My Water Filter

This is my second action project for my STEAM course on the unit “Water.” The project is to make water filter that filters dirty water into clean and potable water. During this class, we have been studying water filtration. In class, we learned about logarithms, and we also learned how to find pH levels using logarithms and scientific notation, and what the pH scale is. We went on a field experience to the Jardine Water Treatment Plant. During the field experience, I learned about the filtration process that provides clean water for the city of Chicago. These studies and experiences have all helped me create this action project.

N.L (2018) Sketch of My Water Filter

N.L (2018) Construction Part 1 (Before)

N.L. (2018) Construction Part Two (Before)

N.L. (2018) Water Filter (After)

My guiding question for this experiment was Does the materials for a water filter affect the pH level of the filtered water? I tested my question by recording the pH levels of the water. I'm able to show how well my water filter works by using pictures of my water filter, before and after pictures of the water sample, and also by showing how the pH level of the filtered water changed.

This was my first time making a water filter. I took my time constructing the water filter and my water filter remained stable throughout the experiment. My hypothesis was that my water filter will increase the unfiltered water's pH level because the water will go through a filtration process that filters the water so that it becomes safer to use. I used an activated charcoal water filter.  My water filter has a cap with a hole in it seal on the lid of the 1-gallon plastic bottle and the bottom of the bottle is used as a collector for the filtered water.

My water filter has a cap with a hole in it seal on the lid of the 1-gallon plastic bottle and the bottom of the bottle is used as a collector for the filtered water. My water filter relates to groundwater filtration because just like in groundwater filtration, my water filter has large and small gaps that filter large and small particles in water as the water travels throughout the filer. I layered the gaps in my water filter a specific way so that the large gap at the top and the small gap at the bottom take small and large particles out of the water. During the filtration process, gravity pulls the water through my water filter, which then allows water to pass through those gaps leaving particles behind.

I acquired most of the materials from the school. I did bring in a 1-gallon plastic bottle that I used at the base of my water filter.

Materials for My Water Filter:

1. A 1-Gallon Plastic Bottle
2. A Plastic Bottle Cap
3. Two Coffee Filters
4. Activated Charcoal 2 ½ cups
5. Sand 2  cups
6. Gravel 2 cups
7. Water
8. Digital pH meter

In order to build a stable water filter, I followed this step by step procedure:

1. Wash all materials. (1-5)
2. Cut the top of the 1-gallon plastic bottle. Cut at the top's midway point of the bottle.
3. Add in all filtering materials, step by step, into the plastic bottle top. Flip the cut off top of the bottle and place the materials in from bottom to top in order.
4. Place a coffee filter inside the top.
5. Put 2 cups of activated carbon on top of the coffee filter.
6. Place another coffee filter.
7. Place sand and gravel on top of the coffee filter.
8. Place another coffee filter on top of the sand and gravel.

My Water Filtration Process:

1. Unfiltered water will pass through the 1st coffee filter
2. Water will pass through a layer of activated charcoal
3. Water will pass through a layer of gravel
4. Water will pass through a layer of sand
5. Water will pass through another layer of activated charcoal
6. Water will  pass through the 2nd coffee filter
7. Water will come through the hole in the plastic bottle cap
8. The base of the 1-gallon plastic bottle will collect the filtered water.

Results:

         Before Filtration            After Filtration

pH             6.1                                7.3           

Color    dark and murky                no color       

Clarity cloudy                             clear           

Odor      harsh odor                       no odor        

Before 6.1

After 7.3 

Change 1.2

-log x =0.06

or

10^-2

x=  0.063095734448

BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURE

N.L. (2018) Before Filtration

N.L. (2018) After Filtration

This picture above represents where my water sample is on the pH scale before and after the filtration process. The pH scale ranges from 1-14 with 7 being neutral. Anything below 7 is acidic and anything above 7 is alkaline. 6.1 is below 7 so it's acidic. 7.3 is above 7 so it's alkaline.

In conclusion, my water filter successfully filtered the water from the Chicago River mixed with dirt into potable water. Through this test, I was able to prove that my data supports my hypothesis because the filtered water’s pH level did increase after going through the filtration process of my water filter.  My water filter kept its stability. My water filter collected a lot of large and small particles from the water. I learned about the different kinds of water filters there are and how I can make a water filter. If I do this experiment again another question I can think of is can I manipulate the pH level of water by using different types of water filters.

Works Cited

“The Different Types of Water Filters.” Five Different Types of Water Filters, 2018, www.softwaterfiltration.com/water-filters/.

“A Beginner's Guide to Charcoal Water Filters.” ALL ABOUT WATER FILTERS, 5 Sept. 2018, 

all-about-water-filters.com/guide-to-charcoal-water-filters/.