Microbiological Water Safety Monitoring, Spring 2016

Jacqueline Dokko, Janak Shah

Abstract

The ultimate goal for the microbiological water safety monitoring (MWSM) team is the development of a test that detects pathogens in water. The test must be of low cost (under ten dollars for each test), have a reduced incubation time from the standard 48 hours, and be able to be used in a low-resource setting such as Honduras. The team tested methods indicating the presence or absence of bacteria compared to quantitatively determining bacterial presence. Upon understanding the cost and efficiency of each method, it was possible to narrow down the methods that could be used as a model for microbial detection for AguaClara purposes.

Prefab 1 L/s - Spring 2016

Kimberly Buhl, Claire DeVoe, Meryl Kruskopf, and Felix Yang

Abstract:

The goal of the Prefabrication 1 L/s team was to research, test, and provide fabrication methods to be used when constructing the 1 L/s plant design in Honduras. The team worked on an approximate 1/10th flow rate scale model to design novel geometries for a low-flow flocculator and sedimentation tank while implementing known AguaClara fluid mechanic techniques. The cost per capita associated with these plants was calcu- lated to be much lower than plants built using traditional construction methods. Recommendations on design and fabrication methods were re- layed to future teams working on full-scale plant production.

StaRS Filter Theory - Spring 2016

Theresa Chu, Lucinda Li, Jonathan Harris

Abstract

A mathematical model describing sand filtration would promote the understanding of stacked rapid sand filter performance. Variables affecting filter performance include coagulant dosage, influent turbidity, and sand filtration depth. The collected data from a model filter informed a mathematical model explaining the effect of coagulant mass on the filter’s effluent turbidity, head loss, and failure time. Experiment runs demonstrated that increasing coagulant dosage led to an increase in head loss and decrease in time until filter failure as well as vary effluent turbidity. Head loss curves for the various PACl dosages had the same trend after filter failure and converged to the same value after a 24 hour run time.