SCHOOL BASED PROJECT
COMBINED SCIENCE FORM 4
STAGE 1: PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
The problem
- Limited access to safe drinking
water in Unit A Chitungwiza
causing diarrheal diseases.
Problem description
- Due to erratic water supply by the city council,
residents have limited access to clean, safe
drinking water. Some of the drilled boreholes have
also been condemned due to contamination
caused by infiltration of raw sewage into domestic
water reticulation systems. Consequently, there
has been rampant outbreaks of waterborne
diseases.
Statement of intent
- To design a simple water purification
system using locally available materials
to provide clean safe water for a healthy
society.
Design specifications
- The water purification system should be able
to:
a. Eliminate solid waste
b. Kill most pathogens in drinking water
c. Provide safe water on a relatively large
scale
STAGE 2:INVESTIGATION OF RELATED IDEAS
- Reverse osmosis - Chlorination
- Biological treatment - Ion exchange
- Boiling - Distillation
- Ultraviolet light - Coagulation
- Activated carbon - Sedimentation
- Filtration
STAGE 3: GENERATION OF IDEAS
METHOD STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES
Wastes water
Effective
Removes beneficial mineral ions
Improves taste and odor
Reverse osmosis Slow water flow
Low maintenance
Requires electricity
Cost effective
Membrane replacement
Energy intensive
No chemicals required Slow
Simple and low-cost Requires careful maintenance
Distillation
Long-lasting equipment Can be affected by contaminants
Highly effective Can be expensive
Requires storage
GENERATION OF IDEAS continued…….
METHO
STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES
D
Effective against chlorine and volatile Can be saturated
organic compounds Not effective against all contaminants
Filtration Improves taste and odor May not remove all particulate matter
Easy maintenance Can be affected by pH levels
Low Cost Can become clogged
Energy intensive
Slow
No chemicals required
Requires careful maintenance
Ultraviolet Long-lasting equipment
Can be affected by contaminants
Highly effective
Can be expensive
Requires storage
STAGE 4: SELECTING THE MOST SUITABLE SOLUTION
Method of choice: Filtration with activated charcoal
JUSTIFICATION
Filtration with activated charcoal has many advantages
which include:
Effectiveness against chlorine and volatile organic
compounds
Improvement of taste and odor
Easy maintenance
Low Cost
This method uses readily available materials
which are eco-friendly and helps reduce
pollution by reusing empty plastic containers .
STAGE 5:REFINEMENT OF SELECTED IDEA
- Water must not just run through the filter for effective
decontamination. There is need for a way to make the water
stay in the charcoal for an extended period of time to allow for
chemical reactions to occur. This will ensure that pathogens are
destroyed making the water safe for consumption without
having to boil it.
- Charcoal may be placed in a separate container and a tap fitted
to control movement and passage of water through the
charcoal basin.
STAGE 6:PRESENTATION OF FINAL SOLUTION
The refined design
STAGE 7: EVALUATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
EVALUATION
The filtrate was not clear, it had particles of charcoal. Other foreign particles
may be deposited in the filtrate or charcoal basin since it is open at the top.
Water may also evaporate from the charcoal basin causing wastage. Moreover,
the charcoal alone may not get rid of all pathogens
RECOMMENDATIONS
The model can be modified by putting a safe or cotton wool below the charcoal
or adding a settling tank before the tape.
Use a basin that can be assembled and disassembled, with a narrow top to
limit direct evaporation and also enable connection of sand filter to charcoal
basin by means of a pipe to minimize potential contamination by external
agents.
The water may be boiled to make it safer to drink