CAPSTONE PROJECT

CAPSTONE/RESEARCH PROJECT TOPIC PROPOSAL

Proposed
Title
Harvesting and Filtration of Rainwater Using Natural Resources

Name of
Student/
Course, Year
& Section
Introduction In today’s society, having clean water is considered as a blessing. In urban
areas, to have clean water, people need to pay for it. But how about those
people living in rural areas? “The demand of rain water supply increases
due to the limited access towards clean water and the rapid urban growth
of population also increase and impact demands on water supply.”
(Ibraham Satih et. al., 2017). According to WHO and UNICEF (2019), 1 out
of 3 people don’t have access to clean water.
Harvesting rainwater is environmentally friendly as it can be used for
laundry, irrigation and/or if properly filtered, can be used for drinking as
well. Since Philippines is a tropical country, rain is not a problem.
Harvesting rainwater and filtering it is now being practiced in the country.
Rainwater has many contaminants such as dirt, bird excrement, leaves,
air pollution, etc. Today, many companies are making different Filtration
machine but many people can’t afford that. Filtering using natural
resources such as charcoal, gravel, and sand are effective too. It’s
convenient and easy to make.
Many water filtering systems uses activated charcoal to filter the water.
According to Dr. Josh Axe (2019), activated charcoal can trap impurities
and contaminants, which is why activated charcoal filter systems are used
throughout the world. Activated charcoal had many benefits not only for
filtering water. It can be used for face and can be intake as it can purify
toxins and impurities in the body. Activated charcoal is too hard to make
 so the researchers makes the pulverized charcoal as alternative.
According to the study named “Bio-Sand Filter (BSF): A Simple Water
Treatment Device for Safe Drinking Water Supply and to Promote Health in
Hazard Prone Hard-to-Reach Coastal Areas of Bangladesh”, using Bio-Sand
Filters (sand and gravel) can results to greater portion of turbidity
reduction. Sand and gravel can be used as a water filter along with rocks.
In the ancient times, people used sand, gravel, rocks, and charcoal to filter
and purify their drinking water as there’s no clean water source before.
Harvesting and filtering rainwater reduces the water bills; also, people can
store more clean water in the future.
Objectives  This research aims to know if the Natural Resources such as
charcoal, sand, and gravel can be used as filters for rainwater.
o To test if the process of storing the rainwater and its
temperature can affect the filtration.
o To test if the filtered rainwater is potable.
o To be able to know if this filtering system can be used for other
types of water such that of polluted or contaminated.
Scope and “Harvesting and Filtration of Rainwater Using Natural Resources” is a
Limitation study where pulverized charcoal, gravel, and sand are used to filter the
of the Study rainwater coming from the roof. The researchers will used the same as
ancient filtering system and test the pH level and the temperature of the
water before and after the filtering. The researcher will also consider how
the rainwater is stored before the filtering if it can affect the filtration.
Methodology Materials:
/Materials  5 large containers
and Method  3 small containers
 PVC pipes
 Charcoal
 Gravel
 Sand
 Clean clothes
 pH and temperature sensor
The research is an Experimental Research. Experimental research is ”a
study that strictly adheres to a scientific research design. It includes a
hypothesis, a variable that can be manipulated by the researcher, and
variables that can be measured, calculated and compared. Most
importantly, experimental research is completed in a controlled
 environment. The researcher collects data and results will either support
or reject the hypothesis. This method of research is referred to a
hypothesis testing or a deductive research method” (Babbie 4, 1998) . The
researchers will take 2 samples of rainwater with different types of
harvesting. The first one is harvesting rainwater and stored it in an open
lid and the other one is closed lid. The design of the project, the
researchers need 8 containers, 5 large and 3 small. The 2 large containers
will be used for storing the harvested rainwater and for storing the filtered
water. The three small containers will be used for charcoal, gravel, and
sand. Each container has one filter. Every filter containers have clean
cloth inside before and after putting the filter. The bottom of each filter
containers will have small holes. These three filter containers will be put
inside the remaining 3 large containers. These containers will be connected
by small PVC pipes. Before and after the filtering, the researchers will
measure the pH level and the water temperature. The researchers will
gather three different temperatures and pH level for every sample. The
researchers will not use mathematical formulas as they will only observe if
the three natural resources used can filter rainwater and if the water
temperature can affect filtering it by using the pH and temperature
sensor.
References Faizah, Sharifah & Johor, Wan & Siti Halipah, Ibrahim & Yaman, Khatijah
& abd wahab, Rasidah & Nasrun, Mohd & Mohd Nawi, Mohd Nasrun.
(2017). Filtration of Rainwater Harvesting System in Rural Area. Journal of
Engineering Science and Technology. 12.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/316888845_Filtration_of_Rain
water_Harvesting_System_in_Rural_Area

World Health Organization. (2018). 1 in 3 people globally do not have

access to safe drinking water – UNICEF, WHO.
https://www.who.int/news/item/18-06-2019-1-in-3-people-globally-do-
not-have-access-to-safe-drinking-water-unicef-who

Dr. Josh A, DC, DMN, CNS (2019, July 5). Top 10 Activated Charcoal, Plus
Potential Side Effects. Dr. Axe. https://draxe.com/nutrition/activated-
charcoal-uses/

Shimul, Enamul Kabir. (2016). Bio-Sand Filter (BSF): A Simple Water

Treatment Device for Safe Drinking Water Supply and to Promote Health in
Hazard Prone Hard-to-Reach Coastal Areas of Bangladesh. Journal of
Environmental Protection. 5. 109-114. 10.11648/j.ajep.20160505.11.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/306960238_Bio-
Sand_Filter_BSF_A_Simple_Water_Treatment_Device_for_Safe_Drinking_W
ater_Supply_and_to_Promote_Health_in_Hazard_Prone_Hard-to-
Reach_Coastal_Areas_of_Bangladesh

Babbie, Earl. The Practice of Social Research. 8th ed. Detroit: Wadsworth
Publishing Company, 1998.