Aqua Nova- river water filter

14 December 2025 by Emily B

2026

I know I want my project to be centred around wildlife preservation as it is something I am very passionate about, which lead me to the idea of creating a water filter for my local creek which is home to the endangered species the platypus. My plan is to foster a safe environment for local species by designing and implementing a structure to filter out microplastics and harmful oils, specifically targeting pollutants affecting platypus. I would love some feedback from professionals who know anything about engineering a water filter or suggestions for sustainable materials I could incorporate.

What do you think?

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Comments

UpRising @ 2025.12.15 2:22 AM

A fantastic idea Emily. Let me find a few material options and organisations doing some work in this area.

Peter Murphy @ 2026.02.11 7:39 AM

Aqua Nova is a really thoughtful and well-chosen project. Grounding it in local wildlife, especially an endangered species like the platypus, gives your design real purpose and clear direction.

You do not need to be an engineer to do this well. There is a lot to learn from natural water filtration systems and First Nations knowledge connected to the specific Country you are working on. Native plants and natural materials can help filter pollutants while also supporting biodiversity, not just water quality.

You might also find inspiration in the Reimagining Birrarung project at the National Gallery of Victoria, which explores river health through design and future-focused thinking: https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/exhibition/reimagining-birrarung/

This is a strong, caring idea. Keep building on it and let ecological thinking guide your design choices.

Peter Murphy RMIT University

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