Layman's terms are used to describe the basic steps of filtration through an Oberlin Filter. Solids contaminated fluid flows toward, then through the filter medium. Solids begin to gather on the medium. This layer of solids begins to catch smaller solids which had initially been able to pass through the medium. At the onset of a filter cycle some small solids are allowed to pass through the medium.
Recycled filtrate is fed through the filter a second time and the remaining solids are stripped out.