Excessive water use in flooded irrigation systems poses a significant challenge in rice cultivation. Therefore, it is essential to adopt irrigation management techniques that conserve water, enhance water productivity, and address water scarcity. This experiment aimed to evaluate the yield and water productivity of various crop establishment methods combined with different irrigation management techniques. The experiment was designed using a split-plot layout with three replications. The main plots comprised three crop establishment techniques: the System of Rice Intensification (SRI), Direct Seeding (DSR), and Transplanting (TPR). The five irrigation regimes were randomized to the subplots implemented, including: continuous submergence (flooding) up to a depth of 3cm (I1); irrigation application of 24L m- 2 four days after the ponded water had disappeared during crop growth (I2); irrigation application of 24L m- 2 four days after the ponded water disappeared until panicle initiation, followed by submergence until the dough stage (I3); irrigation application of 24L m- 2 four days after the disappearance of ponded water until flowering, then submergence until the dough stage (I4); and saturation throughout until the dough stage (I5). The Shalimar Rice-4 variety was utilized for the study. The results indicated that the SRI method of crop establishment yielded the highest grain yields of 7.72 t ha^-1 and 7.93 t ha^-1, alongside straw yields of 9.64 t ha^-1 and 9.98 t ha^-1, in the years 2021 and 2022, respectively. Furthermore, the highest total crop water productivity was observed in the saturation treatment compared with continuous flooding. Consequently, the System of Rice Intensification with saturation emerged as the most efficient irrigation strategy, as it retained the highest total crop water productivity under the temperate conditions of Kashmir.

Adsorption-based atmospheric water harvesting (AWH) is a new water supply technology to address water scarcity in decentralized arid regions. Advanced hygroscopic metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been designed to enhance water harvesting capability, but current structural design strategies often face tradeoffs among key performance metrics. Enhancing one performance aspect often results in compromises in others, significantly limiting the overall water production efficiency. Herein, we report a water-induced structural adaptivity in a Zr-MOF, fb-Zr-MOF-1, during the water adsorption process to balance and co-optimize all performance metrics. At low humidity levels, the rotational swing of flexible pyrazole ring enables the synergy between Lewis basic N-site and Zr6 node, favoring competitive water adsorption and desorption rates. At high humidity level, the pore expansion accommodates more water to increase the adsorption capacity. Meanwhile, the moderate water binding energy (Qst = 49.6 kJ mol-1) facilitates energy-efficient regeneration. Based on holistic metrics optimization, fb-Zr-MOF-1 showed a high water uptake of 0.41 g g-1 at P/P0 = 30% with an average of ∼14 adsorption-desorption cycles per day and a mild desorption temperature of 318 K, achieving higher daily water production capacity compared to most prevailing MOFs. This study provides insights into a new structural adaptive design strategy for hydroscopic MOF for highly efficient and energy-efficient atmospheric water harvesting in an arid environment.

Abstract Upland cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L.) production in the Samarkand province is dependent on irrigation. Although reduced irrigation requirements under drip compared with furrow irrigation can partly address water scarcity problems in the region, cotton fertilizer requirements likely vary in response to irrigation method. In a 3‐year field study, we examined the yield response of upland cotton to furrow and drip irrigation under conventional on‐farm and improved nutrient (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) split application methods at two rates: 150, 105, and 75 kg ha −1 and 200, 140, and 100 kg ha −1 of N, P, and K, respectively. Irrigation method significantly influenced seed cotton yield in 2 years ( p ≤ 0.039), with drip irrigation having greater seed cotton yields in all 3 years. Drip irrigation water productivity was 74% greater than furrow irrigation and saved an average of 3000 m 3 ha −1 year −1 . Improved fertilizer application methods significantly increased yield in all study years ( p ≤ 0.013) with a greater yield response to application method under drip (0.69 t ha −1 ) compared with furrow (0.29 t ha −1 ) irrigation. Improved fertilizer application methods also significantly increased first harvest boll weights and 1000‐seed weights. Seed cotton yield significantly responded to the high fertilizer rate ( p ≤ 0.012) in two of the study years. Optimal fertilizer strategies varied with irrigation method, with potentially lower requirements under drip irrigation compared with furrow irrigation. Use of drip irrigation may offer a way to not only reduce irrigation requirements but also nutrient inputs for cotton production in the Samarkand region.

Water scarcity is becoming an increasingly critical global challenge, driven by climate change, rapid population growth, pollution, and unsustainable water use. Drought further intensifies this crisis by reducing water availability across agricultural, environmental, and socio-economic systems. In this context, nanotechnology has emerged as a promising tool for improving water management and enhancing drought resilience. This review examines the role of nanotechnology in drought mitigation and water conservation through multiple pathways, including the enhancement of plant drought tolerance, improvement in soil water retention, the development of smart irrigation and nano-sensing systems, and the expansion of water resources through purification, desalination, and wastewater reuse. In addition, the broader drought-water nexus is discussed to position nano-enabled approaches within existing water management strategies. While numerous studies report improvements in water-use efficiency, stress tolerance, and treatment performance under controlled conditions, significant limitations remain. These include concerns related to environmental safety, nanotoxicity, scalability, cost, and the gap between laboratory findings and field-level applications. Overall, nanotechnology should be considered a complementary approach rather than a stand-alone solution for addressing water scarcity under drought conditions. Future research should focus on long-term environmental impacts, techno-economic feasibility, and large-scale field validation to support the safe and effective integration of nanotechnology into sustainable water management systems.

This paper presents the conceptual design of blue and green infrastructure (BGI) prototype focused on the decentralized stormwater collection, treatment, and storage in urban dwellings of semi-arid areas. The proposal emerges as an adaptation strategy to address water scarcity, taking into account the poor performance of conventional supply systems in such vulnerable contexts. The BGI system integrates two complementary strategies: direct collection from rooftops and collection of surface runoff generated on impervious sidewalks, which is conducted through permeable pavement to a bioretention cell composed of vegetation and recycled construction aggregates. This configuration allows runoff water to be collected, filtered, and stored for later use. Local climate data were used to estimate surface runoff, infiltration into the system layers, and potential storage in a preliminary water balance. The design was applied to a typical home with a roof area of 39.2 m² and a daily consumption of 724.9 liters (for five inhabitants, with water-saving devices). The results indicate that, during representative rainfall events, the volume captured partially covers this allocation for at least one day, demonstrating the hydraulic viability of the system in urban environments with limited space. It should be noted that the water balance did not consider losses due to evaporation or evapotranspiration, as the objective was to make a preliminary estimate for conceptual sizing. It is concluded that the BGI prototype represents a viable and sustainable alternative for harvesting rainwater in homes with limited space and access to conventional sources, thus contributing to the circular water economy.

Abstract This study aims to address water scarcity and pollution faced by energy companies in the Yellow River Basin by developing a digitized and integrated water resources management system from the corporate perspective. A multi-objective optimization framework supplemented with linear programming was established to coordinate multiple water users, quality grades, and spatiotemporal constraints. Key methods included a standardized water data system, a digital control and display center, and a whole-life-cycle management platform. The results show that the proposed model, implemented at the Ningdong Coal-Power-Chemical Industrial Base, significantly improved the allocation efficiency of multi-source water resources, narrowed the water supply-demand gap, and enhanced the comprehensive utilization of unconventional water (e.g., mine water). Specifically, out of approximately 6.5 billion m3 of mine water generated annually in the basin, the model helped increase the utilization rate from around 31% to a substantially higher level, reducing reliance on Yellow River surface water. These findings demonstrate that digital and integrated water resources management can achieve quality-based differentiated water use, fit-for-purpose supply, and clean discharge, thereby enabling synergistic and sustainable energy production in the Yellow River Basin.

India's National River Linking Project (NRLP) is a large-scale inter-basin water transfer scheme designed to address water scarcity and excesses by connecting surplus basins to deficit ones across the country. However, such large-scale hydrological alterations pose serious ecological risks. This study examines the potential role of river interlinking on the distribution and dynamics of freshwater invasive alien species and their interactions with native biodiversity across Indian river basins. We modelled the distribution of 15 naturalised freshwater IAS using species distribution models based on bioclimatic variables. These maps were then overlaid with basin-level freshwater biodiversity and threatened-species data, as well as the proposed river-linking network. The results reveal strong positive correlations between IAS richness and overall as well as threatened freshwater biodiversity, with biodiversity hotspots such as the Krishna, Godavari, Mahanadi, Brahmaputra, and the Western Ghats basins being most at risk. The proposed interlinking routes are expected to act as ecological corridors, enabling biotic exchange among previously isolated basins. Such increased connectivity could accelerate biological invasions, disrupt migratory routes, alter hydrological regimes, and undermine ecosystem resilience. The findings emphasise the urgent need to incorporate invasion ecology and biodiversity safeguards into NRLP plans to prevent irreversible ecological damage.

Optimization of reclaimed water utilization in urban environmental development: A case study of Shenzhen City

This study focuses on mainland China, covering 30 provinces. To explore the relationship between water scarcity induced by water use, rather than water use volume per se, and economic growth, this study establishes an improved integrated water scarcity footprint ( IWSF ) considering water quantity, quality and environmental flow requirements ( EFR ). Building on a comparison with the conventional water footprint ( WF ) at the sectoral level, the study examines the evolution of decoupling from economic growth, the underlying driving effects, and their heterogeneity across industries. The water footprint results show that, at both the regional and sectoral levels, IWSF is greater than WF in northern provinces, whereas the opposite pattern is observed in southern provinces. Decoupling results show that, 2007–2012, IWSF decoupling was weaker than WF , while the opposite occurred in 2012–2017; Water use intensity was the key determinant of IWSF decoupling patterns; The reduction in water use intensity driven by pollution control was key to achieving strong IWSF decoupling in 2012–2017, with the primary and secondary industries contributing the most. These results indicate that the newly developed IWSF successfully captures the contribution of water pollution to water scarcity and its decoupling, whereas WF , which considers only absolute water withdrawal, cannot. This study highlights the necessity of addressing water scarcity from the perspective of impact-oriented water use. • Proposed an improved water scarcity footprint characterization factor integrating water quantity, water quality, and environmental flow requirement. • Provinces with quality-induced water scarcity showed an "inverted U-shape" pattern from 2007 to 2017. • Northern provinces underestimated, while southern provinces overestimated their water resource impact; regional and industrial IWSF revealed this discrepancy. • Shifts in water use intensity's role from promoter to restrainer caused expansive negative decoupling, driving diverse decoupling patterns. • 2007–2012: Primary industry structure & water use intensity drove decoupling most. 2012–2017: Secondary industry water use intensity became the top contributor.

In 2024, the United States (US) and Mexico signed Minute 330, to address water scarcity in the Colorado River. Under Minute 330, Mexico committed to creating additional water savings through 2026, complementing conservation efforts by the US Lower Basin states during this period. In this paper, we examine the motivations behind Minute 330, its negotiations, and the state of its implementation to understand how it reflects the US–Mexico cooperative relationship amidst scarcity challenges in the basin. Our research takes a multi-method, qualitative approach that draws on semi-structured interviews with members of the Minute Negotiating Group from both countries and other interviewees with expertise on the post-2000 Colorado River Minute process from federal water agencies, NGOs, and universities, as well as members of US-state water agencies and Mexican water user leaders. We conclude that Minute 330 responded to water scarcity challenges in the basin that could not be addressed through prior minutes while setting an important precedent of cooperation and cross-border collaboration between the two countries amid unprecedented circumstances. These features take relevance in light of the post-2026 process and the need to develop additional regulations to manage the Colorado River both at the binational and the US national scale.

Atmospheric water harvesting (AWH) is an effective strategy to address water scarcity in arid regions, but the key challenge lies in developing adsorbents that can efficiently capture water at low relative humidity, while enabling facile release with minimal energy input. Herein, three mixed-ligand MOFs, Zn-mfa-atz-1, Zn-mfa-atz-2, and Zn-mfa-tz, were synthesized using low-cost ligands, itaconic acid (H2ic) and 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole (Hatz) or 1H-1,2,4-triazole (Htz). During the syntheses, H2ic underwent in situ isomerization into (E)-2-methylfumaric acid (H2mfa). The MOFs are all 3D framework structures, and Zn-mfa-atz-2 and Zn-mfa-tz are isostructural. Zn-mfa-atz-1 and Zn-mfa-atz-2 exhibit permanent porosity (BET surface areas of 353 and 379 m2g-1, respectively) and high stability in liquid water at room temperature for 1 week. Their water vapor adsorption isotherms are reversible, with moderate uptakes at P/P0 < 40% and relatively low adsorption heats (38 to 54 kJ mo-1). Under a low H2O partial pressure of 1.7 kPa, the two MOFs deliver stable water harvesting capacities of 0.08 and 0.11 g g-1 at an adsorption temperature of 32 °C (RH = 35.7%) and a desorption temperature of 60 °C (RH = 8.5%). While the working capacities are not high, the MOFs offer an advantage in terms of material cost.

Multi-spectroscopy reveals selective oxidation for ultrafiltration membrane fouling control in wastewater reuse.

OneWater-driven waste-to-watt innovation: Electroactive Polymer-Metal oxide nanostructures for integrated energy production and reuse of wastewater.

Groundwater recharge zones should be identified in order to address water scarcity while ensuring the sustainability of aquifers. The research utilized an integrated methodology that combined Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), Remote Sensing (RS), and Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques to identify groundwater recharge potential zones within the Qift–El Quseir area of Egypt’s Eastern Desert. Eight key parameters, including drainage density, slope, topographic wetness index, lineament density, lithology, rainfall, land cover, and soil characteristics, were extracted from Sentinel-2 imagery, an ALOS PALSAR digital elevation model, long term gridded precipitation, and geological and land cover maps. AHP-based multi-criteria evaluation highlights lineament density and lithology as the dominant controls on recharge, followed by topographic and drainage characteristics. The resulting Groundwater Recharge Potential Index map classifies the basin into four categories, with 22.0% of the area characterized as excellent to very good, 34.9% as very good to good, 31.2% as good to moderate, and 11.9% as moderate to low. By combining these classes with class specific recharge ratios and mean annual rainfall (4.3 mm), the basin scale recharge is estimated at approximately 9.67 × 106 m3/year, equivalent to about 26.8% of annual precipitation, with nearly 80% of this recharge contributed by the two highest classes. Monte Carlo sensitivity analysis and Receiver Operating Characteristic evaluation, together with geophysical and hydrochemical data, confirm the robustness and hydrogeological plausibility of the mapped recharge zones. The findings show that multi-criteria spatial modeling accurately locates the optimal groundwater recharge sites, which would aid water resource planning and policymaking in arid regions.

IntroductionThe reuse of treated wastewater (TWW) in agriculture is attracting increasing interest as a sustainable strategy to address water scarcity, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. However, its use can pose risks due to the potential presence of emerging contaminants of concern, such as personal care products and pharmaceuticals. MethodsThis study investigated the fate of three commonly occurring pharmaceutical contaminants (PhACs) (carbamazepine, climbazole, and flecainide) and their metabolites in the soil–plant system when applied through treated wastewater. The research involved irrigating a fennel crop (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) with fresh water spiked with these PhACs at different concentrations (0.5, 2.0, 200, and 600 µg L⁻¹). Fennel plants were grown under controlled greenhouse conditions and analysed for PhAC content in their roots, leaves, and edible parts (bulbs). Soil and plant PhACs content were evaluated using SPE-UHPLC-HRMS/MS and the Bioconcentration (BCF) and translocation factors (TF) were also assessed. ResultsResults showed PhACs accumulation in the soil and roots only at higher spiked concentrations (≥200 µg L⁻¹). Among the compounds, carbamazepine exhibited the highest root accumulation (BCF>1), but limited translocation to bulbs (TF<1). Climbazole and flecainide, despite their persistence in soil, showed low root uptake (BCF<1) and negligible translocation to bulbs. DiscussionMultivariate statistical analyses revealed compound-specific patterns governed by physicochemical properties such as ionization and hydrophobicity. Overall, fennel crop showed a restricted capacity to accumulate and translocate PhACs to bulbs, suggesting a physiological barrier that may reduce human health risks when using treated wastewater for irrigation. The results provide new insights into the environmental safety of wastewater reuse, with a specific focus on its impact on crop yield, highlighting the need for crop-specific assessments.

Photothermal materials possess efficient light absorption and light-to-energy conversion capabilities, and have been widely applied in research on seawater desalination and sewage treatment. However, traditional solar desalination faces challenges such as poor salt resistance, low photothermal conversion efficiency, and the inability to effectively remove wastewater discharged from seawater. In this study, we designed a self-floating solar evaporator with a vertically arranged and porous structure. By employing a simple "impregnation-crosslinking-reduction" method, we induced cross-linking in balsa wood/MXene/MnO2 (MMW). Among them, MXene exhibits exceptionally Superior efficiency in photothermal energy conversion and is widely applied as a photothermal material in the field of seawater desalination. Meanwhile, MnO2 nanoflowers, rich in oxygen vacancies, can effectively activate peroxydisulfate (PDS), demonstrating efficient catalytic performance. Within the evaporator, they spontaneously establish a wet, porous internal structure and specialized water pathways. Under such conditions, The system demonstrates a maximum evaporation capacity of 1.90 kg m-2 h-1, along with an evaporation efficiency of 113.4%. Moreover, the evaporator demonstrates high degradation rates(94.09% for 50 mg L-1 methylene blue and 95.31% for 100 mg L-1 Rhodamine 6G). In addition, this evaporator enables salt to be expelled from its interior to the surface via convection,which can acquire freshwater efficiently and sustainably. Furthermore, we used the purified water collected from evaporation to irrigate mung beans, which were able to germinate and grow normally. This work provides a direction for the application of evaporators and offers an alternative approach to addressing water scarcity and enhancing water utilization.

ABSTRACT This study assesses water scarcity in rural India using the Water Poverty Index (WPI). The study considers WPI in three communities to comparatively assess the factors that contribute to the level of water poverty in the comparable communities. We created community profiles to evaluate water scarcity across five components of the WPI framework: resources, access, capacity, use, and environment. The overall WPI score recorded for the respective communities includes Kalinagar (42), Barapita (53), and Nagla Chandi (41), all of which fall within the unsafe categories. Component indices highlighted binding constraints: Capacity = 0.00 (Kalinagar), 0.25 (Barapita), and 0.00 (Nagla Chandi); Access = 0.43, 0.29, and 0.57; Environment = 0.00, 0.46, and 0.20, respectively. In Nagla Chandi, a co‐designed package (Village Water and Sanitation Committee, waste management protocols, price rationalization for treated water, and 20‐L storage) increased treated water patronage from a mean of 3–23 households. Correspondingly, the village WPI improved from 48.6% (unsafe) to 65.6% (safe), driven by gains in Capacity (0 → 0.50) and Environment (0.20 → 0.40). This research highlights the need for sustainable water management interventions and greater community involvement in rural areas. The limited community participation in water management and local oversight of the water supply systems is highlighted as a pressing area for policy intervention. Use of the WPI not only helps to determine the level of water poverty in a community, but it also helps to identify the areas for policy intervention and for defining community‐based solutions to address water scarcity challenges and for sustainable water management. The WPI can thus be an important tool to help address water scarcity across rural India by identifying the local challenges to the realization of Sustainable Development Goal 6.

Modular gradient-porous evaporator for efficient solar desalination and autonomous salt harvesting from high-salinity brine.

Global water scarcity is an escalating issue, with billions of people facing severe water stress and limited access to water for extended periods each year. Climate change and increasing human demand are expected to exacerbate this problem in the coming decades. Reservoirs are critical for managing water resources, yet significant disparities exist between developed and developing countries. In developing regions, although total reservoir storage is increasing, the effectiveness of this storage is diminishing, as reflected in declining normalized storage levels. This indicates that these countries are becoming more vulnerable to water scarcity. In contrast, developed countries show more stable and efficient use of their water storage. The declining per-capita water storage across both developed and developing nations underscores the urgency of addressing water scarcity through improved reservoir management, enhanced conservation efforts, and alternative water sources, especially in regions with rapid population growth and limited resources.

Insights into the environmental performance of nature-based wastewater technologies towards water and carbon neutrality.