A team of 11 students from William Floyd High School recently received a grant from the Long Island Regional Planning Council for their proposed development of a rain garden to filter nitrogen and other pollutants from stormwater runoff as part of the annual Long Island Water Quality Challenge.

The Long Island Water Quality Challenge is an opportunity for students to play an important role in improving water quality on Long Island and reducing nitrogen pollution on school grounds by creating green infrastructure solutions. Developed by the Long Island Regional Planning Council in collaboration with the Department of Environmental Conservation, the Water Quality Challenge is part of the Long Island Nitrogen Action Plan (LINAP) — a multi-year initiative to make meaningful reductions in nitrogen pollution.

The William Floyd team led by science teacher Christopher Orlando includes students Alice Chen, Victoria Basharina, Kayla Bundick, Angelina Campos, Rachel Chen, Hiba Farooq, Axel Pesantez, Muhammad Saad, Violet Yau, Steven Lin, and Emirhan Birben, whose proposal, “Gorgeous Gardens,” will plant rain gardens in low-lying areas of the school grounds using native plants to manage stormwater runoff from impermeable surfaces. The school received a grant for $2,187 to implement the project.

Speakers at the ceremony included WFHS senior Alice Chen, WFHS science teacher Christopher Orlando, WFSD science chairperson Dawna Cintron, Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico, Suffolk County Legislator Jim Mazzarella, and LIRPC chairman John Cameron.

“Nitrogen pollution in our waterways from runoff is one of the most serious challenges facing Long Island, and our Water Quality STEAM challenge enhances awareness of the problem and encourages students to become a part of the solution,” noted Chairman Cameron.