Science Fair Project on Testing Drinking Water
You are intelligent enough to know that the purpose of most science fair projects is to teach students how to use scientific methods to solve problems on their own. A science fair project can allow students, parents, and teachers to make new discoveries together. One of those discoveries might be how clean your drinking water is.
Students may expect faucet water to be clean, but is it? A science fair project on testing drinking water can help them learn what is in the water they use. This outline will help them and you conduct a drinking water test.
State Your Hypothesis
A good example might be, “If I test drinking water from different sources, which will I find to be the best for my health?” A poor example would be, “If I drink tap water, what happens?”
Background Research
Learn all that you can about what water may contain. Research the effects of various contaminants, minerals, etc.
Develop a Drinking Water Test
What kind of drinking water test will you use? What kinds of drinking water will you test? Will you buy a kit, or simply order appropriate test materials? How will you collect the water to be sure you do not change its content?
What You Need for Drinking Water Tests
Students will need Colorimetric test strips for many drinking water tests. Kits are available from science fair websites. Water Safe Drinking Water Test is an EPA standardized, laboratory certified simple kit that identifies harmful levels of 8 different common contaminants in water: bacteria, chlorine, lead, nitrates, nitrites, pesticides, pH, and water hardness. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: agriculture and water quality, drinking waterRelated posts
The Health Benefits Of Drinking Water – Is Bottled Drinking Water Healthier Than Filtered Tap Water?
Water is a key ingredient in a healthy diet and lifestyle. There are many health benefits of drinking water. It helps flush impurities and toxins out of our systems. It aids in the delivery of oxygen and nutrients. In fact, nearly every system in our bodies relies on water for proper functioning. But what if your water is unhealthy?
In past decades, concerns about tap water and its impact on overall health led some people to turn to bottled drinking water instead. In those days, there were few choices. You could pay to have a company deliver large bulky plastic bottles of water for the water cooler. Or you could purchase gallon jugs of distilled or “drinking water” at the grocery store.
In recent years, there has been an explosion in the number of different bottled waters available, with big distributors such as Coke and Pepsi jumping on the bandwagon. But are bottled drinking waters like Coke’s Dasani brand, Pepsi’s Aquafina, or Wal-Mart’s store brand really any healthier than your tap water? Or would you be better off with a drinking water filtration system?
As we’ve learned more about the water we drink, the technology behind drinking water filters and purification systems has improved dramatically. There are filters to remove impurities, chemicals, heavy metals, bacteria and most every contaminant you can think of. With the right size and filter combination for your specific home, your water can be exceptionally pure and healthy. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: agriculture and water quality, drinking waterRelated posts
Bottled Drinking Water – Pure or Impure?
Some people think it is foolish to buy bottled drinking water, and ask, “Why pay for water in bottles when you can get it from your kitchen faucet?” Others prefer having choices in drinking water. They want to know what is going into their bodies, they say. To that, the faucet-water drinkers counter, “Have you ever run tests on your faucet water and your bottled drinking water?
Whichever way you think, you should choose your drinking water carefully. You may even want to run tests – or obtain literature showing the results of tests that have been run on the various drinking waters available to you.
Take bottled drinking water. To many people, the fact that the water is bottled means it is pure. But is it? Might it be possible that your bottled drinking water contains as great a colony of “water criminals” as your tap water does?
Bottled Drinking Water Terminology
The following are definitions frequently used on the labels of bottled drinking water to describe the water’s characteristics, sources, and methods of treatment. They may surprise you. These definitions are taken from the pamphlet, “Bottled Water Basics” published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: agriculture and water quality, drinking water