Skip to content

Nature-based solutions for wastewater - Improving modelling approaches

Type of project

M.Sc.

Contact

Fabio Polesel (fapo@dhigroup.com)

Topic

Nature-based solutions are widely used as low-cost and low-environmental impact approaches for treating wastewater globally. Common nature-based solutions include, e.g., wetlands for decentralized treatment, aerated / non-aerated lagoons, and ponds for handling of stormwater.

Despite the widespread use of these solutions, there are still gaps in the knowledge of the underlying processes and mechanisms - and therefore limited consensus on the modelling approaches to be adopted (Deghani Tafti et al. 2024).

The goals of the current thesis project are to

(i) evaluate the current state of the art in the use of nature-based solutions for wastewater treatment and the modelling of these solutions

(ii) identify and implement a generalized modelling approach and test it for one or more selected use cases, targeting a specific objective (BOD removal, nutrient removal, micropollutant removal)

Relevance to DHI

This project is closely aligned with the ongoing work at DHI on “Digital Twins for the Water Environment” (2025-2028 research contract), focusing on novel approaches for predicting and reducing impacts from wastewater in recipients.

What is the student's contribution

  • Review existing knowledge and use cases on nature-based solution applications for wastewater treatment
  • Define a generalized model framework for nature-based solutions and implement it in the software WEST
  • Calibrate the implement model against data for one or more use cases, with focus on BOD removal, nutrient removal, and/or micropollutant removal

References

Deghani Tafti, et al. (2024). Towards a modelling framework for nature-based solutions in wastewater treatment. Water Science and Technology 90, 758-776. https://iwaponline.com/wst/article/90/3/758/103421