<![CDATA[Access to safe drinking water is an important determinant of public health because water quality is associated with the risk of waterborne diseases, including cryptosporidiosis caused by Cryptosporidium parvum. Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts are highly resistant to conventional disinfection, making effective alternative treatment technologies necessary. This study aims to synthesize scientific evidence on the effectiveness of slow sand filters and biosand filters in eliminating Cryptosporidium parvum from raw water and to identify the technical and operational factors affecting their performance. This study used a systematic literature review with a narrative synthesis based on the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Literature searches were conducted through PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for peer-reviewed articles published between 2017 and 2026. The search yielded 197 articles, followed by 47 articles passing the screening stage, 15 articles undergoing full-text evaluation, and 8 articles meeting the inclusion criteria. The results showed that Cryptosporidium parvum elimination occurred through a combination of physical and biological mechanisms, while modified filters also involved chemical mechanisms. Elimination effectiveness ranged from less than 2 log in some standard filters to more than 5 log or complete elimination in systems with mature filters, pretreatment, or modified media. Schmutzdecke maturity, media depth, sand size and uniformity, and treatment configuration were important factors determining performance. Slow sand filters and biosand filters are effective in eliminating Cryptosporidium parvum, but design optimization, continuous operation, and proper maintenance are still required to achieve consistent performance.]]>
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