PhD topic: EcoSan; nutirent recovery or water reuse

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Hi all

 

I have been out of the field of water and sanitation for a few months (have missed it very much) and believe it is time for me to take the next step and do my PhD. The reason I have put it off for a few years is that I have been searching for a relevant and challenging topic. Some background; I am a Namibian civil engineer with a master in water & environmental engineering and 3 years’ experience as a process/civil engineer in South Africa and the Middle East.

 

I am currently living in the Netherlands and aim to do my PhD through TU Delft or UCT but am certainly open to any school. 

 

I am less technically adept than other process engineers and I would happily include a more social aspect in my research. The topics I am leaning towards are anything that encompasses sanitation provision, WASH, water provision, nutrient recovery and sewage treatment/faecal sludge management (FSM). Futhermore, I am very interested in climate change adaptation and water provision as I completed my masters thesis on the effect of climate change on water stressed environments in northern Namibia. My preference would be to carry out field work in a developing country, or for my work to be relevant in a developing country.

 

I believe that the best place to look is in the field: thus have you, the water professionals, encountered any interesting and relevant topics related to these? Your input would be very much appreciated.

Best regards

Megan Galloway

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11 Answers

  2. Hey Megan,

    not sure if that fits - but we supported a projected called " value from urine " which started back in 2013.

    You can find more information here:
    http://www.valuefromurine.eu/valuefromurine/home/about-valuefromurine

    The research was done by "WETSUS" (https://www.wetsus.nl/) a university from the Netherlands and they generated energy & fertilizer (phosphate) from urine while using our product.

    I know that the "AFAS Arena" (https://www.afaslive.nl/) and WETSUS themselves use or used the technology in their building to generate fertilizer.

    So our waterless urinal was / is used to generate energy and fertilizer.. may that is something you are interested in.

    If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.

    Best regards

    Alexander Reusch

  5. Dear Megan.

    Ideally do a study of  WASH projects which have the following attributes :

    1. Plan for decentralised process of both sewage (ww) and solid waste.

    2. All wastes to be turned into resource and gainfullyvused in the communities.

    3. Community dealing with the process to be fully confident and satisfied.

    4. Project/s should have sustained for 3 to 5 yrs.

    5. Aesthetically the project elements in its precincts ought to be attractive, green and a role-model to replicate.

    Well wishes for your PhD.. 

  8. Efficient Decentralized sanitation is a critical issue for rural populations everywhere in developing countries. Also, utilization of waste as compost is an imminent issue for sustainable agriculture. A combination of these issues will be extremely beneficial for the future world. One of the possible solutions could be an improvement of a septic tank together with development of active sludge using biological and engineering technologies. Gene modification technology could be used to make some bacteria’s more productive in creating useful compost for agriculture. Nonobabbles technology would help activate bacteria’s to produce compost more efficiently.

     I hope that the above idea would help you to consider the topic of your dissertation.

     

    Good luck.

  9. Hi, my name is Marat, I am from Kazakhstan, my doctoral thesis was devoted to the problem of safety of hydraulic structures. I have developed different variants of spillways, dams and dams to protect against floods and mudflows. I have published a book in Russian and if you are interested I can send it to your e-mail. My mail marat7759@mail.ru. Sincerely, Marat Kosumbayev

  10. Megan,

    We are an early stage company introducing a new version of a very old technology.  We have some ideas for South Africa and developing companies.  Please check our website www.avividwater.com.  If it interests you contact me.

    Best Regards

    Lockett Wood, PhD