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Our research has two parts: the first part involves evaluating the biosorptive properties of local algae provided by the University of Maryland chapter of the American Ecological Engineering Society (AEES), a national organization that is currently developing a nutrient capture system to help purify water in Bladensburg Park. Meanwhile, the second part revolves around designing a system that can more effectively incorporate the local algae into the heavy metal removal process. The excess algae from the AEES' nutrient capture system will be reused in the process of heavy metal removal. Multiple parameters will need to be tested, such as contact time, in order to find the optimal conditions for the biosorption process. Subsequently, multiple pilot-scale systems will be compared to determine the most effective design in the removal of heavy metals.