An Investigation into the Effectiveness of Low-Cost Water Purification Systems
Introduction
Across the Planet, the direst of needs is access to clean, safe, drinking water. Life cannot be sustained without water. The developed world has been blessed with constant access to safe drinking water, but for large portions of the planet, this is a far-off fantasy. Fortunately, recent years have brought forward massive advances in water filtration systems that are small, personal, and low-cost. But just how effective are these systems?
Many companies have developed solutions to this problem such as LifeStraw, Sawyer, Proctor & Gamble, and other popular sporting goods brands. Each system varies in price, complexity, and how and what they filter from the water. This investigation will collect water samples from a natural source and analyze them before and after treatment.
Three different purification systems will be tested: Proctor & Gamble’s (P&G) Purification Tablets, the Sawyer Mini Filter System, and an MSR Miniworks Ex Filter. These systems were selected due to their method of filtration and cost differences. P&G’s tablets force contaminants to separate from water allowing purified water to be decanted, this is the low-cost method. Sawyer’s Mini Filter system is intermediate in its price range and uses a hollow-tube filter membrane. MSR’s Miniworks Ex is a higher-cost filter that utilizes a ceramic core filter system. These systems do have limitations, they are designed for biological contaminants and are incapable of removing dissolved particulates, such as lead, viruses, or chemical contaminants.
Data collection will include water clarity, particulate count, and the presence of bacteria under microscopic evaluation. Results from testing will be used to compare the quality of filtration vs method of filtration and cost. This data will be useful in a wide variety of contexts. Foundations can use this data to determine what filter systems to donate to those in need. Those who spend a lot of time participating in outdoor activities can use this data to make purchasing decisions for personal water filters to use while hiking, camping, etc. Water filters are also useful emergency kit items and this data can convince people to place a filter in their kits.
Article detailing how LifeStraw works, the Sawyer Mini works similarly.
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20180305-the-miraculous-straw-that-lets-you-drink-dirty-water
Article detailing P&G’s filtration packets and their importance to those in developing nations: