"DEVELOPMENT OF A PERSONAL WATER PURIFICATION SOLUTION IN NAGCARLAN, PHILIPPINES"

The number of those who need basic life services increases throughout the world as the world's population continues to grow.One such example is the community of Nagcarlan, Philippines.There is a need for potable water, free of harmful contaminants and diseases, in this disadvantaged region.With a concern such as this in mind, it is important for up and coming engineers in the 21 st century to realize that it is our responsibility and our ethical duty to address these issues.Therefore, through a course in service learning, young engineers will put to use what they learned in their studies and apply them to address this community's problem.Students will apply their knowledge to develop a cost-effective and efficient personal water purification system for the people of Nagcarlan.Tests have shown that the water supply in the area is contaminated with heavy metals, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and high levels of Coliform bacteria.In attempts to remove these contaminants, students will research the natural materials in the area that may be helpful or useful in their removal.Materials like coconut waste to derive activated carbon and Malunggay, which are readily available throughout the Philippines, will be tested for their contaminant removal capabilities.Not only will this research and development project help the people of Nagcarlan, but also other rural, disadvantaged areas, where water contamination is of great concern.This research and service learning will also be beneficial to the students, who will grow from this experience and provide an example for engineers to come.