Solar Power

The results we got from our experiment are quite obvious, and there is no need for arguments. Nevertheless, one issue is still has to be mentioned: our experiment was helpful in particular conditions, types of the weather and at particular locations. If we had other conditions, there is an opportunity that outcomes could be different. 

Obviously, the method of disinfecting water by using sunlight or solar power (SODIS) which we were observing during the experiment was not an issue of several months. This method should be used during the whole year as only in this way it will give us a picture of its benefits. Moreover, wind, rain and snow also influence the results of the experiment. Probably, there also will be a huge difference in results between countries and their climate can be totally different: from year lasting summer to year lasting winter. That is the reason why, before making any conclusion “for” or “against” SODIS, there is a need to make new experiments during other seasons, weather, and in other locations and measure the amount of disinfected water (UFC/100mL) we can receive.

There are some advantages of solar disinfection which can be underlined. They can’t be clearly recognized during the experiment but still are important:

1. All materials are portable, cheap, and, moreover, can be found in each country;

2. As materials are available in each country the disinfected water can be produced locally avoiding huge costs for its transportation in the future;

3. Large amounts of water can be disinfected at once.

Conclusion

The purpose of this lab was to demonstrate the effectiveness of the SODIS in the winter with less sunlight. We knew that SODIS can be effective during the summer, but we had no evidence about its effectiveness during the winter. This experiment showed that SODIS can be applied to disinfecting water even in winter; however the best way to use it is with covering the bottles of water with foil.