Himali Delanka-Pedige
Dr. Himali Delanka Pedige is an Assistant Professor in the School of Civil, Environmental, and Infrastructure Engineering. She earned her PhD and MS in Environmental Engineering from New Mexico State University. Her research focuses on sustainable wastewater treatment, water reuse, resource recovery from waste streams, emerging contaminants, chemical-microbial water quality characterization, algal-based treatment technologies, acid mine drainage treatment, oil and gas produced water management, and treatment process modeling.
Research Interests:
Wastewater treatment, Algal-based treatment, Water reuse, Resource recovery from waste streams, Acid mine drainage, Microplastic, Emergent contaminants, Industrial wastewater, Treatment process modeling, Membrane-based treatment, Risk and toxicity assessment, Multi-criteria decision making, Sustainable development goals, chemical-microbial water quality characterization.
Classes
- ENGR 370A - Fluid Mechanics,
- CE 413 - Collection Systems Design
- CE 418 - Water and Wastewater Treatment
- CE 518 - Advanced Biological Treatment Processes
Education
- Ph.D., Engineering, New Mexico State University, 2021
- M.Sc., Environmental Engineering, New Mexico State University, 2018
- B.Sc. Civil Engineering, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, 2015
Related Experience
- Assistant Professor, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL (2024 - present)
- Postdoctoral, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM (2022-2024)
- Senior Lecturer, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology, Sri Lanka (2021-2022)
- Lecturer (Associate), Curtin University, Australia (2021-2022)
- Environmental Engineering Intern, City of Las Cruces Utilities Division, NM (2021)
- Research Assistant, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM (2017-2020)
- Lecturer, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka (2015-2016)
Honors and Awards
- New Mexico State University Graduate Assistant Tuition Fellowship
- New Mexico State University Engineering Research Award
- NSF Non-Academic Research Internship for Graduate Students (INTERN) Award
- NSF Engineering Research Center for Reinventing the Nation's Urban Water Infrastructure (ReNUWIt) International Conference Travel Grant
- Aggies-go-global International Conference Travel Grant
- Special Award of Recognition for Research Performance in Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology for the Year 2021
Publications and Creative Works:
Journal Publications:
Edirisooriya, E.T., Lopez, A., Smith, D., Senanayake, P.S., Zhang, Y., Delanka-Pedige, H.M., Xu, P. and Wang, H.; Separation performance in pilot-scale fractional freeze desalination and reverse osmosis for produced water reuse; Desalination: 622, p.119743, 2025
Delanka-Pedige, H.M.K., Ahmed, A., Schaub, T., Trainor, P. and Nirmalakhandan, N.; Feasibility of organic micropollutant removal from municipal wastewaters by algal treatment vs. activated sludge treatment: Comparison based on non-targeted organic compound analysis; Journal of Environmental Management: 367, p.121936, 2024
Delanka-Pedige, H.M.K., Young, R.B., Abutokaikah, M.T., Chen, L., Wang, H., Imihamillage, K.A., Thimons, S., Jahne, M.A., Williams, A.J., Zhang, Y. and Xu, P.; Non-targeted analysis and toxicity prediction for evaluation of photocatalytic membrane distillation removing organic contaminants from hypersaline oil and gas field-produced water; Journal of Hazardous Materials; 471, p.134436, 2024
Delanka-Pedige, H.M.K., Zhang, Y., Young, R.B., Wang, H., Hu, L., Danforth, C. and Xu, P.; Safe reuse of treated produced water outside oil and gas fields? A review of current practices, challenges, opportunities, and a risk-based pathway for produced water treatment and fit-for-purpose reuse; Current Opinion in Chemical Engineering; 42, p.100973, 2023
Abeyratne, W.M.L.K., Bayat, H., Delanka-Pedige, H.M.K., Zhang, Y., Brewer, C.E. and Nirmalakhandan, N.; Multi-criteria evaluation of energy recovery from urban wastewater sludges by anaerobic digestion and hydrothermal liquefaction; Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering; 11(2), p.109628, 2023
Nirmalakhandan, N., Cheng, X., Munasinghe-Arachchige, S.P., Delanka-Pedige, H.M.K. and Zhang, Y.; Single-step mixotrophic algal wastewater treatment: Microbial assessment of effluent; Algal Research; 64, p.102704, 2022
Abeysiriwardana-Arachchige, I.S.A., Delanka-Pedige, H.M.K., Munasinghe-Arachchige, S.P., Brewer, C.E. and Nirmalakhandan, N.; Modeling and optimization of an algal-based sewage treatment and resource recovery (STaRR) system; Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering; 10(2), p.107139, 2022
Delanka-Pedige, H.M.K., Zhang, Y. and Nirmalakhandan, N.; Algal wastewater treatment integrated with carbon adsorption and ozonation for water reclamation: Multi-criteria comparison with conventional pathways; Algal Research; 61, p.102581, 2022
Munasinghe-Arachchige, S.P., Sparks, K.M., Ahmed, A., Delanka-Pedige, H.M.K., Abeysiriwardana-Arachchige, I.S.A., Schaub, T., Trainor, P.J. and Nirmalakhandan, N.; Algal-based wastewater treatment: Evaluation of nitrogenous byproducts in chlorinated effluent; Algal Research; 59, p.102443, 2021
Munasinghe-Arachchige, S.P., Abeysiriwardana-Arachchige, I.S.A., Delanka-Pedige, H.M.K. and Nirmalakhandan, N.; Biofertilizer recovery from organic solid wastes via hydrothermal liquefaction; Bioresource Technology; 338, p.125497, 2021
Delanka-Pedige, H.M.K., Munasinghe-Arachchige, S.P., Abeysiriwardana-Arachchige, I.S.A. and Nirmalakhandan, N.; Wastewater infrastructure for sustainable cities: assessment based on UN sustainable development goals (SDGs); International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology; 28(3), pp.203-209, 2021
Abeysiriwardana-Arachchige, I.S.A., Delanka-Pedige, H.M.K., Munasinghe-Arachchige, S.P. and Nirmalakhandan, N.; Techno-economic optimization of phosphorous recovery in an algal-based sewage treatment system; Bioresource Technology; 332, p.125128, 2021
Abeysiriwardana-Arachchige, I.S.A., Samarasingha, N., Rosalez, R., Munasinghe-Arachchige, S.P., Delanka-Pedige, H.M.K., Brewer, C.E. and Nirmalakhandan, N.; Maximizing phosphorus recovery as biofertilizer in an algal wastewater treatment system; Resources, Conservation and Recycling; 170, p.105552, 2021
Delanka-Pedige, H.M.K., Munasinghe-Arachchige, S.P., Abeysiriwardana-Arachchige, I.S.A. and Nirmalakhandan, N.; Evaluating wastewater treatment infrastructure systems based on UN Sustainable Development Goals and targets; Journal of Cleaner Production; 298, p.126795, 2021
Munasinghe-Arachchige, S.P., Abeysiriwardana-Arachchige, I.S.A., Delanka-Pedige, H.M.K., Cooke, P. and Nirmalakhandan, N.; Nitrogen-fertilizer recovery from urban sewage via gas permeable membrane: Process analysis, modeling, and intensification; Chemical Engineering Journal; 411, p.128443, 2021
Abeysiriwardana-Arachchige, I.S.A., Chapman, G.W., Rosalez, R., Soliz, N., Cui, Z., Munasinghe-Arachchige, S.P., Delanka-Pedige, H.M.K., Brewer, C.E., Lammers, P.J. and Nirmalakhandan, N.; Mixotrophic algal system for centrate treatment and resource recovery; Algal Research; 52, p.102087, 2020
Delanka-Pedige, H.M.K., Abeysiriwardana-Arachchige, I.S.A., Tchinda, D., Munasinghe-Arachchige, S.P., Henkanatte-Gedera, S.M. and Nirmalakhandan, N.; Algal process for single-step removal of organic carbon and nutrients: Modeling and optimization of fed-batch operation; Journal of Water Process Engineering; 38, p.101622, 2020
Delanka-Pedige, H.M.K., Cheng, X., Munasinghe-Arachchige, S.P., Bandara, G.L.C.L., Zhang, Y., Xu, P., Schaub, T. and Nirmalakhandan, N.; Conventional vs. algal wastewater technologies: Reclamation of microbially safe water for agricultural reuse; Algal Research; 51, p.102022, 2020
Munasinghe-Arachchige, S.P., Abeysiriwardana-Arachchige, I.S.A., Delanka-Pedige, H.M.K. and Nirmalakhandan, N.; Algal pathway for nutrient recovery from urban sewage; Algal research; 51, p.102023, 2020
Munasinghe-Arachchige, S.P., Abeysiriwardana-Arachchige, I.S., Delanka-Pedige, H.M.K. and Nirmalakhandan, N.; Sewage treatment process refinement and intensification using multi-criteria decision making approach: A case study; Journal of Water Process Engineering; 37, p.101485, 2020
Delanka-Pedige, H.M.K., Munasinghe-Arachchige, S.P., Zhang, Y. and Nirmalakhandan, N.; Bacteria and virus reduction in secondary treatment: Potential for minimizing post disinfectant demand; Water Research; 177, p.115802, 2020
Abeysiriwardana-Arachchige, I.S.A., Munasinghe-Arachchige, S.P., Delanka-Pedige, H.M.K. and Nirmalakhandan, N.; Removal and recovery of nutrients from municipal sewage: Algal vs. conventional approaches; Water research; 175, p.115709, 2020
Delanka-Pedige, H.M.K., Cheng, X., Munasinghe-Arachchige, S.P., Abeysiriwardana-Arachchige, I.S., Xu, J., Nirmalakhandan, N. and Zhang, Y.; Metagenomic insights into virus removal performance of an algal-based wastewater treatment system utilizing Galdieria sulphuraria; Algal Research; 47, p.101865, 2020
Delanka-Pedige, H.M.K., Munasinghe-Arachchige, S.P., Abeysiriwardana-Arachchige, I.S., Zhang, Y. and Nirmalakhandan, N.; Algal pathway towards meeting United Nation’s sustainable development goal 6; International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology; 27(8), pp.678-686, 2020
Cheng, X., Delanka-Pedige, H.M.K., Munasinghe-Arachchige, S.P., Abeysiriwardana-Arachchige, I.S., Smith, G.B., Nirmalakhandan, N. and Zhang, Y.; Removal of antibiotic resistance genes in an algal-based wastewater treatment system employing Galdieria sulphuraria: a comparative study; Science of the Total Environment; 711, p.134435, 2020
Munasinghe-Arachchige, S.P., Delanka-Pedige, H.M.K., Abeysiriwardana-Arachchige, I.S., Zhang, Y. and Nirmalakhandan, N.; Predicting fecal coliform inactivation in a mixotrophic algal wastewater treatment system; Algal Research; 44, p.101698, 2019
Tchinda, D., Henkanatte-Gedera, S.M., Abeysiriwardana-Arachchige, I.S.A., Delanka-Pedige, H.M.K., Munasinghe-Arachchige, S.P., Zhang, Y. and Nirmalakhandan, N.; Single-step treatment of primary effluent by Galdieria sulphuraria: Removal of biochemical oxygen demand, nutrients, and pathogens; Algal Research; 42, p.101578, 2019
Nirmalakhandan, N., Selvaratnam, T., Henkanatte-Gedera, S.M., Tchinda, D., Abeysiriwardana-Arachchige, I.S.A., Delanka-Pedige, H.M.K., Munasinghe-Arachchige, S.P., Zhang, Y., Holguin, F.O. and Lammers, P.J.; Algal wastewater treatment: Photoautotrophic vs. mixotrophic processes; Algal Research; 41, p.101569, 2019
Delanka-Pedige, H.M.K., Munasinghe-Arachchige, S.P., Cornelius, J., Henkanatte-Gedera, S.M., Tchinda, D., Zhang, Y. and Nirmalakhandan, N.; Pathogen reduction in an algal-based wastewater treatment system employing Galdieria sulphuraria; Algal research; 39, p.101423, 2019
Munasinghe-Arachchige, S.P., Delanka-Pedige, H.M.K., Henkanatte-Gedera, S.M., Tchinda, D., Zhang, Y. and Nirmalakhandan, N.; Factors contributing to bacteria inactivation in the Galdieria sulphuraria-based wastewater treatment system; Algal research; 38, p.101392, 2019
Book Chapters:
Nirmalakhandan, N., Abeysiriwardana-Arachchige, I.S.A., Munasinghe-Arachchige, S.P. and Delanka-Pedige, H.M.K., 2022. Integrated algal-based sewage treatment and resource recovery system. In Integrated Wastewater Management and Valorization Using Algal Cultures; Elsevier; pp. 51-80
Khandan, N., Tchinda, D., Henkanatte-Gedera, S.M., Abeysiriwardana-Arachchige, I.S.A., Delanka-Pedige, H.M.K., Munasinghe-Arachchige, S.P. and Zhang, Y.; Sustainable Autarky of Food-Energy-Water (Safe-Water). In ICSBE 2018: Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Sustainable Built Environment; Springer Singapore; pp. 91-98
Invited Talks:
Delanka-Pedige, H. M. K., Hightower, M., and Xu, P.; “Produced Water Treatment, Recycling and Reuse Efforts by New Mexico Produced Water Research Consortium”; Permian Basin Water in Energy Conference, University of Texas Permian Basin, Midland, Texas, USA
Delanka-Pedige, H. M. K., Zhang, Y., and Xu; P.; “Chemical and Toxicological Characterization of Produced Water Treated via Sea Water Reverse Osmosis (SWRO)”; 6th Annual Water Innovations and Networking (WIN) Workshop. Alamogordo, New Mexico; USA
Posters/Oral Presentations:
Delanka-Pedige, H.M.K., Schaub, T., and Nirmalakhandan, N.; “A mixotrophic algal system for mitigating health risks associated with organic micropollutants in municipal wastewater”; International Conference on Algal Biomass, Biofuels and Bioproducts (AlgalBBB 2025) held in Tempe, Arizona
Delanka-Pedige, H. M. K.; “Algal-based Pathways for Recovering Resources from Oil and Gas Produced Water: A Review”; Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors (AEESP) Research and Education Conference held in Durham, North Carolina, USA
Delanka-Pedige, H. M. K., Young, R. B., Abutokaikah, M. T., Chen, L., Wang, H., Imihamillage, K. A. B. I., Zhang, Y., and Xu; P.; “Non-Targeted Organic Micropollutant Characterization of Permian Basin Produced Water Treated via Membrane Distillation Processes”; The Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) North America 45th Annual Meeting held in Fort Worth, Texas, USA
Delanka-Pedige, H. M. K., Zhang, Y., and Nirmalakhandan, N.; “Recovery of microbially safe water from municipal wastewater via Galdieria sulphuraria-based wastewater treatment system”; Two Nations One Water: US-Mexico Border Water Summit. Las Cruces, New Mexico; USA
Delanka-Pedige, H. M. K., Munasinghe-Arachchige, S. P., Zhang, Y., and Nirmalakhandan, N.; “Algal versus Conventional Wastewater Treatment: Comparison of pathogen removal and microbial communities”; 2nd International Conference on Advances in Biotechnology. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Delanka-Pedige, H. M. K., Munasinghe-Arachchige, S. P., Zhang, Y., and Nirmalakhandan, N.; “Algal versus Conventional Wastewater Treatment: Comparison of microbial communities”; Singapore International Water Week- Water Convention. Singapore