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Clean water is essential for life. In Kenya, millions of people rely on rivers, wells, and rainwater for drinking, cooking, and washing. But not all water is safe. Contaminated water causes diseases like typhoid, cholera, and stomach problems. In this project, you will become a water quality scientist – testing water from different sources to determine which is safe and which needs treatment.
- pH: How acidic or basic the water is (safe range: 6.5-8.5)
- Turbidity: How cloudy/turbid the water is (clear water is safer)
- Hardness: Amount of dissolved minerals (very hard water leaves scale)
- Chlorine: Disinfectant in tap water (should be low but present)
- Odour & Colour: Any unusual smell or colour indicates contamination
Water Samples (collect 4 sources):
- 💧 Tap water (from home or school)
- 💧 River/stream water (nearby water source)
- 💧 Rainwater (collect during rain in clean container)
- 💧 Well/borehole water (if available) OR bottled water
Testing Equipment:
- 🧪 pH test strips (available at pharmacy, 100-200 KES for 50 strips)
- 🥄 Turbidity test: clear glass jars
- 🧼 Soap for hardness test (liquid soap)
- 📋 Notebook and pen for recording results
- 📱 Camera/phone for photos
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Collect from 4 different sources
Use clean, labelled jars. Collect about 200ml of each sample. Label clearly: TAP, RIVER, RAIN, WELL. Take a photo of each collection point.
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'">🧪 Test 1: pH (Acidity/Alkalinity)
pH tells you if water is acidic or basic. Safe drinking water should have pH between 6.5 and 8.5.
Method: Dip pH strip into water sample for 2 seconds. Compare colour to chart on bottle. Record pH value.
'">💧 Test 2: Turbidity (Cloudiness/Clearness)
Turbidity measures how clear the water is. Very cloudy water may contain dirt, bacteria, or pollution.
Method: Shine a flashlight through each jar from the side. Observe how far light travels. Compare clarity:
- Clear: Light travels through easily, can read text through water (safe)
- Slightly cloudy: Some particles visible (needs treatment)
- Very cloudy: Cannot see through, many particles (unsafe, must boil/filter)
'">🧼 Test 3: Water Hardness (Soap Test)
Hard water contains dissolved minerals (calcium, magnesium). It doesn't lather well with soap and leaves white scale on kettles and pipes.
Method: Add 2-3 drops of liquid soap to each water sample. Shake gently for 10 seconds. Observe:
- Soft water: Lots of bubbles/suds, water becomes soapy quickly
- Hard water: Few bubbles, water may look milky or curdled
'">👃 Test 4: Odour & Colour
Safe drinking water should be colourless and odourless. Any smell or colour indicates contamination.
Method: Observe colour against white paper. Smell each sample (waft gently, don't inhale deeply).
- Normal: Clear and no smell
- Warning signs: Rotten egg smell (sulphur), chlorine smell (too much bleach), earthy/musty smell (algae/bacteria), brown/yellow colour (rust or organic matter)
'">| Water Source | pH (6.5-8.5 safe) | Turbidity (Clear/Slightly/Very) | Hardness (Soft/Hard) | Colour/Odour | Overall Safe to Drink? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tap Water | _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ |
| River Water | _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ |
| Rainwater | _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ |
| Well/Borehole | _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ |
- ✅ pH: 6.5 - 8.5 (outside this range = unsafe)
- ✅ Turbidity: Clear (should be able to read newspaper through water)
- ✅ Hardness: Soft to moderately hard (very hard water okay but leaves scale)
- ✅ Colour: Colourless (no brown, yellow, green)
- ✅ Odour: Odourless (no smell)
- Boil water for 10 minutes to kill bacteria
- Use water filters or purifiers
- Add chlorine tablets (WaterGuard) according to instructions
- Report concerning results (sewage smell, very low/high pH) to local health department
| Criteria | Exceeds (5) | Meets (4) | Approaching (3) | Below (2-1) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sample Collection | 4+ water sources, properly labelled, collection photos, clean containers | 4 sources, labelled, clean containers | 3 sources or missing labels | 2 or fewer sources |
| Testing Procedure | All 5 tests performed correctly, photos of each test, accurate observations | 4-5 tests performed, most observations accurate | 3 tests performed, some errors | 2 or fewer tests |
| Results & Analysis | Complete results table, compares sources, explains what results mean, suggests treatments | Complete table, basic analysis | Incomplete table | No results recorded |
| Conclusion & Report | Identifies safest source, explains why, connects to real-world water issues in Kenya, suggests improvements | Identifies safest source, basic explanation | Partial conclusion | No conclusion |
- Test water from 5-6 sources including a natural spring or dam
- Research and include: "How does the Kenyan government monitor water quality in Nairobi?"
- Investigate what happens when you boil or filter water that fails tests
- Create a water safety poster for your community
- Invite a public health officer to discuss local water issues – document the interview
- pH strip colour doesn't match chart: Dip for exactly 2 seconds. Wait 30 seconds before reading.
- All water looks clear: That's good! But still test odour and pH for hidden problems.
- Soap doesn't bubble in any sample: You may have added too little soap. Add 2 more drops and retest.
- No pH strips available: Make red cabbage indicator (boil red cabbage, use purple water as indicator – turns pink in acid, green in base).
In Kenya, organizations like Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company, Kenya Water Institute, and UNICEF employ water quality experts. Entry-level water quality technicians earn 25,000-45,000 KES/month. Environmental health officers work with county governments to ensure safe drinking water for communities. This project is your first step toward protecting public health through science!
🖨️ Print or Save as PDF
Take this lab guide to your science class. Record results directly in the table.