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2025 | Latvia | Water issue adressed: Too dirty

The Effectiveness of Various Natural Materials in Freshwater Filtration

Dadaab , Kenya - August 14, 2011: Somalian children refugees fetch water at the new Ifo-extension in Dadaab on August 14, 2011. The new site opened to some 5,000 refugees among an ever swelling number of Somalia's people coming into the Dadaab refugee complex in Kenya's north-easterly province. The Ifo extension, which will provide tented accommodation to 90,000 refugees by the end of November, had been prepared several weeks ago but its opening was delayed owing to opposition from Kenyan government ranks citing a threat to the national security.

In this scientific research work, the hypothesis was tested, whether it is possible
to obtain drinking water for human consumption by filtering the freshwater through
natural materials. As part of the research, experiments were carried out in which the
water sample was filtered through sand, charcoal, and moss. After filtration, the water
was boiled at 100 °C for 10 minutes. After boiling, the water samples were tested in the
Scientific Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health and Environment BIOR (Latvia, Riga). By
comparing the obtained test results, it was concluded that these filter materials,
combined with boiling, have great potential to filter drinking water for short-term use.

This is how I came up with the idea for this project:

When thinking about what I could research, I knew i wanted to research something that had a negative impact on the world. I stumbled upon The United Nations 17 sustainable development goals, where I ultimately decided what I would be researching.

CONTACT WATERTANK
Ania Andersch
Programme manager
+46 8 121 360 59

Documentation

The Effectiveness of Various Natural Materials in Freshwater Filtration In this scientific research work, the hypothesis was tested, whether it is possible to obtain drinking water for human consumption by filtering the freshwater through natural materials. As part of the research, experiments were carried out in which the water sample was filtered through sand, charcoal, and moss. After filtration, the water was boiled at 100 °C for 10 minutes. After boiling, the water samples were tested in the Scientific Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health and Environment BIOR (Latvia, Riga). By comparing the obtained test results, it was concluded that these filter materials, combined with boiling, have great potential to filter drinking water for short-term use.