The Name "Water Hyacinth"
The long and fine roots of the water hyacinth, with an enormous quantity of bacteria and fungi, act on toxic molecules, breaking down their structure and allowing the plant to assimilate their toxic components. It is for this reason that water hyacinth is used to clean rivers and tributaries, purifying the water and contributing to its reoxigenation - and for this reason, the choice of the name "Water Hyacinth" as the name of the Rotary project aimed at consciousness-raising and environmental education of the population of the cities of Alvorada, Cachoeirinha and Gravataí regarding the future of the Gravataí River.
The water hyacinth does its job of purifying river water absolutely for free. The water hyacinth flower is a plant that proportions the proliferation of the entire biological river community, constituted of aerobic bacteria, algae, protozoas and small crustaceans, insect larvae and mollusks, that do the equivalent work of active filters at conventional secondary water treatment stations. Besides absorbing directly part of the organic soluble material, the water hyacinth absorbs minerals resultant from the decomposition of the organic material by the mirco-life that it shelters.
Those who consider the water hyacinth a plague complain of its rapid
proliferation. However, they don't know that in pure waters the water
hyacinth is unable to grow; it stops, becomes static. In sewage treatment
ponds, in the summer, the water hyacinth can grow up to 8% per day. There
is no plant more efficient than the water hyacinth in taking advantage of
solar energy and nutrients. Hence its great utility: its rate of growth
is a biological indicator of the rate of pollution. It is a barometer of
pollution, and the same time a magnificent instrument for purifying waters.
Studies reveal that planting water hyacinths in rivers helps to stimulate
all river flora and fauna.