Report on Water Quality Improvement Research at Clemson University

A Case Study in Aligning Local Action with Global Sustainable Development Goals

A doctoral research project conducted at Clemson University by Clare Escamilla exemplifies a targeted approach to improving local water quality, with significant contributions to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The research focused on the implementation of floating treatment wetlands in residential stormwater ponds in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, providing a scalable model for sustainable environmental management.

Project Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The research directly addresses and advances multiple SDGs through its innovative methodology and community-focused outcomes. The primary contributions are centered on water, sustainable communities, and biodiversity.

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: The project’s core objective is to improve surface water quality by using floating wetlands to mitigate nutrient runoff from residential landscapes, directly supporting Target 6.3 on reducing pollution and improving ambient water quality.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: By engaging residents in the design process and enhancing the aesthetic and ecological value of stormwater ponds, the project contributes to Target 11.3 (inclusive and sustainable urbanization) and Target 11.7 (safe and inclusive green and public spaces).
• SDG 14: Life Below Water: The initiative helps prevent land-based pollution, such as nutrient-rich runoff, from entering coastal water bodies. This is crucial for mitigating eutrophication and algal blooms, aligning with Target 14.1 to reduce marine pollution.
• SDG 15: Life on Land: The floating wetlands function as new habitats, supporting local wildlife like turtles and birds. This effort contributes to Target 15.5 to protect biodiversity and halt the loss of biodiversity in freshwater ecosystems.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The project is a model of effective collaboration between academia (Clemson University), researchers (Escamilla, White, Scaroni), and local communities, demonstrating a multi-stakeholder partnership for sustainable development.

Research Methodology and Implementation

Community-Integrated Design (Advancing SDG 11)

A key innovation of the project was its departure from purely functional design. The research team prioritized community input to ensure the project’s long-term success and acceptance.

1. Stakeholder Engagement: Focus groups were conducted with residents to understand their perceptions and values related to neighborhood stormwater ponds.
2. Data-Driven Design: An online survey was developed to systematically gather resident preferences on the aesthetics of floating wetlands.
3. Aesthetic and Functional Integration: Findings revealed that residents valued visual appeal. Consequently, plant selection was guided by both nutrient uptake efficiency and aesthetic characteristics such as flower color, height, and texture.

Scientific Innovation for Coastal Environments (Advancing SDG 6 & 14)

The project addressed specific environmental challenges unique to coastal stormwater ponds.

• Salinity Tolerance Screening: Researchers screened a variety of plant species to identify those capable of thriving in brackish water conditions with fluctuating salinity levels, ensuring the viability of the wetlands.
• Nutrient Management: The primary function of the floating wetlands is to absorb excess nutrients from runoff (e.g., from fertilizers and pet waste), thereby preventing algal blooms, low oxygen levels, and subsequent harm to aquatic life.

Outcomes and Impacts

Ecological and Community Benefits

The installation of the floating wetlands yielded positive results for both the environment and the local community.

Key Outcomes:

• Improved Water Quality: The wetlands effectively manage nutrient loads, contributing to healthier aquatic ecosystems in line with SDG 6.
• Enhanced Biodiversity: The wetlands created new habitats, with residents reporting increased sightings of wildlife, including turtles, ducks, and other birds, supporting SDG 15.
• High Community Acceptance: Residents provided positive feedback on the wetlands’ appearance and the ecological benefits they brought to the neighborhood, demonstrating a successful implementation of SDG 11 principles.

Knowledge Dissemination and Future Application

Building Capacity for Sustainable Management (Advancing SDG 4 & 17)

To ensure the long-term sustainability of the installations, the research team focused on knowledge transfer and education.

1. Development of Educational Resources: A maintenance fact sheet and a comprehensive manual were created and made publicly available through the Clemson Home and Garden Information Center to empower residents to maintain the wetlands.
2. Academic Recognition: The research has been recognized through academic awards and has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles, contributing valuable knowledge to the scientific community (SDG 4).
3. Scalability and Replication: The project’s success and methodologies provide a proven framework for replication in other communities, including future work to be undertaken by Dr. Escamilla in her new role at Utah State University.

Relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

• The article’s central theme is the improvement of “surface water quality” in stormwater ponds. The research focuses on using floating wetlands as a natural solution to filter and clean water, directly contributing to the goal of ensuring clean water.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• The project is implemented in “residential neighborhood[s]” and deals with “stormwater ponds,” which are integral parts of urban and suburban infrastructure. The research emphasizes community involvement by holding “focus groups” and conducting surveys to include “residents’ input” in the design, promoting sustainable and inclusive community planning.

SDG 14: Life Below Water

• The article explicitly links the health of stormwater ponds to larger aquatic ecosystems. It states that polluted runoff can “discharge into your surrounding coastal water bodies,” leading to “lower oxygen levels” and “fish kill.” By treating the water at its source, the project helps prevent nutrient pollution in marine environments.

SDG 15: Life on Land

• The project involves creating and maintaining ecosystems through “floating treatment wetlands.” These installations not only improve water quality but also create habitats for local fauna. The article notes that residents enjoyed viewing wildlife such as “turtles basking on the floating wetlands and ducks nesting,” which supports terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity.

Specific Targets Identified

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

• Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally.
  • The research directly addresses this target by developing methods to “improve water quality.” The floating wetlands are designed to reduce pollution from runoff, which contains “pet waste” and “fertilizer,” thereby preventing “algal blooms.”
• Target 6.5: By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate.
  • The project demonstrates local-level integrated management by involving multiple stakeholders, including university researchers (“Clemson University”), and the local community (“residents’ input”). They also developed a “maintenance fact sheet” and a “manual” to ensure long-term community management of the water resource.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• Target 11.3: By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries.
  • The project is a model for participatory planning. Clare Escamilla “held focus groups” and used an “online survey for the residents to figure out what was important to them,” ensuring the final design met community needs and “aesthetic preferences.”
• Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.
  • The project mitigates the environmental impact of a residential area by managing “runoff from the surrounding landscapes,” which is a form of urban waste. This prevents pollutants from degrading local water bodies.

SDG 14: Life Below Water

• Target 14.1: By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution.
  • The article highlights that a key benefit of the project is preventing high levels of nutrients from causing algal blooms that “discharge into your surrounding coastal water bodies.” This is a direct effort to reduce nutrient pollution from a land-based source.

SDG 15: Life on Land

• Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.
  • The installation of floating wetlands creates new micro-habitats. The article confirms this by citing positive feedback from residents who “enjoyed the wildlife they were now able to view, such as turtles basking on the floating wetlands and ducks nesting.”

Indicators for Measuring Progress

Implied Indicators for SDG 6

• Measurement of nutrient levels in water: The research aims to use plants that “uptake the most nutrients.” An implied indicator of success is the measured reduction of nutrient concentrations in the stormwater ponds, which prevents “algal blooms” and “bad odors.” This aligns with official indicator 6.3.2 (Proportion of bodies of water with good ambient water quality).

Implied Indicators for SDG 11

• Level of community participation and satisfaction: Progress is measured through the methods used for community engagement (“focus groups,” “online survey”) and the resulting “feedback she received” from residents, which was positive. This indicates successful participatory planning.

Implied Indicators for SDG 14

• Reduction of pollutants in discharge water: The project’s effectiveness can be measured by analyzing the quality of water that discharges from the ponds into coastal water bodies. A reduction in nutrient load would indicate progress towards preventing “fish kill” and other negative impacts on marine life.

Implied Indicators for SDG 15

• Presence and diversity of local wildlife: The article uses anecdotal evidence as an indicator of success. The reported sightings of “turtles,” “ducks,” and an “alligator” using the floating wetlands serve as a direct measure of the project’s contribution to supporting local biodiversity and creating functional habitats.

Summary of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: morningagclips.com