SWF – Stockholm Water Foundation

I am a Year 12 student at Dartford Grammar School for Boys with a strong interest in science, technology, and understanding how the world works. I enjoy learning across a range of subjects, particularly those that combine analytical thinking with creativity and problem-solving. Outside the classroom, I am motivated by curiosity and enjoy exploring new ideas, developing practical skills, and taking on challenging projects. I am particularly interested in how innovation can be used to address real-world environmental and societal challenges. Through my studies and extracurricular activities, I aim to continue developing the knowledge and skills needed to make a meaningful impact in the future.

Hydrological Nitrate Response Monitoring with Integrated Biochar Remediation Assessment

Nitrate contamination in UK agricultural watercourses remains a major issue, but existing monitoring methods are often too costly for farm-scale use. This project introduces NitroGauge, a £190 manometric nitrate monitor, alongside BioFix, a biochar-based remediation column. Tested across three sites over sixteen visits, NitroGauge identified rainfall-lag patterns suggesting different subsurface flow pathways. BioFix improved through successive designs, with removal increasing from 12.5–36.5% using raw biochar to 63.5–66.5% with FeCl₃ modification and 81.2–84.0% using a two-zone biological system. The prototype costs over 99% less than commercial sensors, and future designs will enable autonomous deployment. Findings remain preliminary due to the limited sample size.

See project

Devansh Srivastava

Hydrological Nitrate Response Monitoring with Integrated Biochar Remediation Assessment