Back during WWII, a substance was needed for a filter for drinking water for the soldiers. Many were finding themselves in parts of the world where they had no access to water they needed in view of drinking and basic sanitation. The filtering device also was required to be lightweight enough for soldiers to carry with them wherever they went. In reply to this need, the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Laboratories developed a filtering system made from diatomaceous earth (DE) which fulfilled all of the criteria required. After the war, the production of DE filters continued.

Just what exactly makes diatomaceous earth work so well for filtration? In the first place, it’s naturally-occurring, and there is a nearly unending supply of it available. Made up of the fossils of tiny algae called diatoms, it has no odor or taste. It’s also chemically inert so it adds no active ingredients to drinking water and other liquids. Chemically it is actually comprised of 85% silica plus small amounts of sodium, magnesium, and iron. The tiny fossils it contains are small enough to filter out very tiny microorganisms, chemicals, and also bacteria from water leaving it safe for human consumption.

There are two types of DE filters available: pressure and vacuum filters. Accompanied by a pressure filter there has to be a pressure chamber which encloses it as well as a pump or another high pressure water source on the point of inflow. Vacuum filters, alternatively can be inexpensive to install and use no chemicals at all. They are open to the atmosphere using a pump on their effluent sides.

Besides drinking water, DE filters are used in swimming pool and fish tank filtration as well as numerous other industrial applications.

Although diatomaceous earth filters will be durable and hold up very well to significant amounts of use, a time will still come when they will have to be replaced. All things considered, they work like they do since the small particulates within the water catch in them passing just the clean water through the filter, so eventually the filter will fill up to the point where water is not able to flow through. When this occurs some filters can be cleaned while some will have to be replaced. Fortunately, DE is inexpensive enough to be economical for most applications.