Environmental · Water Treatment
Biosand Water Filter
Intermediate 4 weeks 25-35 hours
Build a sand and gravel water filter and measure how much turbidity it removes as its biological layer matures. Demonstration only, don't drink the output.
Major
Environmental
Focus area
Water Treatment
Total hours
25-35 hours
What you'll need
- 5 gallon food grade bucket with lid
- fine silica sand and pea gravel filter media
- 1/2 inch PVC pipe and fittings kit
- turbidity sensor module water quality detection for Arduino
- Arduino Uno R3 ATmega328P microcontroller board
- clear glass jars for water samples
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Steps
- Design the gravel and sand layer depths and the outlet pipe height.
- Build the filter and flush it until the output runs clear.
- Mix a consistent test water with a measured amount of garden soil.
- Feed the filter daily and measure turbidity in and out.
- Track removal percentage for 3 to 4 weeks as the biological layer develops.
- Chart the trend and document the filter for your portfolio.
What to photograph for your portfolio
- Layer design cross-section
- filter during construction
- before and after water jars
- removal efficiency chart
- test setup
Resume bullet starters
Copy one, then swap in your own numbers.
Designed and built a biosand filter that reduced turbidity by [X]% after [X] weeks of operation
Tracked daily influent and effluent turbidity to show how biological layer growth improved performance
Quantified results with [insert your result, such as removal percentage, accuracy, strength, or cost savings] and summarized findings in a technical report
Skills you'll show off
Water treatmentfiltration designexperimental setupremoval efficiencylab documentation