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Water hyacinth (Eichhornia Crassipes) is a floating plant with thick, glossy, round leaves, inflated leaf stems and

very showy lavender flowers. It can grow to a height of 3 feet with an extensive feathery (up to 1 meter), black to purple coluored, root system. Leaves are round, bright to dark green and up to 5-10cm in diameter. Flowers are light purple with a darker blue/purple and yellow center, 4-6cm long, 3.5-5cm wide. Water hyacinth also known as water lily, is considered as one of the worlds persistent aquatic weeds. It is frequently found growing in shallow water like pond and lake shores. This aquatic weed is very aggressive invader and can form thick mats up to 2meters thick. These thick mats are rapidly cover the entire surface of the pond that can reduce light and oxygen, change water chemistry and caused significant increase in water loss due to evapotranspiration. As the population growth increases, the abundancy of water hyacinth cannot easily inhibit. For that reason, it causes physical and ecological problems. It threatens everything from fisheries, hydroelectric production, agriculture and even human health. In some parts of the country where water hyacinth is abundant, obstruction to water transfer is a common problem. Canals and freshwater rivers can become closed as they clog up with densely matted carpets of the weed. Clogging intakes of irrigation, hydropower and water supply system. Water hyacinth causes blockages to the flow of electricity, flooding and equipment damage. It also increased disease in the habitats like malaria, dengue and water borne parasites and other water borne diseases increase as water hyacinths provide habitats for mosquitoes. Water hyacinth also affect fishing opportunities. Access to sites becomes difficult when weed infestation is present. Fish population decrease as water begins to lose oxygen and sunlight. This also reduced biodiversity. When water hyacinth thrives, it out competes other aquatic plants. This causes an imbalance in micro-ecosystem resulting in reduced flora and fauna that depend

on it. Localized water quality also deteriorates which maybe harmful to people who rely on the water way for drinking water. But nowadays, despite for its jeopardy effects, the researchers give an importance for this aquatic weed as they discovered that it has a brighter side. Water hyacinths stems are used as a braiding material and a source of fibers. Strings of dried fibers are woven or interlinked together to form a braid or chord used for making bags, footwear, wreaths, hats, vases, Christmas lanterns and more decorative materials. Dried stems are used for baskets and furniture. Water hyacinth fibers are used as a raw material for paper. Aside from those, since the plant has abundant nitrogen content, it can be used a substrate for biogas production and the sludge obtained from the biogas. However, due to easy accumulation of toxins, the plant is prone to get contamination when used as feed. Aside from the said uses, the researchers come up with an idea to use it as an insulating material. Insulting materials are

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