Investigating sustainable, nature-based methods as solutions which reduce energy utilisation and proactively improve health outcomes from drinking water supplies at local, regional and national levels.

The project will pioneer infrastructure resilience and the exploration of sustainable nature-based solutions to address local water challenges such as floods, shortages in supplies, more sustainable usage of the resources or degradation of water quality.

Department/School

School of Sustainability, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Project Description

Access to clean drinking-water is a fundamental human need and right (UN, 2010). As over population and climate change continue to worsen across the globe, accessing safely managed and sustainable sources of drinking-water is increasingly difficult. The water sector uses a large amount of energy, since energy consumption is directly related to provision of both the quantity and quality of supplied water needed to ensure good health. The increasing demand for good quality water of sufficient quantity leads to increasing water extraction, conveyance, treatment, and disposal (Wilson et al., 2021). Small drinking-water supplies are particularly susceptible as they are often situated in rural or peri-urban locations, poorly regulated and financed, and operated and managed by members of the community. Improving the management of the water catchment is important to understand the sources of water quality issues, surface water and groundwater pathways. This research addresses the challenging areas of ensuring safely managed drinking-water supplies within low income areas. It does this within the context of governance arrangements for risk regulation of small water supplies against the background of land use planning, environmental impact assessment and the international human right to water. The project will pioneer infrastructure resilience and the exploration of sustainable nature-based solutions to address local water challenges such as floods, shortages in supplies, more sustainable usage of the resources or degradation of water quality. 

References

Resolution A/RES/64/292. United Nations General Assembly, July 2010

Wilson, L. et al., (2021). Water utilities’ improvement: The need for water and energy management techniques and skills. Water Cycle,2, 32-37.

How to Apply

Applications should be submitted via the Civil and Environmental Engineering PhD programme page , but please note the closing date for this studentship is Friday 6^th January 2023.  In place of a research proposal you should upload a document stating the title of the projects (up to 2) that you wish to apply for and the name(s) of the relevant supervisor. You must upload your full CV and any transcripts of previous academic qualifications. You should enter ’Faculty Funded Competition’ under funding type.

Funding

The studentship will provide a stipend at UKRI rates (currently £17,668 for 2022/23) and tuition fees for 3.5 years. An additional bursary of £1700 per annum for the duration of the studentship will be offered to exceptional candidates.