Safe drinking water is a basic necessity, yet millions of people around the world lack access to reliable sources of clean water. While there exist many factors that contribute to this problem, a prominent issue is the high cost of water filtration systems. But safe drinking water doesn’t have to come at a high price. In this article, we highlight five cost-effective water filtration solutions featured in the Business Connect for Water Database. These solutions provide reliable, effective water filtration at a low cost.

Overview

• How we evaluated cost-effectiveness
• The filters at a glance
• Meet the filters: Five cost-effective solutions in the Business Connect Database
• Overall findings & key takeaways

How We Evaluated Cost-Effectiveness

To determine the cost-effectiveness of a solution, we estimated the average Cost per Liter of cleaning water with a product. The Cost per Liter is calculated using several key statistics:

1. Price: The upfront cost of purchasing a product.
2. Longevity in Liters: The total amount of water a product can treat throughout its lifespan.
3. Longevity in Years: The total lifespan of a product, in years.
4. Operation & Maintenance Costs and Frequencies: Some products have parts that need to be replaced periodically. For these products, we considered the cost of replacement parts and how often they need to be changed throughout the product’s lifespan. 

We gathered this information and then calculated the Cost Per Liter as:

In addition to estimating the Cost per Liter, we also estimated the Cost per Liter in the first year of owning a product. This number accounts for the upfront cost of purchasing a product, as well as any operation and maintenance costs that occur during the first year of use. The Cost per Liter in the first year is helpful for defining the initial investment of buying a product. We calculated the Cost per Liter in the first year of owning a product as:

Where Longevity in Liters (First Year) is the total amount of water a product can treat in the first year of operating.

*Note: The Cost per Liter and Cost per Liter in the First Year formulas include costs of consumable power sources, like batteries. However, they do not account for costs of non-consumable power source costs such as household electricity or water pressure from a tap.

*Note: Information about the Price and Longevity of products was obtained from manufacturer websites and has not been independently verified by Business Connect.

Meet the Filters: Five Cost-Effective Solutions

Number One: The VF500 Facility Filter

The VF500 is a versatile water filter designed for schools, businesses, and other large-scale applications. The filter uses 0.1-micron hollow fiber membrane filters to protect against bacteria, protozoa, and cysts. The VF500 has seamless installation that incorporates directly into water delivery systems already in use!

The VF500 can filter over 50,000 L of water per day, and has a lifespan of 7 to 10 years. With an estimated Cost per L of $.00000995, the VF500 has the lowest Cost per L out of all the products in the Business Connect for Water Database! Additionally, filter maintenance is simple, involving only occasional manual backflushing. 

Number Two: The BB500 and BB600 Filtration Systems

Similar to the VF500, the BB500 is designed for schools, churches, and other communities where people gather. During any eight-hour period, the BB500 can produce over 18,000 L of clean water. The BB600 is the automatically backflushing version of the BB500. Both devices are ideal for off-grid battery operation.

The average estimated Cost per L of the BB500 and BB600 is $.00001657— making these products the second most cost-effective water solutions in the Business Connect for Water database! Both filters require easy and simple maintenance, and have an estimated lifespan of 5 to 7 years.

Number Three: Aqusafe Faucet Adapter Filter

The Aqusafe Faucet Adapter Filter is a convenient, reliable, and environmentally friendly water filtration solution. The filter attaches directly to a faucet, making it ideal for buildings that have access to running water that may not be safe for consumption. The Aqusafe Faucet Adapter Filter removes 99.99999% of biological pathogens. With a filtration capacity of 1,440 L per day and a lifespan of 3 years, the Aqusafe Faucet Adapter Filter can produce a total of up to 1,576,800 L of safe water– that’s the equivalent of over 3.1 million plastic water bottles! 

With an estimated Cost per L of $.0000254 and Cost per L in the first year of $.0000761, the Aqusafe Faucet Adapter Filter has the third-lowest Cost per L and Cost per L in the First Year of all the products in the Business Connect for Water database. Additionally, apart from cleaning and occasionally backflushing the filter, this product has zero operation & maintenance costs. 

Number Four: Versa Flow Light-Weight Water Filter

The Versa Flow water filter is a reliable and versatile filtration solution. The filter can be screwed onto a water bottle, used as a bucket filter, or used as a straw! The Versa Flow water filter is lightweight, making it ideal for hiking, camping, and traveling. This product blocks 99.999999& of harmful bacteria and 99.999999% of Giardia, E. coli, protozoan cysts and Cryptosporidium. 

The Versa Flow Water Filter has a longevity of up to 378531 L and a lifespan of 2-5 years. The Versa Flow Filter has an estimated Cost per L of $.0000606, making it the product with the fourth-lowest Cost per L in the Business Connect for Water database! 

Users also have the option to purchase an Activated Carbon Filter to combine with their Versa Flow Filter. The Activated Carbon Filter attaches directly to the Versa Flow Filter. The Activated Carbon module absorbs chemicals and heavy metals, and improves the taste and color of water. The Activated Carbon Filter has a longevity of 567.8 L. So, for an average person who consumes 3.2 L of water per day, the Activated Carbon filter can last roughly 6 months before needing to be replaced. For someone who consumes 3.2 L of water per day, the estimated Cost per L of the Versa Flow Filter with the Activated Carbon Filter is $.0002137.

Number Five: VF100 Home Filter

The VF100 Home Filter by Village Water Filters is a great water solution for camping, hiking, or any kind of outdoor adventure. The filter has a fast filtration speed of up to 1 L of clean water per minute, and can attach to a bucket or a water bottle. The VF100 is certified by the World Health Organization, and removes 99.999% of Bacteria, Protozoa, and Particulates. The VF100 kit contains all the necessary components for installing, operating, and maintaining the filter.

The VF100 Home Filter has a longevity of up to 500,000 L and a lifespan of six years. The estimated Cost per L of the VF100 is $.0000650, the fifth-lowest Cost per L in the Business Connect for Water Database! The VF100 has a backflushing accessory, making cleaning and maintenance straightforward and easy.

Number Six: Sawyer MINI Water Filtration System

The Mini Water Filtration System by Sawyer is a convenient, lightweight, and versatile water solution. Weighing only 2 ounces, the Mini Water Filtration System is ideal for outdoor activities or traveling. The filter can be screwed onto a standard water bottle, attached to a drinking pouch, or attached to a straw (both the drinking pouch and straw are included in the kit). The Mini Water Filtration System removes bacteria, protozoa, and microplastics.

The Mini Water Filtration System has a total longevity of up to 378541 L and an estimated Cost per L of $.0000766, the sixth-lowest Cost per L in the Business Connect for Water Database! Apart from regular cleaning and backflushing, the Mini Water Filtration System has zero operation and maintenance costs.

Number Seven: ACI Two-Bucket Household Filter

The Two-Bucket Household Filter by Aqua Clara International(ACI) is a simple and cost-effective water solution. ACI’s Household Filter removes 99.999% of bacteria, and is ideal for families who have access to municipal, rainwater, or deep well water. Aqua Clara International has distributed Household Filters to multiple places around the world, including Kenya, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic.

The Household Filter by ACI has a lifespan of 5-10 years and can provide up to 300 L of clean drinking water per day. A filter that lasts 5 years has an estimated total longevity of 547,500 L. With an estimated Cost per L of $.00009132, the Household Filter by ACI has the seventh-lowest Cost per L in the Business Connect for Water database. The estimated Cost per L in the first year is $.00045662, making it a cost-effective solution in the first year of use, as well as throughout its entire lifespan.

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Overall findings & key takeaways

• None of the seven solutions require batteries or fuel. Over time, batteries or fuel can incur large operation and maintenance costs. The five products mentioned in this article rely on gravity, manual power (like suction or squeezing), or water pressure. These power sources don’t need to be periodically replaced, making them a more cost-effective option.
• All seven solutions have relatively long lifespans. With proper cleaning and maintenance, the five products mentioned in this article can be used for years. This results in lower Cost per L values and reduces the need to frequently replace the products.