20. Final Project Documentation: Water for Aduvan¶
What does it do?¶
Water for Aduvan is a smart water purification and monitoring system designed to improve access to safe drinking water in underserved communities. The system combines electrocoagulation, filtration, and photocatalytic treatment to remove contaminants from water while continuously monitoring water quality parameters.
The system uses sensors to measure turbidity, flow rate, and system status. An ESP32-based controller processes sensor data and automatically controls pumps and solenoid valves. Water is only released for consumption when quality parameters meet predefined thresholds. Data is displayed locally and remotely through an IoT dashboard for monitoring and decision-making.
Who’s done what beforehand?¶
Several water purification systems have been developed previously, including reverse osmosis monitoring systems, rainwater filtration systems, and IoT-based water quality monitoring platforms. These systems primarily focused on monitoring water quality or filtration performance.
The unique contribution of Water for Aduvan is the integration of:
- Electrocoagulation treatment(future plan)
- Photocatalytic disinfection(Future plan with toyota)
- Real-time quality monitoring
- Automated flow control
- Low-cost digital fabrication
- Community-scale deployment
The project is inspired by existing water treatment technologies but adapted for affordability, local manufacturing, and deployment in rural African communities.
What did you design?¶
The following components were designed and fabricated:
- Sensor mounting fixtures
- Electronics enclosure
- Custom control PCB
- Dashboard interface
- Pump and valve control system
- System plumbing layout
The design incorporated both mechanical and electronic subsystems developed during Fab Academy assignments.
What sources did you use?¶
The project was informed by:
- Fab Academy documentation and previous final projects
- Youtube,Chatgpt,Research Gate,
- Wikipedia
- WHO drinking water quality guidelines
- ESP32 and sensor manufacturer datasheets
- Open-source IoT platforms and MQTT documentation
What materials and components were used?¶
Mechanical Components¶
- PVC pipes and fittings
- Fasteners
- Photocatalyst media
- Physical Filtration (Sand and gravel filtration media)
Electronic Components¶
- ESP32-c3-Seed xiao
- Turbidity sensor
- Flow sensor
- Relay modules
- Solenoid valve
- II2c OLED display
- Connectors and wiring
- Custom PCB
- Mosfet,voltage regulators,
Where did they come from?¶
Most electronic components were sourced from:
- Some came from Japan
- Online marketplaces
- Fab Lab Winam inventory
Mechanical materials were obtained from:
- Local hardware stores in Kisumu
- Plumbing suppliers
- Fab Lab Winam fabrication facilities
How much did they cost?¶
| Item | Estimated Cost (KES) |
|---|---|
| ESP32-S2 Mini | 1,200 |
| Turbidity Sensor | 1,500 |
| Flow Sensor | 800 |
| Solenoid Valve | 1,500 |
| Relay Module | 400 |
| PCB Materials | 1,000 |
| Aluminium Electrodes | 1,500 |
| Acrylic and Fabrication Materials | 3,000 |
| Filtration Media | 2,000 |
| Plumbing Components | 2,500 |
| Miscellaneous | 1,500 |
| Total | 16,900 KES |
What parts and systems were made?¶
Water Treatment System¶
- Sediment holder
- Filtration chamber
- Sensor holder
Electronics System¶
- Sensor network
- Control PCB
- Power management system
Software System¶
- Embedded firmware
- MQTT communication
- IoT dashboard
Mechanical System¶
- Enclosures
- Pipe connections
What processes were used?¶
The project integrated multiple Fab Academy processes:
Design¶
- 2D CAD design
- 3D CAD modeling
Digital Fabrication¶
- 3D printing
Electronics¶
- PCB design
- PCB production
- Soldering and assembly
Programming¶
- Embedded programming using ESP32
- MQTT communication
- IoT dashboard development
System Integration¶
- Plumbing assembly
- Sensor calibration
- System testing
What questions were answered?¶
- Can electrocoagulation improve raw water quality?
- Can turbidity measurements be used for automatic control?
- Can a low-cost ESP32 manage a water treatment process?
- Can water quality information be monitored remotely?
- Can digital fabrication techniques reduce production costs?
- Can the system be replicated in rural communities?
What worked?¶
- Turbidity monitoring provided useful quality feedback.
- ESP32 control system reliably automated valves and pumps.
- MQTT communication successfully transmitted data.
- Dashboard visualization worked effectively.
- Modular system architecture simplified maintenance.
What didn’t work?¶
- Turbidity Sensor calibration required repeated adjustments.
- Flow measurements fluctuated at low flow rates.
- Filtration procees was too slow
How was it evaluated?¶
The system was evaluated using the following criteria:
| Evaluation Metric | Result |
|---|---|
| Water flow control | Pass |
| Sensor operation | Pass |
| Data transmission | Pass |
| Dashboard visualization | Pass |
| Turbidity reduction | Pass |
| Automated decision making | Pass |
| Continuous operation | Pass |
Water samples were tested before and after treatment to compare turbidity levels and verify system effectiveness.
What are the implications?¶
Water for Aduvan demonstrates how digital fabrication, embedded electronics, and IoT technologies can contribute to addressing Sustainable Development Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation.
The project offers:
- Affordable water treatment
- Community ownership of technology
- Local manufacturing opportunities
- Real-time water quality transparency
- Reduced dependence on centralized infrastructure
- A scalable solution for rural and peri-urban communities
Future work will focus on improving treatment efficiency through partneship with toyota and use of photocatalyst, electrocoagulation chamber, integrating additional water quality sensors, enhancing energy efficiency through solar power, and deploying pilot systems within communities around Lake Victoria.