Chapter V
Solutions
The second part of our final prototype is the proposal of several solutions that would tackle the problem of bad water quality, if that would have been found in the testing. Since, we have strong reasons to believe that the water quality is indeed insufficient - the most obvious indicator for that is the absence of the Key Species - but we do not know what exactly is polluting the canals, we here present three distinct solutions that can be adapted to the results obtained by the testing.
Mudballs
Inspired by the research on Effective Microorganisms, the Mudballs idea involves the creation of small balls of mud filled with microorganisms that have the ability to use or convert the harmful polluting chemicals in the water. Depending on the results of the water measurements, the species of microorganisms can be adapted to the predominant pollutant in the specific location. If there are multiple strong pollutants, a mix of different microorganisms can be used to achieve the desired effect. When the mudballs are thrown in the water, they gradually dissolve and release the microorganisms, that can then start their battle against the polluting chemicals. Additionally, the mud will eventually settle down, creating an ever thicker layer of mud on the riverbed, which is also something our Key Species, mostly the Mudfish and the Newt need in their habitats. The method of mudballs with microorganisms has been shown to be effective with reported improvements in water quality even up to 70%. An extra addition to the microorganisms could be some single-cellular plants or algae that could also help with oxygen levels in the water, which is also vital for all the species.
In order to ensure that the mudballs are thrown regularly into the USP canals, we thought of making it a yearly event for the new incoming (biology or science) students of the UU. In this way we wouldn't only improve the water quality, but also spread awareness about it and ensure the continuation of the project throughout the years. The event would consist of a few consecutive steps. Firstly, the preparation of the mudballs, forming them from the mud and injecting the effective microorganisms into them while the Green Office volunteers go around explaining university's plans to increase the biodiversity in the USP. Secondly, the event itself. The participants would try to throw their mudballs into targets positioned in the canal at varying distances apart. To make the event more engaging and competitive, their would be some end prizes for the top students who collected the most points. A good prize might be one of the plants from the Green Office plant exchange project.
Filtration systems and ceramic beads
A more typical approach to improving the water quality would be the use of some sort of filtration system. Physical and chemical filters are very popular methods for water cleaning, but are also already very commercialised. Implementing such a filter would therefore require purchasing it from a third-party, which would probably be more expensive and definitely less creative and interesting (unless the university comes up with a new design for such a filter).
We therefore turned our attention to other filtration options and stumbled upon the concept of porous materials. These are materials that contain pores (or holes) and have an extremely large surface area to volume ratio. Examples of such porous materials include tuff, some bones, activated carbon, ... and also open cell ceramic. If those materials are also adhesive, so that the molecules of polluting compounds can stick to the surface of the beads, they make for a great filtration system. The large surface area to volume ratio enables the adhesion of a large number of molecules on a relatively small number of ceramic beads, which makes this approach to water cleaning both efficient and cost effective.
The material for the beads of course does not need to be ceramic. It can be decided upon after the testing results have been reliably obtained and the main pollutants are known. The material for the beads should be chosen such that it provides the greatest amount of potential adhesion to the polluting compounds in the water. The process of how this filtration should be carried out is also rather simple. A number of beads should be tied on some strings that are then laid in or slowly dragged through the canals. The locations where this approach would be best implemented might be the enter-points where the Kromme Rijn water enters the USP canals and the locations of highest pollutant concentrations.
Canal remodification
Although we have redefined our challenge to focus solely on the investigation and improvement of the water quality in USP, this third solution stands out as one focusing on other living conditions of the targeted Key Species. The canal remodification proposal revolves around making the canals and its surroundings more accessible for the species and safe from any new pollutants. Although the university already has plans for some remodification of canals, we thought we might add a few of our suggestions to improve on their ideas.
The main purpose of the changed canals (or in university's plans: long ponds) is the accessibility to water. That is why we propose one of the banks to be of a very low gradient, extending 15 to 20 meters away from the water. The other bank could be steeper to save on some space, but with occasional paths going along the bank that would lead down to the water. We also suggest that the canals should be wide enough, at least 3 to 4 meters across, and that the depth of water should be varied. Closer to the shallow bank, the water depth in the canal should be accordingly also shallow, while at the steeper bank, the water depth should be at least a meter if not more. The varying height of the riverbed would provide appropriate shelter conditions for multiple species (the Shining pondweed prefers deeper water, while the Newt and Dragonfly tend to be in shallower waters).
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Additionally abundant vegetation should be added to the banks. On the shallow bank the low growing vegetation and high grass would provide shelter for Newts, Dragonflies and Grass snakes, while in the canals itself a lot of aquatic vegetation is required to provide shelter for the larvae of the Key Species. Aquatic vegetation would also increase oxygen levels in the water, which ties to our redefined challenge as well. On the steeper bank a forest buffer layer should be added between the canal and the surrounding fields. It has been shown that such buffer zones decrease the pollution coming from the fertilisers on the fields through the soil towards bodies of water. If all of these suggestions are implemented in the designs of modified canals, the species will have much more appropriate living conditions than now.
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