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  • How to filter water the easy way

April 22 – WORLD EARTH DAY – this year we celebrate its 50th anniversary. On this anniversary, we present you an example from bionics. Low-cost water filtration inspired by non-flowering trees. The simple filtration system contains xylem tissue from native trees, which naturally filters water. Water is essential for human survival. And access to clean drinking water is crucial for good health. Contaminated drinking water can cause a number of health problems, including diarrhea and exposure to viruses. Wastewater treatment systems can be expensive and require specialized parts around the world, making the systems inaccessible to many countries. The water filtration system was inspired by the branches of native non-flowering trees, such as pine and ginkgo. Plants contain a tissue called xylem, which is made up of many small transport tubes. These tubes help transport water and nutrients from the roots to the leaves. Plants use xylem to transport water from their roots to the leaves. As water travels through the xylem, pathogens and bacteria are removed. The natural filter, made from peeled branches, can produce purified water at a rate of 1 liter per hour. It can also remove 99% E. coli and rotavirus, the most common cause of diarrhea. 

Advantages: Affordable, biodegradable, less waste

Applications: Water filtration

UN Sustainable Development Goals covered: Good health and well-being; Clean water and sanitation

Home experiments, Life in nature – how tomake a simple water purification filter
 
What we need:
 
 
  • large plastic bottle
  • olfa knife
  • gauze or similar material
  • charcoal
  • sand
  • stones
Cut the plastic bottle in half. The top part of the bottle will become a filter, and the bottom part will become a container for clean water. Turn the top part upside down and place it inside the bottom part. In order, put gauze, crushed charcoal, fine sand or gravel, coarse sand, and finally pebbles in the top part. Then slowly pour the dirty water through the filter. Clean water will slowly start to collect at the bottom. If you don't know the source of the water, it's best not to drink it or to clean it thoroughly. Boiling it for a longer period of time (at least 10 minutes) can kill most microorganisms. This water will taste worse than usual, so it's better to use it for soup or tea.

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Summarized by AskNature.org

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