Chilean students create eco filter for ‘gray water’ treatment
I feel satisfied and so happy to be improving people’s lives with our winning idea, contributing my grain of sand. It was a challenge for my teammates and me, but we are proud of the result.
- 3 years ago
January 7, 2022
Francisca, third from left, and her teammates and school officials pose with their medals earned by their winning eco filter design | Photo courtesy of the Fundación Kodea
LOS ANDES, Chile—My name is Francisca, and I am from Chile. I never imagined that participating in a school project would change the lives of so many people. I took part and helped invent a water filter without realizing the impact it could have.
Hearing about the contest
One morning at school in 2020, there was a rumor in the hallways that the Los Creadores Digital Talent Award would take place for the fourth year in a row. Until then, I had not learned about the subject and did not have enough information about what the contest entailed. In addition, I was not pleased to think about words like award, talent, and scholar; I do not like to compete under any circumstance.
Anyways, I will not deny that it seemed interesting despite that. I looked forward to recess every day and there, consulted with one of my classmates about the award. He explained that it was not a competition designed for a cynical purpose, but rather one where contestants could showcase their talents and connect technology and capabilities.
Upon hearing this distinction, I was fascinated and knew I wanted to participate. I ran and went to find friends who I thought would be perfect to accompany me on this project. One idea after another began to flash inside my brain.
Gathering friends and finding inspiration
I told my friends how excited I was about this opportunity and that I wanted to do it together. We are young, and have the imagination and the ability to create absolutely whatever we want, I exclaimed.
Not even two seconds went by before all three of them said they were in, as well. Right then, we projected our vision. Our goal was to find a problem that we currently had, not only locally but also globally.
I had so many ideas at once that none were clear to me. I needed to wash my face and calm my head.
When I went to the bathroom, I turned the tap on, and the water that came out was light brown, almost a gray color; I felt disgusted to wash my face with it. I thought: “If it disgusts me to wash my face with this dirty and contaminated water, what must a person who has no other choice but to use this water to survive every day feel?”
Formulating our winning eco filter idea
I immediately knew this was the project we had to present. We needed to create and implement a solution for people who use “gray water” for domestic purposes.
Together, we decided the best solution was a filter. Trying to make it an economical solution, we worked and reworked our idea until we had a filter that is easy to assemble and use thanks to 3D printers, and not only that—they are also reusable.
I feel satisfied and so happy to be improving people’s lives with our winning idea, contributing my grain of sand. It was a challenge for my teammates and me, but we are proud of the result.
