Understanding water security in a peri-urban region: A study from two South Asian countries

Water security in mountain regions requires a deep understanding of the complex interplay of climatic and socioeconomic factors. While socio-hydrology offers a conceptual framework emphasizing the equal importance of social and hydrological processes in water management outcomes, the relative significance of each may vary depending on the specific context, water users’ perspectives, and their particular needs. To study these relationships, we applied the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework (SLF) to explore how livelihood assets of water user groups affect their water security in the headwaters of Cusco, Peru. We surveyed 154 residents about their perceptions of their natural, physical, social, human, and financial assets, alongside external influences like climate change and water legislation. We found that while water infrastructure (physical asset) is critical for water access, it does not ensure water security. Robust social assets are essential, as well as contributions from other assets. Furthermore, our results indicate that water user profiles (e.g. domestic water users or farmers) explain better the variability in water-related livelihood assets than geographical location or altitude. Using the SLF approach, we were able to identify the unique water-related needs, priorities, and challenges faced by each water user group. Therefore, water management in high mountain areas may pass through holistic community engagement and the strengthening of diverse assets—especially social ones—which can be achieved and included in policy frameworks aimed at sustainable water management and equitable water access. This would enable mountain communities to be better equipped to handle environmental and economic changes, moving towards more resilient and inclusive water security solutions.

Given its rapid social and economic development, China has been facing increasingly severe water security issues, including resource scarcity, uneven temporal/spatial resource distribution, and serious issues related to pollution. With reference to the Human Development Index (HDI), a series of macro-indexed systems are proposed to address regional water security by establishing a comprehensive water security evaluation model involving flood management security, resource security, and ecological security. The model evaluates regional water security through the efficacy of flood management measures, the security of regional water resources, and the sustainability of ecological environments. Water security conditions were evaluated annually from 2000 to 2015 for 31 provincial-level administrative regions in China. The evaluation includes the identification of water security levels in the various regions and the analysis of difficult issues regarding water security, which would help local government authorities establish corresponding policy. Compared with other existing evaluation methods, this model has advantages of easily obtainable data and quick calculation methods, which is convenient for evaluating water security across different times and regions.

Integrating ecosystem services flows into water security simulations in water scarce areas: Present and future

In order to solve regional water security issues, such as shortage of water resources, the aggravation of water pollution, the destruction of the ecological environment, etc., this study proposed the flood control security index, resource security index and ecological security index, respectively, according to the construction principle of human development index. Based on the above security indexes, a novel water security comprehensive evaluation model is established by combining the coupling coordination degree model and the state space model. The proposed model has the advantage of simple operation and fast data speed, which is convenient for water security evaluation in different periods and regions. Taking China as an example, the water security conditions were evaluated from 2007 to 2016 for 31 provincial-level administrative regions in China, including flood control security index, resource security index, ecological security index and water security level of each region, and the specific problems of water security in each region were obtained. The evaluation results are consistent with the actual situation in each region, which provides the scientific basis for the local government authorities to formulate the corresponding regional water security policy.

Water security is a widely concerned issue in the world nowadays. A new method, water poverty index (WPI), was applied to evaluate the regional water security. Twelve state farms in Heilongjiang Province, Northeastern China were selected to evaluate water security status based on the data of 2006 using WPI and mean deviation grading method. The method of WPI includes five key indices: resources(R), access (A), capacity(C), utilization (U) and environment (E). Each key index further consists of several sub-indices. According to the results of WPI, the grade of each farm was calculated by using the method of mean deviation grading. Thus, the radar images can be protracted of each farm. From the radar images, the conclusions can be drawn that the WPI values of Farm 853 and Hongqiling are under very safe status, while that of Farm Raohe is under safe status, those of Farms Youyi, 597, 852, 291 and Jiangchuan are under moderate safe status, that of Farm Beixing is under low safe status and those of Farm Shuangyashan, Shuguang and Baoshan are under unsafe status. The results from this study can provide basic information for decision making on rational utilization of water resources and regulations for regional water safety guarantee system. Keywords: mean deviation grading method, water poverty index, water security evaluation, weighted average method DOI: 10.3965/j.issn.1934-6344.2008.02.008-014 Citation: Fu Qiang, Gary Kachanoski, Liu Dong, Wang Zilong. Evaluation of regional water security using water poverty index. Int J Agric & Biol Eng. 2008; 1(2): 8

This chapter presents a contemporary and robust definition of regional security that encompasses flow of resources, sustainable economic development, poverty reduction, and peaceful co-existence. Regional integration and political stability are key ingredients for achieving regional security. A great level of diversity in human security, quantified by using the Human Development Index as a surrogate, persists in the region. The chapter focuses on the role played by water, food, and energy in regional security; it presents some inter-related drivers of change that impinge on regional security: the burgeoning population with a significant ‘youth bulge’ and accompanying widespread youth unemployment; the economic impacts as a result of globalization, particularly in food and energy sectors; the rise in extremist ideologies and their intersection with efforts to enhance democratic processes; and, geopolitical tussles that are often aimed at greater control of the region’s various resources. A major factor in the regional insecurity is the lack of adequate environmental management, resulting from poor environmental governance; the environmental management gaps are also tied to capacity gaps in human, technological, and institutional resources. The pros and cons are discussed for a number of approaches for sustaining regional water, energy, and food security; these include agricultural land acquisition in Africa, increasing focus on smallholder rain-fed agriculture, mastering the water-energy-food nexus including renewable energy sources, and enabling a favorable policy environment. It is concluded that in order to convince policymakers and governments in the Arab Region that the Water-Energy-Food Nexus (WEF Nexus) is central to regional security, supporting arguments must be presented in quantifiable economic and social terms.

Water security is the basis of sustainable human development. A new evaluation system of water security was established based on the natural–social dualistic water cycle theory, and then applied to characterize water security issues in China. At the national scale, the current state of water security was moderate, which was attributed to the improvement of water resource management level. However, it is still seriously inadequate in coordination of water use between ecological protection and socio-economic development, and wastewater treatment and reuse. Consequently, a resilient and integrated water management with adaptive capacity is needed. Moreover, the water security state in southern China was better than that in northern China, which was mainly attributed to the abundance of water resources in the south. Although the critical factors hindering water security were significantly different among China's 31 administrative regions, the low urban sewage reuse rate was a common factor, and irrigation efficiency was low in most parts of southern China. While in northern China, water resource overexploitation, polluted water quality and degraded aquatic ecosystems were common challenges. The results are consistent with the actual situations of China, and the related analysis can provide a reference for increasing regional water security.

Water security assessments often rely on outputs from hydrological models that are applicable only in gauged regions where there are river discharge data to constrain the models. Therefore, there is an urgent need to explore new methods for assessing water security in ungauged regions. This study proposes the use of the water balance and water footprint concepts and satellite observations to assess water security in Anglophone Cameroon, which is an example of a typically ungauged region. Specifically, the study assesses demand-driven water scarcity in terms of blue and green water scarcities and population-driven water scarcity quantified using the Falkenmark index across all districts in Anglophone Cameroon. The study also performs a spatiotemporal trend analysis of precipitation and temperature in the study area using the Mann–Kendall test. Precipitation trend analysis returns varying strengths and magnitudes for different districts unlike temperature which demonstrates an upward trend in all districts. The water security assessment shows that blue water scarcity is substantially low across most districts, whereas population-driven water scarcity is observed in densely populated districts (<1,700 m3/capita/year). The results from this study suggest that the proposed method may be used to assess water security in ungauged regions irrespective of climate or population size.

Landscape dynamics facilitated non-point source pollution control and regional water security of the Three Gorges Reservoir area, China

Accurately predicting Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) has become increasingly crucial. It holds particular significance for managing water resources in regions heavily reliant on snowmelt. The present study introduces an integrated Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) model that incorporates extreme heat events and diverse climate change projections to generate detailed SWE distribution maps and long-term trend analyses. By including lagged SWE observations and climate indicators, the model captures the intricate temporal dynamics of snowfall accumulation and melt processes, thereby improving forecast accuracy and stability.Previous studies indicate that areas dependent on seasonal snowpack face accelerated snowmelt timing and reduced water availability under rising temperatures. These shifts can exert critical impacts on agricultural irrigation, ecosystem habitats, and water allocation strategies, highlighting the importance of robust forecasting tools for proactive resource management. Furthermore, the development of comprehensive risk maps pinpoints high-risk hotspots where anticipated temperature increases coincide with substantial changes in SWE and snowmelt patterns. These zones are prime candidates for early adaptation measures, including infrastructure upgrades and policy interventions aimed at mitigating potential water shortages.As global warming persists, this modeling framework provides stakeholders, policymakers, and local communities with valuable insights into emerging water resource risks. The integration of climate change scenarios into the LSTM model underscores the necessity of forward-looking research that can inform both short-term operations and long-term planning. Ultimately, this approach lays the groundwork for crafting sustainable adaptation strategies, preserving agricultural output, protecting ecosystems, and ensuring water security in regions where snowmelt is pivotal to resource availability.

Atmospheric moisture transport is a fundamental process in the climate system, critical for the hydrological cycle and water security on land. Moisture exchanges between a basin and its surroundings determine water availability and may change over time due to climate change and other human impacts. Understanding how and why these atmospheric fluxes change under global change is critical for river basins supporting water security in different regions. Here we focused on the Magdalena River basin in northwestern South America, a critical basin for water and energy security in Colombia. We quantified moisture exchanges for the entire watershed and different segments (defined by the boundaries between neighboring basins). We used monthly data between 1979 and 2021 from the ERA5 reanalysis to look for possible changes, including trends. Our results provide new insights into the dynamics of moisture exchanges between the basin and its surroundings. In addition, we found evidence of statistically significant trends likely related to anthropic effects, mainly deforestation and climate change. These results have implications for water security analyses in this region, where there are few studies of this type, and simultaneously generate new insights for decision-making related to water management and transboundary water security in the Magdalena river basin.

This research examines Pakistan's water crisis and its impact on national security, highlighting key factors such as population growth, climate change, and inadequatewater resource management. The article emphasises the urgent need for thorough qualitative changes and improved infrastructure to guarantee sustainable access to clean water. This research employs a qualitative approach to examine the complex relationship between regional relations and water security, with a focuson Pakistan’s transboundary water challenges. Through securitisation theory, the study aims to analyse how water scarcity is framed as a water security issue, exploring the securitisation process and its implications for national security. Utilizing an explanatory research design and document analysis, this study comprehensively assesses both internal and external water security threats to Pakistan’s national security. Additionally, it highlights the importance of regional cooperation and diplomacy in managing shared water resources. Addressing the water crisis is an environmental concern anda vitalnational securityimperative. A comprehensive strategy encompassing legislative changes, technical advancements, and international collaboration is required to mitigate the threat and protect Pakistan's stability.Keywords: National Security, Hydro-politics, Securitisation, Water Crisis, Regional Security.

ABSTRACTSpatial conservation planning for water security can fill the gaps left by current planning practices. However, the fundamental concept and index system of water security patterns have not yet received sufficient attention. Through a comparative analysis of water security concepts from multidisciplinary perspectives, we defined water security patterns as the spatial distribution of landscapes that could guarantee regional water security goals. We proposed a framework of regional integrated water security pattern of “resource supply—environmental protection—disaster prevention”, then applied this framework to Shenzhen City, China. The results showed 7.13 million people (40.73% of Shenzhen's population) lived within the water disaster prevention pattern. The overlapped area of security patterns of water resource, environment, and disaster only accounted for 14.99% of the study area, highlighting significantly spatial mismatches. Objective water security zoning required targeted spatial conservation management. The integrated water security pattern showed the largest distribution areas in the Bao'an and Longgang Districts. Moreover, Shenzhen's water security pattern matched well with urban blue line (88.57%) and basic ecological control line (69.45%), which was a supplement to the local existing spatial conservation planning. The proposed framework is applicable to low‐lying and humid regions, offering a systematic approach to constructing water security patterns from theory to practice. This study provides valuable insights for water‐related spatial conservation planning, contributing to a more resilient and sustainable urban water security strategy.

Climate change and population increase are worsening the problem of water security, one of the major challenges faced by society. Especially in agricultural regions, water security is crucial for achieving food security and improving livelihoods. The provision and sustainable management of water are key indicators for sustainable development. This chapter presents a Water Security Index constructed using the Pressure-State-Response (PSR) framework. Variables affecting water security are associated with 15 indicators distributed over four dimensions: “Resources”, which provides a measure of existing water quality and quantity; “Access and Use”, which considers the impact of population and access to existing resources; “Capacity”, which examines the factors influencing the efficient use of water; and “Sustainability”, which quantifies the impact of land use and management. The index is tested by applying it to a predominantly agricultural study area comprised of those parts of four neighboring provinces (Aydın, Denizli, Muğla and Uşak) in Turkey’s Aegean Region that account for around 80% of the Büyük Menderes Basin. Next, scenarios are constructed to explore the impacts of climate change (RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5) and population dynamics on regional water security. Under both scenarios, the region is expected to become heavily water stressed in the near future, with changing population dynamics exacerbating the problems associated with climate change. Because this index is generic in nature, it can be applied to other agricultural areas to assess water security at the provincial level. With specific information regarding resource use, access, capacity and sustainability of existing water resources, policymakers can use this index to construct guidelines for sustainable water management under future climatic and demographic conditions.

Reservoirs of hydropower plants (HPP) can amend water, energy, and food security in semi-arid regions. However, during severe droughts, the priority of energy demand leads to critical conditions of water availability. To reduce water use for energy, one possible measure is the adoption of solar power, an abundant energy source in semi-arid regions. This study assessed the influence of adding floating photovoltaic power (PV) in the large-scale reservoir of Sobradinho HPP, located in the São Francisco River (SFR), in Brazil, from 2009 to 2018. The simulated scenarios varied the installed PV power capacity from 50 to 1000 MW. For each scenario, water allocation was modified based on the solar-hydro equivalence that restrained the historical outflow of Sobradinho to maintain water in the reservoir. Besides, a diverse operation rule for the reservoirs in cascade of SFR was adopted to avoid ecological impacts of low streamflow. The scenarios were assessed in water security, solar-hydro electricity output, capacity factor of the powerplant, water and energy losses by evaporation and spilled water. Results show that a PV system starting from 250 MW was necessary to improve water security during the severe drought, reserving 0.7–2.3 of the annual water demand. In addition, the capacity factor was optimized from 29% to 34–47%. However, as the HPPs installed at SFR work as one system, the constrain of the river flow reduced the hydroelectricity by 4.4% for 750 MW. We concluded that PV significantly influenced water security and ecological conditions of SFR, with benefits in the range of 250–750 MW. The research provides assessment on substituting hydro for solar power on the operation of reservoirs in cascade and identifies the correlated benefits in social and ecological aspects. This information can support decisions of water and energy supply system operators and public policies focused on integrated resources management in semi-arid regions.