Ceramic candle filter (silver-impregnated)

Silver-impregnated ceramic candle or pot filter (e.g. the Filtron design developed with Potters for Peace) removing particulates and the large majority of bacteria by gravity flow alone, no power or pump needed. Slow, roughly 1-2 L/hour per candle, and doesn't address dissolved chemical contaminants, but keeps working during a power or pump outage and can be produced/repaired locally.

Cost
Low
Upkeep
Seasonal
Skill to build
Basic
Lifespan
Ceramic candle itself: 1-2 years before pores clog and flow drops below useful rate; the housing/reservoir lasts far longer
Embodied carbon
Low
Space / material use
Low
Output timing
Continuous process
Skill to repair
Basic

Note: Cost, carbon and footprint are rated against the other options for this same need, not in absolute terms.

Inputs

Outputs

Sources

What this page does not tell you

No sizing or quantities: how much a technique yields, and how much a household needs, both depend on the build and the people, so the catalogue compares options rather than dimensioning them. It carries no bill of materials and no build sequence, and it is written for an oceanic, clay-soil climate (Normandy, France). Regulatory notes are indicative and need confirming locally.