Address Water Scarcity Research Articles

Performance Evaluation of Mobile Integrated On-site Greywater Treatment System

This research paper presents the development and evaluation of a Mobile Integrated Onsite Greywater Treatment System (MIOGTS) aimed at addressing water scarcity through greywater recycling and reuse. MIOGTS combines primary treatment with settling cum equalization tank and anaerobic baffled reactor (ABR) with secondary treatment utilizing a Bio-rack constructed wetland (CW) system filled with charcoal and gravel as a medium. The study employed synthetic greywater, representative of typical domestic sources, and analyzed its characteristics. The MIOGTS system was designed for an average flow rate of 200 L/d and included ABR and Bio-rack CW units.

Millennium-scale changes in the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation influenced groundwater recharge rates in Italy

Groundwater, essential for water availability, sanitation and achieving Sustainable Development Goals, is shaped by climate dynamics and complex hydrogeological structures. Here, we provide a time-series of groundwater recharge from 801 CE to the present day in the Tiber River Basin, Italy, using historical records and hydrological modelling. Groundwater drought occurred in 36% of Medieval Climatic Anomaly (801-1249) years, 12% of Little Ice Age (1250-1849) years and 26% of Modern Warming Period (1850-2020) years. Importantly, a predominant warm phase of the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation, aligned with solar maxima, coincided with prolonged dry spells during both the medieval and modern periods, inducing a reduction in recharge rates due to hydrological memory effects. This study enhances understanding of climate-water interactions, offering a comprehensive view of groundwater dynamics in central Mediterranean and highlighting the importance of the past for sustainable future strategies. Leveraging this understanding can address water scarcity and enhance basin resilience.

Sustainable biomimetic solar distillation with edge crystallization for passive salt collection and zero brine discharge

The urgency of addressing water scarcity and exponential population rise has necessitated the use of sustainable desalination for clean water production, while conventional thermal desalination processes consume fossil fuel with brine rejection. As a promising solution to sustainable solar thermal distillation, we report a scalable mangrove-mimicked device for direct solar vapor generation and passive salt collection without brine discharge. Capillarity-driven salty water supply and continuous vapor generation are ensured by anti-corrosion porous wicking stem and multi-layer leaves, which are made of low-cost superhydrophilic nanostructured titanium meshes. Precipitated salt at the leaf edge forms porous patch during daytime evaporation and get peeled by gravity during night when saline water rewets the leaves, and these salt patches can enhance vaporization by 1.6 times as indicated by our findings. The proposed solar vapor generator achieves a stable photothermal efficiency around 94% under one sun when treating synthetic seawater with a salinity of 3.5 wt.%. Under outdoor conditions, it can produce 2.2 L m−2 of freshwater per day from real seawater, which is sufficient for individual drinking needs. This kind of biomimetic solar distillation devices have demonstrated great capability in clean water production and passive salt collection to tackle global water and environmental challenges.

Boron removal in seawater desalination by progressive freezing-melting.

Desalination plays a crucial role in addressing water scarcity and promoting sustainable development. However, the presence of high boron content in seawater poses a significant challenge. This study introduces a progressive freezing-melting method that effectively removes boron while desalinating seawater. The experimental results indicated that salinity and boron rate of removal increased with freezing temperature and decreased with freezing duration. Among the experimental melting methods, ultrasonic melting (UM) and oscillatory melting (OM) were superior to natural melting (NM) for boron removal and desalination, with oscillatory melting proving to be the most effective. Specifically, when seawater was frozen at - 20 °C for 44h followed by OM of 55% of the ice, salinity and boron removal rates reached 96.79% and 97.60%, respectively. The concentrations of boron and salinity in the treated seawater were only 0.777‰ and 0.149mg/L. Moreover, the estimated theoretical energy consumption for treating 1 m3 of seawater was calculated to be 5.95 kWh. This study not only contributes to environmental sustainability but also holds significant potential due to its high efficiency in desalination and boron removal.

Revolutionizing solar water distillation: maximizing efficiency with pyramid solar stills enhanced by fins, evacuated tubes, nanomaterial, and phase change materials—a comprehensive review

Abstract The availability of water and energy is crucial for human survival, yet rising industrialization and population growth have escalated demand, particularly in developing economies. Despite efforts to address water scarcity, contamination persists, leading to widespread diseases. Conventional purification methods like reverse osmosis are effective but expensive and energy-intensive while boiling exacerbates air pollution. In this context, solar still systems present a promising solution, harnessing abundant sunlight to distill seawater into drinkable water. By integrating phase change material (PCM) and sensible heat storage, these systems can enhance efficiency and reduce energy consumption. This article explores the optimization of solar still systems through the selection of suitable PCM and sensible heat storage materials. The primary objectives are to improve distillation efficiency and heat recovery, making the process more eco-friendly and cost-effective. By addressing water scarcity and energy consumption simultaneously, these optimized systems offer a sustainable approach to water production, particularly in regions with ample sunlight. Through a comprehensive review, this research aims to advance the understanding of solar still technology and facilitate its widespread adoption, ultimately contributing to global efforts toward water security and environmental sustainability.

Biopolyphenol stabilized CoFe2O4-rGO/GO catalytic cleaning membrane for fast and high-efficiency contaminants removal

Utilizing membrane materials for the purification of wastewater represents an effective approach to address water scarcity. Nonetheless, the issues of membrane fouling and stability hinder their widespread application. Herein, an effective biopolyphenols (PP) modification strategy was proposed to construct strongly stable cobalt ferrite-loaded graphene oxide (CoFe2O4-rGO-PP/GO) membranes with catalytic cleaning function. Compared with the membranes without PP modification, the incorporation of polymerized tannic acid (pTA), green tea polyphenol (GTP), and black tea polyphenol (BTP) significantly improved membrane separation efficiencies of methylene blue (MB), with high removal reaching 99.11, 98.92, and 99.20 %, respectively. Notably, the CoFe2O4-rGO-pTA/GO membrane demonstrated high rejection and outstanding permeability of 167.2 L m−2 h−1 bar−1. Introducing pTA, GTP, and BTP could enhance MB degradation rate constants by 61.54, 38.46, and 19.23 % via peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation, respectively. Remarkably, CoFe2O4-rGO-pTA/GO membrane achieved near-complete MB degradation within 12 min. Moreover, CoFe2O4-rGO-PP/GO membranes maintained high MB rejection exceeding 97 % even after ten cycles, highlighting exceptional stability and catalytic cleaning performance. The separation mechanism of these membranes was dominantly governed by the nano-confined adsorption under pressure-driven flow-through process, which was greatly distinguished from a size-sieving mechanism of densely stacked 2D lamellar membranes replying on their in-plane pores or interlayer nano/subnano-channels. This PP modification strategy can be extended to design diversified 2D lamellar membranes with guest intercalation, to achieve high stability, superior separation and multi-function.

A potential solution for clean water supply: multi-effect solar still and water quality analysis

Abstract Access to clean and safe drinking water is a significant challenge for individuals residing in suburban and remote regions of Pakistan. This study aimed to design, fabricate, and test a multi-effect solar still with four U-shaped condensing stages as a low-cost solution to this problem. The solar still was evaluated for its efficacy in removing common pollutants found in contaminated water sources. The results revealed an impressive 99% efficacy in eliminating various water pollutants, including conductivity, total hardness, pH, fluoride, and nitrate using the solar still. Water quality tests conducted for conductivity, total hardness, pH, fluoride, and nitrate revealed complete elimination of these parameters in most samples. Microbiological pollutants were also assessed through the presence/absence tests for fecal coliform and Escherichia coli, showing no presence in the distillate. In addition, the solar still effectively removed organic parameters, including alachlor, lindane, and endrin, within acceptable international standards. Thus, the proposed solar still has the potential to serve as an alternate method for producing safe drinking water in areas where access to clean potable water is limited. The findings of this study provide valuable insights for policymakers and researchers interested in addressing water scarcity in remote and suburban areas of Pakistan.

Wastewater recycling and groundwater sustainability through self-organizing map and style based generative adversarial networks

Wastewater recycling is a pivotal strategy in sustainable water management, designed to mitigate water scarcity and curb environmental pollution. This research introduces an innovative approach merging Self-Organizing Maps (SOM) and Style-Based Generator Generative Adversarial Networks (StyleGAN) to revolutionize wastewater recycling. SOM optimizes the distribution of treated water by identifying ideal locations for recycling outlets and treatment facilities. Meanwhile, StyleGAN enhances water quality by learning from diverse samples, producing purified water suitable for non-drinking purposes. The combination of SOM and StyleGAN maximizes resource utilization and addressing water scarcity challenges while minimizing environmental impact. Also, this method is not only optimizes treated water distribution but also enhances water quality, showcasing potential benefits for sustainable water practices, including groundwater replenishment. Self-Organizing Maps construct a spatial model of the wastewater treatment system, finding optimal locations for recycling outlets and treatment facilities. This spatial intelligence optimizes the distribution of treated water, channeling it efficiently to high-demand areas, thereby maximizing resource utilization. Simultaneously, Style-Based Generator Generative Adversarial Networks elevate the quality of treated wastewater. By assimilating knowledge from diverse wastewater samples, StyleGAN produces water of superior quality with diminished contaminants and enhanced aesthetics. This transformation renders treated wastewater more versatile for non-potable purposes like irrigation and industrial processes. The SOM-StyleGAN technologies offers a holistic solution for wastewater recycling, addressing both distribution efficiency and water quality enhancement. The SOM method outperforms MLP, DBN, and GAN-ANN in fidelity, diversity, contaminant reduction, and aesthetic quality. With a fidelity of 0.97, substantial improvements over GAN-ANN showcase its effectiveness. These results underscore the method's potential contribution to sustainable water management practices, emphasizing its versatility and quality in treated water generation. These findings contribute significantly to enhancing water quality and underscore its potential practical implications for sustainable water practices, marking a substantial step forward in the field.

Quinoa growth and yield, soil water dynamics, root growth, and water use indicators in response to deficit irrigation and planting methods

To address the growing issue of scarce water in the arid and semi-arid areas, it is essential to investigate the potential of drought tolerant crops and implement promising farm management strategies to improve water productivity and yield production. Therefore, a split plot experiment to investigate how different irrigation levels (I-1:100% water requirement (WR), I-2:75%WR, and I-3: 50%WR) and planting methods (P-1: basin, P-2: on-ridge, and, P-3: in-furrow) interact and affect quinoa water use, yield, root growth, and water productivity in southern Iran over two growing seasons. The results showed high seasonal crop evapotranspiration (993–1030 mm) in I-1 as a result of the high advection ratio (α), which ranged from 1.02 to 1.46 from the early vegetative to the seed filling stages. The P-3 increased transpiration rate by 4.5% and 7.7%, and decreased soil evaporation by 17% and 29% compared to P-1 and P-2, respectively. Single (Kc) and dual (Kcb + Ke) crop coefficients varied between 0.41 and 1.38 over the two growing seasons. Grain yield in P-3 were 25%, 34%, and 44% higher compared to P-1 and P-2 under I-1, I-2 and I-3, respectively. The study revealed that nearly 67% and 80% of the total root dry matter was in the 0–30 cm and 0–60 cm of the soil profile in all experimental treatments, respectively. Regardless of irrigation treatment, root length density (RLD) and root mass density (RMD) were found to be 18.9% and 15.7% lower in P-1’s top 0–20 cm of the soil profile than those obtained in P-2 and P-3, respectively. Analyses showed that the increased root length in deeper soil layers contributed to higher soil water uptake, and consequently higher crop water productivity. In addition, root-to-shoot ratio increased as the amount of the applied irrigation water was decreased. Quinoa exhibited the highest acclimation to water stress in P-3 based on water stress sensitivity coefficients (λi) and yield response factor (Ky) values. Crop water productivity (WPC) and irrigation water productivity (WPI) for grain yield varied between 0.17 and 0.28 kg m−3. In conclusion, in terms of grain yield, shoot and root dry matter and water productivity, I-2 and P-3 (75% WR irrigation level and in-furrow planting method treatment) is recommended as the optimum water and planting management strategy for quinoa cultivation in the study area as a measure to address water scarcity and food sustainability. Still, to improve yield and irrigation water efficiency, the effect of soil management practices such as mulching and organic amendments on soil water retention and nutrient availability for quinoa should be investigated.

Investigating the Benefits of Tectonite Dust as an Amendment for Bark Substrates and Dryland Crops.

This study investigates the potential benefits of using tectonite dust as a soil amendment in central Oregon. Tectonite, a rare mineral byproduct of the Warm Springs Composite Products Company, has unique properties that can enhance soil fertility and water-holding capacity. The study includes analyses of tectonite's physical and chemical properties, small-scale growth trials, and farm-scale experiments to measure grain yield. Physical property analysis demonstrated that tectonite increased water-holding capacity and improved soil structure when added to bark substrates. Responses varied in mineral soils, affecting air space, and water-holding capacity. Small-scale trials showed positive growth responses in wheat height and biomass, indicating improved early growth and establishment. Farm-scale experiments confirmed increased grain yields with tectonite application. These findings suggest that tectonite enhances soil health and crop yields by improving structure, nutrient availability, and water retention. Careful sourcing and testing are necessary to address potential heavy metal contamination risks. Using tectonite as a soil amendment aligns with sustainability goals, reducing waste, and greenhouse gas emissions. It may also offer cost savings compared to synthetic fertilizers and stimulate the local economy. Further research is needed to understand the long-term effects of tectonite on edible crops and heavy metal content. Nevertheless, tectonite shows promise as a sustainable soil amendment for promoting agriculture in central Oregon. By exploring its potential benefits, farmers can enhance soil fertility, improve water-use efficiency, and contribute to a more sustainable agricultural system. This study highlights the importance of utilizing waste byproducts in agriculture to achieve environmental and economic sustainability. Tectonite has the potential to play a significant role in addressing water scarcity and enhancing crop productivity in arid regions like central Oregon.

Improving efficiency and sustainability of water-agriculture-energy nexus in a transboundary river basin under climate change: A double-sided stochastic factional optimization method

In this study, a double-sided stochastic fractional programming (DSFP) method is developed for identifying optimal water-allocation schemes of water-agriculture-energy nexus (WAEN) system under considering climate change impact. The advantages of DSFP are (i) handling complex uncertainty of double-sided randomness, (ii) addressing conflicting objectives with optimal system efficiency, and (iii) achieving trade-off between marginal benefit and system risk. Then, a DSFP-based water-agriculture-energy nexus (DSFP-WAEN) model is formulated for water resources allocation in a transboundary river basin of Central Asia, where 48 scenarios are designed to examine the impacts of climate change, irrigation efficiency, and system risk over a long-term planning horizon (2026–2050). Results reveal that: (i) among all agricultural activities, cash crop cultivation shows the greatest change in adaption to climate change, with the share of cash crop cultivation increasing to 70.7% by 2050 under RCP4.5; (ii) Kazakhstan, which has the largest irrigation needs and is the county most sensitive to water supply risk, should be the first to be constrained in the case of severe water shortages and poor delivery levels; (iii) the improvement of irrigation efficiency can increase the inflow to the Aral Sea by 2.7%, and reduce water loss of infield irrigation by 11.3% even under severe water shortage (i.e. p = 0.01). Compared with the models based on the traditional stochastic programming and single-objective methods, DSFP-WAEN has advantages in optimizing water-use efficiency and reflecting system complexity with flexible solutions. To coordinate transboundary water conflicts, strategies from both demand and supply sides related to quota management and water-saving techniques are suggested for the Syr Darya River basin, such as clean energy transition, drip irrigation promotion and canal system improvement. From a long-term planning perspective, WAEN schemes should be adapted to risk attitude and climate change, which can help address water scarcity and achieve future sustainability.

Integrated approach to water resource management in Mashhad Plain, Iran: actor analysis, cognitive mapping, and roadmap development.

Iran's Mashhad Plain faces a severe water crisis due to the excessive exploitation of groundwater, leading to the depletion of its aquifer. While water demand management is recognized as a superior solution compared to supply projects, its implementation presents notable challenges. This study addresses the urgent necessity to curtail water demand in the Mashhad Plain by alleviating conflicts among various stakeholders, including water resource managers and consumers. Initially, the research identifies key water resource actors who collaborate in devising a comprehensive roadmap and conceptual model for efficient water resource management. An analysis uncovers significant conflicts among actors, representing approximately 6% of identified issues, with minor conflicts in 30% of cases. Encouragingly, stakeholders demonstrate potential for consensus on the remaining conflict items, with specific actors emerging as pivotal in conflict resolution. Efficient water resource management in regions facing scarcity, diverse interests, and sustainability challenges demands a multifaceted strategy. Future endeavors involve developing a dynamic system model to simulate policy impacts and strengthen conflict resolution efforts. This research introduces a roadmap-driven approach aimed at resolving conflicts and implementing water demand management in the Mashhad Plain. It emphasizes the critical need to address water scarcity challenges while effectively mitigating conflicts among water resource stakeholders.

Effect of drought stress on morpho-physiological characteristics, nutritive value, and water-use efficiency of sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] varieties under various irrigation systems.

Addressing water scarcity and the need for high-quality forage in arid regions necessitates the development of efficient irrigation techniques. This study assesses the impact of various irrigation methods on the performance and irrigation water-use efficiency (IWUE) of sorghum cultivars under water-deficit conditions in a semi-arid region of Iran during the 2019 and 2020 cropping seasons. Three irrigation methods-variable alternate furrow irrigation (AFI), fixed alternate furrow irrigation (FFI), and conventional furrow irrigation (CFI)-were evaluated alongside three levels of drought stress (severe stress: I50, moderate stress: I75, and full irrigation: I100) and two sorghum cultivars. The results indicated that increasing drought stress, as well as the transition from CFI to AFI and FFI, led to reductions in metabolizable energy yield (MEY), plant height, cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. Conversely, there were increases in leaf-to-stem ratio, digestible organic matter, metabolizable energy content, crude protein content, and IWUE for metabolizable energy production (IWUEME). The highest MEY (211.68 GJ ha-1) was recorded under CFI×I100, albeit at the expense of maximum water consumption (7261 m3 ha-1). Meanwhile, the AFI×I50 and FFI×I50 treatments exhibited the highest IWUEME (44.46 MJ m-3) and metabolizable energy content (8.736 MJ kg-1), respectively, while conserving over 60% of water. Hybrid Speedfeed outperformed in forage yield and IWUEME, while cultivar Pegah excelled in forage quality. Transitioning from CFI to AFI or FFI resulted in decreased forage yield but improved forage quality and IWUEME. Principal component analysis revealed that leaf-to-stem ratio and plant height serve as effective indicators for assessing the nutritive value and forage yield of sorghum, respectively. Considering the overall results, cultivating the hybrid Speedfeed under AFI×I75 conditions is recommended for optimal water utilization, achieving satisfactory forage yield and quality, and enhancing IWUE.

A Novel Rainwater Harvesting System for Mindoro, Philippines

This study proposes an innovative aqueduct system that revolutionizes water sustainability for Mindoro by analyzing rainwater patterns. The system focuses on addressing water scarcity through rainwater harvesting while integrating technical, social, and economic aspects to promote sustainable practices. It supports Philippine Republic Act 6716, aiming to enhance water management, community involvement, and environmental responsibility. The study offers valuable lessons for similarly affected regions.

Addressing water scarcity challenges through rainwater harvesting: A comprehensive analysis of potential zones and model performance in arid and semi-arid regions–A case study on Purulia, India

Water scarcity in arid and semi-arid regions is a critical global concern, necessitating innovative solutions to address increasing water demands in these vulnerable areas. This study focuses on tackling this challenge by identifying and classifying rainwater harvesting zones based on their potentiality and comparing the performance of two machine learning models, Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Random Forest (RF), for optimizing rainwater harvesting strategies. The study area is Purulia, a district in India. Extensive literature review was conducted to identify key factors influencing rainwater harvesting. Open-source remotely sensed data were employed to pinpoint rainwater harvesting potential zones. A multi-criteria decision-making technique was applied to assess the importance of various factors. Results indicated that rainfall, slope, runoff potential, soil, land cover, and drainage density are the six crucial factors for selecting suitable rainwater harvesting locations. Approximately 2% of the area is unsuitable, 8% is poorly suitable, 33% is moderately suitable, 45% is highly suitable, and the remaining 12% is extremely suitable in Purulia. Two predictive models were developed, with the RF algorithm demonstrating nearly 99% accuracy. Finally, remedial techniques for mitigating water scarcity through rainwater harvesting are discussed separately for urban and rural areas. This research article embraces a comprehensive approach to address water-related concerns, offering a replicable framework applicable globally, with a specific focus on arid and semi-arid regions.

Performance enhancement of single slope solar still using nanofluids at different water depth

In this research, a comparison was made between the performance of single basin single slope solar still with and without the use of nanofluids. The study involved an examination of nanofluids, specifically zinc oxide (ZnO), silicon oxide (SiO2), and a combination of Zinc oxide and Silicon oxide, to assess their thermal and physical properties at various water depths. Suitable nanofluids were selected for performance testing in a solar still located in the city of Bhopal, India (latitude 23.2599°N and longitude 77.4126°E). The experimental data collected over three sunny days, and the performance of the solar still using nanofluids was compared with that of the solar still without nanofluids. At 2:00 pm, the solar still using ZnO nanofluids achieved a maximum temperature of 69.8 °C, whereas the basin temperature for the solar still without nanofluids reached 63.8 °C. Furthermore, the solar still without nanofluids exhibited a maximum efficiency of 20.14%, while the solar still using SiO2, the blend of SiO2 +ZnO, and ZnO nanofluids achieved maximum efficiencies of 22.53%, 25.24% and 29.50% respectively. When operated with 0.5 cm water depth and a 1 gm concentration of nanofluids. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that solar still employing nanofluids exhibit significantly enhanced thermal conductivity and efficiency compared to those with and without nanofluids. These nanofluids based solar still offers a cost-effective solution for addressing water scarcity issues particularly in rural areas and coastal regions.

Effective regulation of water resources in the regions: Technologies, strategies and innovations

Water resources management is a critical issue for sustainable regional development. The main objective of this study was to analyze water degradation problems and identify necessary technological solutions for rational and sustainable water resources management at the regional level. Systematic methods of analysis, comparative analysis, and modeling were applied. The results indicate that introducing an integrated approach to water resources management, combined with advanced water-saving technologies, can effectively address water scarcity issues and contribute to sustainable regional development. The study showed that successful implementation of sustainable water management strategies requires close inter-regional and inter-sectoral cooperation, active involvement of all stakeholders, and the ability to adapt to changing climatic conditions. Thus, it is necessary to develop and implement regional strategies for rational water use that consider local specifics and the needs of relevant territories.

Performance of single slope solar stills: A comparative study of conventional and modified stills with nanofluid and reflectors

Nature has naturally desalinated water for centuries through the process of solar heating, where oceanic water transforms into vapor and then returns to Earth as freshwater precipitation. Freshwater is vital for sustaining life, but growing populations, industrial expansion, and increased agricultural production have created a rising demand for it. Desalination has emerged as a potential solution to address water scarcity. Existing desalination technologies fall into two categories: single-phase processes like reverse osmosis and electro-dialysis, and phase-change processes such as distillation and solar stills. While single phase processes provide freshwater, some rely on non-renewable fossil fuels for energy, indirectly contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. Solar distillation, in contrast uses renewable energy from the sun, offers a promising and sustainable alternative for freshwater production. Solar stills employ shallow water basins within enclosed structures, as moisture collects on the interior surface of the glass cover, cooled by natural airflow. In this study, two 250 X 250 mm2 single slope solar stills were designed, one conventional and the other modified with nanofluids and reflectors. The experiment assessed their performance in Hyderabad’s typical climate, with a glass cover slope of 17.45°. Both stills operated with a 1 cm water depth (500 ml) to observe the water distillate output. Readings were recorded for two different nanofluid concentrations (considering 0.08% and 0.1% of Cerium Oxide nanoparticles by volume mixed with water) allowing for a comparison of their cumulative hourly yields and effectiveness in increasing freshwater output.

Assessment of Water Treatment Processes and Quality Parameters at the Al Hoceima Desalination Plant

Water is a vital resource essential for sustaining life and supporting human development. In the face of increasing population growth, urbanization, and environmental challenges, ensuring access to clean and safe drinking water remains a global priority. This study focuses on assessing the efficacy of water treatment processes at the Al Hoceima Desalination Plant in Morocco, examining various parameters to evaluate water quality improvement. Physicochemical parameters such as pH, conductivity, turbidity, total hardness, alkalinity, chloride, sulfate, calcium, magnesium, and dissolved oxygen, as well as bacteriological indicators including Escherichia coli, intestinal enterococci, coliforms, specific growth rates at 22°C and 37°C, and clostridia spores, were analyzed. The study aims to provide insights into the effectiveness of advanced treatment technologies in producing potable water and ensuring a sustainable water supply. Results indicate significant improvements in water quality following treatment processes, highlighting the importance of reverse osmosis in meeting water quality standards and addressing water scarcity challenges.

Constructing semi-arid ecological barriers to prevent desertification

<p>Semi-arid regions worldwide face escalating challenges, including water resource shortages, ecological fragility, and relentless expansion of desertification. Here, we propose the establishment of a worldwide Semi-arid Ecological Barrier (SAEB) as a proactive measure in response to these challenges to curtail desertification and alleviate extreme events. Beyond its immediate benefits, the SAEB holds significant promise for future global carbon control efforts. This perspective offers a case study exemplifying the principles of ecological civilization, focusing on preventing desertification in the Yellow River Basin. Policy of ecological recover, such as the ��Grain for Green�� project in China, has shown to be effective in strengthening the SAEB. It contributes valuable insights into innovative strategies for addressing water scarcity, ecological fragility, and desertification expansion.</p>