Recruiting university : UNIBS (Italy) / Co-supervising university : UBI (Portugal)
Summary
Water and waste management in mountainous and remote areas is a critical issue. Small villages and mountain shelters are often far from centralized services and infrastructure, making decentralized solutions essential. These solutions must account for accessibility challenges and environmental and climatic conditions, which affects resorces availability and systems functioning. In some areas, climate change and tourism increase place additional pressure on already fragile environments. Solid waste must be collected and transported to treatment facilities requiring storage and transport capacity. Drinking water is often supplied in plastic bottles brought up from the valleys, or collected from rainfall and glaciers and then treated. Wastewater, usually requires local treatment, which can be difficult to implement, depending on its quality, space and resources availability.
Although technological innovation and stricter environmental regulations have advanced water and waste management in recent years, solutions often overlook the needs of small, decentralized communities. Mountain communities, however, have managed scarce resources for centuries. This research aims to explore traditional practices, while exploring current approaches to these challenges. The goal is to identify synergies where tradition and innovation can converge, informing both new technologies and policy development for these areas. Nature-based solutions, such as constructed wetlands or soil infiltration systems, will be investigated as sustainable, low-energy alternatives.
Combining traditional and modern practices in water and waste management can generate cultural value. By turning these practices into part of local heritage and tourist experiences, communities can raise awareness about the fragility of mountain environments, promoting more sustainable tourism and living.
Field of study
Environmental Engineering
Supervisors
Giorgio Bertanza (UNIBS)
Antonio Albuquerque (UBI)
Full description of the project
