Week 1: April 3, 2015

This was the first meeting of the group and first laboratory period. The overview of the project was presented by the professor and groups were formed. The group consists of Matthew L., Charles Z., Jeffrey S., Nicole C., and Cheyenne S. Six different possible scenarios were presented to each group, in which one is chosen by personal decision. These scenarios included zombie apocalypse, deserted island, nuclear war, tsunami, drought, and flood. Group 4 chose the deserted island simulation. Afterwards, the blog was formed and ideas for the filtration system were being brainstormed. The general consensus was that sand would definitely be used and it is assumed a spring is located on the island. Other materials that are provided by the laboratory are 1-micron sized beads for bacteria, colored solutions for organics and copper solution for metal removal. Remaining materials must be obtained independently. Possible ideas were then discusses amongst the group. One idea was a pump that could pull water into the container continuously by placing the pump in the spring, and pump it out through the filtration materials through tubing through a fine filter. This idea was not used because it relied too heavily on creating enough suction to lift the water with only scrap material. Also, rubber tubing from a plane crash would have been used for engine components and would be saturated with gasoline, jet fuel or other harmful chemicals. The second idea that came into discussion was a similar design that uses a pump with a one-way valve into which water will be fed by the user. Two course filters will prepare the water for pumping by removing any large materials from it. The user will then push down on the pump to force the water through a fine filter that will contain and pull back on the pump to allow more water into the chamber. A brief sketch of this design proposal is also posted on this blog. This is the general filtration system that will be tested and worked on, with possible alterations as research and testing continues.