New Zealand’s cleaner future is being
led from right here, in the Bay.

Using world-first technology, Aqua Curo is a long-term trial in harnessing bioremediation to remove New Zealand’s most common pollutants from our wastewater, and in turn our waterways. In this process macroalgae are used as a natural sponge, consuming pollutants like nitrogen and phosphorus and leaving the water cleaner and safer.

Through this trial, Aqua Curo will test innovative technology – the first of this process in the world – and produce the most effective way to apply this biological water treatment process right across New Zealand.

With the pilot based in the heart of the WBOP, it’s not only cleaner water that the community can benefit from, but there’s potential to create a whole new industry with employment opportunities, and better sustainable practices, led from right here in our home.

New Zealand’s cleaner future is being led from right here, in the Bay.

Using world-first technology, Aqua Curo is a long-term trial in harnessing bioremediation to remove New Zealand’s most common pollutants from our wastewater, and in turn our waterways. In this process macroalgae are used as a natural sponge, consuming pollutants like nitrogen and phosphorus and leaving the water cleaner and safer.

Through this trial, Aqua Curo will test innovative technology – the first of this process in the world – and produce the most effective way to apply this biological water treatment process right across New Zealand.

With the pilot based in the heart of the WBOP, it’s not only cleaner water that the community can benefit from, but there’s potential to create a whole new industry with employment opportunities, and better sustainable practices, led from right here in our home.

What is Bioremediation?

Bioremediation is when biological organisms (in this case, macroalgae) are used to remove or neutralise environmental pollutants (in this case, phosphorus and nitrogen) by a metabolic process (algae using the pollutants as their food).

The team leading Aqua Curo are world-leading bioremediation experts, who are working in collaboration with Waikato University, Western Bay of Plenty Council and Quayside Holdings to pioneer this process here in New Zealand.

Using Algae for good

Algae need sunlight, carbon dioxide, and nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) to grow. This is why algal blooms in the wild are usually a bad sign for our environment as they signal high nitrogen and phosphorus levels in our water.

However in this case, Aqua Curo are putting algal blooms to work for our nation’s good. By using algaes natural consumption of our most common pollutants, we can reduce the problems that cause these environmental blooms in the first place. Part of the trial will be to identify products to create from the algae. This would create a waste-free process, as the algae can be harvested and used for products such as fertiliser, animal feed and other plant-based products.