Nature Based Solutions for Wastewater Treatment

Constructed wetlands are critical for wastewater treatment but are a significant contributor to UK greenhouse gas emissions, including nitrous oxide and methane. As part of national net-zero targets, UK water utility companies are committed to mitigating emissions by 2030. However, designing resilient systems and mitigating emissions from current designs, requires a detailed understanding of how different components drive emissions, and how each component will respond to climate change. This PhD will develop nature-based solutions (constructed wetlands) for wastewater treatment and net carbon sequestration supported by a multi-disciplinary supervisory team. The student will conduct a series of laboratory studies to explore how wetland design and management can impact greenhouse gas fluxes and undertake fieldwork to assess constructed wetland ecosystem functions, with a focus on quantifying net greenhouse gas emissions (carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide).