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There is a pressing issue with nitrogen pollution caused by stormwater run-off in Long Island, New York, which results in ecological dead zones, algal blooms, and ozone depletion. To address this issue, we will implement rain gardens in local public areas. Rain Gardens are areas of plantings that collect rainwater which can heavily reduce stormwater runoff, mitigate flooding, and lower nitrogen rates by 40%. In addition to filtering out pollutants such as nitrates, rain gardens are also pollinator-friendly, low maintenance, and extremely cost-effective—only costing an average of $3.50 per square foot. With a visually appealing solution filled with productive vegetation, we can promote a clean culture within our community and ultimately inspire a new generation of environmentally aware individuals to take action in our battle with climate change.
Long Island is characterized by agriculture and aquaculture. Duck farms and oyster farms have been leading causes of nitrogen pollution, with the former adding nitrate-filled waste into our environment and the latter removing nature's nitrate filters. Long Island's location next to major cities has also contributed to the island's level of pollution.
Starting off with stormwater, as we live on the east coast surrounded by the Long Island Sound and the Atlantic Ocean, this means that we receive a lot of rain. Now the issue here is that due to this excessive rainfall and our poor drainage systems, the stormwater runoff will carry nitrate pollutants along the way.
Next is fertilizer as a huge chunk of Long Island is dedicated to agriculture. The use of fertilizer containing nitrate represents a substantial portion of the nitrogen pollution we experience here, accounting for almost 65 percent of nitrogen pollution.
Similarly, human wastewater is another leading source of nitrogen pollution. On Long Island, there is a large reliance on cesspools and septic systems for wastewater management which are not designed to remove nitrogen. As a result, this causes a disproportionate amount of nitrogen in our drinking water left untreated.
Lastly, atmospheric deposition is the process where pollutants like nitrogen, encounter rain, snow, or other forms of precipitation and get carried down to the ground. Since we live east of all the major cities, Long Island is especially prone to receiving acid rain, carrying the excess nitrogen and other pollutants created by human actions in the city.
Nitrogen fuels the growth of algal blooms which have negative impacts on aquatic ecosystems such as creating harmful toxins, dead zones, blocking out sunlight, and suffocating millions of fish.
These deadly agal blooms also leave adverse impacts on human health. Drinking or swimming in them can cause respiratory problems or neurological disorders. And in general, drinking water heavy in nitrate can cause low oxygen levels in the blood, potentially causing a fatal condition in humans and especially infants known as the “blue baby syndrome.”
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, "A rain garden is a depressed area in the landscape that collects rain water from a roof, driveway or street and allows it to soak into the ground. Planted with grasses and flowering perennials, rain gardens can be a cost effective and beautiful way to reduce runoff from your property. Rain gardens can also help filter out pollutants in runoff and provide food and shelter for butterflies, song birds and other wildlife."
As our goal is to
Now, as for the construction part, to create the rain garden, we will need to access areas within schools with a slope of at least 1 inch to allow water to flow into the garden or an area with a downspout. Plant selection involves choosing native, low-maintenance plants such as butterfly weeds and black-eyed susans, which are capable of absorbing massive amounts of water while also being able to tolerate dry conditions. Student volunteers will help with the construction process, which includes digging the hole, building the garden frame, laying the soil, and planting the flowers. To garner a sense of community, students are encouraged to decorate and personalize the garden region, such as designing the garden beds and painting kindness rocks.
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