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2014 Mid-Pacific Student Conference

Past Conferences‎ > ‎2011‎ > ‎2011 FAQ‎ > ‎

Water Treatment

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions concerning the Water Treatment Competition.

Please check this site often for updates to questions and answers and feel free to contact us at with questions you have that are not here. Thank you!
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For tools may we use a rubber mallet instead of a normal metal-head hammer?

posted Apr 11, 2011, 4:56 PM by Justin Beutel   [ updated Apr 11, 2011, 4:56 PM by Justin Beutel ]

Since a standard builder’s hammer is more common than a rubber mallet and the rules call for a standard hammer, the standard hammer should be used.  If you need to soften the blow of the hammer, one suggestion is to put a scrap piece of wood between your object and the blow of the hammer.

The rules say that during Phase 1 we cannot assemble things together. Can we piece joints and pipes together after cutting them just to judge the accuracy of our cuts, and then disassemble them at the end? The rules say that during Phase 1 we cannot assemble things together. Can we piece joints and pipes together after cutting them just to judge the accuracy of our cuts, and then disassemble them at the end?

posted Apr 11, 2011, 4:55 PM by Justin Beutel   [ updated Apr 11, 2011, 4:56 PM by Justin Beutel ]

Yes, you can fit pieces together to check fittings and cuts but everything must be disassembled before the prep phase is over.

Are we charged for the tools we use for the entire time the operators are in the 10'x10' space, or just for the portion of time that we are actually using that tool?

posted Apr 11, 2011, 4:55 PM by Justin Beutel   [ updated Apr 11, 2011, 4:55 PM by Justin Beutel ]

The cost for the tools used during the build will be calculated based upon how long the operator(s) were in the 10’x10’ area.  If it takes 10 minutes to build your system, all of the tools used will be pro-rated for those 10 minutes.  For example, if you use a pipe wrench ($5.00 per unit-hour), and the build takes you 10 minutes, the cost for the pipe wrench is ($5.00/60 minutes)*(10 minutes) = ($0.083/minute)*(10minutes) = $0.83.

Are we timed during the build by the judges? Would this time then be added to our score for operator and tool use time?

posted Apr 11, 2011, 4:55 PM by Justin Beutel   [ updated Apr 11, 2011, 4:55 PM by Justin Beutel ]

The build time will be timed for each team and yes, these times will later be added to your scores.

We did not figure the effluent container into our cost, so I guess we can add this on? It is not clear in the rules.

posted Apr 11, 2011, 4:54 PM by Justin Beutel   [ updated Apr 11, 2011, 4:54 PM by Justin Beutel ]

This container should be figured into the cost of the system; please add it into your cost and report.

It is my understanding that we need to provide a receptacle to catch the effluent. You will provide the gallon container, but we must have a bin to catch the rest. Is this correct?

posted Apr 11, 2011, 4:53 PM by Justin Beutel   [ updated Apr 11, 2011, 4:53 PM by Justin Beutel ]

Yes, each team needs to provide an effluent catch basin for their system.  Please make the container big enough to capture just over 10-gallons of effluent, as the first gallon will be poured back into the rest of the collected effluent, and there will be the option to prep your systems with 0.25 gallons of tap water.

If we used gravel, is that a bonus item? My captain last year said he did not use it as a bonus item but I could not find it on his list.

posted Apr 11, 2011, 4:53 PM by Justin Beutel   [ updated Apr 11, 2011, 4:53 PM by Justin Beutel ]

Since gravel is not on the list, it is considered a bonus item.

My co-captain and I used some costs from the items we actually bought instead of the prices on the list. Is it okay to change that to those on the list since those are the prices you are suggesting?

posted Apr 11, 2011, 4:52 PM by Justin Beutel   [ updated Apr 11, 2011, 4:52 PM by Justin Beutel ]

Prices need to be used from the list provided in the rules – that way, everyone has a fair advantage on cost.  Your prices can be changed in your report to reflect that.

Can we completely remove an item?

posted Apr 11, 2011, 4:52 PM by Justin Beutel   [ updated Apr 11, 2011, 4:52 PM by Justin Beutel ]

Materials that are listed in the design report already should remain in the system.  Please refer to this previous answer on the website, date March 1, 2011: “All materials listed in the design report should be present and functional on the system.  However, changes in the quantity of items may be changed – testing and redesign should be done within the downtime before competition so that your system is designed more efficiently.  Reduction in the amount of chemical, the use of lumber, etc. should be looked at and is okay for the final design brought to competition.”

Does the caulk have to go to our materials list since we will be using a caulking gun or are they counted as separate items?

posted Apr 11, 2011, 4:51 PM by Justin Beutel   [ updated Apr 11, 2011, 4:51 PM by Justin Beutel ]

Since a caulking gun would need caulk to operate, these are not two separate items.  The operating cost would just be the $2.00 per unit-hour for caulk and the caulk gun.

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