Chelsea Drummings Vies in LI Water Quality Challenge

Chelsea Drummings is one of the shining stars of Huntington High School’s science research program. The sophomore recently vied in the Long Island Water Quality Challenge, which whetted her appetite to continue with her research and seek out additional competitions.

The teenager’s project involves “bioswales,” which are becoming increasingly popular with municipalities striving to mitigate polluted stormwater runoff. They utilize native plants to absorb water and avoid erosion.

“Bioswales are similar to rain gardens, but are designed to capture much more runoff coming from larger areas of impervious surfaces like streets and parking lots,” according to the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District. “They also have more complicated design features such as layers of engineered soil and gravel, perforated pipe underdrains, and overflow structures to help handle runoff from bigger storms.”

Chairperson of Science Kevene Lowrie has encouraged all students in grades 6-12 to engage in the LI Water Quality Challenge, solving real world environmental problems.

“I embarked on an independent study focusing on implementing bioswales for stormwater management where the experience was extremely empowering,” Ms. Drummings said. “Recognizing the critical role of native vegetation in filtering pollutants and enhancing soil health, I successfully designed and built two bioswales using different plant species. One bioswale featured tall grasses and butterfly milkweed, while the other was planted with sunflowers. These species were selected based on their deep-rooted systems, which are effective in absorbing stormwater and filtering contaminants.”​

Ms. Drummings has been working closely with science research teacher Lori Kenny. The sophomore is highly regarded by all of her teachers.

“Under the mentorship of Mrs. Kenny, I dedicated early morning sessions coupled with some afternoon sessions to cultivating the plants from seed to maturity, ensuring their readiness for the bioswales,” Ms. Drummings said. “This hands-on experience underscored the significance of proactive measures in improving water quality and public health. Engaging in this project not only deepened my understanding of environmental science but also reinforced my commitment to pursuing a career in STEM. Contributing to long term solutions that can enhance the well-being of various communities, solidified my dedication to making a tangible difference in people’s lives. I will forever be grateful for the opportunity to be part of such a needed study, and I look forward to many more.”

“Huntington UFSD is proud to support students in their pursuit of meaningful scientific inquiry and real world problem solving.