Clear Water Denitrifying Bioreactor

Project Summary

Agricultural runoff polluted with nitrogen and phosphorous is one of the largest water health, and economic issues within the US. The Gulf of Mexico dead zone is a direct result from excessive agricultural pollution. Clear Water Nitrate Reduction is a startup business seeking to reduce the amount of nutrients from agricultural runoff. The current reduction method utilizes a bioreactor and constructed wetland. A bioreactor is a vessel containing materials that allow chemical reactions to occur. In this case, the materials are either woodchips or biochar. There is currently not a feasible way of replenishing organic material when it has become clogged.

Design Goal

The Clear Water design team aims to create a method of replacement for the carbon source; this allows the used biochar or woodchips to easily be replenished at the end of their lifespan. The design team also aims to utilize software to determine potential field locations to utilize this updated bioreactor.

Design Constraints

• The bioreactor shall be built as per USDA Conservation Practice Standard 605: Denitrifying Bioreactor
• The carbon injector shall not be fabricated of materials susceptible to corrosion or deterioration from local climate conditions 
• The carbon injector shall be constructed for a permitted inlet flow between 0.15 and 0.22 ft^3/sec.
• Each carbon injector shall be no less than 1 cubic yard in volume.
• A watershed analysis shall be completed on HUC12 possible locations for the prototype. 
• Carbon injectors shall be constructed with an associated cost of no more ...