Aquiflow: A Regenerative Solution for Agricultural Runoffs
Aquiflow Kit - Product Render
Wastewater, which includes sewage and agricultural runoff, can contain various contaminants and pathogens that can have detrimental effects if not properly treated and disposed of, and its management is a critical aspect of protecting both human health and the environment. When wastewater is not adequately managed, it can infiltrate groundwater and surface water sources, leading to contamination, and rendering them unsafe for aquatic ecosystems, wildlife, and human activities such as drinking and irrigation.
Agricultural runoff is among the most significant contributors to water pollution, and it refers to the water that flows over land and carries soil, nutrients, pesticides, and other substances from agricultural fields into surface water sources, which can occur through irrigation, rain events, and other forms of water application. When agricultural chemicals and nutrients, particularly nitrogen and phosphorous from fertilizers, enter surface water sources, they can cause eutrophication or excessive growth of algae and aquatic plants. This can result in the depletion of oxygen in the water, harming fish and other marine organisms (1).
The excessive growth of algae can also contribute to the development of harmful algal blooms (HABs). HABs are large concentrations of algae that can produce toxins and other harmful substances. They can occur in both fresh and saltwater environments and can have severe impacts on the environment, wildlife, and human health. HABs can cause the depletion of oxygen in water, leading to the death of aquatic organisms. Some HABs can even produce toxins that can harm humans through contaminated seafood or water contact (2). It becomes therefore essential to effectively manage agricultural runoff to mitigate the risk of harmful algal blooms and their negative impacts on the environment and human health.
Meet the Team
Tino, Queena, and Hanna are 16-year-old high school students from Philadelphia.
Tino, the founder of Root 2 Success, an after school program for 5th-8th graders, is a junior at JR Masterman. Queena is also a junior at JR Masterman and serves as the marketing manager at Root 2 Success. Additionally, she is a CIFWI Peer Mentor.
Hanna attends Northeast High School and is interested in healthcare and biology, and participated in the Aula Future program to improve the environment through Biodesign.
Project conceptualization
As part of the Design for a Sustainable Future program, students explored various strategies for achieving a "post-petroleum future" and were introduced to concepts such as regenerative and circular design, as well as biodesign as a potential set of practices for achieving their goal.
Tino, Hanna, and Queena realized that the design practices they learned in the program could be used to treat agricultural runoff before harmful compounds reach waterways and impact human and other organisms' well-being. In particular, they envision the creation of an organic filter to enable the transition towards cleaner agricultural practices, safe drinking water, and healthy aquatic ecosystems. The team's goal was to learn from biology and apply their knowledge to the development of their concept for an organic filtering system. They identified mycelium and native plants as promising candidates for the sequestration of Nitrogen and Phosphorus from agricultural runoff.
Mycelium has a fast growth rate, efficient nutrient removal capabilities, and a long-lasting presence in soil. It is also non-toxic and easy to implement, making it a practical and cost-effective solution for nutrient filtration. Similarly, introducing native plants as an organic filter against agricultural runoffs can offer numerous benefits. They can significantly improve water quality through their deep roots and ability to absorb nitrogen and phosphorus. They are durable, perennial plants that can aid in ecosystem restoration and carbon sequestration. They also provide benefits for pollinators and birds. Overall, native plants are a valuable tool for improving water quality and restoring damaged ecosystems.
Empowered by this research, they asked themselves:
“What if we combined these two solutions to make an organic filter capable of self propagation and high efficacy to filter harmful agricultural runoff?”
Organic Filter Representation by the Students
Aquiflow
Aquiflow is an ecosystem kit designed to create an organic filtering solution for agricultural runoffs. The Aquiflow kit comes in a biodegradable box that includes the starter culture for mycelium, native plants, and wildflowers to create an ecosystem capable of filtering harmful quantities of Nitrogen and Phosphorus before they reach water sources in nearby agricultural complexes.
Preparing the nitrogen solution to test the Aquiflow filter
The Aquiflow team conducted extensive experiments on the growth rate of mycelium on various substrates such as rice husks, dead leaves, cardboard, and wood chips. They also created a small prototype of the ecosystem to measure the ability of these organisms to filter Nitrogen and Phosphorus. The prototype provided valuable insights into the interactions between mycelium and different substrates, particularly the strong root systems that mycelium forms with wood chips, rice husks, and cardboard. Additionally, their experiments showed a significant reduction of nitrates through ecosystem filtration.
In the Aquflow lifecycle, mycelium is cultured and harvested in large quantities, while seeds are harvested from native plants in the ecosystem and area where the Aquiflow ecosystem is implemented. The ecosystem is then packaged in a biodegradable box and distributed locally. The box can be opened flat and placed in the desired location between the agricultural field and the closest waterway. The mycelium will then use the provided substrate medium and cardboard as a source of nutrients to grow and expand in the ground. At the same time, wildflower seeds and native plants will germinate and propagate outwards. This process creates a new ecosystem that functions as an organic filter for agricultural runoff.
With Aquiflow, the team has not only developed a sustainable solution for agricultural runoff that relies on the natural qualities of mycelium and native plants to manage wastewater pollution and protect aquatic ecosystems, but they have also created a solution that will regenerate ecosystems impacted by unsustainable agricultural practices through carbon sequestration, and by providing an ecosystem for native animals such as pollinators and birds.
Developing the Prototype of the Ecosystem
Next Steps
To continue the development of their project, the Aquiflow Team has identified several key next steps:
First, they plan to conduct testing to assess how the mycelium expands in real ecosystems. This will provide valuable information about the performance of the Aquiflow system in different environments and allow the team to optimize its design and implementation. Second, they will evaluate suitable transportation conditions for the Aquiflow kits. This will ensure that the kits are delivered safely and in good condition to clients and that the mycelium and native plants remain viable during transport. Third, they will identify viable native plants for different regions. Different regions may have different soil and climate conditions, and selecting plants that are well-suited to these conditions will ensure the optimal performance of the Aquiflow system.
Fourth, the team will engage with potential clients to assess the viability of their solution. This may involve conducting market research, gathering feedback from potential clients, and identifying areas for improvement in the Aquiflow system. Finally, the team is considering the development of a platform that offers clients the appropriate native plants for their location to optimize the Aquiflow system's filtration of Nitrates and Phosphorus. These steps will enable the Aquiflow Team to further develop their project and bring it to market in a professional and effective manner.
Aquiflow Kit - Product Render
Conclusion
The development of solutions like Aquiflow is a hopeful step towards a more sustainable and healthy future for humanity and the environment. Water waste management is an essential aspect of protecting both human health and the natural world, and agricultural runoff is a major contributor to water pollution. By providing an effective method for filtering harmful compounds from agricultural runoff, Aquiflow has the potential to reduce the negative impacts of water pollution on the environment and human health. Additionally, Aquiflow's use of mycelium and native plants as organic filters not only offers a practical and cost-effective solution but also has the potential to restore damaged ecosystems and sequester carbon.
As we work towards a more regenerative future, solutions like Aquiflow, developed by Tino, Queena, and Hanna, offer a promising path forward for the well-being of both ourselves and the planet.
Thank you!
Reference List
Terry J. Logan, Agricultural best management practices for water pollution control: current issues, Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/016788099390026L
Kevin G Sellner, Gregory J Doucette, Gary J Kirkpatrick, Harmful algal blooms: causes, impacts and detection, Journal of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10295-003-0074-9
