The functional ecology of on-site sanitation systems

现场卫生系统的功能生态学

• 批准号: RGPIN-2019-04559
• 负责人: Dorea, Caetano
• 金额: $ 5.32万
• 依托单位: University of Victoria
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2021-01-01 至 2022-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=737700
• 关键词: functional; ecology; site; sanitation; systems

Many of the technical challenges in on-site sanitation are thought to result from a lack of adequate design guidelines. It is assumed that human waste (i.e. faecal sludge) entering such systems undergo anaerobic degradation, decreasing their accumulation rates and reducing the frequency of pit emptying. Current conceptual and numerical models of pit latrine biodegradation mechanisms are based on a supposition that such systems function analogously to anaerobic reactors with acetoclastic pathways being the principal mode of methanogenesis. Yet, recent studies on methanogenic activity assays on sludge from passive systems question the premises on which the understanding of such systems are based on. The overall objective of this programme is to better understand biodegradation mechanisms in onsite passive sanitation systems through the identification and characterisation of their relevant functional ecology. Additionally, this programme will also address other issues relative to the characterisation of faecal sludge to facilitate field research and the operation of sanitation systems as well as sustainable planning of faecal sludge management. This work challenges current assumptions on the functional ecology of passive on-site sanitation systems. The results will lead to a clearer understanding of relevant degradation mechanisms in on-site systems. Once such systems move from being poorly-understood "holes in the ground" that only capture and store human waste to engineered "reactors" that can (at least partially) treat faecal sludge, their public and environmental health benefits can be bolstered through an extended service life. This will set a new paradigm from which novel rational designs can be based on and applied to other on-site sanitation systems. The impact of this project will also benefit Canadian isolated residences and indigenous communities, where decentralised sanitation is considered a cost-effective solution for areas suffering from lack of wastewater treatment.  This programme will provide a bespoke training for HQPs including both technical (e.g. chemical/microbiology analyses, analytical skills, etc.) and professional (e.g. writing, presentation, etc.) competencies. This training plan will be conducted in a highly collaborative research environment with several disciplines (engineering, microbiology, biochemistry, etc.), interaction with diverse collaborators (in academia, industry, government, and NGOs), and in a variety of geographical/cultural settings. Prof. Dorea has over 15 years of experience at the crossroads of environmental and public health engineering leading collaborative research in the the development and evaluation of water and sanitation/wastewater technologies, field and operator appropriate water/wastewater/faecal sludge quality analytical methods, and functional ecology characterisation of biological treatment systems for safeguarding the health of the public and the environment.

现场卫生设施方面的许多技术挑战被认为是由于缺乏适当的设计准则。据推测，进入这类系统的人类废物（即粪便污泥）会发生厌氧降解，从而降低其积累率，并减少粪坑排空的频率。坑式厕所生物降解机制目前的概念和数值模型是基于这样一个假设，即这种系统的功能类似于厌氧反应器与乙酸裂解途径的甲烷生成的主要模式。然而，最近的研究产甲烷活性测定污泥从被动系统的问题的前提下，这种系统的理解是基于本方案的总体目标是更好地了解现场被动卫生系统的生物降解机制，通过识别和表征其相关的功能生态。此外，该方案还将解决与粪便污泥特性有关的其他问题，以促进实地研究和卫生系统的运作以及粪便污泥管理的可持续规划。这项工作挑战目前的假设功能生态的被动现场卫生系统。这些结果将有助于更清楚地了解现场系统中的相关降解机制。一旦这些系统从人们知之甚少的“地洞”（只能捕获和储存人类废物）转变为工程“反应堆”，（至少部分地）处理粪便污泥，它们的公共和环境健康效益可以通过延长使用寿命得到支持。这将建立一个新的范式，设计可以基于并应用于其他现场卫生系统。该项目的影响也将使加拿大偏远的居民区和土著社区受益，分散的卫生设施被认为是缺乏废水处理的地区的一种具有成本效益的解决方案。该方案将为HQP提供定制培训，包括技术（例如化学/微生物分析，分析技能等）和专业（如写作、演示等）能力。该培训计划将在与多个学科（工程、微生物学、生物化学等）高度合作的研究环境中进行，与不同的合作者（学术界，工业界，政府和非政府组织），并在各种地理/文化环境的互动。Dorea教授在环境和公共卫生工程的十字路口拥有超过15年的经验，领导水和卫生/废水技术的开发和评估方面的合作研究，现场和操作员适当的水/废水/粪便污泥质量分析方法，以及生物处理系统的功能生态学表征，以保障公众和环境的健康。