Hydrosphere: Water Treatment

Can you build a filter device that improves water quality?

Water Treatment

Students construct a water filter which they use to filter and test polluted water. Students gain insight into how a filter works, and which components are most effective.

Lab Summary:

Water treatment is critical for human and environmental health. Humans use water for many purposes, many of which pollute the water and make it less suitable for other uses. Water used in homes for activities such as dishwashing, showering, and watering the lawn leaves as wastewater.
There are several processes used to treat wastewater before it is released into the environment to undergo natural purification as a part of the water cycle.

One of these processes is filtration. Advances in filtration technology have made it possible to improve water quality to such a high degree that nearly all impurities can be removed using the right filter. Using filtration alone as a way to treat water is not necessarily practical. Other chemical and physical processes are employed in treating water.

In this activity, students will use conductivity, turbidity and pH sensors to investigate how filter media improve the conductivity, turbidity, and pH of water. Students will determine which media best remove impurities from the water.

Download free labs:

(student versions)

Computer-based lab (PDF, 820 KB)

Xplorer GLX-based lab (PDF, 108 KB)

Method:

Use a pH, Conductivity, and Turbidity Sensors, to investigate how water treatment improves water quality.

Here's What You Need:

Required for computer-based lab:

(See lab download for Xplorer GLX-based lab requirements, which may differ)

Probeware

Other Materials

  • Beakers (4), 250-mL
  • Funnels (3)
  • Pipet
  • Scissors
  • Protective Gear
  • Sand, 50.0 g
  • Gravel, 50.0 g
  • Activated Charcoal, 50.0 g
  • Cheesecloth
  • Wastewater Sample, 500.0 mL
  • Screens (4)
  • Soda Bottle (20 oz. or larger)
  • Rubber Band

Lab Manual:

The computer-based activity is included in Explorations in Earth and Environmental Science (PS-2809). The Xplorer GLX-based lab is included in Earth and Environmental Science with the Xplorer GLX (PS-2821A). Both manuals are complete with Teacher Information pages, student instructions and handouts, and sample data.

For your convenience, we offer bundles which provide the probeware for the activities in the manual. For more, please see:
Computer-based Earth and Environmental Science Lab Manual and Bundles
Xplorer GLX-based Earth and Environmental Science Lab Manual and Bundles