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: 2022
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2022-01-01 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=749327
• 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面临的水资源挑战，同时通过开发基于自然的技术生态解决方案(NBS)促进自然的净积极效益。全球40亿人面临严重的缺水，而600万加拿大农村和土著居民面临着不成比例的水压力；预计气候变化只会放大这一压力。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的持续和加速丧失。在农村和土著社区，大多数水管理系统完全使用工程技术和基础设施；实施起来往往存在重大障碍，而当前的“新冠肺炎”物流限制更是放大了这些障碍。然而，在气候和社会生态变化的时代，利用自然(绿色/蓝色空间、生物多样性、生态系统服务)与工程解决方案相结合，将人类和生态系统健康联系起来是一个研究不足、但具有高度相关性的话题。随着气候、生物多样性和COVID危机的同时发生，迫切需要有效的生态和后勤弹性基础设施和技术。国家基础设施是与自然和为自然合作的方法，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)。拟议的研究方案开发了“混合型”国家基础设施，作为饮用水处理、废水资源回收和水再利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(METLands)的微生物电化学技术(MET)。拟议的计划建立在申请人对MET、废水资源回收、低能耗消毒、天然有机物(NOM)和微污染物的研究基础上。短期目标包括：i)利用岸边的MET去除NOM；ii)利用湿地中的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源碳(生物炭)的来源，以去除微污染物。将监测湿地微观世界和半控制室外系统的化学和生物水质，以确定效果，并将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给自足的基于自然的水再利用系统，同时加强水安全和自然资本。这项研究对增强社区和生态系统健康，推进技术生态创新领域具有重要影响。我将培训12名HQP(7名直接申请资金)，并在Mettland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HQP培训中的公平、多样性和包容性，以及与社区尊重和互惠的工作。