Evaluating Water Reuse in Agriculture under Future Effluent Requirements
Explore how treated wastewater can be safely reused for irrigation by modeling the transfer and uptake of micropollutants and PFAS in crops. Validate findings experimentally and contribute to developing crucial safety guidelines for sustainable agriculture.
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Project Description
Project Overview
This PhD position is embedded in the BlueVantage research consortium at Wageningen University & Research, focusing on circular water systems and safe, sustainable water reuse in agriculture. The project centers on understanding the risks posed by organic micropollutants (OMPs) and PFAS in treated wastewater used for crop irrigation, an area currently lacking regulatory guidelines.
What You Will Do
You will build and optimize a model for the transfer of OMPs and PFAS from treated wastewater to crops. Experimental validation through plant-pot experiments and advanced chemical analyses will identify uptake mechanisms. Collaboration within BlueVantage and dissemination of findings are key components.
Expected Outcomes
The research will produce validated models for contaminant transfer, contribute to developing safety guidelines for irrigation water, and elucidate contaminant uptake mechanisms in plants, advancing knowledge for environmental and crop safety.
Why This Matters
Finding ways to safely reuse treated wastewater addresses growing global water scarcity challenges while ensuring crop and environmental safety. This research supports circular water economy ambitions and informs policy development to safeguard food production.
Entry Requirements
Eligibility
Supervisor Profile
Dr. Nora Sutton leads the Micropollutants & Pathogens team at the Department of Environmental Technology, Wageningen University & Research. Her research focuses on the fate and removal of contaminants such as micropollutants in water systems. She is recognized for work on pollutant transport, environmental chemistry, and water safety, contributing significantly to environmental risk assessment and sustainable water management.