About the Project
In Ethiopia only 38% had access to basic water and 13% had access to safely managed water sanitation services in 2020 according to WHO and UNICEF. In Zambia, 68% had access to basic water and 45% had access to safely managed water in 2022 according to the same source.
The main investigations in the project cover the improvement of water availability for domestic use through implementation of green infrastructures such as revitalization of natural hydrological processes and water harvesting, water treatment with biological measures and filtering, pollutants and waste management and reuse.
The project aims to improve understanding of how Nature based Solutions can be scaled and customized to address the availability of water and consequently food in Ethiopia and Sub-Saharan Africa, using Zambia as case study. Thus it will be focused on one of Zambia’s largest wetland areas called Lukanga Swamp (crucial to the ecosystem of Zambia and the region) located in central Zambia.
Lukanga Swamp serves as a recharge zone for one of the major rivers, the Kafue River, which flows into the Zambezi River. Kafue River supports agricultural activities and the livelihood of local communities, and additionally is the source of water for the capital city (Lusaka) and surrounding areas. This wetland is home to many varieties of animals, reptiles, fish and birds, among them endangered species. Studies have shown that 6 million people (30% of the country population) directly rely on this wetland. Fishing in the wetlands is one of the major economic activities for the local communities. In the rainy season when surrounding areas are flooded, the Lukanga swamps absorb excess water, while in the dry season when areas record droughts, the wetlands serve as sources of water, income and food.
The community in the Lukanga swamps and surrounding areas use surface water for both potable and non-potable use. The surface water is contaminated due to bacteria and germs resulting from inadequate sanitary facilities, as well as water pollution from heavy metals associated with mining activities. Agricultural activities also lead to contamination of water from phosphate and nitrate fertilisers as well as traces of pesticides. All these can have negative effects on human health and the environment. Despite having an abundant supply of water for most of the year, communities in the Lukanga wetland do not have access to clean water in the dry season (May to October).
During the rainy season (November to April), the area usually receives plentiful rainfall. Unfortunately, the rainwater just goes to waste. Rural communities have no effective means of harnessing rainwater, although there are some reservoirs for animal use, some for irrigation purposes, and a few for human consumption. Fish in the wetland are slowly being depleted, so having small-scale dams for aqua-culture purposes (fish farming) will enhance food security for the community.
The project will investigate sustainable solutions with a focus on rainwater harnessing and water purification using natural materials. The removal of pollutants such as heavy metals (i.e. Cd, Cr, Cu and Pb), organics such as Naftalen or even drugs such as Ibuprofen, can be successfully achieved using the absorptive and at the same time antiseptic properties of activated carbon, which has a well-developed hierarchical open pore structure in the foam, combined with the absorptive and antibacterial properties of Vermiculite.
Water storage and filtration on larger scales requires sensor development and installation for the monitoring of parameters such as Ph, Oxygen levels, etc. Working closely with Zambian Non-Governmental Organisation partnerpartners, the Worldwide Fund for Nature Zambia (WWF), Ethiopian hydrologists, and urban engineers and social scientists from Mekelle University, the student will evaluate the effectiveness of these interventions.
Academic Enquiries
This project is supervised by Dr Dominika Zabiegaj. For informal queries, please contact Dominika.zabiegaj@northumbria.ac.uk. For all other enquiries relating to eligibility or application process please contact Admissions at pgr.admissions@northumbria.ac.uk.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Academic excellence i.e. 2:1 (or equivalent GPA from non-UK universities with preference for 1st class honours); or a Masters (preference for Merit or above); or APEL evidence of substantial practitioner achievement.
- Appropriate IELTS score, if required.
- Applicants cannot apply if they are already a PhD holder or if currently engaged in Doctoral study at Northumbria or elsewhere.
To be classed as a Home student, candidates must:
- Be a UK National (meeting residency requirements), or
- have settled status, or
- have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements), or
- have indefinite leave to remain or enter.
If a candidate does not meet the criteria above, they would be classed as an International student.
Applicants must be fully enrolled in the UK before stipend payments can commence and cover any additional costs that may be incurred, as these are not covered by the studentship:
- Immigration Health Surcharge https://www.gov.uk/healthcare-immigration-application
- If you need to apply for a Student Visa to enter the UK, please refer to https://www.gov.uk/student-visa. It is important that you read this information carefully as it is your responsibility to ensure that you hold the correct funds required for your visa application, otherwise your visa may be refused.
- Costs associated with English Language requirements which may be required for students not having completed a first degree in English, will not be paid by the University.
APPLY HERE:
In your application, please include a research proposal of approximately 1,000 words and the advert reference (e.g. RDF24/…).
Deadline for applications: 26 January 2024
Start date of course: 1 October 2024
Northumbria University is committed to creating an inclusive culture where we take pride in, and value, the diversity of our postgraduate research students. We encourage and welcome applications from all members of the community. The University holds a bronze Athena Swan award in recognition of our commitment to advancing gender equality, we are a Disability Confident Leader, a member of the Race Equality Charter and are participating in the Stonewall Diversity Champion Programme. We also hold the HR Excellence in Research award for implementing the concordat supporting the career Development of Researchers and are members of the Euraxess initiative to deliver information and support to professional researchers.
Funding Notes
Home and International students (inc. EU) are welcome to apply. The studentship is available to Home and International (including EU) students and includes a full stipend at UKRI rates (for 2023/24 full-time study this is £18,622 per year) and full tuition fees. Studentships are also available for applicants who wish to study on a part-time basis over 5 years (0.6 FTE, stipend £11,173 per year and full tuition fees) in combination with work or personal responsibilities.
Please also see further advice on additional costs that may apply to international students.
References
Langergraber, G., Masi, F., 2018. Treatment wetlands in decentralised approaches for linking sanitation to energy and food security. Water Sci. Technol. 77, 859–860..
D. Zabiegaj, Activated carbon monoliths from particle stabilized foams, Microporous and Mesoporous Materials 239 (2017) 45-53,
Masi, F, The role of constructed wetlands in a new circular economy, resource oriented, and ecosystem services paradigm. J. Environ. Manag. 216, 275–284..
Seddon Nathalie, 2020, Understanding the value and limits of nature-based solutions to climate change and other global challengesPhil. Trans. R. Soc. B3752019012020190120
Her Majesty’s Government, 2018. A green future: Our 25 year plan to improve the environment.
Rankoana, S.A., 2020). “Climate change impacts on water resources in a rural community in Limpopo province, South Africa: a community-based adaptation to water insecurity”, International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management, Vol. 12 No. 5, pp. 587-598.
Langergraber, G., Implementing nature-based solutions for creating a resourceful circular city. Blue-Green Syst. 2, 173–185.
