Guest Editors
Sartaj Ahmad Bhat, PhD, River Basin Research Center, Gifu University, Japan
Prithvi Simha, PhD, Department of Energy and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden
Nature-based solutions (NBS) in waste-water treatment can provide sustainable alternatives to conventional methods. While some of these solutions have been around for centuries, recent innovations have enhanced the efficiency, scalability, and effectiveness of using natural processes and ecosystems for waste-water treatment. For example, vertical flow constructed wetlands have minimized the footprint required for treatment, while natural-based filtration media such as coconut coir, biochar, and modified soils have helped enhance pollutant removal. Additionally, incorporating sensors, real-time data analysis, and automation into nature-based treatment systems has allowed for better optimization and management of the treatment process. These advancements signify a promising future for nature-based solutions in waste-water management, promoting ecological resilience, nutrient recycling, and sustainable water use.
Dr Bhat is working as a JSPS Postdoctoral Researcher in the River Basin Research Center at Gifu University, Japan. He received his PhD in Environmental Sciences from Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, India in 2017. His primary research focuses on the development and evaluation of treatment technologies for organic waste and waste-water from domestic and industrial outlets as well as organic waste recycling, with a focus on the biological and sustainable treatment by earthworms. He has published more than 60 papers in peer-reviewed journals and edited over 14 books published by Elsevier Science, CRC Press, IWA, RSC, and Springer Nature. Dr Bhat is serving as an Associate/Academic Editor and Editorial Board Member/ Advisory Board Member of more than 15 journals published by Frontiers, Springer, Elsevier, PLOS, Wiley, and De Gruyter. Dr Bhat is a recipient of several prestigious awards such as the JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship to pursue research at River Basin Research Center, Gifu University, Japan, the Basic Scientific Research Fellowship (BSR JRF, SRF) by the University Grants Commission (UGC) India, the DST-SERB National Postdoctoral Fellowship at CSIR-NEERI, Nagpur, India, and Swachhta Saarthi Fellowship by the Govt. of India. He has also received the 2020 Outstanding Reviewer Award from the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, MDPI, and Top Peer Reviewer 2019 Award in Environment and Ecology by Web of Science and has more than 750 Verified Reviews and 70 Editor Records to his credit.
Dr Prithvi Simha is a Researcher in Environmental Engineering at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and CTO of the university spin-off company Sanitation360 AB. He holds a PhD in Technology and an MSc in Environmental Sciences, Policy, & Management, with a background in chemical process engineering. Dr Simha is a contributing author to the flagship report of the United Nations Environment Program and Global Waste-water Initiative, titled ‘Wastewater – Turning Problem to Solution’, and is a member of the management committee for the Specialist Group on Resource-Oriented Sanitation of the International Water Association. His research focuses on developing technologies to safely recover and recycle resources from various types of waste-water. He is currently leading several projects researching techniques to valorize source-separated human urine as a concentrated crop fertilizer.