National project · Environmental monitoring
Aqua
Students across Spain measured chlorine and pH in tap water to map its quality
About the project
Aqua was a citizen science project to monitor the quality of the water we drink at home. Secondary school students analysed the water from their taps and created a map of chlorine levels in drinking water.
Public health institutes check water quality regularly. Chlorine is one of the key parameters, because its biocidal action keeps microbiological contaminants in check. That is why participants measured chlorine and pH, and also noted the water’s taste and smell.
The project began in 2014 in Zaragoza and A Coruña. Later, with new funding from FECYT, it was extended nationwide: the main campaign took place in 2017 and 2018. After that, any class or school could repeat the experiment and upload its results to the interactive map.
As well as bringing biochemistry closer to young people, Aqua created a new data source with more detail in time and space (town by town, street by street) than official monitoring.
Project objectives
The main aim was to motivate students to take part in science by doing biochemistry experiments with something as familiar as water. The project also set out to:
- Encourage hands-on experimentation among young people, with set reagents and protocols.
- Highlight the role of science in everyday life.
- Put what students learn in chemistry lessons into practice.
- Spark interest in research, technology and citizen science.
- Show that a mobile phone can also be used to do science.
The role of Ibercivis
Ibercivis designed and developed the aqua.ibercivis.es website and the mobile app, and sent schools the reagent kits for testing chlorine and pH. BIFI and IUCA at the University of Zaragoza contributed their expertise in water treatment, and the Education department of Zaragoza City Council helped invite schools to take part.
Ibercivis also analysed the results received to produce the chlorine distribution map, linked to pH and temperature. Data from the Drinking Water Quality Control Programme of Zaragoza’s Municipal Public Health Institute could be used as a control.
Our activities
- Design and development of the website and the mobile app (also for Android).
- Preparing participants and handing out kits, reagents and protocols in schools.
- A short documentary video on water treatment and how to analyse water.
- Collecting the measurements sent from homes and schools and creating the map of water drops.
- Analysing the results and writing the scientific report.
- Workshops at events for teachers and students, such as the one held at Etopia (Zaragoza) in December 2014.
- Documentation so that any school could make its own kits and repeat the experiment.
Project details
Type of project
National
Duration
2014 – 2018
Funding
Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT)
Consortium
Fundación Ibercivis, BIFI and IUCA (University of Zaragoza), with the support of Zaragoza City Council
Area
Environmental monitoring