Safe Drinking Water
Students engage in hands-on activities that provide an opportunity to learn about biological and environmental engineering. Students learn about perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and how to remove them from drinking water. Students are given water from a local water source and must create a filtration system. The students will then take the filtered water and attempt to purify that water.
Students build water filtration systems.Copyright Ryan Stidham
Chemical engineers play a vital role in providing clean water by designing and improving processes that treat and purify water. They develop filtration systems using materials such as activated charcoal and zeolites, apply chemical treatments such as chlorine to disinfect, and design advanced systems to remove harmful chemicals such as PFAS. They are also involved in desalination, turning seawater into drinkable water, and wastewater treatment, ensuring safe reuse or release of treated water. Additionally, chemical engineers focus on reducing water pollution, conserving resources, and creating sustainable water management practices to ensure clean water for future generations.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Describe what PFAS are, where they come from, and why they are harmful to the environment and human health.
- Design and construct a simple water filtration system using readily available materials.
- Apply problem-solving and critical thinking skills to improve their water filtration systems based on test results.
- Practice communicating their ideas and collaborating with peers to achieve a common goal.