Log Book for January 13, 2011

Science Report 1

Judah Epstein Reporting

The purpose of this project is to explore the effectiveness of a slow sand sedimentary water filtration system in a planetary environment. To simulate a planetary environment the experiment is conducted at the Mars Desert Research Station, a self-sustaining planetary research experiment and simulation expedition.

Background information regarding the project abstract, purpose, goals, and specific experiment details and information are included in the Science Report from January 6.

Data collected from Jan 12 and prior is available in this spreadsheet.

Updates on results:

Filter 1 (Martian Simulant) and Filter 2 (Commercial Sand) are not achieving optimal results as the filter is clogged with extremely low hydraulic conductivity. Therefore not enough effluent water was produced to take measurements with the Qanta probe (Temp, SpC, DO, pH, TDS, DO%, ORP).

Turbidity results: Turbidity of effluent from all three slow sand filters has generally been increasing. Turbidity of effluent from the wetland, greywater, and Hab potable are remaining generally consistent.