River Refugium Project Grant

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We were asked quasi-anonymously if we were serious about relocating and just cleaning some towns reservoir or ponds, or rivers (if the feds will allow it.) The answer is absolutely. If we can do this on a big enough scale that other people want to do it, we can make a serious difference in the overall health of the whole planet….just by making a product to sell for a profit.

So we wrote a basic grant request to give an idea of what our next big step will be. Now to see if we can’t get this thing funded and start showing how effective it can be.

Grant Proposal: River Refugium Project (RRP) Test Site Alpha

Project Title:
River Refugium Project (RRP) Test Site: A Scalable Solution for Water Purification Using Greenhouse-Based Filtration

Applicant Name:
Cernunnos Foundation, llc

Date:
10/21/2024


I. Executive Summary

The River Refugium Project (RRP) is an innovative research initiative focused on addressing nutrient pollution in aquatic ecosystems through a sustainable greenhouse filtration system. This project will use a polluted water source, diverting it into a series of greenhouses to test how well different crops and natural evaporation processes can clean the water of pollutants.

The test site will consist of 15 greenhouses (10×32 feet each) and a pole barn of a similar size for processing and office operations. Water from the polluted source will first enter the evaporation greenhouse and then be cycled through the remaining greenhouses. Each greenhouse will support plant growth using the nutrient-rich water, and water will continue cycling until nothing will grow in it, indicating a critical nutrient depletion point. After reaching this state, the water will be tested and reinserted into the original water source at a diversion point.

The primary goal of this project is to demonstrate a scalable water filtration system that can reduce nutrient loads (nitrogen, phosphorus) and other contaminants in water using natural processes.


II. Project Background & Need

Environmental Challenge: Nutrient pollution in water bodies, caused by agricultural runoff, urban waste, and suburban lawn care, results in the growth of harmful algae blooms, dead zones, and ecosystem degradation. Traditional water treatment methods can be expensive and resource-intensive. The RRP offers a natural, scalable alternative that uses plant-based filtration in greenhouses to clean polluted water.

Proposed Solution: The RRP test site will divert water from a polluted source, cycle it through a series of 15 greenhouses, and use plants to absorb nutrients and contaminants. The water will first pass through an evaporation greenhouse, where initial cleaning processes will take place. It will then flow into other greenhouses, where plants will take up nutrients. As the water moves through successive greenhouses, it will become progressively cleaner. Once the water reaches the point where nothing will grow in it, final testing will occur before reintroducing it to the source.


III. Objectives

  1. Water Purification: Utilize greenhouse-based systems to reduce nutrient loads and clean contaminated water.
  2. Sustainable Agriculture: Demonstrate the potential for growing plants using nutrient-rich polluted water, contributing to water purification.
  3. Evaporation Filtration: Explore the potential of using controlled evaporation processes in a greenhouse to accelerate nutrient removal.
  4. Cycle Monitoring: Analyze the water quality as it cycles through the greenhouses to determine the point at which it can no longer support plant growth.
  5. Source Water Reintegration: Test and monitor the reinsertion of cleaned water back into the polluted source at a diversion point to ensure no environmental harm.

IV. Project Design & Implementation

The River Refugium Project test site will be housed on an adjacent 1 acre property, with 15 greenhouses (10×32 feet each) and a similarly sized pole barn for water processing, monitoring, and office functions. Water will be diverted from a polluted source and run through the following sequence:

  1. Evaporation Greenhouse: This greenhouse will use solar heating and natural evaporation processes to initiate the filtration process, allowing for nutrient concentration and natural cleansing before passing water on to the remaining greenhouses.
  2. 15 Filtration Greenhouses:
    • Each greenhouse will be designed to handle water rich in nitrogen and phosphorus, using plants that are adapted to high-nutrient environments to clean the water.
    • As the water progresses through each greenhouse, plant absorption will reduce pollutant levels, and water quality will improve.
    • Testing will occur after each greenhouse stage to track improvements in water clarity, pH levels, and nutrient reductions.
  3. Pole Barn for Processing and Data Monitoring:
    • The pole barn will house equipment for water quality testing, monitoring plant health, and managing data. It will also provide space for administrative tasks and reporting.
  4. Final Testing and Reintroduction to Source:
    • Water that can no longer support plant growth will be tested for all critical parameters, such as nutrient levels, dissolved oxygen, and contaminants.
    • Once deemed environmentally safe, the water will be reinserted into the polluted source at a diversion point.

Addendum A will be attached detailing the processes further.


V. Timeline

The project will take place over 24 months, divided into four phases:

Phase 1 (Months 1-3):

  • Site selection, building renovation, and installation of greenhouse structures.
  • Set up water diversion system from the polluted water source.

Phase 2 (Months 4-6):

  • Begin cycling water through the evaporation greenhouse and filtration greenhouses.
  • Test and plant crops in each greenhouse, introducing nutrient-rich polluted water.

Phase 3 (Months 7-12):

  • Full operation with water cycling through all greenhouses.
  • Continuous monitoring of water quality, plant health, and nutrient uptake in each stage.

Phase 4 (Months 12-24):

  • Evaluate the best-performing crops and greenhouses in terms of water purification.
  • Test water at the final greenhouse stage, ensure it meets environmental standards, and reinsert it into the source.
  • Final analysis and reporting.

VI. Budget

Total estimated budget (2026 adjusted): $450,000 – $600,000

  1. Building Renovation and Setup
  • Estimated Cost: $130,000 – $150,000
    For the construction and setup of 15 greenhouses and the pole barn, as well as water diversion and cycling systems.
  1. Greenhouse Equipment
  • $100,000 – $150,000 for greenhouse structures, irrigation systems, water circulation systems, and monitoring equipment.
  1. Environmental Control Systems
  • $50,000 – $70,000 for HVAC systems, irrigation controls, and temperature management systems.
  1. Water Processing and Testing Equipment
  • $30,000 – $50,000 for water quality monitoring tools, evaporation testing systems, and laboratory equipment.
  1. Operations & Maintenance
  • $125,000 – $160,000 annually for staff salaries, utilities, and maintenance.
  1. Contingency
  • $20,000 – $35,000 for unforeseen costs and adjustments.

VII. Evaluation and Reporting

Data Collection:

  • Regular testing of water quality will occur after each greenhouse stage, using full-spectrum probes for nutrient levels, pH, and dissolved oxygen. Manual human testing will also verify these results.

Performance Indicators:

  • Nutrient reduction: Measured as a percentage drop in nitrogen and phosphorus across the greenhouses.
  • Plant growth and productivity: Monitored as a secondary indicator of water quality improvement.
  • Water reintegration testing: Ensuring that the final water released back into the original source meets environmental standards.

Reporting Schedule:

  • Quarterly reports detailing progress, water quality improvements, and crop growth.
  • Annual report summarizing the data collected and providing analysis for scaling the project.

VIII. Sustainability and Long-Term Impact

The RRP’s greenhouse-based water purification system offers a natural, cost-effective alternative to traditional water treatment methods. By integrating evaporation and plant-based filtration, the project can significantly reduce nutrient pollution in a way that is scalable to other regions and polluted water sources.

  • Ecological sustainability: The greenhouse method will help restore ecosystems by reducing nutrient pollution and enhancing water quality before it re-enters the environment.
  • Economic sustainability: The approach is cost-effective and can be adapted to various settings, requiring minimal chemical inputs or high-energy filtration methods.
  • Long-term scalability: The results from this test site can inform larger-scale water treatment systems, offering a model for regions facing similar water quality issues.

IX. Conclusion

The River Refugium Project will showcase a scalable, greenhouse-based water filtration system that uses natural processes to clean water from polluted sources. The outcome will demonstrate how this model can improve water quality while creating opportunities for sustainable agriculture. By cycling water through a series of greenhouses until it can no longer support plant growth, the project will test a low-cost, ecologically sound approach to addressing nutrient pollution.

How about you? Want in?

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