Timeline
45-60 minutes planning and build time
30 minutes to test products
30 minutes to test products
Background
Access to clean water is a challenge in many parts of the world. One innovative way to meet the water needs for areas without a water infrastucture is to collect rainwater and to store it for later use. Watch the video below showing rainwater collection being used in a rural area in Africa.
The document below (created by eng-cite) provides useful background information about rain water collection system design.
Design Challenge
Your challenge is to build the most efficient rain water collection system possible.
Your system must be portable.
Your starting budget is $300. You may purchase supplies from your teacher based on the price list below.
Your system should collect a lot of water but it should also be as affordable as possible. Teams will be judges using the formula volume of water collected divided by cost. This means you should only spend as much of your budget as necessary.
Ask your teacher about which surface is being used for a rooftop (the top of a Rubbermaid bin works well).
You may use pencils and scissors but all other materials must be purchased.
HINT: Successful teams take the time to plan out their design before purchasing materials and they also leave room in their budget in case emergency materials are needed.
Your system must be portable.
Your starting budget is $300. You may purchase supplies from your teacher based on the price list below.
Your system should collect a lot of water but it should also be as affordable as possible. Teams will be judges using the formula volume of water collected divided by cost. This means you should only spend as much of your budget as necessary.
Ask your teacher about which surface is being used for a rooftop (the top of a Rubbermaid bin works well).
You may use pencils and scissors but all other materials must be purchased.
HINT: Successful teams take the time to plan out their design before purchasing materials and they also leave room in their budget in case emergency materials are needed.
Price List
Cardboard: $10 per 100 cm2
Tin Foil: $1 per 1 cm
Cups: $20
2L Pop Bottles: $50
Straws: $5 each
Plates: $10
Masking Tape: $1 per 2 cm
Duct Tape: $1 per cm
String: $1 per 5 cm
Popsicle Sticks: $5
Construction Paper: $5 per sheet
Wax Paper: $5 per 10 cm
Rubber Band: $10 each
Balloon: $20 each
Modelling Clay: $10 per cube
Tin Foil: $1 per 1 cm
Cups: $20
2L Pop Bottles: $50
Straws: $5 each
Plates: $10
Masking Tape: $1 per 2 cm
Duct Tape: $1 per cm
String: $1 per 5 cm
Popsicle Sticks: $5
Construction Paper: $5 per sheet
Wax Paper: $5 per 10 cm
Rubber Band: $10 each
Balloon: $20 each
Modelling Clay: $10 per cube