Student’s idea to save waterways
Nga Tawa Diocesan School student Jeph Hawe may have discovered a way to save the country’s waterways.
The 15-year-old’s science project was about protecting the environment and she may have found a way to protect rivers.
Jeph, who is from Palmerston North but is a boarder at Marton school Nga Tawa, saw a newspaper article about dairy effluent going into rivers.
She was inspired to find out what plants do the best job at absorbing nitrates and killing pathogenic bacteria.
She thought manuka roots would do the best job.
She collected water from a stream containing dairy effluent, then put the water through troughs, and tried manuka, sedge grass and karaka as filters.
There was one trough with no plants in it as a control.
The water went through the roots and came out the bottom, the water was then tested for nitrates and bacteria count.
The year 10 student found manuka did the best job absorbing nitrates.
Her project was recognised at the Manawatu¯ science fair, where she won the Massey University distinction award, the Manawatu¯ Horizons internship, the Manaaki Whenua secondary landcorp research prize and the prestigious special prize by Dairy NZ.
She was commended for identifying an important problem in New Zealand and her technical skills.
She has been offered to go around dairy farms.
Jeph is interested in studying science or law in the future, but also wants to be an advocate for children.
She also plays netball, is a kapa haka leader and sings at the school chapel.