Household slow sand filters (HSSFs) improve the quality of life in rural communities as they provide safe water. However, HSSFs require time for the growth of the biological layer (schmutzdecke) to achieve maximum performance, especially when groundwater is used as it normally has few nutrients. In this ripening period, pathogenic microorganisms can pass through the filter. In this context, this study reports the performance of two HSSF settings, intermittent (I-HSSF) and continuous (C-HSSF) flows followed by disinfection with sodium hypochlorite to treat groundwater with Escherichia coli, Giardia muris cysts and Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts. The weekly introduction of river water was tested as a filter-ripening agent and this procedure reduced the ripening time in approximately 80 days. Filtered water disinfection improved the water quality and inactivated protozoa. The costs and operational challenges addressed in this study can provide support to HSSF technology transfer in rural communities worldwide.

家用慢沙滤池（HSSF）可提供安全的水，从而改善了农村社区的生活质量。但是，HSSF需要一些时间才能使生物层（schmutzdecke）生长，以实现最佳性能，尤其是在使用地下水的情况下，因为通常它的营养物质很少。在这个成熟期，病原微生物可以通过过滤器。在这种情况下，本研究报告了两种HSSF设置的性能，即间歇（I-HSSF）和连续（C-HSSF）流量，然后用次氯酸钠消毒以用大肠杆菌，贾第鞭毛虫囊肿和小隐孢子虫处理地下水卵囊。对每周引入河水进行了测试，以作为过滤器熟化剂，该程序减少了大约80天的熟化时间。过滤水消毒改善了水质并灭活了原生动物。这项研究解决的成本和运营挑战可以为全球农村社区的HSSF技术转让提供支持。