Nature-based METLands for water challenges in rural and Indigenous communities in Canada

基于自然的 METLands 应对加拿大农村和土著社区的水挑战

• 批准号: RGPIN-2021-03813
• 负责人: Dubrawski, Kristian
• 金额: $ 1.89万
• 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=742731
• 关键词: Nature; based; METLands; water; challenges

The proposed research program aims to address water challenges for rural and Indigenous communities while fostering net-positive benefits for nature through development of techno-ecological nature-based solutions (NbS). Four billion humans face severe water scarcity globally, while six million rural and Indigenous Canadians experience disproportionate water stress; this is only expected to be magnified by climate change. Concurrently, ecological degradation from a myriad of causes, including climate change, is resulting in ongoing and accelerating loss of natural areas and biodiversity. In rural and Indigenous communities, most water management systems exclusively use engineered technologies and infrastructure; often with significant implementation barriers that are magnified by current COVID-19 logistical constraints. However, utilizing nature (green/blue space, biodiversity, ecosystem services) in combination with engineered solutions to link human and ecosystem health is an understudied, but highly relevant topic in the era of climate and socioecological change. With concurrent climate, biodiversity, and COVID crises, effective ecologically and logistically resilient infrastructure and technologies are critically needed. NbS are approaches that work with and for nature, while addressing societal challenges - in this case, enhancing water security (quantity, quality, water-related risk). The proposed research program develops `hybrid' NbS as techno-ecological alternatives to conventional infrastructure for drinking water treatment, wastewater resource recovery, and water reuse. Specifically, microbial electrochemical technologies (MET) embedded in wetlands (METLands) will be developed. The proposed program builds on the applicant's research on MET, wastewater resource recovery, low-power disinfection, natural organic matter (NOM), and micropollutants. Short-term objectives include: i) NOM removal utilizing bankside MET; ii) utilizing MET in wetlands for wastewater treatment and resource recovery; and iii) utilizing resultant plant growth as a source of pyrogenic carbon (biochar) for the removal of micropollutants. Chemical and biological water quality will be monitored in wetland microcosms and semi-controlled outdoor systems to determine efficacy, and plant growth and microbial ecology will be monitored to assess contributions to natural capital and biodiversity. Longer-term, these advances will be combined into a self-sustaining nature-based water reuse system that enhances water security and natural capital concurrently. This research has the potential for high impact in enhancing community and ecosystem health, and advancing the field of techno-ecological innovation. I will train 12 HQP (7 directly with requested funds) and produce world-leading academic outputs on METLands and nature-based water reuse. I will support equity, diversity, and inclusion in both HQP training and in working respectfully and reciprocally with communities.

拟议的研究计划旨在解决农村和土著社区的水资源挑战，同时通过开发基于自然的技术生态解决方案（NbS）为自然带来净效益。全球有40亿人面临严重的水资源短缺，而600万农村和土著加拿大人面临不成比例的水资源压力;气候变化只会加剧这种情况。与此同时，包括气候变化在内的各种原因造成的生态退化正在导致自然区域和生物多样性不断加速丧失。在农村和原住民社区，大多数水管理系统只使用工程技术和基础设施;通常存在重大的实施障碍，而当前的COVID-19物流限制又加剧了这些障碍。然而，利用自然（绿色/蓝色空间、生物多样性、生态系统服务）结合工程解决方案，将人类和生态系统健康联系起来，是一个研究不足、但在气候和社会生态变化时代高度相关的主题。在气候、生物多样性和新冠肺炎危机并存的情况下，迫切需要有效的生态和物流弹性基础设施和技术。水安全战略是与自然合作并为自然服务的方法，同时应对社会挑战-在这种情况下，加强水安全（数量，质量，与水有关的风险）。拟议的研究计划开发“混合”NbS作为饮用水处理，废水资源回收和水回用的传统基础设施的技术生态替代品。具体而言，将开发嵌入湿地的微生物电化学技术（MET）。 该计划建立在申请人对MET，废水资源回收，低功耗消毒，天然有机物（NOM）和微污染物的研究基础上。短期目标包括：i）利用岸边MET去除NOM; ii）在湿地中利用MET进行废水处理和资源回收;以及iii）利用由此产生的植物生长作为热解碳（生物炭）的来源来去除微污染物。将在湿地微生态系统和半受控室外系统中监测化学和生物水质，以确定功效，并监测植物生长和微生物生态，以评估对自然资本和生物多样性的贡献。从长远来看，这些进展将结合成一个自我维持的基于自然的水再利用系统，同时加强水安全和自然资本。这项研究有可能在提高社区和生态系统健康，推进技术生态创新领域产生重大影响。我将培训12名HQP（7名直接获得所需资金），并在METLands和基于自然的水再利用方面产生世界领先的学术成果。我将支持公平，多样性，并在HQP培训和尊重和社区工作的包容性。