Unit 4: Summative Task
​Water Purification Plant


Task

As a hydrologist, you have been asked to use your knowledge of physical properties and molecular structure to design and water purification plant.

Project Guidelines 

Safety Precautions
  • Make a copy of this form to show your work. All of your work, including your data and analysis goes on this paper.  
  • Here is the list of prices. 

Resources
  • Only use BEAKERS on hot plates. Mason jars are not tempered and will break on a hot plate.
  • When heating substances up, it is better to put the cool beaker on a cool hot plate and heat it up instead of turning the burner on and putting a cold container on a very hot surfaces.
  • ​​Hot plates are hot. Don't touch the surface.
  • Remove hot beakers from hot plate using rags or tongs. If you use a rag, make sure it doesn’t touch the hot surface because it could catch on fire.
  • Do NOT cover beakers on hot plate with rags or other items.
  • Do NOT put water with bleach on the hot plate. Use CAUTION when using bleach.

Project Planning Recommendations

Day 1: Plan the Water Purification Plant
Deliverables: 
  • Copy of document shared with group and teacher.
  • Outline of the steps you plan on taking to purify water.
  •  Estimated budget. 
1. Make ONE copy of this form.  Share with teammates and teacher.
2.  Determine what materials you want to use. Record. 
3.  Decide how you will purify your water. Do you want to use bleach OR hot plates?
4.  Write the steps about how to purify the water samples.
5.  Assign sections of the report. Example,
Luisa = nitrates
Marco = pH
Jonathan = hardness
Kavika = nitrites & total dissolved solids
Homework: Read about the water quality standards that you will be writing about in the report.

Day 2: Purify the Water 
1. Get the materials and sample.
2. Record the sample name on your paper.
​3. Purify the water. WARNING! No bleach if you are using hot plates. Use only beakers on hot plates. 
4. Record all steps. Start with the verb. Avoid personal pronouns, such as "I' or "our group." Ex. Pour water through a coffee filter.
5.  Create a drawing of the system design.
6.  Clean up to avoid fines. Make sure your sample is clearly labeled with your period and table number. 
Homework: Start to write about the water quality standard you were assigned, ex. nitrates or pH. You will explain:
  • What is this water quality? Example, what is pH?
  • Why is it important?
  • Does this standard affect the safety of drinking the water or is it a cosmetic issue?
  • If it is safety issue, what is the maximize amount that is allowed?
Day 3: Water Testing & Report Writing​
Deliverables:
  • All testing needs to be completed and recorded.
  • Reports should be complete or near complete. ​
  • Samples are discarded and glassware is cleaned.
1. Finalize any purification you intend to do. NOTE: You do not need to filter the entire sample in order to start doing your testing. 
2. Record procedure and costs.
3. Perform a TDS and Easy Strip test on your sample.
4. Record test results.
5. Compare results with Minimum Water Quality Standards.
6. Everyone, work on your section of the report.
​7. Everyone, clean up material and stations. Dispose of sample.