The coconut fiber/burnt rice husks filter for supplying drinking water to rural communities in Southeast Asia

In 1972, the author introduced the development of a new filter approach in Thailand which on a laboratory scale appeared to have wide applicability for both water purification and wastewater treatment in Southeast Asia. The filter utilizes local materials that are widely available, principally burnt rice husks and shredded coconut fiber, both inexpensive enough to discard after use, thus eliminating backwashing. The media are used in series so that filtration alone can do the job in most cases without use of chemicals. This paper reports the results of filter plant operations in Thailand and the Philippines drawn from a wide range of raw water quality conditions. These filters were utilized in rural villages to supply housefold water, and at an orchid farm for water supply.