Easy Science Fair Projects on Water Purification

The purpose of this experiment was to try and make contaminated water safe to drink for people who do not have access to clean drinking water by using inexpensive and easily accessible materials. E.coli and coliform bacteria were used as indicators of possible disease causing pathogens.

Contaminated water was filtered for turbidity. Two hundred, fifty mL of river water was poured into plastic bottles. Two bottles were placed in the sun and had the following killing agents added: 1.5mL of 12% food grade hydrogen peroxide and 5mL of vinegar.

One control was placed in the sun to test UV as a variable. One control was placed under a box in the sun to test heat as a variable. Two bottles were placed in a dark closet at room temperature with the following killing agents: hydrogen peroxide and vinegar. One bottle was placed in the closet to test time as a variable.

The results showed that only hydrogen peroxide was effective in eliminating all coliform bacterial both at room temperature and when exposed to UV rays.

Because time and temperature seemed to have affected my results, a second test was done. This time testing of the sample was done immediately after adding the hydrogen peroxide.

The results from this test showed that all E.coli and coliform bacterial were eliminated. Therefore, I believe the hydrogen peroxide can be used to make water safer to drink. Although, because hydrogen peroxide can be harmful if digested in wrong amounts, precautions must be taken.