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

拟议的研究项目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），促进自然的净正效益。全球有40亿人面临严重的水资源短缺，600万加拿大农村和土著居民面临着不成比例的水资源压力；预计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。在农村和土著社区，大多数水管理系统专门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后勤限制又加剧了这种障碍。然而，在气候和社会生态变化时代，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，是一个尚未得到充分研究，但却高度相关的主题。在气候、生物多样性和COVID危机同时发生的情况下，迫切需要有效的生态和物流弹性基础设施和技术。国家统计局是在应对社会挑战的同时，与自然合作并为自然服务的方法——在这种情况下，是加强水安全（数量、质量、与水有关的风险）。拟议的研究计划开发“混合”NbS，作为传统饮用水处理、废水资源回收和水再利用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）。拟议的项目建立在申请人对MET，废水资源回收，低功率消毒，天然有机物质（NOM）和微污染物的研究基础上。短期目标包括：i)利用河岸MET去除NOM；ii)利用湿地的MET进行废水处理和资源回收；iii)利用植物生长的产物作为去除微污染物的热原碳（生物炭）的来源。将监测湿地微观环境和半受控室外系统中的化学和生物水质，以确定其功效，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，这些进步将结合成一个自我维持的基于自然的水再利用系统，同时增强水安全和自然资本。该研究在促进群落和生态系统健康、推进技术生态创新领域具有重要影响。我将培训12名HQP（7名直接使用申请的资金），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HQP培训中的公平性、多样性和包容性，以及尊重和互惠地与社区合作。

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.