Shiv Nadar School Students Develop Eco-Friendly Solution To Eutrophication In Water Bodies
New Delhi – Five Grade 10 students from Shiv Nadar School, Noida (a not-for-profit initiative of the Shiv Nadar Foundation in K12 education) have come up with an eco-friendly and cost-effective solution to eliminate what is referred to as eutrophication — a process where water bodies become enriched with nutrients such as phosphorous and nitrogen, posing a significant threat to the urban ecosystems.
In India every day, almost 40 million litres ofwastewaterr enters rivers and other water bodies with only a tiny fraction adequately treated. Concerned by its acceleration due to human-based activities such as agricultural run-off, excessive use of fertilisers, sewage, and industrial discharge more than ever, the students from Shiv Nadar School, Noida, spent months ideating and creating an eco-friendly product called Bioenzyme with an aim to revive water bodies by purifying surface and underground water.
Team Eutrophication, consisting — Nistha Sehgal, Taarushi Abrol, Rupangana Gupta, Ishaan Viryani, and Sanidhya Mehta — was inspired to develop this product as a result of alarming reports on 70 per cent of surface water in India being deemed unfit for consumption. They realised that lot of water bodies around us can be revived and need to be treated with immediate attention.
The students came up with a solution, and developed a cost-effective product by fermenting citrus peel, jaggery and water.
The solution consists of a mixture of kitchen waste products in a ratio of 1:3:10, where jaggery is one part, citrus peels are three parts, and water is ten parts. This mixture effectively purifies surface and underground water, and it serves as a natural pesticide, reducing the need for chemical alternatives. Additionally, it helps prevent blockage in drainage pipes by releasing any residues that may have accumulated in the sewage pipe. The product is not only environmentally friendly, but it also provides multiple benefits.
According to Mark Nelson, Head of technology Shiv Nadar School, “At Shiv Nadar School, we strive to foster a culture of innovation and problem-solving amongst our students. Our curriculum emphasizes computational thinking, problem-solving, and digital literacy skills, with a focus on using technology to address real-world sustainability challenges. We believe that equipping our students with these skills will not only prepare them for the jobs of tomorrow but also empower them to make a positive impact on society by creating sustainable solutions. The success of our Grade 10 students in developing Bioenzyme, a sustainable solution for cleaning water bodies, is a testament to the effectiveness of our curriculum in nurturing young innovators and problem solvers who are committed to making a positive difference in the world.”
On developing this solution, students said, “We are thrilled to have developed Bioenzyme, a simple and cost-effective solution to combat the growing threat of eutrophication. We plan to continue researching and developing eco-friendly solutions to address pressing environmental challenges. We believe that innovation and sustainability go hand in hand, and we are committed to positively impacting our planet. With the support of our school and community, we hope to refine further and scale our product to benefit more people and protect our water bodies from the harmful effects of eutrophication. We hope that our innovation will inspire others to take action towards reviving our ecosystems and preserving our planet for future generations.”
Shiv Nadar School, Noida has once again proven its commitment towards sustainable living with its recent Green Award win. The school has been at the forefront of promoting sustainable practices, and its efforts have been recognised and lauded by many.
Shiv Nadar School has a dedicated technology curriculum that enables students to learn about the latest technology trends and use the methodology of design thinking, in which students and teachers find unique solutions together to real-world problems.