Student Research Reports

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The pollution of the Barra Nova River in Caicó-RN has significantly impacted the local community and a nearby school, degrading water quality and increasing mosquito proliferation. The research question was how the protocols from the GLOBE Program and GLOBE Observer can contribute to evaluating and monitoring the factors that affect water quality, promoting environmental awareness within the community by utilizing green technologies. This project aimed to develop a sustainable filtration system using green technology to monitor and improve water quality, supported by the GLOBE protocols. The methodology involved creating an ecofilter from PET bottles, charcoal, coconut shells, cotton, and gauze. Water samples were collected and analyzed before and after filtration using the Water Quality Index (WQI), incorporating physical-chemical tests (pH, alkalinity, conductivity, temperature, transparency) based on the GLOBE Hydrosphere Protocol, and microbiological analyses using nutrient agar and TCBS for Vibrio cholerae. The results showed a significant improvement in water quality, with physicochemical parameters resembling those of distilled water, and a reduction in pathogenic bacterial growth. The ecofilter demonstrated its potential for enhancing sustainability and public health. The GLOBE protocols, particularly the Hydrosphere and Globe Observer protocols, played a crucial role in guiding water quality assessments and raising community awareness of environmental issues. Future recommendations include expanding the use of these protocols for continuous monitoring, increasing local engagement in environmental education, and exploring broader applications of green technologies to further improve water quality and sustainability in the region.