Safe drinking water is a pressing issue globally, especially in developing countries; in order to address this problem a lot of efforts have been done and it is a main issue in the UN Sustainable Development Goals. One of the most efficient and cheapest methods to attain these goals is to promote alternative water purification technologies in addition to the use of conventional slow sand filters. The objective of this research was comparing the removal efficiency of slow sand filters using plastic filter media and conventional sand filter media. These filters were tested for their ability to remove physicochemical and microbiological contaminants from surface water, Lake Tana water bodies. The experimental setup involved pouring water samples into two filter units, collected samples before and after filtration and analysis sampled water in the laboratory. The study revealed that plastic filter media exhibited a higher filtration rate, with an average flow rate of 76.1 liters per hour. However, of 63.4 liters per hour the average flow rate observed in sand filter media. After six days of filtration, the plastic filter media demonstrated remarkable removal efficiency, reducing turbidity, total solids, fecal coliforms, and total coliforms by 91%, 93%, 94%, and 92%, respectively. Similarly, sand media filtration resulted in reductions of 88%, 29%, 80%, and 50% for turbidity, total solids, fecal coliforms, and total coliforms, respectively. However, it is important to note that the physicochemical and microbiological water quality parameters still above the World Health Organization (WHO) standard for domestic water usage. After 12 days of filtration both plastic and sand media filters continued to exhibit removal efficiency. The plastic filter media reduced turbidity, total solids, fecal coliforms, and total coliforms by 78%, 97%, 100%, and 100%, respectively, while the sand media filters achieved reductions of 87%, 71%, 100%, and 100%, respectively. Notably, the water quality parameters of both filtration media below the WHO standard for domestic water usage. Based on these findings, it is recommended to use plastic filter media for water purification and disinfection, particularly for less turbid water sources at the household level. Before implementing the technologies, further research and trials should be conducted to consider factors such as cost-effectiveness, local conditions, and specific water treatment requirements. KEY WORDS: Modified Plastic Filter Media, Prototype, Phsico-chemical, Sand filter media