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The occurrence of extreme weather events aggravated by global warming has increased exponentially in the past decade. In recent years, New South Wales (NSW) has experienced catastrophic, unprecedented drought followed by extreme fire conditions and widespread, record-breaking floods. However, the impact of the drought and bushfires on regional water quality is poorly investigated. This study investigates immediate changes in regional environmental water quality and specific issues reported from water purification unit operations after the 2019 bushfires in NSW. Water samples were collected from the waterways in bushfire affected catchments, water intakes, unit operations of water purification systems, and treated water reservoirs. The performance of water purification processes and operational issues of regional water purification plants were extracted from daily maintenance records. Elevated levels of suspended sediment and algae blooms were of most concern in terms of aesthetic and recreation aspects of environmental water use after the drought and bushfires. Compared to the control samples, extremely high turbidity and low dissolved oxygen concentrations were reported in bushfire affected water samples. Shock loads of sediment and ash detected in waterways posed the greatest threat to aquatic ecosystems following fires. Elevated turbidity levels, suspended sediments, pH, and alkalinity were the parameters of most concern for water purification. The maximum turbidity level in raw water was reported as more than 195 NTU. Flocculation and sedimentation were the most affected unit operations in the water purification process. Immediate measures to handle shock loads due to bushfires included sediment traps, aeration on the intake lines, pre-chlorination, and inline monitoring for pH and turbidity. These results can be used to develop management strategies to minimise the impacts of bushfires on water quality and modify and operate water purification plants within bushfire prone catchments.

Biophilia, the affinity humans have for nature, has been widely demonstrated to manifest both physiological and psychological benefits in those who are exposed to natural settings. By incorporating such elements in architecture, biophilic design has been put forth as a remedy to many of the health concerns associated with urban environments. However, most of the focus has been on treatment rather than prevention, leaving the root causes unaddressed. This thesis aims to reorient the focus toward the proactive use of biophilic design to promote well-being and avert the onset of these issues. Design principles draw from the theory of Salutogenesis, which employs elements of Psychologically Supportive Design (PSD) and Attention Restoration Theory (ART) to promote physical, mental, and emotional well-being. This approach contrasts and augments the concept of Pathogenesis, the focus on resultant illnesses and disease that defines the current healthcare paradigm. If biophilia is salutogenic (i.e. generates health), this thesis postulates that such architecture will also act as a prophylaxis, or preventative medicine. To evaluate the potential efficacy of various biophilic strategies, an IRB-approved research study has been designed to gather qualitative and quantitative responses from individuals viewing alternative design proposals. Rather than putting forth a hypothesis to be supported, the project centers on a thesis proposition to be explored through an inductive process of seeking emergent theories. With funding from the American Institute of Architects through the AIAS Crit Scholar Program, design alternatives were developed and presented in Virtual Reality to individuals associated with a local organization, Community Health Center of the New River Valley. While the results presented are neither prescriptive nor universally generalizable, findings are relevant in both the context of healthcare and across building types. Master of Architecture In recent decades, designers and researchers alike have sought to understand what people have intuitively known for millennia – namely, that humans possess an innate affinity for nature, which can improve our physical and psychological health and well-being. The theory of biophilia, first popularized in 1984 by Edward O. Wilson, has framed this concept with the hypothesis that "Natural environments have a restorative advantage over artificial environments due to the role they played in our evolution as a species." Since then, countless studies have supported this claim, with far-reaching implications and opportunities. As more and more people move to cities, health crises have escalated dramatically, with urban environments tied to increased stress, anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, and memory disorders. As the world continues to urbanize, designers face a growing imperative to create spaces that are conducive to health and wellness. Biophilic design has been put forth as a remedy to many of these health concerns, yet most of the focus has been on treatment rather than prevention, leaving the root causes unaddressed. This thesis aims to reorient the focus toward the proactive use of biophilic design to promote well-being and avert the onset of these issues. Design principles draw from the theory of Salutogenesis, the idea that health is a condition that can be caused, rather than the mere absence of illness. If biophilia is salutogenic (i.e. generates health), this thesis postulates that such architecture will also act as a prophylaxis, or preventative medicine. To explore this topic, a hypothetical wellness center was designed in partnership with a local organization, Community Health Center of the New River Valley. Design alternatives were presented to a group of participants using Virtual Reality headsets to view four spaces, each focused on a different element of biophilia: vegetation, water, light, and air. Interviews and questionnaires resulted in a number of trends and conclusions regarding best practices for the inclusion of natural elements in architecture.