The Nanotechnology Miracle
How nanotechnology saved a contaminated lake in PeruShortly before its irrevocable, complete collapse, the Cascajo wetlands were rescued by Marino Morikawa, a young Peruvian-Japanese scientist who spent his childhood fishing in its waters. He developed a nanotechnology that will soon be used to restore other waters as well – among them the famous Lake Titicaca. Read More
Cascajo team
The Cascajo Wetlands in the 90s: A pristine landscape of lakes and meadows, home to more than a thousand species of migratory birds, and an oasis of peace and relaxation.
What happens though when a natural paradise we remember fondly from childhood is on the brink of complete and devastating collapse? When the land is choked with rubbish and the lake filled with poison? Do we return to the place we were once so happy to save it?
This is exactly what Peruvian-Japanese scientist Marino Morikawa did: In 2010, his father told him that the Cascajo wetlands were so contaminated that they were about to be capped. Although the environmental scientist was working at Tsukuba University laboratories in Japan at the time, he decided to fly the 15,000 km back to Peru to see with his own eyes what his father had told him about El Cascajo.
The Cascajo Wetlands are 80 km from Lima in the province of Huaral in the Chancay Valley. Marino used to go fishing with his father here as a child. "When you go fishing, there are times when you catch fish and times you do not,” he recalls. “So when I got tired of sitting for one or two hours without catching anything, I used to walk through the wetlands and throw stones at birds to watch them fly…” Marino laughs: “Of course I’d condemn that action now, especially since I am an environmentalist, but I was just a mischievous child.” He also recalls that when his family would take their inflatable boat out to go swimming, they observed flocks of birds, even flamingos at times.
Would we return to the place we were once so happy to save it?
But when Marino returned, the area looked like an oxidation pond. 20 years had passed since his last visit. He discovered foul smelling waters in a critical stage of decay. The huge 150 hectares of wetland had diminished to a mere 40 hectares.
Migratory birds in the El Cascajo wetlands © Cascajo team 
The Morikawa familiy in Peru © Héctor Lozano Two reasons he detected were illegal landfills and the breeding of pigs, cattle and sheep that had badly contaminated the water. Even worse, the previous mayor had built a new drainage canal that bordered on the wetlands and headed seaward. Most of the waste being channeled through this canal was leaking out into the wetlands. Water lettuce, an invasive species, was another major polluting factor that was ultimately choking the wetlands. This type of lettuce fully covers the surface of the water, preventing light and oxygen from reaching the wetland’s depths. It was a major contributor to the putrefaction and stench of El Cascajo.
The authorities had given up hope of ever salvaging the lake. But Marino didn’t think twice: With his experience in management and water quality control, he knew he could and should do something to help it recover. Marino holds a PhD in Bioindustrial Science and specializes in water treatment.
The first steps
“This is hard to explain and might be difficult for many people to understand. But the first thing I did was kneel down in the wetlands. When I put my hands on the ground, I felt a heartbeat, a pulse under my hands. You're alive, I said, you're not dead like everyone thinks you are.”
Marino’s family is well-known in their hometown Huaral, and they also just happened to be friends with its current mayor. So the first thing Marino did was set up a meeting with him. “Give me just one year and I’ll do everything in my power to restore the wetlands,” he said. “Just you?” the mayor asked. “Under my administration we tried to save the wetlands many times, but we couldn’t.” Marino replied: “I know, but you won’t have to worry about anything. It won’t cost you a cent, it’ll be my responsibility.”
The mayor agreed to the ambitious project, and Marino started knocking on doors to raise money. Unsuccessful in Peru, he tried his luck in Japan: He took all his savings, borrowed money from three banks, and returned to Peru. It was all his personal commitment: No one refunded him the money.
The nanotechnology system
Marino started off by camping in the wetlands for three days to identify the sources of contamination. He counted the approximate number of people who passed through the wetlands, he analyzed water and soil, and he studied the winds. Afterwards, he returned to Japan to develop adequate technology in the well-equipped laboratories of Tsukuba University. Since he had focused on nanotechnology and chemistry during his studies, he decided to deploy two nanotechnology methods in El Cascajo: a micro-nano bubbling system and a biofilter.
The micro-nano bubbling system consists of introducing microbubbles in the depths of polluted waters that attract bacteria and polluted microorganisms. “Think of soda bubbles,” explains Marino. “Everybody can see the bubbles rising to the surface. Now imagine a bubble ten-thousand times smaller and imperceptible to the human eye. Since it is so small, it is a lot slower and takes 5 to 8 hours to reach the surface. The micro-nano bubble has an electromagnetic field of positive and negative ions that works as a magnet. On the way to the surface of the water, it attracts viruses and bacteria, thus catching them like in a spider’s web.”
Once attracted by the magnet, the viruses and bacteria can’t move anymore and die. But in case the bubbles still reach the surface, they turn in gas and disappear due to radiation and ultraviolet rays.
The second method Marino used was biofilters. A biofilter is a media bed different types of microorganisms attach to and form a biological layer called a biofilm. It attracts water bacteria and preserves the good species that contribute to micro-flora conservation and bioremediation.
Biofilters are commonly used in water treatment worldwide, but they have to be adapted to the specific conditions of the local water. For his work in Peru, Marino used ceramic biofilters that he produced by himself in local pottery courses.
2010 - 2014: The El Cascajo wetlands before and after decontamination © Cascajo team A success story
While it took Marino six months of research to develop the nanotechnology system, the practical application went comparatively quickly: In just 4 months, he had decontaminated the entire wetlands. At least 40 species of migratory birds have returned to El Cascajo Lake, and 10 fish species have come back to inhabit its waters. And what is more: the only equipment he used was materials that are available in any hardware store. “Never use an expensive resource in a poor area, while you can use the home material,” is one of his principles.
“Never use an expensive resource in a poor area, while you can use the home material.”
Marino also successfully raised awareness among the local people in Peru. They saw him working long hours all alone in the wetlands every day and began asking him about what he was doing. One morning, when Marino was thoroughly exhausted and arrived to the wetlands late, he found more than hundred people of different ages waiting for him. They wanted to work together and called out: “Marino, we are with you!” Even the illegal breeders turned up and helped him clean up the area.
In 2014, Marino’s scientific work and his commitment and dedication to Peru were honored by the Peruvian National Council for Science, Technology and Technological Innovation (Concytec). His methods are considered a true innovation and will be used for other applications in future. Marino already has two ambitious goals for 2015: He wants to clean the highest lake in the world, Lake Titicaca, and decontaminate the Rio Chira in the northern city of Sullana in Piura.
“If you take the first step, others will follow,” he says.
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Comments (18)
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James K McMahon , 31.07.2015, 16:22:43
This solution to clean up a contaminated lake may be applied to cleaning air in our cities. Dirt particles are tiny and could be picked up electrostatically
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Esteban Garcia lau , 24.05.2016, 02:00:47
es admirable lo que una persona determinada puedo lograr, en un corto periodo de tiempo, relativamente, y me inspira a limpiar los lagos de mi país, Guatemala, en el cual hay unos casos muy serios, favor de ponerse en contacto conmigo, para solicitarle información y asesoría de métodos de bioremediacion
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Francisco I Chaves , 07.08.2016, 18:05:31
Admirable act and very well written article. I will definitelly follow this website.
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Christalla Demetriades , 19.10.2016, 05:16:20
Do you have Marino Morikawa's contact details? My interest would be to connect with him to discuss the situation at lake Atitlan In guatemala
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Martin Bennink , 05.01.2017, 21:27:16
Very nice article and great technology. Can you help me with some more detailed scientific papers/reports on the nanotechnology that has been used?
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Rohith , 26.12.2018, 07:53:49
Hi,
Thanks so much for protecting Mother Nature. I want to know the method more.. How can I get the solution and the filters? Can you guide me with the details -
Cristie radshaw , 04.01.2019, 15:54:35
How much is it to have this technology introduced in our country, the Philippines. I grew up in.Makati and would like to see Pasig River get its life back again...
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Adji Sariono , 05.01.2019, 09:40:26
It was amazing work of Marino san and the entire team..
How can I get more information about this Nanotechnology and the Biofiltraion for our lake or river in Indonesia..
Looking forward to receiving from you..
Thanks n Regards,
Adji -
Rituparn Singh , 05.01.2019, 15:16:58
Hi , Marino ,
Rituparn from India , was impressed by your efforts and dedication. In India we have many contaminated water bodies of Importance which need immediate attention. I am greatly Interested in your work. Let me.know how I can contact you. Also is your method good for static water i.e lakes or for rivers also
Regards
Rituparn Singh -
Kevin Stretton , 07.01.2019, 05:57:22
Congratulations on a remarkable achievement. Would I please be able to make contact with Mr Morikawa? I have a similar interest in his work and would appreciate correspondence with or meeting him. Regards & thank you.
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Richard Amoah Tawiah , 14.01.2019, 23:57:04
How may we work together, I need your product to clean up some rivers.
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jana gomonid , 01.04.2019, 18:08:15
hello sir. This is for my report about the use of nanotechnology as a solution for water pollution. i would like to ask what are the nano-materials used and further explanation about the process . like the maintenance or something. It would be nice Sir if you would be able to answer me early. Thank you.
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Víctor Olayo , 07.04.2019, 06:34:46
Es muy , me gustaría saber el tipo o tipos de moléculas o compuestos usados para su tratamiento, pues sería de mucho aporte en el ámbito agrícola y ganadero en el cual tengo experiencia.
Gracias y saludos -
Hector Lozano Gonzáles , 11.04.2019, 10:53:52
Hello dear readers, for those who are interested in contacting Dr. Morikawa: I forwarded some of your messages to him, but unfortunately we aren't in contact anymore.
Best regards, Héctor -
Zameerulla Sharieff , 24.04.2019, 18:05:03
Hi , Marino
This Mr zameerulla sharieff from banglor India , was impressed by your efforts and dedication. In India we have many contaminated water bodies of Importance which need immediate attention. I am greatly Interested in your work. Let me.know how I can contact you. Also is your method good for static water i.e lakes or for rivers also
Regards
Zameerulla sharieff
+918884170749 what app -
Kathryn Langstaff , 26.04.2019, 13:28:21
I am working to regenerate the Wilkamayu Rio in the Valle Sagrado, including remediation of the wastewater facility in the municipality of Cusco. Paula Soria, sister of Antonio Soria, suggested I reach out to you. I am in Puno today and can be reached at +1-503-724-1149. Your work is amazing and I hope to find a way to collaborate with you and raise awareness of clean water and wetlands in Peru as part of the Pan American games in July 2019! Thank you so much for your hard work and dedication!!!
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Nolan Baden horst , 02.06.2019, 10:02:08
This is amazing work and very interested to introduce this system to South Africa as lots of the hydro electrical lakes and more also suffer from polution levels due to mining and bad waste management . If u would be so kind as to email me a bit more about how your projects works and the results there of then i could approach people related to this matter .
Thanks for the great work done
Best Regards
Nolan Badenhorst -
William Good , 08.07.2019, 02:01:24
Hello Marino just today I learned about your technology just today and I have taken a step for you in the United States in Ohio our waters desperately need cleaned I have contacted news channel Fox 28 and Jeremy Wade the fisherman and biologist, I will try as hard as I can to get you recognition and start your process in our waters, I recently found Yellow Grub parasites and Tapeworms in Largemouth Bass in Mosquito Creek Lake in Trumbull County it's the second largest lake in Ohio I'm hoping your process can help clear up some of the issue, and possibly the Ohio River I'm also positive it will help the fish be more healthy and help them to breed I would love to meet you and I will offer any assistance I can help you with