Artificial Surface Water Research Articles

The Global Dam Watch database of river barrier and reservoir information for large-scale applications.

There are millions of river barriers worldwide, ranging from wooden locks to concrete dams, many of which form associated impoundments to store water in small ponds or large reservoirs. Besides their benefits, there is growing recognition of important environmental and social trade-offs related to these artificial structures. However, global datasets describing their characteristics and geographical distribution are often biased towards particular regions or specific applications, such as hydropower dams affecting fish migration, and are thus not globally consistent. Here, we present a new river barrier and reservoir database developed by the Global Dam Watch (GDW) consortium that integrates, harmonizes, and augments existing global datasets to support large-scale analyses. Data curation involved extensive quality control processes to create a single, globally consistent data repository of instream barriers and reservoirs that are co-registered to a digital river network. Version 1.0 of the GDW database contains 41,145 barrier locations and 35,295 associated reservoir polygons representing a cumulative storage capacity of 7,420 km3 and an artificial terrestrial surface water area of 304,600 km2.

The influence of climate change on freshwater availability in the Sokoto Rima River Basin, Northwestern Nigeria.

This research entailed the acquisition of long-term (1980-2020) meteorological data (rainfall, temperature, and runoff) which was used to compute the values for the mean annual, monthly, and seasonal hydro-climate variables to establish their trend and behavior. To substantiate if the patterns of runoff are in any way due to the changing climate, the meteorological data were subjected to non-parametric tests-Mann-Kendall (MK), Sen's slope estimator, Kendall tau, and partial correlation. MK trend test for runoff, rainfall, and temperature (on an annual and seasonal basis) revealed significant trends on an annual scale. Nevertheless, rainfall data did not exhibit any, observable trend on a seasonal scale. On both annual and seasonal scales, temperature values showed increasing trends. In the entire period considered (1980-2020), runoff also exhibited a remarkable increase in trend. Sen's estimator values ranged from - 0.04 to 3.23. The results of the Kendall tau correlation showed that runoff is positively correlated to rainfall (tau = 0.222), with a high confidence level (95%). Again, the partial correlation analysis of runoff and climatic variables for annual and seasonal timescale, results show that the runoff is significantly (rxy.z = 0.315) affected by both rainfall and temperature. It is therefore recommended that future research should utilize robust input-output models to determine the amount of water stress in the basin. As a sustainable management approach, artificial surface water reservoirs should be constructed to complement the available water from the Sokoto-Rima river and alleviate the water stress experienced by the population.

Vegetation Changes Following Large-scale Fence Removal Across a Protected Area Network Within the Kruger to Canyons Biosphere Reserve, South Africa

In the early 1990’s, reserves adjacent to Kruger National Park (KNP) removed their fences to create a continuous landscape within the Kruger to Canyons Biosphere Reserve. Understanding how these interconnected multi-management systems responded to changes in environmental factors and management regimes can help to maintain natural large-scale landscape heterogeneity and ecological resilience. Our objective was to analyze remote sensing-derived vegetation metric changes between the different management types pre- and post-fence removal. The study area included fourteen reserves and the central section of KNP. We calculated the residuals between TIMESAT-derived metrics (from AVHRR NDVI time series) and rainfall to analyze changes in vegetation from 1985 to 2006. We then compared vegetation-rainfall residuals between different management types pre- and post-fence removal using mean–variance plots, nonmetric multidimensional scaling plots, and permutational multivariate analysis of variance to statistically identify and analyze changes. All management types experienced increased greenness. Reserves that removed their fences had greater changes in vegetation post-fence removal compared to reserves that remained fenced and KNP. Our findings suggest managers may need to address landscape changes by implementing management regimes such as reducing artificial surface water to counterbalance increased grazing pressure as a result of increased animal mobility across artificially created resource gradients. Habitat connectivity within and between protected area networks can be achieved by removing fences across adjacent conservation areas thus potentially increasing ecological resilience, which is vital to effective long-term conservation.

Review of global trends in meeting the ecological challenges of the mining industry. Part I: International research

The scope of the present-day open pit mining embraces numerous deposits of diverse solid minerals on all continents. Both surface and underground mining unconditionally entails dramatic environmental impact. The path of this investigative review runs from the continents and countries in the Northern Hemisphere to the Southern Hemisphere and from the Western to the Eastern Hemisphere. The review of the global research in the area of mining ecology has revealed the main trends of ecological studies on the continents and at various solid mineral deposits, either mined-out or in operation. Challenges facing the mining ecology include land reclamation, soil quality improvement in artificial revegetation, surface and underground mine water treatment and quality analysis, phyto-remediation of disturbed land, recovery of vegetation diversity, investigation of suitability of mined-out open pits and overburden dumps for colonization by insects, birds and wild animals, study of suitability of mined-out pit voids for colonization by aquatic fauna, analysis of soil pollution with heavy metals and cancerogenic substances in the course of mineral mining and processing, after-effect of mining on people health, preservation of the vegetable world and wildlife in the mining-adjacent areas, as well as administration of interaction between mining companies, governmental authorities, civil society and environmental agencies. Each of these trends is promising for the further research and analysis. To our opinion, these trends are correlated and represent an integral system defined as interaction of the vegetable, aquatic, animal and human worlds. This interaction needs persistent improvement of mining ecology and minimization of the environmental impact of industry. The associate problem solving widely uses eco-mathematical modeling, specialized experimentation at a laboratory scale and accumulation of in-situ information. The authors appreciate participation of Trinh Le Hung from the Le Quy Don Technical University, Hanoi, Vietnam in this research in the framework of international cooperation.

ORIGINAL TEXTBOOK “WATER BODIES OF UKRAINE AND RECREATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF WATER QUALITY” WAS PUBLISHED

The content of the textbook “Water bodies of Ukraine and Recreational Water Quality Assessment” published by Taras Shevchenko Kyiv National University professors Valentyn Khilchevskyi and Vasyl Grebin in 2022 was analyzed. The textbook, which is the first of its kind in Ukraine, describes water bodies objects of Ukraine, which gives an idea of their recreational potential. The book examines WHO recommendations on recreational water quality and the creation of recreational water safety plans, the EU directive on bathing water quality management, and features of regulatory assessment of water quality for recreational purposes in Ukraine. Quantitative characteristics of natural and artificial surface water bodies on the territory of Ukraine are as follows: 63,119 rivers; about 20 thousand lakes; 1054 reservoirs; 50793 – ponds; 6 large channels. The importance of the use of water for recreational purposes in the 21st century is put on a par with the economic and drinking and industrial water supply, as well as for the purposes of agriculture and energy. The WHO recommendations on recreational water quality, which are discussed in the training manual, are aimed at protecting public health through the safe management of water quality for recreational purposes, in particular: establishing national health targets for recreational waters, which include: microbial content (from fecal pollution); cyanotoxins (from harmful algal blooms); if necessary – other microbial hazards, beach sand and chemicals; development and implementation of recreational water safety plans (RWPS) for priority bathing places; carrying out constant surveillance and informing about the risks of diseases associated with recreational water and timely provision of information about health risks to the public. The training manual emphasizes that along with the normative assessment of the state of beaches by controlling state bodies, a system of international voluntary environmental certification of beach management is developing in the world. The “Blue Flag” program belongs to them. In 2021, 4,831 beaches and marinas in 50 countries received the Blue Flag. Beaches that received the “Blue Flag” are included in the list of the World Tourism Organization as recommended for visiting. Ukraine joined the Blue Flag program in 2010. And in 2021, 19 Ukrainian beaches were awarded the Blue Flag certificate..

Effective orthophosphate removal from surface water using hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria: Moving towards applicability

Effective orthophosphate removal strategies are needed to counteract eutrophication and guarantee water quality. Previously, we established that hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria (HOB) have the ability to remove orthophosphate from artificial surface water. In the present study, we expand the application of the HOB orthophosphate removal strategy (1) to treat artificial surface water with low initial orthophosphate concentrations, (2) to treat real surface water and real wastewater effluent, and (3) to remove orthophosphate continuously. For synthetic surface water, irrespective of the initial concentration of 0.7, 0.5, 0.3, and 0.1 mg PO43−-P/L, ultra-low concentrations (0.0058 ± 0.0028 mg PO43−-P/L) were obtained. When artificial surface water was replaced by real surface water, without added nutrients or other chemicals, it was shown that over 90% orthophosphate could be removed within 30 min of operation in a batch configuration (0.031 ± 0.023 mg PO43−-P/L). In continuous operation, orthophosphate removal from surface water left an average concentration of 0.040 ± 0.036 for 60 days, and the lowest orthophosphate concentration measured was 0.013 mg PO43−/L. Simultaneously, nitrate was continuously removed for 60 days below 0.1 mg/L. The ability to remove orthophosphate even under nitrogen limiting conditions might be related to the ability of HOB to fix nitrogen. This study brings valuable insights into the potential use of HOB biofilms for nutrient remediation and recovery.

Management of Water Resources in Wetlands (Muarajambi Watershed Case Study)

In Muarajambi temple, there was founding of good water resources, such as surface water and ground water resources. The local people in Muarajambi have managed water resources both inside and outside of the Muarajambi complex. The problem is how to describe the management of water resources in the Muarajambi area. The purpose of this study was to determine the description of water resources management in the Muarajambi area by analyzing the distribution, form, function from the management of water resources in Muarajambi area. The results performed that the water resources in Muarajambi area were spread over a fluvial landscape with a height of 0-20 meters above sea. The water resources consist of surface water resources and ground water sources. There are natural and artificial surface water resources. Natural surface water resources consist of rivers, lakes and swamps and artificial water resources consist of canals, ponds and ditches. The resource of ground water is a well which was made by human contains a spring inside. The management of water resource is divided into 3 (three), namely at the micro, messo and macro scales. Micro management of water resources is making of water holes in the temple building, ponds and wells in the yard of temple. Messo scale management of water resources is the construction of a pond in the yard of the temple and the making of a trench around the temple. Macro scale management is the creation of canals (artificial rivers) between temples. The function from management of water resources in Muarajambi area is a drainage (channel for regulating water into and out of the temple building), as a water storage area during the rainy season, as a means of daily needs and ritual needs (ponds and wells) and means of transportation between temples (river and canals)

Природні та штучно створені об’єкти поверхневих вод у користуванні лісогосподарських підприємств Львівської обл.

The areas of land with natural and artificial surface water bodies owned and used by forestry enterprises of administrative and territorial units of Lviv region are analyzed. Their classification according to the rating values of the described indicators is made, and schematic charts are drawn. The interval for determining the number of classification groups was calculated geometrically as the amplitude between the maximum and minimum values of the areas is too large. Forestry enterprises using water from natural and artificial surface water objects covering an area of 1,963.3 ha (including 1.5 % (642.1 ha) from natural streams (rivers and springs) and lakes and 3.1 % (1,321.2 ha) of artificial surface water bodies (canals, reservoirs and trenches, ponds and artificial water bodies) account for 12.9 % of the total area (42,781.6 ha) of lands of this category in the region. The largest areas of land with natural and artificial surface water bodies owned and used by forestry enterprises are recorded in Sokal (315 ha), Zhovkva (262.8), Busk (235.1), Skole (196.6), Brody (162.9), Mykolaiv (153), Drohobych (125.1), Radekhiv (120), Turka (118.7), and Kamyanka-Buzka (92.8 ha) districts, medium and moderate ones – in Staryi Sambir (68.3 ha) and Yavoriv (27 ha) districts, and the smallest ones – in Stryi (18 ha), Horodok (15), Zolochiv (15), Pustomyty (13), Sambir (7), Zhydachiv (6), Peremyshliany (4), and Mostyska (2.7 ha) districts and in Lviv (5.3 ha). The largest areas of land with natural surface water bodies owned and used by forestry enterprises are recorded in Skole (196.1 hа), Drohobych (124.6), Turka (118.7) and Staryi Sambir (65.8 hа) districts, considerable, medium and moderate ones – in Brody (29.8 hа), Zhovkva (25.5), Yavoriv (21), Zolochiv (13), Kamyanka-Buzka (11.7), Stryi (17) and Sambir (17 hа) districts, small, very small and too small – in Sokal (6.0 hа), Mostyska (2.7), Mykolaiv (2), Busk (1.9) and Zhydachiv (1 hа) districts and in Lviv (5.3 hа), in Horodok, Peremyshliany, Pustomyty and Radekhiv districts no such land has been recorded. The largest and considerable areas of land with artificial surface water bodies owned and used by forestry enterprises are recorded in Sokal (309.0 hа), Zhovkva (237.3), Busk (233.2), Mykolaiv (151), Brody (133.1), Radekhiv (120) and Kamyanka-Buzka (81.1 hа) districts, medium and moderate ones – in Horodok (15 hа), Pustomyty (13), Stryi (8), Yavoriv (6) and Zhydachiv (5 hа) districts, small, very small and too small – in Peremyshliany (4 hа), Staryi Sambir (2.5), Zolochiv (2), Skole (0.5) and Drohobych (0.5 hа) districts, in Mostyska, Sambir and Turka districts no such land has been recorded. Key words: surface water, streams, water reservoirs, forestry enterprises.

Sulfate radical-based oxidation of the antibiotics sulfamethoxazole, sulfisoxazole, sulfathiazole, and sulfamethizole: The role of five-membered heterocyclic rings.

The widespread occurrence of sulfonamides (SAs) in natural waters, wastewater, soil and sediment has raised increasing concerns about their potential risks to human health and ecological systems. Sulfate radical (SO4-)-based advanced oxidation processes (SR-AOPs) have become promising technologies to remove such contaminants in the environment. The present study systematically investigated the degradation of four selected SAs with different five-membered heterocyclic rings, namely, sulfamethoxazole (SMX), sulfisoxazole (SIX), sulfathiazole (STZ), and sulfamethizole (SMT), by thermo-activated persulfate (PS) process, and the role of heterocyclic rings was assessed particularly. The results revealed that all the selected SAs could be degraded efficiently by thermo-activated PS process and their decay rates were appreciably increased with increasing temperature. For instance, degradation rates of STZ increased from 0.3 × 10-3 to 19.5 × 10-3 min-1 as the temperature was increased from 30 to 60 °C. Under the same experimental conditions, the degradation rates of SAs followed the order of SIX > SMX ≈ STZ > SMT, which was in accordance with decay rates of their R-NH2 moieties. Kinetic results indicated that five-membered heterocyclic rings could serve as reactive moieties toward SO4- attack, which were confirmed by frontier electron density (FED) calculations. Based on the transformation products identified by high-resolution mass spectrometry (HR-MS), five different oxidation pathways, including hydroxylation, aniline moiety oxidation, dimerization, sulfonamide bond cleavage, and heterocyclic ring oxidation/cleavage were proposed. Moreover, the degradation efficiency in real surface water (RSW) was found to be slightly slower than that in artificial surface water (ASW), suggesting that SR-AOPs could be an efficient approach for remediation of soil and water contaminated by these SAs.

Interaction of Surface Water and Groundwater Influenced by Groundwater Over-Extraction, Waste Water Discharge and Water Transfer in Xiong’an New Area, China

Understanding the interaction of surface water and groundwater affected by anthropogenic activities is of great importance for water resource and water quality management. The Xiong’an New Area, located in the North China Plain, has been designated a new building area by China’s government. Groundwater has been over pumped and artificial water was transferred to meet the water supply in this region. Therefore, the natural interaction of surface water and groundwater has been greatly changed and there has been a complex impact of the groundwater from anthropogenic activities. In this study, we used water chemical ions and stable isotopes of δ2H and δ18O to assess the interaction of surface water and groundwater in the Xiong’an New Area. We carried out field surveys and water sampling of the Fu River (domestic waste water discharge), Lake Baiyangdian (artificial water transfer), and the underlying groundwater along the water bodies. Results show that the artificial surface water (discharged and transferred) became the major recharge source for the local groundwater due to the decline of groundwater table. We used groundwater table observations, end-member mixing analysis of the stable isotopic composition and chloride tracers to estimate the contributions of different recharge sources to the local groundwater. Due to the over pumping of groundwater, the lateral groundwater recharge was dominant with a contribution ratio ranging from 12% to 78% in the upper reach of the river (Sections 1–3). However, the contribution of lateral groundwater recharge was estimated to be negligible with respect to the artificial water recharge from Lake Baiyangdian. Seepage from the Fu River contributed a significant amount of water to the connecting aquifer, with a contribution ranging from 14% to 75% along the river. The extent of the river influence into the aquifer ranges as far as 1400 m to the south and 400 m to the north of the Fu River. Estimations based on isotopic fractionation shows that about 22.3% of Lake Baiyangdian water was lost by evaporation. By using the stable isotopes of oxygen and hydrogen in the lake water, an influencing range of 16 km west of the lake was determined. The interaction of the surface water and groundwater is completely changed by anthropogenic activities, such as groundwater over pumping, waste water discharge and water transfer. The switched interaction of surface water and groundwater has a significant implication on water resources management.

Seasonal variation and speciation of dissolved iron in an artificial surface water body

Abstract The aquatic chemistry of iron is an important issue since iron is a micronutrient for the growth of phytoplankton. Its concentration in surface waters involves many environmental aspects, from the quality of a particular water to the control of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Dissolved iron can exist in water as ferrous and ferric iron, and the equilibrium between these two forms, as well as the precipitation and solubilization of iron, depends on many natural and anthropic factors. We studied the variation for an year of Fe(II) and total iron concentration into Poarta Alba - Midia Navodari Canal, an artificial surface water which connects Danube River with Black Sea. The results indicate a high iron concentration in surface water and a seasonal variation of iron concentration and speciation, which can be correlated with the oxidable matter content.

Recent exposure to African elephants after a century of exclusion: Rapid accumulation of marula tree impact and mortality, and poor regeneration

Concerns exist over the continual decline of marula trees (Sclerocarya birrea subsp. caffra), a large ecologically and economically important tree species in southern Africa, primarily as a consequence of impact by African elephants (Loxodonta africana) and poor regeneration. We assessed changes to marula tree population structure in a protected area that was only recently opened to elephants. Jejane Private Nature Reserve (JPNR) has been subjected to elephants from the Greater Kruger National Park (Greater KNP) since 2013, as it was fenced off beforehand. A previous survey of the marula population in JPNR was done in 2009 and again in 2016. Therefore this study aimed to (i) assess elephant-induced impact and mortality levels on the previously surveyed JPNR marula tree population, (ii) compare these levels with previously recorded impact and mortality levels on marula trees across the Greater KNP, and (iii) assess marula seed predation and seedling recruitment in JPNR. The resurveyed marula population had declined by 23.8% post-elephant movement into JPNR, with the highest annual mortality rates (AMR) and elephant impact scores for trees in the 5–8m height class. The JPNR marula tree AMR of 8.1% was higher than that of Greater KNP (4.6%). Only two marula seedlings were found across all transects, whilst 84.2% of all endocarps’ locules had seeds missing, with bite marks present on 42.3% of all endocarps. This suggests potential high levels of seed predation and a lack of seedling recruitment. The concern over the impact by elephants on adult marula trees is therefore escalated as a consequence of the lack of regeneration, primarily because of seed and seedling predation. Management policies should be focused on protection methods for individual trees, seedlings and seeds, together with a large scale artificial surface water management plan to manipulate herbivore densities and pressures on marula tree populations.

Onsite chelate resin solid-phase extraction of rare earth elements in natural water samples: its implication for studying past redox changes by inorganic geochemistry

Rare earth element (REE) patterns in natural water and geological samples provide information on previous changes in environmental conditions, such as redox changes and material cycles; however, quantitative analysis of REEs in these samples is complicated by the relatively low contents of REEs in such samples as well as mass interference from 135Ba16O and 137Ba16O in inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) analyses. In this study, onsite solid-phase extraction and preconcentration methods for REEs using an iminobisacetic acid–ethylenediaminetriacetic acid chelate resin (Nobias Chelate PA1, Hitachi High-Tech Fielding) were adopted for the analyses. Standard reference materials (SPS-SW1 artificial surface water) and natural ground water and spring water samples were used to evaluate the methods. Using the chelate resin, background levels of REEs were found to be less than 0.3 ng L−1 and recovery rates (REEs, 1 ng L−1) were 97.9–106.7% for the artificial surface water. Ba contents were lower than the detection limit after extraction. Additionally, duplicate analyses were performed to check the reproducibility of the onsite extraction. The REE patterns in the natural water samples were in good agreement with those obtained using a previous method (the interference calibration method without solid-phase extraction). Therefore, onsite solid-phase extraction using the chelate resin was demonstrated to be a rapid and simple preparation technique for REE analyses.

Wintering bird responses to the presence of artificial surface water in a semi‐arid rangeland

Provision of artificial surface water has been suggested as a management practice that can benefit wildlife in arid and semi‐arid regions. With unprecedented droughts predicted for many of these areas in North America in coming decades, understanding species response to the provision of artificial surface water should be evaluated. Moreover, a dearth of knowledge exists in the understanding of avian response to artificial surface water during the non‐breeding season. To address this lack of knowledge, we sampled the avian community at varying distances from water sources in Beaver County, Oklahoma, USA from February–March 2013–2014. A total of 20 species were detected. We found no relationship to avian species richness and distance to water. Likewise, pooled data of detections across all species indicated no relationship in relation to artificial surface water. Analysis on individual species indicated that western meadowlarks Sturnella neglecta did not respond to water. However, American tree sparrows Spizella arborea (plateau model β = 0.05, SE = 0.01) were attracted to surface water sources up to a distance of 100 m (SE = 40.19 m). Furthermore, white‐crowned sparrows Zonotrichia leucophrys (linear β = ‐0.01, SE = 0.006) were attracted to surface water sources up to distance of 250 m. Additionally, analysis indicated that used water sources by American tree sparrows had significantly more mixed shrub cover (%) when compared to unused water sources (β = 6.04, SE = 2.64; p = 0.03) and that use of water sources by white‐crowned sparrows was influenced by the amount of mixed shrub cover within 50 m of the water source (β = 0.36, SE = 0.16; p = 0.02). Our results suggest that some overwintering sparrows will alter space use in response to the presence of artificial surface water, however, it is unknown whether provision of water influences overwinter survival of sparrows.

Sulfate radical-based oxidation of fluoroquinolone antibiotics: Kinetics, mechanisms and effects of natural water matrices

Widespread occurrence of fluoroquinolone antibiotics (FQs) in surface water, groundwater, soil and sediment has been reported and their remediation is essentially needed. Sulfate radical (SO4−) based advanced oxidation processes (SR-AOPs) are promising technologies for soil and groundwater remediation. In this study, the degradation kinetics, mechanisms, and effects of natural water matrices on heat-activated persulfate (PS) oxidation of FQs were systematically investigated. Experimental results clearly demonstrated that 92% of CIP was removed within 180 min (pH = 7, 60 °C). Higher temperature and lower pH facilitated the degradation of ciprofloxacin (CIP). The piperazine moiety of CIP was identified as the reactive site for SO4− attack by comparison with substructural analogs, flumequine (FLU) and 1-(2-fluorophenyl) piperazine (FPP). A comparison of the degradation of CIP, norfloxacin (NOR), enrofloxacin (ENR) and ofloxacin (OFL) confirmed that the presence of cyclopropane ring also influence the degradation of FQs. Water matrix significantly influenced the degradation of CIP and ENR, and the degradation rate followed the order of Milli-Q water (pH = 7) > groundwater > artificial seawater > artificial surface water > lake water. Degradation products of CIP in different water matrix were enriched by solid phase extraction (SPE) and then analyzed by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS). Detailed transformation pathways of CIP were proposed and were compared with respect to different water matrices. Four transformation pathways including stepwise piperazine ring oxidation, OH/F substitution, hydroxylation, and cyclopropane ring cleavage were proposed for CIP degradation. Results clearly show that the water matrix influenced the degradation of FQs appreciably, a phenomenon that should be taken into consideration when applying SR-AOPs for remediation of soil and groundwater contaminated by FQs.

Multicomponent statistical analysis to identify flow and transport processes in a highly-complex environment

A combined approach of multivariate statistical analysis, namely factor analysis (FA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), interpretation of geochemical processes, stable water isotope data and organic micropollutants enabling to assess spatial patterns of water types was performed for a study area in Switzerland, where drinking water production is close to different potential input pathways for contamination. To avoid drinking water contamination, artificial groundwater recharge with surface water into an aquifer is used to create a hydraulic barrier between potential intake pathways for contamination and drinking water extraction wells. Inter-aquifer mixing in the subsurface is identified, where a high amount of artificial infiltrated surface water is mixed with a lesser amount of water originating from the regional flow pathway in the vicinity of drinking water extraction wells. The spatial distribution of different water types can be estimated and a conceptual system understanding is developed. Results of the multivariate statistical analysis are comparable with gained information from isotopic data and organic micropollutants analyses. The integrated approach using different kinds of observations can be easily transferred to a variety of hydrological settings to synthesise and evaluate large hydrochemical datasets. The combination of additional data with different information content is conceivable and enabled effective interpretation of hydrological processes. Using the applied approach leads to more sound conceptual system understanding acting as the very basis to develop improved water resources management practices in a sustainable way.

Thermo-activated persulfate oxidation system for tetracycline antibiotics degradation in aqueous solution

Tetracyclines (TCs), including tetracycline (TTC), oxytetracycline (OTC), and chlorotetracycline (CTC), are frequently detected in natural waters, soils, and sediments, which raised great concerns about the proliferation of antibiotic resistant genes. This study investigated the degradation of TCs by sulfate radical produced by thermo-activated persulfate in aqueous solution. Increasing the temperature significantly enhanced the degradation of TTC, and the relationship between pseudo-first-order rate constant (kobs) and temperature obeyed Arrhenius equation. The degradation of TTC showed pH dependence, and kobs increased markedly with increasing pH. Seven intermediate products of TTC were temporarily identified by solid phase extraction and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (SPE–LC–MS/MS). The transformation pathways of TTC included N-demethylation, hydroxylation–oxidation and dehydration. Detailed mechanisms for sulfate radical-induced N-demethylation and hydroxylation–oxidation were proposed. The degradation of the three TCs followed the order of OTC>CTC>TTC, highlighting the structure-specific reactivity. Interestingly, TTC was degraded extremely fast in artificial surface water (ASW), implying sulfate radical-based oxidation of TCs may be efficient in environmentally relevant conditions. The antimicrobial potency and ecotoxicological effects of the degradation products warrant further studies.

Behavioral Responses at Distribution Extremes: How Artificial Surface Water Can Affect Quail Movement Patterns

Supplementing wildlife populations with resources during times of limitation has been suggested for many species. The focus of our study was to determine responses of northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus; Linnaeus) and scaled quail (Callipepla squamata; Vigors) to artificial surface-water sources in semiarid rangelands. From 2012–2014, we monitored quail populations via radio telemetry at Beaver River Wildlife Management Area, Beaver County, Oklahoma. We used cumulative distribution functions and resource utilization functions (RUFs) to determine behavioral responses of quail to water sources. We also used Program MARK to determine if water sources had any effect on quail vital rates. Our results indicated that both northern bobwhite and scaled quail exhibited behavioral responses to the presence of surface-water sources. Northern bobwhite selected for areas<700m and<650m from water sources during the breeding and nonbreeding season, respectively. However, the nonbreeding season response was weak (β¯ = –0.06, SE=< 0.01), and the breeding season (β¯ = 0.01, SE=0.02) response was nonsignificant on the basis of RUFs. Scaled quail selected for areas<650m and<250m from water sources during the breeding and nonbreeding season, respectively. The breeding season RUF (β¯ = –0.31, SE=0.07) indicated a stronger response for scaled quail than bobwhite. Conversely, there was no direct effect of surface water on quail vital rates or nest success during the course of our study. Although water may affect behavioral patterns of quail, we found no evidence that it affects quail survival or nest success for these two species.

Removal of TiO2 Nanoparticles During Primary Water Treatment: Role of Coagulant Type, Dose, and Nanoparticle Concentration

Nanomaterials from consumer products (i.e., paints, sunscreens, toothpastes, and food grade titanium dioxide [TiO2]) have the capacity to end up in groundwater and surface water, which is of concern because the effectiveness of removing them via traditional treatment is uncertain. Although aggregation and transport of nanomaterials have been investigated, studies on their removal from suspension are limited. Hence, this study involves the development of scaled-down jar tests to determine the mechanisms involved in the removal of a model metal oxide nanoparticle (NP), TiO2, in artificial groundwater (AGW), and artificial surface water (ASW) at the primary stages of treatment: coagulation, flocculation, and sedimentation. Total removal was quantified at the end of each treatment stage by spectroscopy. Three different coagulants-iron chloride (FeCl3), iron sulfate (FeSO4), and alum [Al2(SO4)3]-destabilized the TiO2 NPs in both source waters. Overall, greater than one-log removal was seen in groundwater for all coagulants at a constant dose of 50 mg/L and across the range of particle concentrations (10, 25, 50, and 100 mg/L). In surface water, greater than 90% removal was seen with FeSO4 and Al2(SO4)3, but less than 60% when using FeCl3. Additionally, removal was most effective at higher NP concentrations (50 and 100 mg/L) in AGW when compared with ASW. Zeta potential was measured and compared between AGW and ASW with the presence of all three coagulants at the same treatment stage times as in the removal studies. These electrokinetic trends confirm that the greatest total removal of NPs occurred when the magnitude of charge was smallest (<10 mV) and conversely, higher zeta potential values (>35 mV) measured were under conditions with poor removal (<90%). These results are anticipated to be of considerable interest to practitioners for the assessment of traditional treatment processes' capacity to remove nanomaterials prior to subsequent filtration and distribution to domestic water supplies.

Regulations, legislation, and guidelines for artificial surface water and groundwater tracer tests in Canada

This paper describes Canadian federal and provincial regulations, legislation, and guidelines for artificial tracer tests, where substances are released into water, and provides a world-wide comparison. Alberta is currently the only Canadian province with guidelines and regulations relating to those tests. None of the other provinces have specific tracer test regulations in place, though the injection of artificial substances into waters is covered by Section 36(3) of the federal Fisheries Act. Newfoundland and Labrador, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut sometimes require a permit to conduct a tracer test, and Quebec is planning to implement guidelines and regulations based on Michigan/USA Environmental Quality guidelines. In each case Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), Environment Canada, and the Provincial environment departments should be contacted and the proposed test described as detailed as necessary. We present potential tracers, such as uranine (sodium fluorescein), or Rhodamine WT, that can be used in artificial tracer tests. This study is the result of contacting personnel from organizations such as Environment Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, provincial departments of environment, researchers, and consultants.