“Sand-Carbon Filter as an Agent in Eliminating Escherichia coli in Raw Water”

Presented to

The Faculty of Science, Technology

And Engineering (STE) Program
Maayon National Highschool
Maayon, Capiz

As a Requirement in Grade 10 Research

CHRISTINE JOY DELFIN

ERMA DOLORICO

MARRY ANGEL DOLOROTA

Research Students

MARYJANE DONGOR

Research Teacher
Sand-Carbon Filter as an Agent in Eliminating Escherichia coli in Raw Water

Research Plan

A. Question or Problem Being Addressed

In rural areas they don’t have a purified water to drink, they cannot afford costly
water filters or to by a purified water, so we thought on how they can drink or use clear
and clean water in a cheap way, that is why we came up with this topic, sand-carbon
filter. We want people from rural areas to be healthy and away from waterborne
diseases.
A biosand filter (BSF) is a point-of-use water treatment system adapted from
traditional slow sand filters. Biosand filters remove pathogens and suspended solids
from water using biological and physical processes that take place in a sand column
covered with a biofilm. BSFs have been shown to remove heavy metals, turbidity,
bacteria, viruses and protozoa. BSFs also reduce discoloration, odor and unpleasant
taste. Studies have shown a correlation between use of BSFs and a decrease in
occurrence of diarrhea. Bio-sand filter is a great alternate of purifying water, it’s cheap
and affordable. The materials that we will be using are easy to find on our surroundings.
People on rural areas tend to get their drinking water from deep well or water pumps so
instead of drinking this unhygienic water, they can use the sand-carbon filter in filtering
this water and to have purified water in an affordable way.
Sand carbon filter absorbs the bacteria present in water and makes that water
clear and clean. The World Health Organization says that every year more than 3.4
million people die as a result of water related diseases, making it the leading cause of
disease and death around the world, Most of the victims are young children, the vast
majority of whom die of illnesses caused by organisms that thrive in water sources
contaminated by raw sewage, we want to decrease this rate and to help the people
from rural areas in our community.

B. Goals/ Expected Outcomes/ Hypothesis

This study aims to find out if the sand-carbon filter can be use as an agent in
eliminating escherichia coli in raw water. Specifically, this study seeks to answer the
following questions; (1) Can sand-carbon filter be use as an agent in eliminating
escherichia coli in raw water? And (2) Is there a significant difference between the water
filtered by the sand-carbon filter and raw water in terms of (a)bacterial count and (B)
pH?
 In view with the foregoing objectives, the proponents hypothesized that there is a
significant difference between the water filtered by the sand-carbon filter and raw
water in terms of (a) bacterial count and (B) pH.

C. Procedure
I. Location and Duration of the Study

This study will be conducted at Poblacion Tabuc, Maayon, Capiz from June 7 to
September 7, 2018.

II. Collection and Preparation of Materials

The following materials will be collected at Poblacion Tabuc, Maayon, Capiz;

coconut roots (cocos nucifera roots), small rocks, sand, pebbles, charcoal (carbon) and
raw water. The screen, two containers and other possible materials will be provided by
the proponents.

III. Preparation of Materials

First, the materials will be washed thoroughly with running water. After that,
the main materials such as coconut roots (cocos nucifera roots), small rocks, sand,
pebbles and charcoal (carbon) will be layermned at the container. Lastly, test the
sand-carbon filter with raw water.
IV. Procedural Design

Collection and Preparation of Materials

Washing of Materials

Sterilization of Materials

Layering of materials in the Sand-Carbon Filter

Evaluation of the Product

Data Gathering

Data Interpretation

Results and Discussion

D. Data Gathering

First, we gathered all the needed materials especially the materials to be layered
at the sand-carbon filter, then washed it one by one. After dying, we will layer it on the
container, the first layer is the charcoal (carbon) , followed by the fine sand, pebbles,
small rocks and the last is the coconut roots (cocos nucifera roots). After that we will use
the layered container or the sand-carbon filter in filtering the raw water and test if
there’s a significant difference between the water filtered by the sand-carbon filter and
raw water in terms of taste, smell and appearance.

E. Statistical tools

The data collected will be analyzed using the One Way Analysis of Variance and
Mean Analysis as to the significant difference between the water filtered by the sand-
carbon filter and raw water.

F. Bibliography

Retrieved June 7, 2018 at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biosand_filter

Retrieved June 7, 2018 at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pIYPSnZ0d8

Retrieved June 7, 2018 at https://www.voanews.com/a/a-13-2005-03-17-voa34-

67381tml 67381152/274768.html

Retrieved June 7, 2018 at https://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/programs/geh/

jljhkjhkjhkclimatechange/health_impacts/waterbornediseases/index.cfm

Retrieved June 7, 2018 at http://www.usesofcoconut.com/coconut-root/

 ABSTRACT

This study entitled “Sand-Carbon Filter as an Agent in Eliminating

Escherichia coli in Raw Water” primarily aims to find out if the sand-carbon filter
can be use as an agent in eliminating escherichia coli in raw water and if there is
no significant difference between the water filtered by the sand-carbon filter and
raw water in terms of bacterial count and pH.

In the conduct of the study, the following procedures were done: collection
and preparation of materials, washing of materials, sterilization of materials,
layering of materials in the sand-carbon filter, evaluation of the product, data
gathering and interpretation, and discussion of results.

Based on the study conducted, the following conclusions were drawn: (1)
The sand-carbon filter can be use as an agent in eliminating escherichia coli in raw
water and (2) there is no significant difference between the water filtered by the
sand-carbon filter and raw water in terms of bacterial count and pH.

Since the sand-carbon filter has been tested and can be use as an agent in
eliminating escherichia coli in raw water, this could help the people in rural areas
to be healthy, far from any waterborne diseases and could help people in saving
their money and time.
 INTRODUCTION
Waterborne diseases are caused by drinking contaminated or dirty water. Contaminated
water can cause many types of diarrheal diseases, including Cholera, and other serious illnesses
such as Guinea worm disease, Typhoid, and Dysentery. Water related diseases cause 3.4 million
deaths each year. Water filters remove the bacteria and pathogens that contaminate water to
decrease the incidence of waterborne diseases.

Especially in rural areas, they don’t have a purified water to drink, they cannot afford costly
water filters or to by a purified water, so we thought on how they can drink or use clear and clean
water in a cheap way, that is why we came up with this topic, sand-carbon filter. We want people
from rural areas to be healthy and away from waterborne diseases.

Sand filters are used as a step in the water treatment process of water purification. There are
three main types; rapid (gravity) sand filters, upward flow sand filters and slow sand filters. All
three methods are used extensively in the water industry throughout the world. The first two
require the use of flocculant chemicals to work effectively while slow sand filters can produce very
high quality water with pathogens removal from 90% to >99% (depending on the strains), taste and
odour without the need for chemical aids. Sand filters can, apart from being used in water
treatment plants, be used for water purification in singular households as they use materials which
are available for most people

A biosand filter (BSF) is a point-of-use water treatment system adapted from

traditional slow sand filters. Biosand filters remove pathogens and suspended solids from water
using biological and physical processes that take place in a sand column covered with a biofilm.
BSFs have been shown to remove heavy metals, turbidity, bacteria, viruses and protozoa. BSFs also
reduce discoloration, odor and unpleasant taste. Studies have shown a correlation between use of
BSFs and a decrease in occurrence of diarrhea. Bio-sand filter is a great alternate of purifying water,
it’s cheap and affordable. The materials that we will be using are easy to find on our surroundings.
People on rural areas tend to get their drinking water from deep well or water pumps so instead of
drinking this unhygienic water, they can use the sand-carbon filter in filtering this water and to
have purified water in an affordable way.

Sand carbon filter absorbs the bacteria present in water and makes that water clear and
clean. The World Health Organization says that every year more than 3.4 million people die as a
result of water related diseases, making it the leading cause of disease and death around the world,
Most of the victims are young children, the vast majority of whom die of illnesses caused by
organisms that thrive in water sources contaminated by raw sewage, we want to decrease this rate
and to help the people from rural areas in our community.
 MATERIALS AND METHJOD

Materials
The materials used in this study were the following: coconut roots (cocos nucifera
roots), small rocks, sand, pebbles, charcoal (carbon), raw water, containers, screens, cup and
other possible materials.

Collection and Preparation of Materials

The coconut (cocos nucifera) roots, small rocks, sand and carbon were collected at
Fernandez Maayon Capiz. The said materials were separated and washed three times using
distilled water until was free from foreign substance and air dried. Coconut (cocos nucifera)
roots, small rocks, sand and carbon were measured by 6 inches each and layered it in the
container.

Preparation of Sand-Carbon Filter

In preparing the sand-carbon filter, measure the coconut (cocos nucifera) roots, small
rocks, sand and carbon by 6 inches. The materials used were thoroughly cleaned and sterilized
before conducting the experimentation. After that, layer the materials, the first layer is carbon,
the second layer is sand, third is small rocks, and fourth is coconut roots. After layering, the
sand-carbon filter will be tested by filtering the raw water and will interpret the gathered data
after interpreting the data, it is the time to discuss the results.

Statistical Analysis
The data collected will be analyzed using the One Way Analysis of Variance and Mean
Analysis as to the significant difference between the water filtered by the sand-carbon filter and
raw water.
 Procedural Design
Figure 1:
Collection and Preparation of Materials

Washing of Materials

Sterilization of Materials

Layering of materials in the Sand-Carbon Filter

Evaluation of the Product

Data Gathering

Data Interpretation

Results and Discussion

PICTURES OF THE EXPERIMENT

 RESULTS

Introduction

Materials and methods

Procedural design

Results

Discussion

Conclusion
 DISCUSSION
Waterborne diseases are caused by drinking contaminated or dirty water. Contaminated
water can cause many types of diarrheal diseases, including Cholera, and other serious illnesses
such as Guinea worm disease, Typhoid, and Dysentery. Water related diseases cause 3.4 million
deaths each year. Water filters remove the bacteria and pathogens that contaminate water to
decrease the incidence of waterborne diseases.

Especially in rural areas, they don’t have a purified water to drink, they cannot afford costly
water filters or to by a purified water, so we thought on how they can drink or use clear and clean
water in a cheap way, that is why we came up with this topic, sand-carbon filter. We want people
from rural areas to be healthy and away from waterborne diseases.

Sand filters are used as a step in the water treatment process of water purification. There are
three main types; rapid (gravity) sand filters, upward flow sand filters and slow sand filters. All
three methods are used extensively in the water industry throughout the world. The first two
require the use of flocculant chemicals to work effectively while slow sand filters can produce very
high quality water with pathogens removal from 90% to >99% (depending on the strains), taste and
odour without the need for chemical aids. Sand filters can, apart from being used in water
treatment plants, be used for water purification in singular households as they use materials which
are available for most people

Escherichia coli is a bacteria which is commonly found on human and animals intestines, it can
cause to many illness like diarrhea, fever, kidney failure, and even death.

So based on the result…

CONCLUSION
Based on the study conducted, the following conclusions were drawn: (1) The sand-
carbon filter can be use as an agent in eliminating escherichia coli in raw water and (2) there is
no significant difference between the water filtered by the sand-carbon filter and raw water in
terms of bacterial count and pH.

Since the sand-carbon filter has been tested and can be use as an agent in eliminating
escherichia coli in raw water, this could help the people in rural areas to be healthy, far from
any waterborne diseases and could help people in saving their money and time.
References

Websites

Acknowledgement