Water project garners national awards By Dominik Kurek OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF 15 · Thursday, July 1, 2010 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com There is plenty of water in Ontario. However, that is not the case in many other parts of the world. So why not draw the water right from the air? That is exactly what Oakville's 13-yearold Calvin Rieder did for his science fair project and it landed him two awards at the Canada Wide Science Fair. "I built and designed an atmospheric water condenser," the Grade 7 Oakville Christian School student said of his project. "It works in the same way dew condenses on grass in the morning normally." Rieder went to the national competition with his project Water, Water, Everywhere, Nor Any Drop to Drink -- Atmospheric Water Condenser To Provide Pure Drinking Water. He created four atmospheric water condenser prototypes that could condense water from the atmosphere for drinking water. At the competition, which took place last month in Peterborough, Rieder picked up the third place award in the Junior Engineering category. He also received the Canadian Society for Senior Engineers (CSSE) Innovation Award. The innovation award was given him for an outstanding project in the engineering division demonstrating an innovative, creative and well tested solution to a real world problem. Rieder's prototypes are inverted pyramids made of aluminum that are placed outside. When the air cools overnight it turns from its gaseous state to a liquid state. He added that for the process to happen temperature has to fall below the dew point. "I was researching the water problem in the Third World and how millions of into the cup," he said. "I thought I could harness this natural process of condensation to provide drinking water." He added that the atmospheric water condenser could potentially work anywhere in the world. "Even in deserts where there is severe drought, very high relative humidity can still be reached in the morning. That's how a lot of animals in the desert survive their whole lives off drinking dew water," he said. Though he only built smaller scale prototypes, he said a two-metre tall condenser could collect 24 to 40 litres of water in 12 hours depending on the relative humidity. To get to the national science fair, Rieder first competed locally. He placed in third place overall at the Bay Area Science and Engineering Fair (BASEF) in Hamilton earlier this spring. Though he is only in Grade 7 he said he might like to pursue science in the future, either marine biology or engineering. HALTON Bridal Calvin Rieder people without water have to travel long distances to get water," he said of how he got the idea to do the project. How did he come up with the solution? "I know from a camping trick that if you dig a hole and put a cup in the middle of the hole and stretch a piece of plastic over the hole, at night when the temperature drops, the water in the air in the hole will condense on the plastic and drip Expo Sunday, September 19 12pm - 5pm HAPPY BIRTHDAY CANADA Join Together & Celebrate! July 1 TakingVendor Bookings Now! · Qualified buyers at your fingertips, eager to learn & ready to buy. · Brides & Grooms looking for expert advice & inspiration. · Make personal 3D contact right from the start. · Showcase your products or services, pass out samples, pick up leads. · Cost effective targeted marketing. 2 FASHION SHOWS! PRIZES! PRESTIGIOUS LOCATION! $25,000 MARKETING PLAN! YOU should be there! For more information, contact McLEAN-SHERWOOD PA R T Y R E N TA L & S U P P L I E S 878 2341 905