Urban Biofilter hosted a 30-person workshop in the Tijuana neighborhood of San Bernardo to help restore the flow of water to the local river system. As is the case with many of the informal settlements in the area, San Bernardo does not have a centralized sewage treatment system. This means that wastewater from San Bernardo simply drains through the streets to the Tijuana River Estuary, one of the last 24 estuaries remaining in the country. Each side street becomes a tributary to the main street, Calle Amanecer, which eventually flows to the estuary, dramatically impacting the water quality and aquatic ecosystem. These open channels also pose a serious health concern, as a vector for contamination, putting the local people at a greater risk of contracting hepatitis and staph infections, mosquito-borne diseases, and diarrhea.

In the course of the workshop, participants lined the channel with gravel to reduce human exposure to the water, and replanted the surrounding area with locally collected native willows to provide a natural air filter. The group also planted a small pilot crop of local bamboo.

Unlike other restoration groups working in the area, Urban Biofilter brings a holistic approach to restoration and water management. Working with communities who do not have access to municipal wastewater treatment systems to build decentralized waste treatment wetlands and ecological sanitation systems, which have the ability to yield building materials, which are in high demand. Now, Urban Biofilter is hoping to expand this pilot project to address the wastewater infrastructure of the 1.2 million Tijuana residents who live in informal communities.

To This:

These images document the literal and figurative ‘groundbreaking’ of the Biofilter project at OT-411 in the Port of Oakland last month. Photos include dialogue with project stakeholders, site context, excavation of compacted Port soil, planting of bamboo species, and irrigation installation.

Among other great activities, Earth Island Institute acts as an incubator for start-up environmental projects, giving crucial assistance to groups and individuals with new ideas for promoting ecological sustainability. We are very excited to have the EII as an umbrella non-profit.

On Tuesday, June 2nd @ 12pm, we will be presenting the Urban Bamboo Biofilter project at Earth Islands office in the new David Brower Center.

Please come out if you’d like to see what we’re up to.

Stay tuned for a more expansive website and new developments.
We are still looking for financial support, interns and volunteers.

Our inaugural bamboo planting will occur at the new central hub of independent West Oakland truckers, OT-411, which provides rest-stop facilities to truckers and is housing the outreach and testing space for several local non-profits focused on air quality issues. This bamboo planting aims to set a precedent by facilitating collaboration between environmentalist and industry and by helping truckers improve their air quality.

Urban Bamboo Biofilter aims to create multiple micro-industrial bamboo plantations strategically located to filter air pollution from transportation and industry. We will leverage untapped local resources: treated wastewater and vacant lots to improve quality of life in neighborhoods that face the most acute air pollution.

For information about the event, please contact Nik Bertulis: 510.388.9665 nik (at) dig.coop
Press inquiries, please contact Marisha Farnsworth: 510.495.5790 marisha (at) thenaturalbuilders.com

For the green job training aspect of the project we plan to start small: this Spring a Merritt College class entitled Regenerative Design taught by collaborator Nik Bertulis will be held in West Oakland and will focus on the design, installation, and monitoring of the first pilot Urban Bamboo Biofilter. Marisha Farnsworth and Nik Bertulis are writing a new Urban Bamboo curriculum for Merritt College; we anticipate this class will be on the schedule by Spring 2010. By leveraging teacher’s salaries and small materials budgets we will be able to get started while we seek funding to develop a more comprehensive training program, which would incorporate local organizations with related experience, such as Urban Releaf.

Within the first year of the project we will be able to install our first Urban Bamboo Biofilter on a private lot on 8th and Pine Street, made available by Marcel Diallo of the Village Bottoms Development Corporation. We have an able workforce from Merritt College and two classes of 35 students each per semester, which are ready to be relocated from the Merritt campus to the flats of West Oakland. Over a three year time period we will develop a Green Jobs Training Program in eco-landscaping where youth will gain transferable skills while working on real projects in their community. Participating youth will be trained in a college-level program in job-skills, urban gardening, eco-literacy, propagation, installation of plants, irrigation design and implementation, root barrier installation, bioremediation, water efficiency and landscape maintenance.

Through the Peralta community college system we have an opportunity to build on the successful systems and infrastructure that Laney College has developed for Green Collar Job training programs. While Laney College has focused on preparing youth for jobs in construction and solar PV installation, Merritt College Landscape/Horticulture Department has spent the last decade developing an innovative Eco-Landscaping and permaculture curriculum. Through the development of a Green Jobs Training program in Eco-Landscaping, coupled with cutting-edge research in bioremediation, West Oakland will address urban ecological injustice, while propelling the green movement forward.

HERES OUR PROPOSAL

10. What one sentence best describes your idea?

Urban Bamboo Biofilters:

Productive greenbelts, planted in the worst slums, absorbing wastewater, a rapid solution to air pollution and renewable low cost lumber garden.

# 11. Describe your idea in more depth.

We propose the mass cultivation of micro-industrial bamboo plantations as rapidly deployable, low-cost, green infrastructure in the worlds most environmentally degraded urban slums.

The bamboo biofiltration greenbelts, integrate a variety of eco-industrial functions including the decentralized purification of air and water, the creation of an urban green economy, through the cultivation and distribution of sustainable forestry products, and a supply of local sustainable building materials to construct urban dwellings for the poor.

The harnessing of earths ecosystem services is one of the most energy efficient approaches to waste treatment. It also provides an immediately attainable solution to air quality, since no new technological advancements or breakthroughs are needed. The system relies on, terrestrial vegetation, a 400 million year old technology. Do to the relatively low cost of implementation, the bamboo biofilter provides a solution for urban air and water remediation industry to reach a broad diversity of regions in the world. The extreme diversity of the species, allows for.
Bamboo plantations have been show to remediate degraded sites for use as agriculture or resotration.

1) Air Filtration:
Carcinetic, cardiovascular effects of PM…
Urban forests can remove SO2, NOx, CO, CO2, Ozone, PAH & other VOCs, as well as PMs and Metals from contaminated airsheds. Urban forests have been shown to capture 15 kilograms per day per square kilometer of PM10 particulate matter!

Our project differs from generalized urban forest development, in that it is strategically targeted as site specific mechanical filter. Rather than ofsetting regionalized airquality on a large metro-level , these greenbelts will be strategically planted along transportation routes and downwind of stationary pollution sources, on marginalized and contaminated urban lands. Rigorous demographic, geospatial and sensor analysis will be used to identify, model and monitor the communities most at risk of urban air pollution
will filter the life threatening pollution–particulate matter–which comes from trucking, shipping automobiles and industry.

Unlike trees, which take 25 years or longer to achieve maximum pollution filtration, Bamboo biofilters can reach maturity and effectively improve air quality in 1-2 years, giving millions of people the chance for a longer, healthier life.

2) water filtration: irrigated with urban wastewater, which in most parts of the world is being dumped in the form of nutrient rich effluent, causing problems for the local ecosystem. We will be recycling water and bamboo will bioremediate the water, absorbing nutrients.
3) quality of life: UBB will provide visual relief and mitigate sound from transportation ways.
4) carbon sink: bamboo will sequester CO2 more rapidly than an equivalent stand of trees.
5) green industry: Bamboo is a renewable resource, it can be harvested every year & will provide opportunities for sustainable products and materials for urban relief housing.

Our project differs from generalized urban forest development, in that it is strategically targeted as site specific mechanical filter. Rather than ofsetting regionalized airquality on a large metro-level , these greenbelts will be strategically planted along transportation routes and downwind of stationary pollution sources, on marginalized and contaminated urban lands. will filter the life threatening pollution–particulate matter–which comes from trucking, shipping automobiles and industry.

Bamboo is fast growing–up to 36” in a day–and is easily cultivated, not only does it provide air filtration, but also rapidly renewable materials. Potential end uses of bamboo green industry include: properly harvested and treated poles for framing construction, composite building materials, furniture, paper, fabric and biofuel.
Many people living in slums cannot afford the and therefore the tin and concrete: the materials often promoted by relief programs. The planet cannot afford it either.

Bamboo is being rediscovered as a modern building material and utilized in medium density housing and as structural elements in world class architecture. As energy prices skyrocket, bamboo is recognized as a cornerstone of contemporary sustainable architecture.

# 12. What problem or issue does your idea address?

Air pollution causes 2.4 million human deaths per year, comparable to the number of people killed by malaria and AIDS. In many cities like Beijing, Mumbai and Baku emissions from automobiles and industrial activity create life threatening pollution. In Mexico City, ozone levels fail to meet WHO standards 300 days a year.
Carcinogenic, cardiovascular effects of PM…other specific health effects (bb fill)

While many industrialized nations have adopted strong standards for emissions, the impact won’t be felt for 20-30 years, In countries without emission standards it will be far longer. Additionally, Car ownership is on the rise–globally a doubling of automobiles is expected in the next 15 years to >1.3 billion. While potentially significant for curbing climate change, these emissions reductions and alternative vehicles are a long-term solution. Bamboo provides a solution to meet the IMMEDIATE need for urban health and environment.

Urban forests can remove SO2, NOx, CO, CO2, Ozone, PAH & other VOCs, as well as PMs and Metals from contaminated airsheds. Urban forests have been shown to capture 15 kilograms per day per square kilometer of PM10 particulate matter!

Unlike trees, which take 25 years or longer to achieve maximum pollution filtration, Bamboo biofilters can reach maturity and effectively improve air quality in 1-2 years, giving millions of people the chance for a longer, healthier life.

# 13. If your idea were to become a reality, who would benefit the most and how?

More than half the world’s population live in towns and cities. Within these cities geographical environmental injustice causes the poorest communities to suffer the most from air pollution as they are statistically located near highways, refineries, dumps, ports, and industrial activity. These marginalized “urban slums” are overcrowded, polluted, dangerous, and lack basic services such as clean water and sanitation. Currently, one in seven people live in these settlements. By 2020 it will be one in three. In LA, the most polluted US city, 70% of summer days are dangerous for children with asthma–more than 1/3 are dangerous for all children.

# 14. What are the initial steps required to get this idea off the ground?

Rigorous demographic, geospatial and sensor analysis would be combined in Google Earth to identify, model and monitor the communities most at risk of urban air pollution. The worst impacted communities with the highest feasibility for implementation would be identified. Then communities that had combined need for air filtration, water filtration and housing relief would be targeted. The number of bamboo greenbelts would be be based on funding available and would be easily replicable and expandable.

Then species would be chosen and cultivated that are most adapted to ecoregion of the impacted city. Then alliances would need to be formed with municipal utilities or or city planners in areas where sanitation is not centralized or there is a presence of semi-treated water. Regionally specific Greenbelts would be designed and engineered to deploy the lowest cost infrastructure to hold the bamboo bio-filters and route waste water to them.  Then venture capital and grassroots outreach would be used to identify local organizations, related industries, regional bamboo experts and other collaborators. Then this coalition would begin training an emergent green collar workforce to install, maintain & plant bamboo biofilters.

Bio-filters would be deployed on near highways to test other advantages such as mitigation of air and noise pollution.  Within months of planting cultivation would be handed over to communities.  Within the first year of planting, groves would reach full height and provide filtration screens. Monitored would continue throughout to test the mitigative effects. Within 3 years, adequate building materials would be available for construction, and a street-side lumber yard available to all the community that cleans both the air and the water and creates jobs.

# 15. Describe the optimal outcome should your idea be selected and successfully implemented. How would you measure it?

Thousands of urban bamboo groves transforming carcinogenic exhaust, nutrients from wastewater and CO2 into an income-generating, neighborhood-enhancing greenbelts. Urban slums communities empowered with green jobs harvesting local, inexpensive and marketable source of building materials and textiles. Not only are these outcomes feasible based on longstanding technology (plants!). Rapidly deployable, immediate, short term solution to urban air quality, where significant impacts can be expected within a very short timeframe owing to bamboo’s rapid growth.  Within 2 years of initiating the project, significant impacts on air quality could be observed, and housing construction would begin.

To observe numerical improvements on air quality, a mesh network of air quality sensing motes, would be installed in each major project site. Pre-planting baseline data would be gathered and ongoing air quality monitoring would assess various local contaminants of concern, notably particulate matter (DPM, PM10, PM2.5), so that rate of change could be recorded.  Physical, social and economic factors for the site and surrounding community would also be surveyed before beginning and periodically afterwards, as would growth characteristics for the bamboo.  Indicators for success would include % reductions in particulates, number of houses constructed or improved using bamboo, and local economic empowerment through bamboo-based cottage industries.

Urban Bamboo Biofilters interrelate ecological, industrial and social functions including the decentralized purification of air and water, the creation of an urban green economy, the localization of renewable products, and the establishment of a secure source of sustainable building materials to construct urban dwellings and relief housing.

In our community in West Oakland, the site of our pilot project, studies show residents are five times more susceptible to cancer from diesel particulate matter than residents in the rest of California. Air pollution in urban centers around the world is creating a health crisis whose casualties are reaching the number of those killed in the AIDS epidemic. Inner-city youth and children living in slums stand to benefit the most from improved air quality.

Urban Bamboo Biofilters will be strategically planted along transportation routes and downwind of stationary pollution sources on marginalized and contaminated land. Bamboo greenbelts are highly effective windscreens and have a great capacity to sequester carbon, produce oxygen, remove particulates, mitigate noise pollution and provide visual relief from the highways and industry.

At the EBMUD treatment facility in West Oakland 70-million gallons of wastewater are processed and released into the Bay every day. This wastewater will be redirected to bamboo plantations, which can consume vast quantities of nitrogen and outperform row crops in effluent uptake.

While CARB and Port of Oakland are working hard to improve emissions standards, these reductions and alternative vehicle plans are long-term and costly solutions, and the impact won’t be felt for 20-30 years. Bamboo Biofilters are the first-responders to an ecological emergency. Unlike trees, which take 25 years or longer to achieve maximum pollution filtration, within three months bamboo reaches full height and matures in three years. Urban Bamboo Biofilters can provide long-term solutions, or can be used as an intermediary step, remediating degraded soil in preparation for agriculture or restoration.

The creative harnessing of earth’s ecosystem services is the most energy efficient approach to air filtration and wastewater treatment. Biological systems provide an immediately attainable solution to ecological well-being, as no new technological advancements or breakthroughs are needed–terrestrial vegetation is a 400 million year old technology! Communities have been cultivating and harvesting bamboo plantations for hundreds of years, so there is plenty of intellectual capital available. The low cost of implementing Urban Bamboo Biofilters provides a solution for urban air and water remediation that is easily replicable in a broad diversity of disadvantaged and urban communities throughout the world, affected by point-source air contaminants. There are over 1000 species of bamboo from which climate tolerant species or species with specific qualities for end-use purposes can be selected.