Solving Environmental Challenges: from Urban Water Management to Emerging Pollutants Control with Nature-Based Solutions.

Researcher's Chronicle | Pedro N. Carvalho, a board member of SPOT Nordic, is an Associate Professor in Environmental Chemistry at the Department of Environmental Science, University of Aarhus. His research encompasses topics such as organic micropollutants, water quality, technology for water treatment and management, as well as broader concepts of circular resource management. Over the past years, he has led research project teams, provided essential data, and collaborated on various initiatives.

In a scenario of growing challenges, where news alerts about toxic algae in the summer and the expectation of an increase in antibiotic concentration in water, the search for innovative solutions for water treatment becomes imperative. Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) emerge as protagonists, playing a fundamental role in urban and surface water management and contributing to creating more sustainable and attractive cities for their inhabitants.

The MULTISOURCE project, initiated in June 2021 and funded by the European Commission, leads this trajectory by focusing on the intersection of NbS with the environment, circular economy, society, and politics. The Department of Environmental Science at the University of Aarhus, which leads the work of the seven technical pilots distributed across Europe and the USA, addresses a diverse range of urban water-related challenges. Over these years, I have been responsible for monitoring organic micropollutants, playing an essential role in providing data to assess the reduction of chemical risks in different water reuse scenarios. The studies aim not only to treat, store, and reuse water but also to inform future urban planning strategies on a global scale.

Meanwhile, the NATURE project, ongoing since June 2022, stands out in the assessment and optimization of NbS for wastewater treatment and reduction of aquatic pollutants. The team I lead monitors antibiotics in different environmental matrices, providing new data on the presence of these substances in water. The NATURE project, funded by the "AquaticPollutants ERA-NET Cofund," addresses not only risks to human and environmental health but also ensures a broader connection to the various activities carried out by the European Joint Programming Initiatives for Water, Oceans, and Antibiotic Resistance.

NATURE

Finally, the WETCYANO project, initiated in April 2020 and funded by the "Independent Research Fund Denmark," contributes to this narrative by exploring NbS for surface water treatment. Led by the Department of Environmental Science at the University of Aarhus, the project included international collaboration with Colombia, where NbS are also being studied under tropical conditions. Promising results demonstrate the ability of NbS to remove cyanotoxins from contaminated water. Aligned with the TOXICROP umbrella project, funded by the Marie Curie Staff Exchange program, WETCYANO, along with the MULTISOURCE and NATURE projects, represents a holistic approach in seeking solutions to the complex challenges involving water in our urban, peri-urban, and rural environments.

WETCYANO - Constructed wetlands for the treatment of cyanotoxins: enabling water reclamation for irrigation

TOXICROP

It is important to emphasize that the success of these projects also depends on interdisciplinary collaboration and active participation of local communities. The inclusion of participatory approaches ensures that the solutions developed are not only ecologically sustainable but also socially just and economically viable. Thus, these projects not only promote innovation in water treatment and management but also reinforce the importance of environmental sustainability in urban and community development.

More information about these projects can be found on the respective pages of the MULTISOURCE, NATURE, and TOXICROP projects.