Project Revive
Project Revive Overview
Enhancing the University of Houston Koi Pond Ecosystem
EWB-UH is bringing engineering home with Project REVIVE. We are revitalizing the campus koi pond by improving its water quality and ecological health to create a sustainable and beautiful space for the UH community.
The Project Revive team focuses on enhancing our campus environment by restoring the University of Houston koi pond’s ecological health and aesthetic appeal by:
- Developing a low-cost, sustainable filtration system to improve water clarity and quality.
- Collaborating with university faculty to establish a long-term maintenance and stewardship plan.
- Conducting a pilot introduction of fish to ensure the ecosystem can support a healthy koi population.
Highest Priority Needs
- Unsafe Water Quality: The pond suffers from high turbidity and the presence of E. Coli, making it unsuitable for fish and leading to an anoxic (low oxygen) environment.
- Restore Campus Landmark: The pond, once a high-traffic destination for graduation photos, is now largely avoided. The university community wants to revive it as a healthy, appealing ecological feature.
- System Failure: The current system is ineffective. It features an inefficient surface aerator , lacks a biological filter , and its existing sand filters have inconsistent monitoring.
- Lack of Maintenance & Funding: There is currently no maintenance plan in place for the pond. The project requires funding (estimated $2,445-$3,000) for new aeration, filtration, and testing.
Plan of Action
- Data Collection: We are collecting new data to assess the pond’s current state after recent improvements.
- Clarification: We will initiate mechanical clarification and conduct small-scale experiments with water samples and fish tanks to find the best solution.
- Pilot Run: Once our methods are validated, we will perform a full-scale pilot run in the pond.
- Re-introduction: After the water is clear and stable, we will re-introduce new, sustainable wildlife.
- Re-opening: We will host a grand re-opening to celebrate the pond’s revival with the university community.
Our Teams
- Experimentation: This team collects new data and plans our pilot runs. They are responsible for researching sustainable combinations of wildlife and the most effective, long-term filtration methods.
- Event Planning: This team organizes events to promote project outreach and encourage community participation in revitalizing the pond.
- Public Relations: This team spreads public awareness and builds engagement with the project’s mission. They are creating the brand and image for the revived pond.
- Acquisitions: This team performs market research to build a project budget. They find effective, low-cost solutions that meet all of the project’s technical requirements
Help Us Revive the Koi Pond
Every contribution, large or small, helps us restore the campus ecosystem, improve water quality, and create a beautiful, healthy space for the entire community.
Join Our Mission & Donate Today
