Filter Our Future: How Biochar Can Save the Bay of Quinte
CWSF · 2026 Environment & Climate Change Bronze Medal
Overview
Excess phosphate in the Bay of Quinte(BOQ) causes algae overgrowth and threatens ecosystems and surrounding communities. My project studied the main source of phosphate pollution and explored a technical solution to reduce the phosphate loads. I conducted field surveys of five tributaries—Trent, Moira, Salmon, Napanee River and Wilton Creek. Water samples were collected at the upstream and mouth of each tributary, before and after rain. Multiple water quality parameters, including phosphate, were tested. Results showed the Trent River accounted for 90% of the total phosphate load in the BOQ. I then explored biochar adsorption as a possible phosphate reduction method. A multi-media filter containing gravel, sand, and varied quantities of biochar reduced phosphate up to 53%. My results show that this is an effective, scalable approach to reduce phosphate pollution in the Bay. My future work involves implementing this solution on the Trent River and confirming economic and ecological feasibility.
Awards (2)
- Bronze Medal
- Selected for CWSF 2026
Competition history
- CWSF 2026
Related projects
CWSF · 2026
A Cleaner Tomorrow with Biochar Today
ISEF · 2019
The Implementation of a Novel Phosphate Device for the Mitigation of Harmful Algal Blooms
ISEF · 2018
Recycling Waste into Biochar: A Sustainable and Economic Wastewater Filter and Fertiliser for the Agricultural Industry
CWSF · 2026
Rooting Out Pollution: A Natural Floating Wetland for Heavy Metal, Nutrients, and PFAS Remediation
Closest projects by meaning, across every fair and year in the corpus.