Most aquatic ecosystems, especially reservoirs, are polluted with nitrogenous and phosphatic compounds mainly owing to an increase in the rural populations nearby and upstream and changes in human activities. Excessive inputs of phosphorus and nitrogen trigger eutrophication of the water bodies, which promotes the undesirable growth of algal bloom and deterioration of the water quality, and aquatic biodiversity.  Effective, low-cost and easily operable methods need to be established for improving water quality. Physical and/or chemical methods of remediation are costly and energy-consuming. Aquatic plants have the capability to decrease water pollution levels and thus are appropriate for this purpose. They can be utilized as normal resources and for recycling various types of materials in the ecological system. However, only a few reports have described the quantitative analysis of the capability of plants to absorb eutrophic factors and to improve water quality.  

Population growth, industries development, and water consumption increase of lotic water Pollution due to the lack of controlling output waste water of manufacturing plants, municipal and agricultural areas has decreased water quality. Among several pollutants, heavy metals in line of river self purification do not decrease and accumulate in river-bed sediments and aquatic animals' body as well as causing biomagnifications by entering to the food chain. Chromium is the second most toxic metal in groundwater, soil, and sediments. Due to its large scale industrial utilization, it exist in various forms in the environment. The present technologies used to eliminate chromium are too expensive and not eco-friendly. Phytoremediation, which is low cost and eco-friendly technology for wastewater treatment was analyzed via Aquatic free-floating plants.  

Nitrate—the oxidized form of dissolved nitrogen— is the main source of nitrogen for plants. It occurs naturally in soil and dissipates when the soil is extensively farmed. Thus, nitrogen fertilizers are applied to replenish the soil. However, these nitrates can be toxic, especially when they enter the food chain via groundwater and surface water. 

Concern over agricultural diffuse pollution sources in integrated water quality management has been growing recently. High nitrogen fertilizers application rates may increase the potential groundwater pollution. Nitrate, being primary chemical component of fertilizer and manure, can run off farm fields and seep into drinking water supplies. 

This Project will test whether a water lily will be able to absorb a significant enough amount of nitrate into its tissue so that it could be removed, and cause a purinfying effect

• research the ideal habitat conditions for water lily

• set up water lily tank to ideal conditions

• test base chemical levels and record its physical appearance

• pollute the water with urea (nitrate high fertilizer) and immediately test chemical levels and record its physical appearance

• test chemical levels the day after also record its physical appearance

• in the meantime do more research on nitrate pollution effects

• do more research on current solutions for nitrate pollution

• keep testing the water lily and recording its physical appearance

• a week after the nitrate levels stabilize collect the final data

• work on poster board

Because it was a short week the high nitrate fertilizer wasn't added, and the water lily was left to acclimatize. The plant food tablets were allowed to dissolve so the nutrients can settle. 

Nitrate levels rose because the plant food tablet fertilizer has nitrate in it.

Base chemical levels test the day of adding Nitrate fertilizer, right before it was added.

After testing the fertilizer I was using (Urea) in comparison to the plant food tablet fertilizer, I found that the testing kit I had wasn't picking up the nitrate/nitrogen from Urea, but picking up the nitrate/nitrogen from the plant food tablet fertilizer. 

I remodeled the experiment to make the nitrate source the plant food tablets. 

The water was changed this week and the substrate and gravel were rinsed  to remove any Urea nitrogen remains, I filled it back up and tested the water to get the base chemical levels.

I will let the water lily sit over the long weekend to acclimatize to the new environment, and add the plant food fertilizer the following Monday.

One tablet of the plant food fertilizer was added to both tanks.

I noticed that the lilies seemed to be dying and a lot of the leaves were turning brown quickly. Since this may be from lack of nutrients, I added another plant food tablet to the aquarium, and another tablet to the aquarium without the lily to keep it the same.

This week was spent preparing the aquariums for the experiment to be run again. 

Since from the first trial of the experiment there may be leftover nitrates in the water and settled on the gravel, I transferred the water lilies to a large beaker for the time being, while I drained the tanks, washed the gravel and started refilling them.

This week I finished preparing the tanks and refilled them. I let the water lilies acclimatize to the reset aquariums over the weekend.

Another plant food fertilizer tablet was added to both aquariums this day.