Project_Tracker¶
Access to safe and clean drinking water remains a major challenge in Kenya, where millions of people still lack reliable water services. In cities like Kisumu and many rural areas, communities depend on pump-based systems and natural water sources that are often not monitored, leading to water contamination with suspended particles, heavy metals, and other harmful substances, which increases health risks and inequality in access to safe water.
This project addresses the problem by developing a portable, modular water purification and control system that can be added to existing water sources without major infrastructure changes. It combines electrocoagulation, physical filtration, and real-time monitoring using turbidity and flow sensors, all controlled by a microcontroller, to ensure water only flows when it meets safety standards, while automated valves regulate distribution and a dashboard provides users with clear insights into water quality and system performance.
Gant Chart
Bill of Materials (BOM)¶
| # | Item | Consumable (Y/N) | Quantity | Unit Cost (KES) | Total Cost (KES) | Use / Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PVC Pipe 3” (13 feet) | Y | 1 | 500 | 500 | Main water flow channel |
| 2 | PVC Plug 3” | Y | 3 | 150 | 450 | Sealing pipe ends |
| 3 | PPR Welding Machine | N | 1 | 2500 | 2500 | Joining plastic pipes |
| 4 | Male Adapter 1/2” | Y | 8 | 50 | 400 | Pipe connection interface |
| 5 | Tank Connector 1/2” | Y | 8 | 300 | 2400 | Connecting tank to piping |
| 6 | Plain Elbow 1/2” | Y | 8 | 30 | 240 | Changing flow direction |
| 7 | Solfix Gum | Y | 1 | 200 | 200 | Sealing and bonding joints |
| 8 | Female Adapter 1/2” | Y | 4 | 50 | 200 | Pipe-to-device connection |
| 9 | T-Connector | Y | 1 | 200 | 200 | Splitting water flow |
| 10 | Flow Sensor | Y | 2 | 820 | 1640 | Measuring water flow rate |
| 11 | Solenoid Valve | Y | 2 | 1000 | 2000 | Automatic water control (on/off) |
| — | -------------------------- | ------------------ | ---------- | ------------------ | ------------------ | ---------------------------------------- |
| TOTAL | 7090 KES |
Physical Components and Fabrication
To make the project more fabrication-friendly and reduce reliance on 3D printing, the design focuses on custom-designing only the inlet and outlet. The filter itself can be any container of preferred size. This approach ensures easy maintenance, such as replacing charcoal, pebbles, or other filter media
To ensure continuous water availability during system maintenance, a water storage unit should be incorporated. The disinfection chamber must be able to supply water to users even while maintenance is ongoing.
For easier maintenance of the electrochemical (EC) chamber, it is recommended to place it after the filtration unit and turbidity sensor. Additionally, a storage unit on top of the EC chamber is suggested to facilitate operation and maintenance.
tested the 3” waste pipe to check if the diameter fits with
Later introduced the polygons shapes to have the sieve shapes
Sediment holder..
Pump
The project requires a 24 V DC self-priming diaphragm pump because the system needs to draw water from a tank without being submerged and still maintain consistent pressure for controlled delivery. The pump operates at about 50–60 PSI, which is sufficient to meet the solenoid valve’s minimum opening pressure requirement of about 3 PSI (0.02 MPa), ensuring the valve can open and close reliably, and it can handle flow rates within the YF-S201 flow sensor range of 1–30 L/min, allowing accurate measurement of water flow through pulse signals. The pump is also selected with 1/2 inch inlet and outlet ports to match the system piping, ensuring proper compatibility, reducing pressure loss, and allowing smooth water transfer without the need for adapters or flow restriction, making it efficient for the entire system.
Flow Sensor
Flow Rate: 0.00 L/min
Flow Rate: 0.00 L/min
Flow Rate: 0.00 L/min
Flow Rate: 0.27 L/min
Flow Rate: 0.27 L/min
Flow Rate: 0.67 L/min
Flow Rate: 0.93 L/min
Flow Rate: 0.93 L/min
Flow Rate: 0.93 L/min
Flow Rate: 1.07 L/min
Flow Rate: 0.93 L/min
Flow Rate: 1.07 L/min
I tested the sensor using xiao esp 32-c3, and connected with MQTT, and got the followng readings:
#include <WiFi.h>
#include <PubSubClient.h>
// WiFi
const char* ssid = "MT";
const char* password = "#@Innovate";
// MQTT
const char* mqtt_server = "broker.emqx.io";
WiFiClient espClient;
PubSubClient client(espClient);
// Flow sensor
const int flowPin = D2; // D2 (change if needed)
volatile int pulseCount = 0;
float flowRate = 0.0;
float totalLiters = 0.0;
unsigned long previousMillis = 0;
// Interrupt
void IRAM_ATTR pulseCounter() {
pulseCount++;
}
// Connect WiFi
void setup_wifi() {
delay(10);
WiFi.begin(ssid, password);
while (WiFi.status() != WL_CONNECTED) {
delay(500);
Serial.print(".");
}
Serial.println("\nWiFi connected");
}
// Reconnect MQTT
void reconnect() {
while (!client.connected()) {
if (client.connect("ESP32FlowClient")) {
Serial.println("MQTT connected");
} else {
delay(2000);
}
}
}
void setup() {
Serial.begin(115200);
pinMode(flowPin, INPUT_PULLUP);
attachInterrupt(digitalPinToInterrupt(flowPin), pulseCounter, FALLING);
setup_wifi();
client.setServer(mqtt_server, 1883);
}
void loop() {
if (!client.connected()) reconnect();
client.loop();
unsigned long currentMillis = millis();
if (currentMillis - previousMillis >= 1000) { // every 1 sec
previousMillis = currentMillis;
// Calculate flow rate (L/min)
flowRate = pulseCount / 7.5;
// Convert to liters per second and accumulate
float litersThisSecond = flowRate / 60.0;
totalLiters += litersThisSecond;
pulseCount = 0;
// Convert to string
char flowMsg[20];
char totalMsg[20];
sprintf(flowMsg, "%.2f", flowRate);
sprintf(totalMsg, "%.2f", totalLiters);
// Publish to MQTT
client.publish("water/flow", flowMsg);
client.publish("water/total", totalMsg);
// Debug
Serial.print("Flow: ");
Serial.print(flowRate);
Serial.print(" L/min | Total: ");
Serial.println(totalLiters);
}
}
NC Solenoid valve
The project uses a 24 V DC solenoid valve with 1/2 inch ports that remains normally closed and only opens when 24 V is applied. It is chosen to match the 1/2 inch piping system, ensuring smooth integration without flow restriction, and it operates effectively with the pump’s 50–60 PSI pressure to allow controlled water movement through the system. The valve is controlled based on sensor inputs such as turbidity and flow rate from the YF-S201 sensor (1–30 L/min), allowing it to open or close depending on water quality or abnormal conditions, and it provides a safe fail-state by automatically closing and stopping water flow in case of power loss or system failure.
Exsiting filters
Filtration Module
My filtration module uses 1/2 inch inlets and oultets pvc pipes and PVC pipe 3” as the main catriege
V = π r² h
r = d / 2 = 0.04445 m
h = 400 mm = 0.4 m
V ≈ 0.00248 m³
Litres
V = 0.00248 × 1000
V ≈ 2.48 Liters
To ensure proper fitting and sealing of the components, heat shrink tubing was used to secure and slightly reduce the diameter of the 3-inch plugs, allowing them to fit correctly into the designated connectors. This method also improves grip and provides a tighter, more reliable seal
To achieve a proper fit within the system, the longer leg of the connector was cut using a hacksaw. This modification was necessary to reduce the length of the connector so that it could fit inside the designated pipe and align correctly with the rest of the assembly. By shortening the connector, it ensured a better fit, improved alignment, and allowed for a more compact and efficient installation within the system.
After assembling and modifying the connector, a clamp was used to hold the joint firmly in place while it hardened. This ensured that the connection remained tightly secured and properly aligned during the curing process. The use of the clamp improved the strength of the joint, reduced the risk of leaks, and resulted in a more stable and durable connection within the system.
The pipe connections were then assembled using a PPR (Polypropylene Random) welding machine, which was used to heat and fuse the connectors to the male adapters. This process ensures a strong, leak-proof joint that can withstand pressure within the system.
Sensors
Turbidity Sensor Tested
The project uses the LGZD Sensor V1.1 turbidity sensor, powered at 5 V DC with a current consumption of up to 30 mA, making it suitable for direct connection to a microcontroller system. It measures water clarity by providing either an analog output (0–4.5 V) or a digital signal (0–5 V), with a fast response time of less than 500 ms, allowing the system to quickly detect changes in water quality. This sensor is chosen because it enables real-time monitoring of turbidity levels, so the system can automatically trigger actions such as activating the solenoid valve to stop or allow flow and controlling the pump, ensuring only clean water passes through the system while maintaining reliable and responsive automated operation.
const int turbidityPin = A0;
float V_clean = 2.77;
float V_dirty = 0.90;
int getAverage() {
int sum = 0;
for (int i = 0; i < 20; i++) {
sum += analogRead(turbidityPin);
delay(5);
}
return sum / 20;
}
void setup() {
Serial.begin(115200);
Serial.println("=== TURBIDITY MONITOR ===");
}
void loop() {
int raw = getAverage();
float voltage = raw * (3.3 / 4095.0);
float turbidity = ((V_clean - voltage) / (V_clean - V_dirty)) * 100.0;
// Clamp values
if (turbidity < 0) turbidity = 0;
if (turbidity > 100) turbidity = 100;
// Classification
String status;
if (turbidity < 20) {
status = "CLEAN 💧";
}
else if (turbidity < 50) {
status = "SLIGHTLY DIRTY 🌫️";
}
else if (turbidity < 80) {
status = "DIRTY 🟤";
}
else {
status = "VERY DIRTY 🚫";
}
// Print everything nicely
Serial.print("Raw: ");
Serial.print(raw);
Serial.print(" | Voltage: ");
Serial.print(voltage, 2);
Serial.print(" V | Turbidity: ");
Serial.print(turbidity, 1);
Serial.print(" %");
Serial.print(" | Status: ");
Serial.println(status);
delay(1000);
}
Results
SEN0189 Sensor with Xiao Esp32-C3
New sensor readings
clean water
Raw: 3435 Voltage: 2.77 V
Raw: 3438 Voltage: 2.77 V
Raw: 3432 Voltage: 2.77 V
Raw: 3434 Voltage: 2.77 V
Raw: 3432 Voltage: 2.77 V
Raw: 3422 Voltage: 2.76 V
Dirty Water
Raw: 1176 Voltage: 0.95 V
Raw: 1163 Voltage: 0.94 V
Raw: 1161 Voltage: 0.94 V
Raw: 1199 Voltage: 0.97 V
Raw: 1126 Voltage: 0.91 V
Raw: 1097 Voltage: 0.88 V
Raw: 1095 Voltage: 0.88 V
Raw: 1095 Voltage: 0.88 V
Raw: 1070 Voltage: 0.86 V
Raw: 1069 Voltage: 0.86 V
My averages
float V_clean = 2.77;
float V_dirty = 0.90;
with very consistent readings now with new sensor
old sensor readings
Clean Water
Raw: 2029 Voltage: 1.64 V
Raw: 2029 Voltage: 1.64 V
Raw: 2030 Voltage: 1.64 V
Raw: 2037 Voltage: 1.64 V
Raw: 2041 Voltage: 1.64 V
Raw: 2039 Voltage: 1.64 V
Raw: 2040 Voltage: 1.64 V
Raw: 2044 Voltage: 1.65 V
Raw: 2044 Voltage: 1.65 V
Raw: 2043 Voltage: 1.65 V
Average Raw Value: 2037.6
Average Voltage: 1.643 V
dirty Water
Raw: 2139 Voltage: 1.72 V
Raw: 2139 Voltage: 1.72 V
Raw: 2141 Voltage: 1.73 V
Raw: 2151 Voltage: 1.73 V
Raw: 2153 Voltage: 1.74 V
Raw: 2152 Voltage: 1.73 V
Raw: 2152 Voltage: 1.73 V
Raw: 2154 Voltage: 1.74 V
Raw: 2154 Voltage: 1.74 V
Raw: 2152 Voltage: 1.73 V
Raw: 2166 Voltage: 1.75 V
Average Raw Value: 2150.27
Average Voltage: 1.733 V
Circuit Design and Programming Draft circuit
Am going to use Xiao ESP32C3 as my MCU, and to ensure I dont connet my pump directly to the controller i decided to use relays,
