Project 2. Facing the effects and causes of climate changes: building resiliencem
This project confronts two important dimensions of climate change and water pollution, one a cause and the other an effect of the anthropic action on the environment. The first dimension is the contribution of organic matter from solid urban waste to the increase of greenhouse gases and the pollution of surface and underground water resources, and the second is the impact of global warming, changes in the hydrological regime and anthropogenic eutrophication in the quality of human water supply. Solutions to the two theoretical extremes of environmental sanitation are proposed, that, in practice, intertwine in the biosphere. One of the biggest global challenges currently faced by humanity is the access to a safe source of potable water. This is particularly acute in developing countries where human activities negatively impact the quality of water. In eutrophicated reservoirs, the level of nutrients is high, thus interfering in the growth of cyanobacteria, production and release of harmful toxins. These toxins can cause acute and chronic symptoms in humans and animals resulting in health problems and even deaths. In another dimension, the use of the organic fraction of urban solid waste (FORSU) as a source of renewable energy has been considered important due to the treatment that can be provided to this fraction and to the promotion of energetic matrix diversification. Among FORSU treatment methods, the biological products stand out for providing recycling with waste recovery through the conversion, in aerobic or anaerobic conditions, of organic compounds to agricultural purposes, as in the case of composting or biogas production through controlled anaerobic digestion. This multidisciplinary project is an excellent opportunity for high-level human resources, postdoctoral, doctorate and master’s degree researchers to learn from the collaboration with leading specialists in the United Kingdom and Germany. The project will facilitate the training of new researchers with the competences acquired throughout the project, thus, from a multidisciplinary stance, benefiting the programs. In addition to contribute to improve water quality in Brazil with a sustainable, safe, robust and low-cost treatment solution, the ameliorated water availability will be essential to the economic growth where there is a huge demand of water to hydropower, agriculture, industry and domestic use.
