November 2023 Visit on Friday, November 3, 2023
Experiment Leads: Ritu Shah and Maggie Chiu
During our November visit to Murray Middle School, experiment leads Ritu Shah and Maggie Chiu delved into the critical topic of clean drinking water. They highlighted its scarcity, shared personal experiences, and discussed various drinkable water sources. Ritu drew from her upbringing in Tanzania, where she had
to filter water for safety before consumption. In contrast, Maggie recounted her time living in California, underscoring the contrast of having immediate access to clean water despite facing yearly droughts.
After a compelling conversation on the preciousness of clean water, the water cycle, and pollution, Ritu introduced a straightforward water filtration method she had acquired in Tanzania. Using easily accessible materials like a plastic water bottle, cloth, sand, cotton balls, and pebbles, Murray students were encouraged to engineer different filtration system configurations. They then tested the efficacy and efficiency of their designs in cleaning muddy water, measuring the filtered water's volume, and assessing its color and clarity. Discussions ensued about how their filter designs influenced the outcomes. Students were engaged in friendly competitions on who had the cleanest water.
Recognizing that not all contaminants are visible to the naked eye, Ritu and Maggie underscored the importance of addressing unseen threats like bacteria or viruses. Students suggested an additional step, proposing the idea of boiling water to enhance its cleanliness. To conclude the visit, Maggie showcased a commercial water filter designed for campers, using the same muddy water from the experiment. The students were astounded by the transformation, witnessing the
colorless and remarkably clear water obtained through filtration. We concluded the experiment with students reflecting on primitive filtration methods and the need for water conservation.
