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Initial set up:
When initially approaching the set up of the experiment, it was thought that it would be most revealing if the experiment was modeled as identically to the conditions in Honduras as possible. Therefore, we settled on a set up that would mimic the current situation in Honduras. The set up consisted of a stock tank, a constant head tank, and an outlet which determined the flow rate. This set up is displayed in figure 1. Using a concentration of 9.336 g/L, we created a 17 L solution of calcium hypochlorite and mixed it well. We allowed it to settle for 10 minutes and then attached it to the constant head tank and allowed it to run fully through the set up. The head difference of the outlet was set so that the flow rate was 68 mL/min. Despite this being very similar to the practical application of the hypochlorinator in Honduras, this method had some drawbacks. The major drawback was that the solution ran through the set up too quickly (within three hours) for any conclusions to be drawn from the experiment. This was because we were unable to obtain enough space for a drum large enough to hold the amount of solution that would have the set up running for a long enough time to draw any conclusions. Another setback was that the experimenters were exposed to a large amount of chlorine gas due to the indoor setting and the nature of the experiment. Despite these failures, the initial set up allowed the observation of continual calcium carbonate formation during experimental runs. It was hypothesized that the restriction was due to the continuous formation of calcium carbonate within the pipes.

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Figure 1.

Second set up:
The second set up of the experiment addressed the pitfalls of the first. The set up is displayed in figure 2. It consists of a stock tank, constant head tank, and a peristaltic pump which determined the flow rate. The peristaltic pump returned the effluent to the stock tank. This set up allowed for continual flow, which would allow the set up to run long enough for concrete conclusions to be made. Also, because the looped set up required much less chlorine solution to be run through the system, it allowed the experimenters to minimize chlorine gas contact.

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