Fallout Filter

Water is a necessity for all living things. Water makes up 60% of the human body, 71% of the Earth, and we drink 8 glasses of it everyday. Although there is so much water around the world, not much of it is potable. less than 3% of Earths water is drinkable, but less than 1% is accessible! But the real question that comes to mind is, How do we make water drinkable? In our class we study the history of water, and it's importance in the world. We are wrapping up Unit 2, 4.5 billion, which is in our class, H20. We learned that the Earth is 4.5 billions of years old, and how Chicago's water is filtered. We traveled to the Jardine Water Purification Plant where we learned how Chicago filters it's lake. lake Michigan. This F.E. has taught wrap up this Unit, we created our own water filters, and tested them out.
What is the Question?

How do you create a filter that can successfully filter water?
Hypothesis

I believe that the pH scale of the water before filtration will be closer to alkaline, because I have added dirt to my water. I also believe the pH scale will rise by at least 1 pH.

Materials


- Banana Peels

- Coffee Filters

- Cheese Cloth

- One plastic Bottle

- Scissors

- Tape

Why these Materials?

Banana peels have the ability to absorb bacteria from water. This can prevent diseases from spreading and will reduce the chances of becoming sick. Coffee filters will filter out small grains of dirt, which will bring the pH level of water closer to 7. A cheese cloth is traditionally used for wine, but can be used as a water filter because the cloth will filter out micro particles.
Procedure

1. Cut the plastic bottle in half, and put the top half to the side. Remove the cap.

2. Take the cheese cloth and place loosely onto the bottom half. Tape the cheese cloth, to keep it in place. Do not use a lot of tape, because you will remove the cheesecloth in order to pour the filtered water out.

3. Grab the top half of the bottle and face the lid downward. take two or three coffee filters, and tape them to the bottle. Do not tape it tightly, because the banana peels will be resting on the coffee filters

4. Place the banana peels on top of the coffee filter

5. Place the top half of the bottle that contains the banana peels, on top of the bottom half of the bottle

6. tape the two together, firmly, but not too tight, because you will remove the top half in order to drink the filtered water at the bottom.

7. When pouring the unfiltered water, through the top half, pour the water little by little, so that the banana peels can have time to absorb the bacteria.



ALL (2017) Image of My Water Filter

Results

This is a pH scale that shows the pH level of both the unfiltered water, and the filtered water. As seen below, the filter has not worked properly, because it has not reached a pH level of 7. The changes of before and after was 0.6. 

ALL. (2017) pH scale with Filtration Results

Conclusions

Based on the results, my hypothesis was wrong. This is because the pH level of the water before filtration was 5.2. This is more acidic, because anything below a seven on the pH scale is acidic. I had believed that the pH would be closer to alkaline, which is above a seven on the pH scale. The water that came out of my filter isn't drinkable because it has a pH scale of 5.2, which is below a 7.

The next time that I create a water filter, I will create a way to allow to filtered water our of my filter instead of removing the top. This lesson is important for my survival skills! I now know how to make a water filter, with some basic idea of what a water filter should be made of.

Calculations

pH Before Filtration: 5.2

10^ -5.2 = 0.00000630957
Move decimal 6 spaces to the right

6.31 x 10^ -6

pH After Filtration: 5.8

10^ -5.8 = 0.00000158489
Move decimal 6 spaces to the right

1.58 x 10^ -6