Organising clay sphere festivals – Guías Verdes

Aim

Generate knowledge and awareness, enthusiasm, enthusiasm and community commitment for the well-being of their water bodies, be they lagoons, lakes, rivers, streams, creeks or others, in those communities organised around the Citizen Water Observatories, using bioremediation techniques through the use of “mud spheres treated with effective microorganisms (^EMTM)”

To familiarise the communities organised around the Observatories with participatory bio-remediation mechanisms for their water bodies.

Description

The Mud Sphere Festivals are an initiative of the National Alliance of Rivers and Watersheds of Costa Rica (ANRCCR), to promote participatory community activities consisting of the elaboration of mud spheres as devices to house Effective Microorganisms (EM™) for the purification of contaminated water sources.

These festivals integrate the participation of the communities organised around the duly registered Observatories, in cultural, sporting, recreational and other activities that promote greater synergy and awareness of the water systems of the different localities.

It is necessary to change the contradictory reality that on the one hand, we admire rivers and dedicate poems and songs to them, and on the other hand, we pollute and contaminate them with rubbish, sewage, chemical products and other filth, without caring about their future, which is our future.

what is an MS?

It is a mixture of three groups of natural microorganisms commonly found in soils and foods, composed of lactobacillus, yeasts and phototrophic or photosynthetic bacteria common in soils and plant roots.

The discovery of Dr. Teruo Higa of Ryukiu University in 1984 was to find a way for these three groups to coexist, making a synergistic effect to enhance their beneficial effect.

The EM Research Organization (EMRO) in Japan disseminates this technology worldwide through non-profit associations.

Benefit

The three sets of microorganisms, when deposited in the water body, begin to act synergistically by consuming the sediment produced by the pollution, thus promoting a purifying action of the organic substances present in the polluted water body, helping to speed up the natural processes within the river.

Steps

This festival takes place in two parts:

Part I: making clay spheres

Materials
The community should organise the participants (with a minimum of 25 people between children, adolescents and adults) to gather on a previously defined date and place to make the spheres. The following materials should be available on that day:

A 4 x 10 m black plastic sheet.
A place to make the spheres.
5-10 sacks of earth or clay (preferably clay).
2 shovels.
5 to 20 plastic vegetable boxes.
10 full newspapers.

On the same day, representatives of the Green Planet Network Association will arrive at the site with the EM to show and accompany the making of the spheres.

Preparation of the active compounds for the clay spheres

The active EM (a mixture of 5% activated EM and 5% molasses diluted in 90% water) and “bokashi” (fermented organic material), which is a high quality fertiliser, are prepared.
Both ingredients are mixed and placed in clay masses with water until the right moisture is reached. This is determined by scooping handfuls of the mixture into balls or spheres.
The mixed spheres are stored for 15-22 days in dark, airtight rooms to prevent photosynthesis and/or wind-driven decomposition. At a temperature of preferably 25°C and a pH of no more than 3.5.
When the fermentation of the product has been completed, the second part of the festival is carried out. The presence of mould on the surface of the spheres indicates that they are ready for use.

Part II: Launching of the clay spheres

The launching takes place 15-22 days after the making of the spheres. On this day, community involvement should be organised. Related activities can be organised along with this activity: cultural events, music, dance, picnic by the river, food, tree planting or any other activity within the organisers’ reach, ending with the launching of the mud spheres.

The deposition of these spheres with the EM is an effective mechanism to treat lagoons, lakes, ponds, ponds, swamps, rivers in flowing and stagnant waters.

The very weight of the spheres causes the action of the EM to descend towards the beds of the water bodies where they are deposited, regardless of the physical-chemical parameters present in the water body (sedimentation, turbidity, conductivity, runoff, stagnation, pH, biochemical oxygen demand, total suspended solids, among others). No prior measurement of these parameters is required for the deposition of the spheres in the water body where the treatment is to be carried out. These parameters are not an impediment.

One mud sphere per square metre (^m2) of surface area of the water body must be manually dropped.

Each Observatory selects the transect of the water body under its supervision where it considers it appropriate to carry out this practice. As in the process of making the mud spheres, a minimum of 25 people are required for this activity, with special emphasis on the participation of children and adolescents.

Results

Communities more aware and involved in the care of their water bodies.

Rules

Have the above-mentioned materials available for the successful elaboration of the clay spheres.
Have a large space to accommodate the participants and to be able to carry out the mixing procedures for the making of the clay spheres.
A storage room or enclosure should be available to provide the necessary conditions for storing the spheres for 15-22 days.
Participants in the mud sphere activity should have the appropriate attire to carry out the field activity in the vicinity of the water bodies benefiting from these purification techniques (boots, rain coats depending on the weather conditions),
The minimum capacity of 25 people for this activity must be maintained.

Scopes and challenges

Scope: This activity is mainly for community education and social participation. Given the limited size of the mud sphere water treatment, it is not intended to have a major impact on the quality of the river.

Challenge: The challenge lies precisely in the limited impact of the activity because of the very specific segment(s) of the water body. Taking this initiative to the whole of the national territory is the main challenge.