Students will design and build a water filtration device using commonly available materials, following the same design process used by NASA engineers and scientists for the International Space Station Water Recovery System.
Empty 16oz plastic water bottles (2 per team)
Cheesecloth or gauze (1 square per team, to cover the mouth of the bottle)
Rubber bands (1 per team, to attach the cheesecloth to the bottle)
Variety of filter media (e.g., cotton balls, coffee filters, aquarium gravel, play sand, uncooked macaroni, zeolite, activated carbon)
Paper or plastic cups (for scooping loose filter media)
Simulated wastewater (created by combining vinegar, yellow food coloring, dust, topsoil or sand, pet or human hair, and water)
pH test strips (range 1-12, minimum)
Conductivity testers (optional, for testing water quality)
Digital or triple-beam balances (for weighing filter media)
Graduated cylinders (250 mL, for measuring simulated wastewater)
Scissors (1 pair per team)
Paper towels (for spill cleanup)
Introduction (10 minutes)
Discuss the importance of clean water and its scarcity.
Introduce the challenge: Students will build a water filtration device.
Design and Build (30 minutes)
Divide students into teams of two or three.
Provide each team with an empty 16oz water bottle.
Cut the bottle in half across the width.
Cover the opening with cheesecloth or gauze secured by a rubber band.
Place the top half (with the cheesecloth) upside down into the bottom half.
Fill the top half with various filter media (students can choose from the provided materials).
Seal the two halves together.
Testing (20 minutes)
Prepare simulated wastewater.
Pour the wastewater through the filter.
Measure the effectiveness of the filtration device using pH test strips.
Optionally, assemble and use conductivity testers to assess water quality.
Data Analysis and Iteration (15 minutes)
Students analyze the data collected.
Discuss which filter media worked best.
Encourage an iterative process to improve the design.
NASA Connection (5 minutes)
Explain that NASA faces similar challenges in space.
Mention the International Space Station Water Recovery System.
Discuss how engineers and astronauts work together to ensure clean water for astronauts.
Competition (10 minutes)
Hold a qualitative assessment of filtered water clarity.
The team with the clearest water bottle wins.
Students’ filtration devices’ effectiveness (based on pH test results).
Participation in class discussions and teamwork.
Research NASA’s water recovery systems further.
Explore other real-world applications of water filtration.
NASA’s engineers and scientists use similar design processes to create water recovery systems for astronauts aboard the International Space Station. This activity provides students with a hands-on experience related to NASA’s work in space exploration and sustainability1