Jul 13, 2026 - Environment

A new floating art piece also captures nitrates in Iowa water

Linh Ta

An aerial view of a square floating platform covered in red, blue, and white geometric patterns, surrounded by dark water and green tree-covered banks. — "It's in the Water" at a pond at Wilson's Orchard. Photo: Jacob Kuperman/Courtesy of Group Creatives

Step aside, grandma — a new public art piece at Wilson's Orchard doubles as a quilt and a water filter that can clean up nitrates.

Why it matters: "It's in the Water" aims to highlight Iowa's water quality concerns, while combining art and science to help provide a solution.

State of play: The floating sculpture, created by Drake University professors Emily Newman and Edward Kelley, captures nitrates from a pond at Wilson's Orchard, which agreed to showcase the piece.

How it works: The quilt is made of recycled plastic, with buoys at each corner made from 5-gallon buckets.

Inside the buckets are spirulina algae that absorb excess nitrates from the water and pull carbon from the atmosphere as they grow.
Sensors and filters are also attached to the piece, and the buoys will be periodically removed to weigh the saturated algae to estimate how much nitrate they capture.

The big picture: The piece, brought to fruition by Group Creative Services, is part of a larger America 250 exhibition across the Des Moines metro.

If you go: The installation is free and viewable outdoors at Wilson's Orchard & Farm at 3201 15th Ave., Cumming.

It will remain on view through September.

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A new floating art piece also captures nitrates in Iowa water

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