Fairbury, Nebraska Becomes First Nebraska City to Pilot Microvi Biological Nitrate Treatment at Two Municipal Well Sites

MNE-powered Denitrovi™ pilot achieves 78% nitrate removal at East Well #3 and 90% removal at Crystal Springs — offering Nebraska communities a waste-free alternative to costly conventional technologies as groundwater nitrate contamination continues to rise

HAYWARD, CA (November 25, 2025) – Microvi Biotech Inc. today announced the successful completion of a groundbreaking biological nitrate treatment pilot in Fairbury, Nebraska — the first project of its kind in the state. Working with Olsson Associates, an engineering firm headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska, Microvi’s MNE-powered Denitrovi™ system achieved 78% nitrate removal at the East Well #3 site over 30 days and approximately 90% removal at the Crystal Springs well over 23 days, demonstrating the viability of biological treatment as a cost-effective, waste-free alternative to conventional nitrate removal technologies.

Nitrate contamination in Nebraska’s groundwater has reached crisis levels, with elevated nitrate levels driven by agricultural runoff, fertilizer use, and nitrogen-rich soil. High nitrate concentrations in drinking water pose serious public health risks — including links to certain cancers and elevated health risks for pregnant women and infants. For decades, agricultural states like Nebraska have grappled with groundwater nitrate contamination that frequently approaches or exceeds the federal Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of 10 mg/L.

Fairbury’s nitrate challenges began eight years ago, when testing revealed nitrate levels above federal standards. In 2019, the city reactivated a well at Crystal Springs — a public park southwest of town — but was forced to shut it down two years later due to a non-toxic biofilm buildup that clogged the filtration system. While searching for solutions, Craig Reinsch, PE, Lead Engineer at Olsson Associates, learned about Microvi’s biological nitrate removal technology at a water conference in Arizona. After reviewing the science and performance data, Fairbury decided to move forward with a pilot project overseen by Olsson at the two affected well sites.

“Microvi has basically created a whole biocatalyst which is a polymeric composite. And so, it contains microorganisms. And then those microorganisms are circulated within a reactor — a bioreactor — and then raw water is mixed, and nitrate is removed as part of that process, as well as chemical feed. For the East Well, it was 78% removal over 30 days. And then at Crystal Springs, around 90% removal over 23 days.”

— Craig Reinsch, PE, Lead Engineer, Olsson Associates

Microvi’s MNE technology converts nitrate in water directly into harmless nitrogen gas through a biological process that produces no hazardous secondary waste — a critical advantage over ion exchange or reverse osmosis systems, which generate costly brine waste streams requiring disposal. The compact, modular system is also significantly more energy-efficient than conventional approaches, reducing both capital costs and long-term operating expenses.

The Fairbury pilot builds on nearly a decade of proven Denitrovi™ deployments across the United States, including long-running commercial success in California and Arizona. These prior installations have consistently delivered reliable, waste-free, cost-effective treatment for communities facing rising nitrate contamination. The Fairbury results mark an important validation of biological treatment as a practical, scalable solution for the Midwest’s agricultural groundwater challenges.

Olsson Associates is coordinating with the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) to explore permitting pathways and cost structures for full-scale deployment in the state. According to Olsson, the city of Fairbury would consider full-scale implementation if nitrate levels exceed federal limits in the future. The pilot represents a critical first step in bringing biological nitrate removal to agricultural communities across Nebraska and the broader Midwest.

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About Olsson Associates

Olsson Associates is a full-service engineering and design firm headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska, serving clients across the water, wastewater, transportation, and planning sectors. With deep experience in Nebraska’s water systems, Olsson specializes in innovative treatment technologies and infrastructure solutions for rural and municipal utilities. Learn more at www.olsson.com.

About Microvi Biotech Inc.

Microvi Biotech Inc. is an applied biotechnology company based in the San Francisco Bay Area that develops and commercializes next-generation biosolutions for critical challenges in water, wastewater, climate, and environmental sustainability. Powered by its proprietary MicroNiche Engineering™ (MNE) platform, Microvi delivers proven, high-performance biosolutions worldwide—reducing greenhouse gas emissions and waste while increasing productivity and cost-efficiency for its customers. Microvi’s scalable biosolutions are deployed globally across diverse sectors, delivering disruptive economic value for industry partners and contributing to a cleaner environment and healthier communities. Learn more at www.microvi.com.

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