How Safe Is Our Drinking Water

1
How Safe Is Our Drinking Water?
Grant ID No. EEC0601960
Dustin Jones, Simon Kenton High School,
Independence, KY 41051 Nora Miller, Fairfield
Middle School, Fairfield, OH 45014 Stephanie
Simmons, Aiken University High School,
Cincinnati, OH 45224 Dr. George Sorial Hafiz
Salih, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
45221
Abstract
Goals
Assessment
Experimental Procedure
Quantitative Analysis
Qualitative Analysis Data Tables/Graphs
Laboratory Questions Vernier Lab
Probes Classroom
Discussion Turbidity pH
Dissolved Oxygen
Construct a model of the Earths natural water
filtering system. Test the ability of your water
filters to filter contaminants out of different
solutions.
An understanding of water filtration terms and
background information of water will be
developed. Students will work their way through
the water filtration Webquest gaining new
knowledge of water purification. Planning and
designing of filtration units will be constructed
using inquiry and cooperative learning. As
surface water travels downward through rock and
soil, the water is filtered and purified. As a
result, the water in aquifers is generally
cleaner than surface water. In this unit
investigation, you will work in small teams to
explore how layers of the Earth act as a filter
for water. You will make models of the Earths
natural filtration system and test them to see
how well they filter various substances. All data
will be communicated within the classroom to gain
a larger sample size which creates more accurate
results and reduces bias in the experiment.
1. Make four separate filtration systems. Cut the
bottom off of each soda bottle, and fill each
bottle with layers of granular activated carbon,
gravel, and sand with the largest size sediment
on the bottom (the GAC must be sandwiched between
other layers). Be sure to make each model
identical to the next. You may also want to
separate each layer with a coffee filter or nylon
pantyhose to make it easier to remove and be able
to reuse the sub straights. 2. Label four
beakers as follows Control 1 water,
Contaminant 2 glucose, Contaminant 3
soil, Contaminant 4 food coloring, and
Unknown 5. 3.Fill these beakers with 250mL of
clean tap water. Then add to each beaker the
contaminant listed on its label and stir. 4.
Record your observations in the data table in the
Before and Prediction sections. Use some of
the glucose test paper to test the glucose level
in the glucose beaker before testing. 5. Stir a
contaminant mixture in its beaker, and
immediately pour the mixture through a filtration
system. Observe the resulting water and record
your observations in the data table. CAUTION Do
not taste any of the substances you are
testing. 6. Repeat this procedure for each
mixture. Record your description in the After
section in the data table. 7. Record your
results from the Lab Probes into the
Quantitative Analysis data table. Teacher
Notes Provide students with bottle caps that
have holes poked through them. Fasten each cap to
a bottle. Make sure to have soaked the GAC
overnight in water.
Materials

• beakers, 750 mL (6)
• graduated cylinder
• metric ruler
• soda bottles, 16-20 oz(5)
• stirring rod
• wax pencil
• coffee filters
• glucose solution
• red food coloring
• soil
• glucose test paper
• gravel
• sand
• tap water
• granular activated
• carbon
• Vernier Lab Probes

References
For a full list of references please see How
Safe is Our Drinking Water? Lesson Plan Report
(RET-2008)
Acknowledgments
Standards
Dr. Anant Kukreti Christine Johnson Dr.
George Sorial Eugene Rutz Hafiz Salih
Dr. Ted Fowler Andrea Burrows
Dr. Suzanne Soled

• Ohio State Standards
• ES 4. Analyze data on the availability of fresh
  water that is essential for life and for most
  industrial and agricultural processes. Describe
  how rivers, lakes and groundwater can be depleted
  or polluted becoming less hospitable to life and
  even becoming unavailable or unsuitable for life.
• Other Ohio State Standards ES2(7), 9, 11,
  12(11) LS3,6(7), 11(11) ST1-4(7), 1,2(11)
  SI2-4(7),1-5(11) SWK1-3(7),1-11(11)
• Kentucky Academic Expectations 2.1 and 2.4
• Kentucky Core Content SC-4.6.4, 4.7.2, 4.7.3,
  4.7.5

Classroom Activities

• Daily Vocabulary
• Guided Notes for Background Information
• Video Clips
• Animated Diagrams
• Water Filtration Webquest
• Design a filtration system
• Construct the filtration system
• Test contaminated water through filtration system
• Analyze Data and Graph Results

16 oz bottle
Solution of Red Food Coloring BEFORE and AFTER
filtration.