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Abstract

I created this project because I wanted to care for our water supply. I thought the treated greywater would be best for plants, but it was almost the same as the other types. Some other people found that untreated greywater could be bad for plants, but mine were completely fine. I used a ruler to measure each of the plants in millimeters, and then recorded my evidence in a table. I changed the water type between the plants, and I kept everything else the same. My hypothesis is incorrect, because each type of water produced the same result. I wanted to add to our knowledge about plants and general conservation.

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Purpose Statement

This project was started to help with California's drought. I am trying to figure out what kind of water is best for growing plants, and this will help tell a little bit more about how we can reuse water. To add on to our knowledge, I have tested a winter plant because this project was done during winter. Now we know how to reuse greywater, and what systems to use for treatment. This can help everyone use a little less water, and help keep our reservoirs full.

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Hypothesis

Treated greywater will be better because it has natural nutrients and organic matter that can act as fertilizer, that tap water doesn't have.

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Experimental Procedures and

Materials

MATERIALS:

Several buckets, water filter (BRITA brand, preferably), arugula seeds (fast growing), 16 little plant pots, all connected, potting soil, measuring cup, pitcher, translucent plastic cover, (so the plants don't get extra rain.) tape measure and/or ruler, and a notepad for recording findings.

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Experimental Procedures and

Materials

PROCEDURE:

Gather materials.
Put soil in pots.
Plant seeds in pots.
Gather greywater.
Treat ½ of greywater.
Collect tap water.
Water plants with designated water. (1/24 of a cup per pot)
Cover plants with translucent plastic cover.
Wait 6 or 7 days.
Measure and record measurements.
Repeat steps 7 to eleven!

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Experimental Results

The results are written like they are in the real world. In each group the top left measurements are from the top left planter pot, the top right measurements are from the top right planter pot, the bottom right measurements are from the bottom right planter pot, and the bottom left measurements are from the bottom left planter pot. One of the plants died, (due to unknown cause) marked by an X on the chart. A comma separates the two measurements from each pot.

The leftmost pots are greywater, the middle pots are tap water, and the rightmost pots are treated greywater.

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Experimental Results

All measurements are in millimeters.

Water Type	Greywater Avg.	Tap water Avg.	Treated Greywater Avg.
18/11/23	33,35 25,33 35,44 25,30 32.5	28,30 22,30 27,30 31,28 28.3	31,21 17,29 13,18 32,25 23.3
3/12/23	50,55 46,63 65,58 47,51 54.4	53,47 45,42 49,45 57,48 48.3	35,53 52,55 41,X 55,48 48.4
10/12/23	62,69 60,71 67,65 61,71 65.8	59,67 51,52 62,53 72,51 58.4	47,74 60,73 58,X 72,70 64.9
29/12/23	78,79 67,92 105,88 90,77 84.5	100,81 85,77 79,75 94,101 86.5	60,100 90,81 89,X 103,95 88.3
6/1/24	85,87 78,100 107,105 97,80 92.4	103,90 89,85 90,90 107,88 92.8	65,106 90,81 89,X 103,95 89.9

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Experimental Results

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Analysis of Experimental

Results

According to my graph, the water types start the plants out differently, but their heights became more similar to each other over time. This means that there is essentially no difference between the effects of the types of water. The starting growth could also be decided by germination times, so there is no practical difference between the effects of the water types.

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Conclusions

My original hypothesis was that the treated greywater would be better because it would have less pathogens, but it would have some good organic matter in it. My hypothesis was disproved because all of the waters had essentially the same effect.

In future experiments, I would consider other types of greywater, maybe if the greywater came from a different source, the plant would be differently affected. Maybe even some other plant types would be considered.

This experience has changed my attitude towards science, and I think that science isn’t so bad after all.

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Acknowledgements

My main acknowledgements are for my parents, who helped me in thinking up and executing the project, provided grammar corrections, and purchased things. I also thank the store, Home Depot, which supplied seeds, and pots for purchase.

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Bibliography and

Sources

Author not provided (n.d.) About greywater reuse, Greywater Action.org

https://greywateraction.org/greywater-reuse/

Lawton, Francis, 1/27/23, Water is water!

https://microbiometer.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/ScienceFairProject.pdf