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
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:
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):
Phase 2 (Months 4-6):
Phase 3 (Months 7-12):
Phase 4 (Months 12-24):
VI. Budget
Total estimated budget (2026 adjusted): $450,000 – $600,000
VII. Evaluation and Reporting
Data Collection:
Performance Indicators:
Reporting Schedule:
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.
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?
Contact Information:
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