Treating Dirty Water

Young scientists and engineers to be will take on the challenge of improving the fictitious Lakeville Water Treatment Plant. Recent tests indicate the water is no longer safe to drink!

In this kit, students will:

1. Build and test models of water treatment processes like coagulation, filtration and disinfection
2. Determine if one coagulating agent is better than another
3. Test if activated charcoal improves water quality
4. Evaluate whether or not pathogen removal and disinfection are necessary

Students will use the Treating Dirty Water kit to answer several science and engineering principles including:

• How do you know which water is safe to drink?
• What is the purpose of water treatment?
• How can models be used to test systems on a small scale?
• How do engineers apply scientific and mathematical skills to their daily work?
• How do engineers consider other criteria like safety and cost?

This kit can be completed at home or in the classroom in two 40 minute sessions. Treating Dirty Water comes complete with a detailed Teacher Guide and Student hands-on materials.

This kit includes:

• Material to create simulated "dirty water"
• Fabric screen
• Rubber band (latex free)
• 2 Small cups with lids
• Aluminum sulfate
• Droppers
• PolyClear
• 2 Small graduated measuring cups
• Sand
• Gravel
• Activated charcoal
• Small spoon
• 2 Compressed sponge circles
• Transfer pipet
• Stir stick
• 2 Funnels
• 2 Large plastic cups with lids
• 2 Small plastic cups
• pH Test strips and instructions
• E.coli test solution (simulated)

You will also need:

• Tray for keeping work space clean
• Calculator
• Goggles
• Water
• White paper
• Paper towels (for clean up)