Current Research
Semester Goals:
1. Determine a range of influent water turbidities the clay pot can remove for <5 NTU
2. Determine if the rate of water flow through the pot decreases with successive experiments or influent turbidities
3. Determine if the treatment of a lower influent turbidity water is compromised because a higher influent turbidity water was treated before
Experiment
Determine the clay pots initial flow rate (background flow rate) with clean water
1. Fill the pot with Ithaca Tap water
2. Measure the volume of water that seeps out in the first 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, and hour increments until the pot is empty.
Determine if the Manufacturer's cleaning directions are accurate
1. Mix a clay solution of 100 NTU
2. Allow the solution to run through the pot
3. Repeat steps 1-2 several times to build a nice coating of clay on the inside
4. Clean the pot according to the directions provided by the manufacturer
5. Allow a ithaca tap water solution to run through the pot
6. Measure the effluent turbidity at 15 minute increments for one hour.
Determine the range of influent water turbidities the clay pot can remove
1. Mix a clay solution of 10 NTU
2. Allow the solution to run through the pot
3. Measure the volume of water that seeps out in the first 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, and hour increments until the pot is empty
4. Measure the Turbidity of the effluent water at each of these time intervals
5. Clean the pot according to the directions provided by the manufacturer
6. Repeate 1-5 for influent turbidities of 25 NTU, 50 NTU, 75 NTU, 100 NTU, 125 NTU
Flow rate or Effluent Turbidity changes over time due to continuous use of high turbidity
1. Mix a clay solution of 100 NTU
2. Allow the solution to run through the pot
3. Measure the volume of the water that seeps out in the first 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, and hour increments until the pot is empty
4. Measure the turbidity of the effluent water at the same time intervals as step 3
5. Repeat steps 1-4 several times
Problems/Questions:
- The flow rate will decrease over time as the amount of water in the pot decreases
- How do we keep the clay solution completely mixed?
- Do we need more/less time intervals for measurement?
- Is the bucket holding the clay pot large enough so that water can easily flow out of the bucket without rising to a height that will become equilibrium with the level in the pot so that no water will flow out?