Recent experiments have shown water lilies to be capable of absorbing large quantities of heavy metals through their leaves and roots. The research was conducted by The Hebrew University of Jerusalem's Department of Agricultural Botany. The research team showed that water lilies thrive in water containing high concentrations of heavy metals, such as cadmium, and are capable of absorbing metals to up to 16% of their dry weight. This could allow water lilies to be used both to restore the purity of rivers and water sources polluted with poisonous heavy metals and as a means for treating waste water originating from household or industrial sources.