Clean Water Matters: Simple Filtration, Big Impact

I did this project to learn how water can be cleaned using simple materials and to be better understand the challenges some First Nations communities face when it comes to safe drinking water. With all the water advisories, I wanted to connect science to a real-world issue that affects peoples daily lives.

I was trying to answer my question " Can dirty water be cleaned using simple materials?" I also wanted to explore how effective basic filtration is and why its important to have proper water treatment systems.

My project can help people understand the importance of clean drinking water and encourages others to think about solutions. The image I have included shows the current and past boil water advisories in many First Nations communities.

Materials:

plastic bottle

charcoal

coffee filters

cotton balls

rocks

sand

I researched what materials I thought would be best for my experiment. I gathered common household items like cotton balls, sponges, coffee filters and paper towels. I also used some items that I couldn't find at home. Things like sand, rocks and charcoal. I took some inspiration from similar experiments.

I used the cotton balls, coffee filter, sand, charcoal, paper towel and rocks. I cut a 1 liter bottle and used that as the main component for the filter and filled it with the materials. I made "dirty water" using pieces of garbage and dirt. I then poured the water and waited for it to filter through so I can see what will happen.

I poured water through the filter 4 times.

The first cycle of water went through and the filter removed the bigger pieces of debris and some of the smaller bits. The water that came through was still dirty but it didn't have any garbage in it.

I poured the second cycle in and waited for it to go through. The water that came through was way less dirty than the first cycle, but it still had a bit of a brown tinge.

In the end, I eventually put the filter through 4 cycles. The water was still a bit brown but so much cleaner from the first cycle of water.

I chose this project because water is a big issue in todays world. It is also a very easy, low cost project for others to try. I wanted to know if it was possible to clean water using these simple materials.

This project has taught me that dirty water can be cleaned, but just because it looks "cleaner" does not mean it is safe to drink. Learning about filtration will help others understand that clean water isn't accessible for everyone, and will also bring awareness about the water issues First Nations communities face.

From my results, I found that the filter made the dirty water much clearer by removing dirt and small particles. However, the water was still not safe to drink because there can be tiny germs and chemicals that the filter cannot remove. This means filtration can help clean water, but it does not fully purify it.

I learned that different layers like gravel, sand, and cotton each play an important role in cleaning the water. I also learned that clean water is very important for health, and not everyone has access to safe drinking water. This project showed me why we need proper water treatment systems and why we should protect and respect water.

If I was to continue this project, I would test different materials and change the order of the filter layers to see which combination works best. I would also do more trials and measure my results more carefully to make my experiment more accurate. Next, I would compare different filters and try to find ways to make the water not just look clean, but be safer to use. I would also like to learn more about how real water treatment systems work.

I would like to thank my teachers and my parents for supporting me throughout this project. My teacher helped guide me and gave me helpful advice, and my parents helped me gather materials, and encouraged me to do my best. Also my culture and community. I also learned a lot from the research I did, which helped me understand water filtration. I am so thankful for them, their support shaped this project and gave me the confidence to go further with it.

-Websites

https://canadians.org/fn-water/

https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/books/article/water-wonders

-Articles / Books

https://www.tvo.org/article/a-brief-timeline-of-the-first-nations-drinking-water-crisis

We Are Water Protectors written by Carole Lindstrom

-Images / Artwork

https://nbmediacoop.org/2023/01/09/first-nations-in-n-b-among-250-indigenous-communities-that-experienced-long-term-water-advisories/

https://canva.com

We Are Water Protectors art illustrated by Michaela Goade

My own original art - Alani Desnomie