Structures for the reduction of water impurities and methods for the deployment thereof

Abstract

Devices are provided herein for the purification of free flowing or semi-free flowing bodies of water by removing impurities, such as nitrates. In one or more implementations, the impurity-removing device includes a cylindrically shaped housing that is open on both ends and defining an inner cavity. A cap is disposed at one opening at one end of the housing, the cap having multiple openings placed through the cap and being sized and shaped to fit the opening at the end of the housing. The impurity-removing device also includes a collection strip on an outer surface of the housing that is colored, sized and shaped to collect heat or energy from the environment, and an impurity-removing medium contained within the inner cavity.

1 . An impurity-removing device, the device comprising:
 a housing having cylindrical shape with a first opening at a first end and a second opening at a second end, wherein the housing defines an inner cavity;
 a collection strip on an outer surface of the housing that is colored, sized and shaped to collect heat or energy from the environment; and 
 an impurity-removing medium contained within the inner cavity in which heat or energy received from the collection strip activates the impurity removing medium. 
   
     
     
         2 . The impurity-removing device of  claim 1 , wherein the impurity-removing medium removes nitrates from water that flows in the first opening, through the housing and out the openings in a cap at the second opening. 
     
     
         3 . The impurity-removing device of  claim 2 , wherein the impurity-removing medium comprises a mixture of carbon, wood, dirt, and bacteria. 
     
     
         4 . The impurity-removing device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is sized and shaped to allow liquid to pass through. 
     
     
         5 . The impurity-removing device of  claim 1 , wherein a cap at the second opening comprises three circular openings that are sized and shaped to allow liquid to pass through. 
     
     
         6 . The impurity-removing device of  claim 1 , wherein the collection strip comprises a narrow protrusion in black color that collects solar energy when exposed to sunlight. 
     
     
         7 . The impurity-removing device of  claim 6 , wherein the collection strip comprises a ridge sized and shaped to stabilize the housing when placed in a submerged environment.