Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: Water Treatment and Education in Villahermosa, Mexico
EPA Grant Number: SU833547Title: Water Treatment and Education in Villahermosa, Mexico
Investigators: McStravick, David M. , Kelm, Walter A. , Houchens, Brent C. , Stamatakis, Christina C. , Corcoran, Clint C. , Langsfeld, Joshua D. , Beach, Kelsey E. , Campos, Felix I. , Tuttle, James J. , Campo, Laura M. , Boyle, Paul M. , Hamshari, Ali N. , Steger, Scott T. , Felix, Tiye T.
Institution: Rice University
EPA Project Officer: Page, Angela
Phase: I
Project Period: September 1, 2007 through August 31, 2008
Project Amount: $10,000
RFA: P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet (2007) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development , P3 Challenge Area - Safe and Sustainable Water Resources , P3 Awards , Sustainable and Healthy Communities
Objective:
The objectives of the research in Phase I were two-fold: technical system development and educational innovations. First, a sustainable point-of-use water treatment system was designed.
This system consists of biosand filtration and UV sterilization components. The novel aspects include the development of a lightweight biosand filter mold that can be shipped at a reasonable cost and reused dozens of times. Unlike existing designs, this mold is completely sustainable because only concrete, sand and gravel are necessary to make additional filters. No internal pipes are required, as the outlet channel is formed in the concrete. This system can remove almost all bacterial pathogens of concern, as well as many chemicals. The UV sterilization unit destroys any bacteria that happen to pass through the biosand filter, and also neutralizes viral threats. This system is powered by a solar array, which also offers a modest source of electricity when UV sterilization is not in use. The overall system is ideal for remote implementation, where utility infrastructure is unavailable, unreliable, or cost prohibitive.
Second, a novel educational laboratory was designed, fabricated and tested to educate people in both developing and developed nations about the importance of water quality and sustainable water use. The Adaptive WaTER (Water Treatment for Education and Research) Laboratory includes six water filtration and purification techniques including: sediment and carbon filtration, reverse and forward osmosis, and chemical and ultraviolet sterilization. It is unique in that it can be rearranged in many configurations, allowing students to optimize various water treatment schemes. This educates students about the strengths and limitations of each method based on what contaminants are present, how sustainable the technology is, and how much power is required by each technique. The Adaptive WaTER Laboratory (hereafter the “Lab”) has also proven effective for K-12 education and outreach in the United States. Educational materials have been developed and refined based on the demonstration of the Lab to over 300 K-12 students in the greater Houston area.
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
The interdisciplinary P3 team included mechanical, civil and environmental, and electrical engineers. This was critical to overcome the technical challenges presented by this project. A successful full-scale system was developed that greatly reduces the probability of contracting an illness from drinking water. This system is scheduled for implementation in Mexico in May 2008. The combination of biosand filtration and UV sterilization will eliminate all measurable bio-contaminants currently present. In addition, the biosand filter mold and instructions will be donated to the community, to allow for additional filters to be constructed and maintained. The final results from the implementation trip will provide a quantifiable reduction in bacterial contaminants. Qualitatively, this system can massively reduce or eliminate the incidence of diarrhea and other intestinal illnesses caused by waterborne pathogens. Construction and maintenance is straightforward, however to maximize effectiveness, education is critical.
The Adaptive WaTER Lab will provide the needed education to the people who will utilize the implementation system. This hands-on Lab explains the effectiveness of the various filtration and sterilization technologies, and results indicate the usefulness of a combination of sediment filtration and UV sterilization for eliminating the treat of bacterial pathogens. This same combination is used in the implementation system. A recent study showed the educational effectiveness of the Lab through a 25 question assessment, completed by a high school student before and after using the Lab and the accompanying educational materials (see attachments A and B). Before using the Lab, the student answered only one question correctly, with three others answered partially correct. After using the Lab and educational materials, the student answered 18 questions correctly and provided partial answers for three more. After discussing the Lab with one of the P3 team members, the student was able to correct and complete the assessment in its entirety.
The Lab is an excellent outreach tool, instilling excitement in K-12 school children participating in hands-on demonstrations, as shown in Figure 1. The Lab is currently undergoing patent review. As part of the Phase II proposal, a production strategy will be developed. For every sale of the Lab in the U.S. to K-12 schools and universities, a second Lab will be manufactured for donation to students in developing nations. All profits (after fees associated with patenting and manufacturing the Lab) will be reinvested through either donation or additional improvements to the Lab. The inventors will not take proceeds from the sales.
Figure 1: Jim Tuttle and Kelsey Beach help demonstrate the sediment and carbon filtration stages of theAdaptive WaTER Lab to Cornelius Elementary School children.
Conclusions:
This project has been extremely successful, resulting in the design and construction of both an implementation-scale water purification system and the Adaptive WaTER Lab. The former will soon be implemented in a community in Mexico, and the latter has widespread application to both education and outreach in developed and developing nations.
The outcomes of this work have been documented and disseminated. A peer reviewed journal article has already been published, and a second is in preparation. Two papers will appear in reviewed conference proceedings, and over a dozen presentations related to this project will have been made by May 2008. This includes four outreach events, impacting over 300 under-represented minority students in the greater Houston area, to encourage interested in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields.
Project Period for Phase II: 8/15/2008 – 8/14/2010
Proposed Phase II Objectives and Strategies:
Phase II involves significant improvements to the full-scale system, along with two additional implementation trips, and the commercialization of the Adaptive WaTER Lab. A fundamental study on the sensitivity of the biosand and UV sterilization systems will be undertaken. This will involve instrumenting a full-scale system at Rice University. The impacts of the concentration of contaminants in the feed-water, operating temperatures, and flow rates will be studied. This will provide much needed data on the range of applicability of biosand filtration, and the effectiveness of UV sterilization under various turbidity conditions. The design team will include a high school student, to encourage STEM education and strengthen an existing outreach program at an inner-city Houston public school. Implementation trips to Swaziland and Guatemala will be undertaken in years one and two, respectively. This will leverage new collaborations with Rice University’s Beyond Traditional Borders and Rice 360° initiatives.
A commercialization strategy will be finalized and executed for the production of the Adaptive WaTER Lab. This will include a design-for-manufacturability study to compare the use of modified off-the-shelf components for filter housings, versus injection molding in custom molds. In year two of the project, initial sales of the Lab will begin, with all proceeds supporting additional research and donated Labs. This study will benefit from a newly formed relationship with a local business with experience in manufacturing and combined profit/non-profit initiatives.
Journal Articles on this Report : 1 Displayed | Download in RIS Format
Other project views: | All 4 publications | 1 publications in selected types | All 1 journal articles |
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Type | Citation | ||
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Beach KE, Boyle PM, Corcoran CC, Hamshari AN, Tuttle JJ, McStravick DM, Houchens BC. Integrating research, undergraduate education and engineering outreach. International Journal for Service Learning in Engineering 2007;2(2):89-101. |
SU833547 (Final) |
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Supplemental Keywords:
drinking water, human health, chemicals, toxics, metals, heavy metals, pathogens, viruses, bacteria, sustainable development, community based,Relevant Websites:
http://www.owlnet.rice.edu/~ssteger/water/ Exit
https://www.epa.gov/p3/ Exit
http://www.engr.psu.edu/IJSLE/index.htm Exit
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.