All-in-One Filter Device for Removing Contaminants from Water in Hydraulic Fracturing Communities

There are approximately 1 million hydraulic fracturing wells in the United States, producing over 20 billion barrels of wastewater each year. Chemicals from these wells contaminate the groundwater, cause environmental damage, and harm human health. This project aims to develop a low-cost, all-in-one personal filter device that removes volatile organic compounds (VOCs), heavy metals, and bacteria at EPA standards. The prototype was designed to provide an effective water flow, mitigate pressure issues, and remove color, taste, and smell. A pump sprayer with activated carbon (AC), an ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) resin, and a 0.2 μm filter were used for the prototype. The VOCs and bacteria levels were represented by total organic compounds (TOC) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) levels. Heavy metals were tested separately. The results demonstrated that AC removes VOCs and the 0.2 μm filter removes bacteria, as TOC was decreased by a range of 69.8-92.2% and COD was decreased by a range of 83.8-94.8%. The results also indicated that EDTA removed aluminum by 91.3%, copper by 66.6%, lead by 100.0%, and zinc by 100.0%. This study can lead to the application of an individual filter for families in fracking areas as an improved line of defense against contaminated water.