Underwater Remote Skimming of Slow Sand Filters for Sustainable Water Production

Slow sand filters (SSF) are a simple water treatment technology providing an important alternative to conventional drinking treatment. SSF extensive in terms of carbon cost and chemical use but require large land area complex operate, as periodic cleaning is required prevent filter clogging. Therefore, redundant beds enable production occur during long downtimes. Underwater skimming (UWS) innovation where the foulant layer (containing particles) removed using skimmer consisting shrouded blade mounted on vehicle platform. Sand, particles, biofilm skimmed prior ex situ washing recovered sand. In this Viewpoint, we posit that introduction underwater operated remotely can substantially help offset aforementioned challenge downtime, with its associated loss production, enabling operate more efficiently remain pertinent advantageous process option within modern facilities or possibly resource constrained settings. Otherwise, resilient biotechnological could be replaced by energy-intensive processes which increase entropy than SSF. The anticipated benefits challenges UWS discussed.