*Chemistry Project: Investigating Water Purification Methods* *Stage 1: Problem Identification* *Statement of Problem * Access to clean drinking water is a global challenge, with many communities relying on unsafe water sources. Contaminated water can lead to diseases and poor health. This project addresses how simple chemical water purification methods can provide clean and safe drinking water. *Statement of Intent * The project aims to compare different water purification methods, including filtration, chlorination, and distillation, to identify the most effective and practical method for producing clean water in local communities.*Design Specifications * The project will include: 1. Testing water samples before and after purification. 2. Evaluating the effectiveness of different methods in removing contaminants. 3. Measuring costs and feasibility for community implementation. *Materials Needed* : Dirty water samples, filtration system kits, chlorine tablets, distillation apparatus, pH meters, and turbidity testing tools. *Stage 2: Investigation of Related Ideas* *How has the problem been solved before? *1. *Filtration Systems* — Used in households globally to remove solid particles and impurities from water. 2. *Chlorination* — Commonly used in municipal water systems to kill bacteria and viruses. 3. *Boiling* — A traditional method used in rural areas to eliminate pathogens. 4. *Distillation* — Applied in laboratories and industries to produce highly purified water. *How successful were the solutions? * - *Filtration* : Effective in removing solids but less effective for chemical contaminants. - *Chlorination® : Efficient at killing microbes but alters the taste of water. - *Boiling* : Removes pathogens but requires fuel and time, which can be impractical.- *Distillation* : Produces pure water but is expensive and energy-intensive. *Stage 3: Generation of Ideas* *Possible solutions for the project: * 1. *Designing a Low-Cost Filtration System* — Create an affordable filtration system using local materials. 2. *Testing Purification Tablets* — Evaluate the effectiveness of chlorine tablets and similar products. 3. *Developing Solar Water Distillation Units* - Use solar energy to purify water through distillation. 4. *Combining Methods* — Develop a hybrid system that uses filtration and chlorination together for greater efficiency.*Stage 4: Development of Selected Ideas* *Chosen Solution: Low-Cost Filtration System Combined with Chlorination * This solution was chosen for its practicality, affordability, and effectiveness in removing contaminants. *Materials Required: * Plastic containers, sand, gravel, activated charcoal, chlorine tablets, water testing kits, and basic tools. *Process: * 1. Assemble a filtration system using layers of sand, gravel, and activated charcoal. 2. Pass dirty water through the filtration system to remove solid particles andimpurities. 3. Treat the filtered water with chlorine tablets to eliminate pathogens. 4. Test the purified water for contaminants using turbidity and pH meters. *Stage 5: Presentation of Results* 1. Show the process of purifying water using the filtration system and chlorination. 2. Present before-and-after water test results to demonstrate effectiveness. 3. Display diagrams and photos of the setup and process. 4. Discuss potential applications for local communities.*Stage 6: Evaluation and Recommendations* *Evaluation * Challenges included ensuring proper layering in the filtration system and accurately measuring chlorine doses. These were overcome by conducting multiple trials and refining the design. *Recommendations * Future projects could explore integrating solar distillation with filtration and chlorination to further improve efficiency. Community outreach programs could also teach residents how to replicate the system at home.