I am Associate Professor at the Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), Brazil, Department of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering and Graduate Program in Environmental Engineering (PPGEAmb, CAPES Grade 6). My expertise is in sustainable water management combining engineered and Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) for water resilience in the Global South. With 15+ years of experience, I lead research on: (1) low-cost adsorbents/biochar from agro-residues and ozonized activated alumina for emerging contaminants and fluoride removal, (2) electrocoagulation-flotation and photo-Fenton processes for decentralized domestic wastewater treatment and water reuse, and (3) circular economy approaches for macroplastics pollution and reverse logistics for plastic lumber production in river basins. I coordinate projects funded by FAPERGS, CNPq and DAAD/EXCEED-SWINDON network and have extensive experience in EU-BR collaboration. For Water4All 2026, I am looking to join a consortium as a Brazilian partner under Topic 2: Nature-based approaches for resilient water management and Topic 3: Smart, secure and adaptive water infrastructures, offering field-scale pilot sites in subtropical basins, lab infrastructure for water quality and micro/macroplastics monitoring, and expertise in NbS integration for groundwater and river basin resilience. Keywords: Nature-Based Solutions, Water Reuse, Biochar/Adsorption, Electrocoagulation, Macroplastics, Circular Economy, Water Resilience.
Topic 2. Nature-Based Approaches for Resilient Water Management at Hydrological and Hydrogeological System Scale
Topic 2 - Description: The project aims to develop and validate integrated Nature-Based Solutions at hydrological system scale to enhance water resilience in basins affected by diffuse pollution and macroplastics. We will combine: (i) riparian forest restoration and constructed wetlands as NbS for flood retention, groundwater recharge and nutrient/macroplastics retention, (ii) biochar and ozonized activated alumina from local agro-waste as circular adsorbents for emerging contaminants, and (iii) electrocoagulation-flotation as a decentralized smart treatment for water reuse, with the residual plastic waste valorized into plastic lumber for NbS infrastructure. The approach will be tested in pilot sites in Southern Brazil (Ibicuí/Guaíba basins) and transferable to European basins. Why we are looking for partners: We are seeking EU coordinators and partners with expertise in: (1) hydrological/hydrogeological modelling and GIS-based NbS planning, (2) long-term monitoring of NbS performance for groundwater and ecosystem services, (3) LCA and governance/policy analysis for NbS upscaling under EU Water Framework Directive. UFSM will provide field sites, water quality and micro/macroplastics lab, and NbS pilot implementation in Brazil. We are open to join an existing consortium or to co-lead a new one.
nature-based solutions, water resilience, river basin management, groundwater recharge, constructed wetlands, biochar, macroplastics, circular economy, water reuse, electrocoagulation
I will attend the IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland (14-18 September 2026) and will be available for face-to-face consortium meetings. My email: elvis.carissimi@ufsm.br and ecarissimi@gmail.com