With regards to effective removal of bacteria, virus & also for trouble free maintenance.
UF is effective for bacteria, virus etc. but you need some head to push across it. I have always pumped to UF membranes. The flux (ltr/day/m2) for a gravity feed would be really low. There are systems that use pump suction lift to pull water through the membrane (the pump is after membrane), but it's not a "gravity" system.
Also most UF membranes require some backwash or cleaning that needs to be integrated. UF membranes in municipal service can backwash fairly frequently (every 10 minutes)
Thanks Bill, for your reply. I am aware of UF or RO water purifiers with pump for online purification. I am aware of gravity purifiers in Indian market which does not have any pump and hence sooner or later the flow will drastically reduced, specially if there is no back wash system.
Recently I reviewed a paper from Australia (P. Le Clech) dedidated to reusie old RO membrane after oxidation with HClO for drinking water production by simple gravity.
Don't hesitate to contact him. Actually old RO membranes are incinerated or stocked everywhere. Is it a good idea ?
Can any one tell me between Ultra filtration or Ultra violet in which water purifier technology operation and maintenance cost is low and why?
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