FLOWER FAUCET

We are members of a FIRST Lego League robotics team from Poinciana Elementary STEM Magnet School. We are team 4327 The POWERFUL PANDAS--we were given the task to created something to help improve on the human water cycle--we choose to help recycle grey water from our school's drinking fountains. When a person takes an average 10 second drink approximately 4 ounces of water goes down the drain. The FLOWER FAUCET collects that water and is used to water our school's butterfly garden.

Step 1: ITEMS NEEDED FOR PROJECT

You will need: 2 part waterproof expoxy, a long plastic tray (we used one from a planter), a collection container (we used a garbage can on wheels for easy transporting), some type of tubing (we used washing machine replacement tubing). OPTIONAL: water level alarm.

Step 2: MAKE a TEMPLATE TO CUT HOLES

Cut a piece of paper the size of your tray (make sure tray is long enough to go over water faucet and extend off the edge).

Measure the placement needed for hole to go over drinking fountain head. Mark placement on paper template. Also mark placement for collection tubing (make sure your tray extends off the end of the water fountain).

Step 3: CUT HOLES IN COLLECTION TRAY

Use your template to mark plastic tray--we used a drill press to cut holes.

PLASTIC TRAY HOLES: Our fountain head required a 3.5 inch hole and the collection tubing required a 1.5 inch hole.

Step 4: CUT HOLE IN COLLECTION CONTAINER

We used a hand drill to cut hole in trash can--1.5 inch hole for the tubing to be place in

Step 5: GLUE TUBING IN PLACE

Tubing needs to be attached to end of plastic tray--this is the end that extends off the water fountain--this will be where the grey water flows to collection container. LET DRY OVERNIGHT.

Step 6: ADD a SMALL SLOPE

Depending on your fountain build, you may need to add a small incline to your tray--we used two lego technic piece to glue together and place on the end near the water fountain head to create small slope for water collection

Step 7: CUT TUBING--PUT IT ALL TOGETHER

Cut the tubing length to allow water to run into collection container (garbage can)--we suggest you leave about 1 foot extra tubing to extend into the container.....this will allow container to fill up about 2/3 of the way and makes it so that water won't spill when you transport container to watering area.

Step 8: NICE BUT NOT NECESSARY

We added a water level alarm--since we are using this in our school we can't monitor it all the time. Teachers know that if they hear the alarm go off the container is at maximum water level (we stop about 1 foot from the top to make transporting easy--no spills!).

Comments

[ShariE5]

Very interesting project! Great thinking outside the box.

[JenelleH1]

Creative idea! Nice use of gray water.

[Norfolkson]

VERY nicely done indeed! A prototype that is simple, direct and above all WORKS. This can now be refined and incorporated into any building's water system, perhaps with an added UV sterilization point after collection.

[3366carlos]

I like it. Any concerns about catching viruses from the drinkers?

[rayp1511]

Nice way to recycle the water. And a good use of legos. That's a worthy project. Well done.