Sustainable Water Management in Small, Northern & Indigenous Communities

土著、北方和小型社区继续面临长期的饮用水建议、废水处理不足、重大的基础设施需求和不断变化的气候敏感环境。工程师的角色是保护公共利益，平衡社会、环境和经济方面的考虑，以找到应对复杂挑战的最佳解决方案。拟议的研究计划认识到有必要确定可持续的水管理方法，并为加拿大的小型、北部和土著社区确定适当的水和废水处理和设计。创建健康和可持续的社区需要通过实用的方法解决可持续基础设施问题，并考虑到技术、社会、经济和环境方面的脆弱性。*拟议研究计划的主要长期目标是增进对小型、北方和土著社区可持续水管理的了解，并开发适当的工程解决方案。该研究计划分为三个独立的研究领域，每个领域都建立在彼此的基础上，提供了与可持续水管理相关的宝贵见解和独特知识。*在主题1中，将探讨通过自下而上、参与式技术开发实现可持续水和废水处理和管理的解决方案。主题2将以这一知识为基础，纳入适应气候变化和缓解可持续水和废水管理的技术战略。最后，主题3侧重于技术工程研究成果的知识转化和动员。*这项研究将结合技术定量分析和半定性方法，以实现所确定的目标，并为小型、北方和土著社区的可持续水管理制定关键的理论和实际解决方案。需要整合的工具包括：水和废水处理设计评估工具、系统图、流程和流程图、因果图、生命周期分析、规划工具和决策支持系统。*这项研究计划将为尚未充分探索的研究领域提供独特的见解和重大贡献，包括小型、偏远、北方和土著社区的可持续水和废水管理。它将产生与社区可持续基础设施解决方案有关的新的独特知识，并特别侧重于土著和北部社区，从而直接影响工程界。*这项研究在丰富的学术环境中为2名博士、3名硕士和5名UG学生提供培训机会，在整个项目中拥有相关的私营和公共部门经验，以及社区研究和参与。

Indigenous, northern and small communities continue to face long-term drinking water advisories, inadequate wastewater treatment, significant infrastructure needs and a constantly evolving climate-sensitive environment. The role of engineers is to protect public interest and balance the social, environmental, and economic considerations to find the best solutions to complex challenges. The proposed research program recognizes the need to identify sustainable water management approaches, and appropriate water and wastewater treatment and design for small, northern and Indigenous communities in Canada. Creating healthy and sustainable communities necessitates addressing sustainable infrastructure through a practical approach, accounting for technical, social, economic, environmental vulnerabilities. ***The primary long-term goal of the proposed research program is to enhance understanding around, and develop appropriate engineering solutions for sustainable water management in small, northern and Indigenous communities. The research program is divided into three separate research areas, each building on one another, providing valuable insight and unique knowledge related to sustainable water management. ***In Theme 1, solutions for Sustainable Water & Wastewater Treatment and Management through Bottom-Up, Participatory Technology Development will explored. Theme 2 will build on this knowledge, incorporating technical Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies for Sustainable Water and Wastewater Management. Finally, Theme 3 is focused on knowledge translation and mobilization of technical engineering research findings. ***This research will incorporate technical quantitative analysis combined with semi-qualitative methods in order to meet the objectives identified and develop key theories and practical solutions to sustainable water management in small, northern and Indigenous communities. Tools to be integrated include : water and wastewater treatment design assessment tools, systems diagrams, process and flow diagrams, causal maps, life-cycle analysis, planning tools, and decision support systems. ***This research program will provide unique insight and significant contributions into areas of research that have not been well-explored including sustainable water and wastewater management for small, remote, northern and Indigenous communities. It will directly impact the engineering community by generating new and unique knowledge related to sustainable infrastructure solutions for communities, with a unique focus on Indigenous and northern communities. ***This research provides training opportunities for 2 PhD, 3 MASc and 5 UG students within an enriching academic environment with relevant private and public sector exposure, and community research and engagement throughout the program.