Panaji: Students from Harvard University in the US are exploring potential pilot sites in Goa to test modular wetland ecosystems that combine fungal mycelium with native wetland plants to remove contaminants from polluted water.Called BioPods, the nature-based system has already been tested in Rhode Island, USA, and can be customised to address the contaminants and ecological conditions of individual sites. The students are particularly interested in degraded urban waterways where pollution has already taken a toll on ecosystems, rather than Goa’s healthiest and most intact wetlands.“The system could be adapted to address different forms of pollution, from agricultural runoff and heavy metals to oil contamination,” Avantika Velho told TOI.Velho and Manini Bannerjee said that once a mat of mycelium is grown, its upper surface is planted with native wetland species. The resulting structure acts as a nature-based bioremediation unit, with both fungal and plant components contributing to the treatment process.“The mycelium secretes enzymes capable of breaking down certain pollutants, including petroleum-based contaminants. Meanwhile, the roots of the plants extend into the water, taking up nutrients and other contaminants. Together, the two components create an ecological remediation system,” Bannerjee said.The BioPod uses native cattail, Typha angustifolia, vetiver grass, and various rushes and sedges. These plants were selected for their potential role in phytoremediation — the use of plants to absorb, accumulate, or otherwise help remove pollutants from contaminated environments.Using plants to treat polluted water has been practised in India and elsewhere for years, including in industrial wastewater treatment. The BioPod’s distinctive feature is its use of mycelium as a base material alongside the plants.Pradip Sarmokadam, member secretary of the Goa State Biodiversity Board and Goa State Wetland Authority, welcomed the proposal but stressed the need for testing before wider deployment.“Before a BioPod is introduced across an entire wetland, its performance should first be assessed at pilot scale to determine whether it produces any biological effects beyond its intended role in improving polluted water,” he said.
