The idea behind the biosand filter is not much different than the ordinary, slow sand filters that have been used for years to filter the water in many cities. This form of water filtration has been used for nearly two hundred years.

The makers of the Biosand filter have basically shrunk the design of the same filtration that communities have been using all this time. These smaller versions of these filters allow you to have the very same drinking water in your own home and you will be able to feel sure that your drinking water is the best it can be.

The best part of using a biosand filter is that it is able to be used with what ever water source you want to use, although it is recommended that you use water that is as clean as it can be naturally and then let the biosand filter remove the rest of the contaminants that are left behind by nature. These filters are best used on the same water source all of the time. This is because they will adapt to that water source and become better able to control the specific contaminants that are in that single water source.

The biosand filter is built with a key component and this is called a biolayer. This biolayer is a living filter which brings the filtering abilities of a biosand filter up to nearly one hundred percent. No filter is going to get every little thing, but the biofilter does a good job. To be able to remove up to ninety nine percent of the pathogens in everyday water is quite a feat. The biolayer employs a system of mechanical trapping along with adsorption to get the job done properly. This biolayer cannot be seen either. It grows over time and continues to get better for about thirty days. After thirty days it will typically reach its maximum ability.

Your home can employ either type of biosand filter that you prefer. There are concrete and plastic made biofilters available. Each have their benefits and both do the job with ease. The concrete style of biofilter has a longer life due to the durability that comes with concrete. These can be designed to appear as an ordinary kitchen piece. The plastic versions of the biofilter are easier to handle due to the light weight material. They also come as an already built filter and you do not have to take the time to set up the sand and gravel system yourself.