i

Polytechnic University of the Philippines

College of Engineering

ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATIONS ENGINEERING

Engineering & Architecture Bldg., Anonas St., Pureza St., NDC Compound, Sta. Mesa, Manila

REGULATION OF CHLORINE RESIDUAL THROUGH

ELECTROCHEMICAL DETECTION OF OXIDATION REDUCTION
POTENTIAL LEVEL OF CHLORINATED WATER
A Thesis Paper Presented
to

ENGINEERING CENTER FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Polytechnic University of the Philippines

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree

Bachelor of Science in Electronics and Communications Engineering
by
Christian Faith C. Apricio
Rose Mae R. Mangalindan
Gjela Lovelei S. Mangilit
Erwin F. Payumo
Mary Joyce P. Samson
ECE Students
Engr. Marianito P. Gallego Jr.
Adviser
September 2014

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Approval Sheet

This thesis entitled

Regulation of Chlorine Residual
Through
Electrochemical Detection of Oxidation Reduction Potential Level of
Chlorinated Water prepared and submitted by Christian Faith C. Apricio, Rose
Mae R. Mangalindan, Gjela Lovelei S. Mangilit, Erwin F. Payumo, Mary Joyce P.
Samson, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree in Bachelor of
Science in Electronics and Communications Engineering, has been examined
and recommended for acceptance and approval for Oral Examination.

Engr. Marianito P. Gallego Jr.

Adviser
Approved by the Panel of Examiners on Oral Examination

Engr. Michael Aldwin N. Junos

SEPHIL (Samsung Electronics Phil.)
Clark
Oral Defense Panelist

Engr. Sheba S. Laoagan

Wafer Probe Texas Institute Oral Defense Panelist

Engr. Mary Blanch S. Moncada

Globe Telecom Inc.
Oral Defense Panelist

Engr. Ana Liza R. Publico

Chairperson, Electronics and Communications Engineering

Accepted and approved in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree
in Bachelor of Science in Electronics and Communications Engineering.
Date of Oral Defense:

13 September 2014

Engr. Guillermo O. Bernabe

Dean, College of Engineering

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Acknowledgements
The researchers would like to express their deepest gratitude to those who
have helped and supported them throughout the run in making the study
possible.
They would like to extend their appreciation to the members of the
academe. First and foremost, to their adviser, Engr. Marianito P. Gallego Jr., for
guiding them all throughout and for his continuous support, patience, and
giving them words of inspiration and encouragement in conducting the study.
The researchers would like to thank the chairperson of the Electronics
and Communications Engineering Department, Engr. Ana Liza R. Publico, who
have motivated and given them enthusiasm and immense knowledge.
The researchers want to extend their thanks to Manila Lakbayan Team
who have given them information about the subject matter.
They would also like to express their gratitude to the staff of Jerocas
Research Laboratory Services for their commitment and hard work especially
to Mr. Emman, who assisted the researchers in their water testing.
The researchers are also thankful to Ms. Mae Mangalindan, and Mrs.
Rebecca Mangalindan for letting them conduct their study at their condo unit
and likewise greatly in debt to Mangalindan family for taking the pain of paying
the high amount of electricity and water bill.
The researchers want to thank the following whove assisted in the
preparation of this research by providing technical information and giving
advices: Water Refilling Stations, Environmental Health Laboratories, Coca-Cola
Company, and local governments which includes the Local Water Utilities
Administration (LWUA) and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).
The researchers owe their deepest gratitude to their dependable family,
for their constant support, financially and spiritually, in getting through the
research, and at the same time, for their endless prayers and concern for the
success of the research.
Lastly, but definitely above anyone else, the researchers thank and honor
the Glory of GOD for providing this opportunity and granting them the capability
to proceed successfully.

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Abstract

Title

: Regulation of Chlorine Residual through Electrochemical

Detection of Oxidation Reduction Potential Level of Chlorinated
Water

Researchers

: Christian Faith C. Apricio

Rose Mae R. Mangalindan
Gjela Lovelei S. Mangilit
Erwin F. Payumo
Mary Joyce P. Samson

Degree

: Bachelor of Science in Electronics and Communications

Engineering

Date

: September 13, 2014

Adviser

: Engr. Marianito P. Gallego Jr.

Insufficient water supply, sanitation facilities and poor hygiene are the
major causes of serious health problems and water borne diseases. These result
to three million water-related deaths per year. Diarrhea ranked second in the
leading causes of death of children aged five years old and below and over
760,000 children die every year according to the World Health Organization on
April 2013.

In the Philippines, over 70,000 Filipino children aged five years and

below lose their lives because of diarrhea. The World Health Organization (WHO)
estimates that one billion people do not have access to safe and drinking water
while 2.9 billion do not have adequate sanitation facilities. Clean drinking water
is defined as water free of contaminants causing water-borne diseases and have
adequate amount of chlorine residual. Chlorine Residual is the amount of
chlorine that protects the water for further contaminations in the pipelines
connecting to households.

With this in mind, the researchers studied and

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designed a device that can regulate the amount of chlorine residual through
electrochemical detection of oxidation reduction potential level of the water. The
purpose of the device is to address the spreading of water-borne diseases in
households.
The device used sensors that detect pH, temperature and ORP levels of
the water. A microcontroller analyzed the incoming signals from the sensors and
then calculated the amount of chlorine residual dependent on the pH and ORP
levels of the water. The device has relays that give positive voltage from the
microcontroller that drives the peristaltic pumps. These pumps are used for
delivering the right dosage of chlorine or sodium ascorbate that regulates the
amount of chlorine residual.
The research showed that ORP level of the water is directly proportional to
the chlorine residual if the pH ranges from 6.8 to 7.5 and the temperature of
the water is held constant but when pH changes, the chlorine residual changes
with respect to the pH and the Oxidation Reduction Potential. The temperature
changes by 1 degree Celsius when chlorine is added to water. On contrary,
adding sodium ascorbate to water does not affect much the temperature of the
water. Based on experiments, the most effective sodium ascorbate that can
reduce the amount of chlorine residual is the solution of Lemon Cee and
Sodium Bicarbonate. When adding sodium ascorbate to the chlorinated water,
it reduces the amount of ORP level and decreases the amount of chlorine
residual while when chlorine is added to water, the ORP level increases thus
increasing the amount of chlorine residual.
Keywords: Chlorine Residual, Oxidation Reduction Potential, Safe Water Drinking,
Potable Water, Water-Borne Diseases, Chlorination, Dechlorination

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Table of Contents
PRELIMINARY PAGES

PAGE

TITLE PAGE

APPROVAL SHEET

ii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

iii

ABSTRACT

iv

TABLE OF CONTENTS

vi

LIST OF TABLES

viii

LIST OF FIGURES

ix

Chapter 1
The Problem and Its Background
Introduction

Background of the Study

Statement of the Problem

11

Theoretical Framework

12

Conceptual Framework

17

Significance of the Study

23

Scope and Limitations

24

Definition of Terms

25

Chapter 2
Review of Related Literatures and Studies
Related Legal Bases

29

Related Literature

30

Related Studies

31

Synthesis

34

Chapter 3
Research Methodology
Research Design

35

Research Locale

35

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Description of the Research Instrument

36

Research Instrument

37

Data Gathering Procedure

49

Statistical Treatment of Data

50

Chapter 4
Presentation, Analysis and Interpretation of Data
Relationship of pH and ORP to the chlorine residual
of different water samples

51

Ratio of Ascorbic Acid and Sodium Bicarbonate

67

Effect of Chlorine and Sodium Ascorbate to the Chlorine

Residual of the water

69

Analysis and Interpretation of Data

84

Chapter 5
Summary of Findings, Conclusions and Recommendations
Summary of Findings

86

Conclusions

87

Recommendations

88

Bibliography

89

Appendices
Tables and Data

94

Curriculum Vitae

100

Brochures

111

Pictures/Documentation

114

Work Plan/Gantt Chart

117

Financial/Budgetary Plan

119

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List of Tables
Tables

Page

1. Experiments Conducted

37

2. pH and ORP Level of different water samples

39

3. Calculated amount of chlorine residual of the water samples

40

4: Ratios of ascorbic acid and sodium bicarbonate

42

5. The results in pH using litmus paper and the color of the

Ascorbic Acid and Sodium Bicarbonate solution

43

6. Initial Reading of pH, Temperature, ORP level and the computed

45

chlorine residual level of the water

7. Value of pH, temperature, ORP and chlorine residual of the
water after the addition of Chlorine

45

8. Measurements of pH and ORP before and after the addition of Vit. C

46

9. Value of the computed Chlorine Residual before and after the

addition of Sodium Ascorbate

47

10. Analysis of Variance Table

50

11. pH and ORP level of water samples at a residential house at

Tondo, Manila

51

12. Calculated amount of chlorine residual of the water samples

at Tondo, Manila

53

13. pH and ORP level of water samples at PUP College of Engineering

54

14. Calculated Amount of Chlorine residual of water samples at

PUP College of Engineering

55

15. pH and ORP level of water samples at NDC Boarding House

57

16. Calculated Amount of Chlorine residual of water samples at

NDC Boarding House

57

17. pH and ORP level of water samples at El Pueblo Condominium

Anonas St.

60

18. Calculated Amount of Chlorine residual of water samples

at El Pueblo Condominium Anonas St.

60

19. pH and ORP level of water samples at a Residential house at

Angat, Bulacan

63

20. Calculated Amount of Chlorine residual of water samples at

a Residential house at Angat, Bulacan

63

21. Ratios of ascorbic acid and sodium bicarbonate

67

22. The results of pH using litmus paper and the color of the mixture
of Ascorbic Acid and Sodium Bicarbonate

68

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23. Initial Reading of pH, Temperature, ORP level and the computed
chlorine residual level of the water

69

24. Value of pH, temperature, ORP and chlorine residual of the water
after the addition of 1 drop of Chlorine

70

25. Value of pH, temperature, ORP and chlorine residual of the water
after the addition of 2 drops of Chlorine

70

26. Measurements of pH and ORP before and after the addition of

0.5 mL (10 drops) Sodium Ascorbate

75

27. Value of the computed Chlorine Residual before and after the
addition of Sodium Ascorbate

76

28. ANOVA of pH samples from Chlorine Tests with Respect

to Time

79

29. ANOVA of ORP samples from Chlorine Tests with Respect

to Time

80

30. ANOVA table for the ORP and pH samples from Chlorine
Tests

80

31. ANOVA table for the pH and Chlorine Residual samples

from Sample 1 Chorine Tests

81

32. ANOVA table for the ORP and Chlorine Residual samples from
1 drop of Sample 1 Chorine Tests

81

33. ANOVA table for the Temperature and Chlorine Residual

samples from 1 drop of Sample 1 Chorine Tests

82

34. ANOVA table for the pH and Chlorine Residual samples

from 1 drop of Sample 1 Chorine Tests

82

35. ANOVA table for the pH and Chlorine Residual samples

from 1 drop of Sample 1 Chorine Test

83

36. Sample 1 Results

83

37. Sample 2 Results

83

38. Sample 3 Results

84

39. Sample 4 Results

84

List of Figures
Figures

Page

1. Attraction and repulsion of charges

2. Equivalent Circuit Diagram for an ORP

12
13

3. pH Sensor

13

4. The scenario of the whole research shows the flow and process
On how the researchers came up with the idea of creating
Regulation of Chlorine Residual through Electrochemical
Detection of Oxidation Reduction Potential Level

17

5. Block Diagram of the Prototype

19

6. The Program flow of the prototype

20

7. Measurements of pH Levels in varying minutes ranging from

10-30 Minutes

52

8. Measurements of ORP Levels in varying minutes ranging from

10-30 minutes

53

9. Calculate of Residual Chlorine Levels in varying minutes ranging

from 10-30 Minutes

54

10. Measurements of pH Levels of PUP College of Engineering in

varying minutes ranging from 10-30 Minutes

55

11. Measurements of ORP Levels in PUP College of Engineering in

varying minutes ranging from 10-30 Minutes

56

12. Calculated of Chlorine residual Levels in PUP College of

Engineering in varying minutes ranging from 10-30 Minutes

56

13. Measurements of pH Levels in NDC Boarding House in varying

minutes ranging from 10-30 Minutes

58

14. Measurements of ORP Levels in NDC Boarding House in varying

minutes ranging from 10-30 Minutes

59

15. Calculated of Chlorine residual Levels in NDC Boarding House in

varying minutes ranging from 10-30 Minutes

59

16. Measurements of pH Levels in El Pueblo Condominium Anonas St

in varying minutes ranging from 10-30 Minutes

61

17. Measurements of ORP Levels in El Pueblo Condominium Anonas St. 62

in varying minutes ranging from 10-30 Minutes
18. Calculated of Chlorine residual Levels in El Pueblo Condominium
Anonas St. in varying minutes ranging from 10-30 Minutes

62

19. Measurements of pH Levels in a Residential house at Angat,

Bulacan in varying minutes ranging from 10-30 Minutes

64

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20. Measurements of ORP Levels in a Residential house at Angat,
Bulacan in varying minutes ranging from 10-30 Minutes

65

21. Calculated of Chlorine residual Levels in a Residential House

65
at Angat, Bulacan in varying minutes ranging from 10-30 Minutes
22. Measurement of Temperature before and after the addition of
Chlorine

71

23. Measurement of pH before and after the addition of 1 drop of

Chlorine

71

24. Measurement of ORP before and after the addition of 1 drop of

Chlorine

72

25. Measurement of Chlorine Residual before and after the addition

of 1 drop of Chlorine

72

26. Measurement of temperature before and after the addition of 2

drops of Chlorine

73

27. Measurement of pH before and after the addition of 2 drops of

chlorine

73

28. Measurement of ORP before and after the addition of 2 drops of

chlorine

74

29. Measurement of Residual Chlorine before and after the addition

of 2 drops of Chlorine

74

30. Shows the ORP Level before and after the addition of
sodium ascorbate in 10 minutes up to 30 minutes contact time

77

31. Shows the different of pH Level before and after the addition of
sodium ascorbate in 10 minutes up to 30 minutes contact time

77

32. Shows the residual chlorine before and after the addition of
sodium ascorbate in 10 Minutes

78

33. Shows the residual chlorine before and after the addition of
sodium ascorbate in 20 Minutes

78

34. Shows the residual chlorine before and after the addition of
sodium ascorbate in 30 Minutes

79

35. pH level of the water before and after sodium ascorbate is added

77

36. ORP and chlorine residual of the water before and after adding
sodium ascorbate

77

37. ORP level and chlorine residual of unregulated and regulated water

78

38. pH Level of Regulated and Unregulated Water

78