THIS IS MY SPOT.
MONTGOMERY GRAY, AGE 10, INDIANOLA INFORMAL ALTERNATIVE K-8
What’s that you’re holding in your photo?
It’s a poster of my invention—the Spiffy Sewer Sanitation System.
Basically, it’s a water filtering system for sewer drains.
It catches all sorts of stuff—like trash and debris—that would
normally pollute the water in our community. I actually qualified for
the finals of the Columbus Invention Convention with it.
What inspired you to create your invention?
My dad and I had been putting “No Dumping” stickers on drain covers
as part of the Columbus Storm Drain Marking Program. But when I walked
around my neighborhood again, I saw people were still letting trash get
into the gutters. So I thought about how else I could solve the problem.
What steps did you take to make it?
I kept a journal throughout the whole process. First it was just an idea.
I drew a diagram of it in my notebook. I created a mini-model, and then a
life-size one—about 3 feet tall—to show how the filtering system would
work in a real gutter.
Why is your invention important for the environment?
For one thing, it really works. I tested the water after it flowed through
the filtering system and passed through all the debris, and its pH balance
was exactly how it should be. It’s also important because it helps keep
plants, animals, and people safe. Those are things I think we all care about.
It would be so great if we could really use these throughout all of Columbus.