mazareigos, a Guatemalan chemist, the Ceramic Water Filter combines the filtration capability of ceramic material with the anti-bacteriological qualities of colloidal silver. This filter has basic, yet impressive, impact on the lives of the rural poor, dramatically decreasing diarrhea, days of school or work missed due to illness, and medical expenses. A sociologist and potter, Ron Rivera of Potters for Peace redesigned the filter to standardize mass production in sixteen small production facilities in fourteen different countries. It is estimated that over 500,000 people have used the filter.

Ceramic Water Filter, Cambodia

Designers: Dr. Fernando Mazariegos, Ron Rivera (Potters for Peace), and International Development Enterprises (IDE) Cambodia
Manufacturer: Local private factory set up by IDE
Cambodia, 2006
Ceramic clay, plastic container, colloidal silver paint
Dimensions: 3.5’ h x 2’ w x 2’ d

Ceramic Water Filter, Nepal

Designer: IDE Nepal
Manufacturer: Local potter set up by IDE
Nepal, 2006
Ceramic clay, plastic container, colloidal silver paint
Dimensions: 3.5’ h x 2’ w x 2’ d

Ceramic Water Filter, Nicaragua

Designers: Dr. Fernando Mazariegos and Ron Rivera (Potters for Peace)
Manufacturer: Filtron
Nicaragua and Guatemala, 2006
Local Nicaraguan terra-cotta clay, sawdust
Dimensions: 18” h x 15” diameter
In use in: Cambodia, Guatemala, Ecuador, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, Cuba, Haiti, Mexico, India, Nepal, Indonesia (Bali), Ghana, Iraq, Myanmar, Sudan, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Vietnam

Updates from the Field

@designother90: Active Design Guidelines for healthier buildings, streets and urban spaces http://bit.ly/cGYJa0 Link
@designother90: Architecture for Humanity's Haiti rebuilding plan is based on East Biloxi post Katrina - good model to use http://bit.ly/czamiM (via AFH) Link
@designother90: Uniting Designers in Disaster - ICSID aim to link NGO needs in Haiti with international design solutions/resources http://bit.ly/bZyDMO Link
@designother90: Solar power providing basic needs - drinkable water, cooking surfaces and mobile phones to the Haiti http://bit.ly/cIqhMk (via ecogeek) Link
@designother90: Utility Adjusts Wheel, Manila Water Co's small piped water network into informal community , coop business http://bit.ly/6satnP (via ABD) Link
@designother90: 600K from Rockefeller Foundation for next in the Design for Other 90% series - opens fall 2011 http://bit.ly/5K6GiO (via Inhabitat) Link
@designother90: International Architecture Biennale Rotterdam at Netherlands Architecture Institute hosts Open City exhibition which closes this week. Link
@designother90: Design for the Other 90% males GOOD magazine's Decade of Design (design is a verb) http://bit.ly/8kctFM (via GOODmag) Link
@designother90: Design for the Other 90% makes Toronto NOW magazine "top 10 list of shows characterized by ingenuity & political edge" http://bit.ly/8NFyNo Link
@designother90: RT @socialedge: "dble or trple bottom line businesses have unique challenges - social business incubator" BizWeek http://bit.ly/5HpYHo #GSBI Link

Ceramic Water Filter

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