Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Hello,

I was wondering if you could tell me what equipment I would need to measure runoff samples that are discussed in the Science Buddies "From Your John to the Lawn: Is Recycled Water Really Safe?"

Thank you!
Maria

Hi water,

That project sounds interesting. Since it is an abbreviated project idea, it doesn't have much information. I found a website that might be helpful though: http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/wue/wa ... dures.html

Go down to "Resources for step 3 " on that page and they have resources for water testing kits, which is what you would need. On the "Ahdorma Water Filters" website the inexpensive tests are about [price removed]. You could choose one test to do (e.g. bacteria) or you could try some of the more advanced tests that test for multiple contaminants. Keep in mind that you would want to do multiple trials (at least 3) to get the best data, so that would be around [price removed].

If that's too expensive, then check out some of our other project ideas in the environmental engineering area: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... MzQxNzI1Mw, or check out a completely different area and browse our project ideas here: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... l?From=Tab. Another option would be to take our Topic Selection Wizard if you haven't already. The Topic Selection Wizard gives you a short survey and then gives you project ideas that match your interests: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... gister.php

If you have any more questions just reply to your original post. We'd love to help you!

EDIT: If you decide not to do this project and the other highschool-level environmental engineering projects do not interest you, you could also look at our project ideas for younger students and modify them so they are more challenging. (Just click "Show easier ideas" at the top of the page.). Our environmental science project ideas may also interest you.

I'm not sure why the cost of the project says "$20 or less." Perhaps the writer of the project idea was able to find a cheaper source for a water test kit. I'll look into getting the information changed if they were wrong.

I found a few cheaper sources for water test kits:



http://www.discovertesting.com/ (has some for [price removed] but also has a pack with 10 test strips for only [price removed])

The discover testing site has a cool product called "Watersafe Rapid Bacteria Pool Test Strips 10 Pack" for [price removed], so that would be [price removed] per test! That seems like the cheapest option, and it seems easier to use than the others. You can find it here:
http://www.discovertesting.com/products ... 010%20Pack.

Good luck!

I forgot that Science Buddies has ordered some materials from various "approved" suppliers, and I found some other cheap water testing kits through them, too.

http://www.hometrainingtools.com/water- ... E-WATQUAL/ (this one looks very easy and you get 70 strips that test a variety of things for less than [price removed]!)

http://sciencekit.com/waterworks-bacter ... IG0029603/

Dear Amber,

Thank you so much!! The informtion was so helpful.