Water Supply Augmentation Research Articles

Increasing Water Supply Resilience Through the Pure Water Antelope Valley Program

Key TakeawaysThe Pure Water Antelope Valley (AV) program, the first inland potable reuse program in California, aims to augment water supplies to overcome current and projected reductions.Pure Water AV will use groundwater recharge via subsurface injection to increase the reliability and resilience of Antelope Valley's water supply.A collaboration between the Palmdale Water District, City of Palmdale, and Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, the program will improve the groundwater quality over time.Besides overcoming technical challenges, Pure Water AV's success depends on well‐thought‐out strategies for funding and public outreach.

Social perspectives on the sustainability challenges within the desalination sector: a Q-method study

Desalination offers options to augment water supplies for growing urban and industrial demand. Yet these facilities and related infrastructure projects have significant impacts on environmental, economic, and social sustainability. However, few studies examine how key actors in the sector understand or incorporate sustainability ideas and practices into the design, construction, and operation of desalination facilities. This study fills this gap by examining stakeholder perspectives on sustainability in the desalination sector using Q-method. We identified three dominant social perspectives on these topics. Factor 1 views desalination as important for the long-term sustainability of water supply. Factor 2 sees the social and environmental impacts of desalination as too big of a sustainability risk when there are other water resources to consider. Factor 3 indicates that the parties pursuing desalination have the responsibility of addressing sustainability concerns through their proposals and project specifications. These perspectives reveal how desalination stakeholders understand sustainability, key challenges, and responsibility for ensuring sustainable desalination projects. The findings provide insight into how desalination stakeholders can improve sustainability processes and outcomes.

From single to multi‐purpose reservoir: A framework for optimizing reservoir efficiency

AbstractThe prevailing challenge centers on the limited application of single‐purpose flood control reservoirs transitioning to multi‐purpose reservoirs, which, despite their potential, often fall short in addressing the escalating demands for diverse water resource management. These challenges are compounded by outdated operational rules and changing environmental conditions. This research develops a framework to enhance the dual functionality of reservoirs, initially designed for flood control, to also support water supply through the determination of maximum safe water levels (MSWLs). Utilizing historical inflow data and reservoir simulation models, the study identifies opportunities for optimizing United States Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District reservoirs. It highlights certain reservoirs as ideal for augmenting water supply capabilities without compromising flood control performance. Others remain critical for flood management due to limited water supply potential, underscoring the importance of maintaining a focus on flood control. The findings illuminate the intricate balance required between managing flood risks and enhancing water supply, indicating that precise operational adjustments can significantly improve reservoir sustainability and efficiency. This method offers a viable pathway to convert single purpose reservoirs into multi‐purpose reservoirs, meeting growing water demands while ensuring robust flood mitigation, and making a step toward better water utilization.

Growing the portfolio: circular economy through water reuse in Iran

In Iran, water scarcity is increasing due to the rapid growth in economy and population, but also due to waste and overuse. Marginal water resources (unutilized water of lower quality) can provide important options to augment water supply or replace freshwater use. In this way, they can reconcile the seemingly opposing views of water development and water management. Encouraging reuse and circulation of marginal water can enhance water availability and conserve freshwater. This paper analyses water reuse options and policies in Iran. It explains policy constraints based on the type of water for reuse and compares the water reuse policies in Iran to regional experiences. Such a contextualization of Iran’s policies from a regional perspective provides opportunities for mutual learning and lessons for policy reforms. For Iran, there is a need for investments and comprehensive reuse policies. New water sources need to be appropriately identified, treated, delivered and accepted by end-users and society.

The Essential Role of Local Context in Shaping Risk and Risk Reduction Strategies for Snowmelt‐Dependent Irrigated Agriculture

AbstractClimate change‐induced shifts in snow storage and snowmelt patterns pose risks for adverse impacts to people, the environment, and irrigated agriculture. Existing research primarily focuses on evaluating these risks to irrigated agriculture at large scales, overlooking the role of local context in shaping risk dynamics. Consequently, many “at‐risk” areas lack insight into how adaptation strategies for managing risk through water supply augmentation or water conservation vary across contexts and over time. To address this gap, we develop a comprehensive index for evaluating irrigated agriculture's risk and adaptation potential to changes in snow at local scales and apply it throughout the western US. Results confirm trends toward escalating risk for changes in snow storage and snowmelt patterns over the century. However, substantial heterogeneity in the extent and drivers of risk exists due to variability in localized interactions between declines in water supply (approximately −9% ± 13% by 2100) and increased agricultural demand (approximately 7% ± 5% by 2100). Despite an existing focus on supply augmentation as a critical adaptation strategy to reduce risk, we show its effectiveness diminishes for many areas over time, declining to an average of −54% of historical augmentation potential by 2100. Conserving water through historical changes in crop acreage and type emerges as a more stable adaptation measure, reducing demand by 7%–8% regardless of time. While particularly relevant for higher elevation, less intensive agricultural settings in snowmelt‐dependent regions, findings underscore the need for strategies that support local‐scale, context‐appropriate adaptation to effectively manage escalating risk as snow changes.

A communication strategy for water reuse in South Africa

ABSTRACT Water-scarce regions, including South Africa, have identified water reuse as one of the promising solutions to augment water supply to meet the ever-increasing demand for freshwater resources. However, public perceptions have been identified as a critical factor, which can either facilitate the success and acceptance of water reuse projects or become a formidable barrier. To address this challenge in South Africa, the National Strategy for Water Reuse calls for the development of a national communication strategy to promote understanding of water reuse and foster its public acceptance. This paper outlines the journey from consultation with stakeholders to development of a national communication strategy for water reuse in South Africa. The strategy has been crafted using a framework that is based on an understanding of the complex interplay of public opinions and perceptions of water reuse. The strategy targets public education and aims to empower the public to become water reuse literate. The framework used to develop the strategy is versatile, and capable of effectively addressing the multi-dimensional and context-specific aspects of water reuse.

Water balance and benefit sharing approach to reduce water deficit in an Indian river Basin

ABSTRACT Using Mahanadi basin as a case, the study demonstrates benefit-sharing can improve water allocation among riparian states experiencing water stress. The results show the basin having a yearly average water deficit of 5429 million cubic metres (MCM) under business-as-usual which increases to 6781 MCM under high economic growth for 2011–2050. Even after various water supply augmentation and demand management interventions and climate change-induced increased runoff, the upper riparian state continues to have a water deficit. This can be reduced if the lower riparian state allows the upper one to divert 1500 MCM of additional water annually which will require a strong governance mechanism in place.

Nanoscience and nanotechnology for water remediation: an earnest hope toward sustainability.

Water pollution and the global freshwater crisis are the most alarming concerns of the 21st century, as they threaten the sustainability and ecological balance of the environment. The growth of global population, climate change, and expansion of industrial processes are the main causes of these issues. Therefore, effective remediation of polluted water by means of detoxification and purification is of paramount importance. To this end, nanoscience and nanotechnology have emerged as viable options that hold tremendous potential toward the advancement of wastewater treatment methods to enhance treatment efficiency along with augmenting water supply via utilization of unconventional water sources. Materials at the nano level have shown great promise toward water treatment applications owing to their unique physicochemical properties. In this focus article, we highlight the role of new fundamental properties at the nano scale and material properties that are drastically increased due to the nano dimension (e.g. volume-surface ratio) and highlight their impact and potential toward water treatment. We identify and discuss how nano-properties could improve the three main domains of water remediation: the identification of pollutants, their adsorption and catalytic degradation. After discussing all the beneficial aspects we further discuss the key challenges associated with nanomaterials for water treatment. Looking at the current state-of-the-art, the potential as well as the challenges of nanomaterials, we believe that in the future we will see a significant impact of these materials on many water remediation strategies.

Study of Tiu Kulit Dam Reservoir Operational Pattern Simulation in Sumbawa Island

Tiu Kulit Reservoir plays a pivotal role in managing water resources in West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, serving as a vital source for raw water, irrigation, and livestock consumption in the neighboring regions. This study aims to assess the operational dynamics of Tiu Kulit Reservoir across varying hydrological conditions, namely dry, normal, and wet years. The analysis is based on inflow rates and equilibrium water surface elevations. To achieve the objectives, an investigation of the reservoir's operation pattern was conducted. Inflow rates and equilibrium water surface elevations were scrutinized to discern operational behaviors under different hydrological scenarios. The findings indicate distinct operational strategies for Tiu Kulit Reservoir. During dry years, the outflow rate is restricted to 1.20 m3/s at a water surface elevation of +53.07 m. Conversely, the reservoir's operation in normal and wet years allows for a maximum outflow rate aimed at satisfying water demand, set at +57.00 m. In instances of excessive rainfall, the study highlights the potential for overflow beyond the spillway threshold. The study underscores the significance of these results for effective water management and resource allocation in the region. Understanding the reservoir's behavior under various conditions enables informed decision-making and sustainable utilization of water resources. To build upon this study, it is recommended to implement continuous monitoring systems for both inflow and outflow rates. Furthermore, the installation of rainfall monitoring stations within the catchment area would enhance data accuracy. Regular evaluations of the reservoir's operational patterns are also advised, allowing for adaptive strategies in response to evolving climate conditions. Moreover, future research endeavors should focus on augmenting water supply to meet the demands of a growing population and livestock, while optimizing agricultural practices to boost productivity.

Informing ASR Treatment Practices in a Florida Aquifer through a Human Health Risk Approach.

Aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) can augment water supplies and hydrologic flows under varying climatic conditions. However, imposing drinking water regulations on ASR practices, including pre-treatment before injection into the aquifer, remains arguable. Microbial inactivation data-Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, poliovirus type 1 and Cryptosporidium parvum-were used in a human health risk assessment to identify how the storage time of recharged water in the Floridan Aquifer enhances pathogen inactivation, thereby mitigating the human health risks associated with ingestion. We used a quantitative microbial risk assessment to evaluate the risks for a gastrointestinal infection (GI) and the associated disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) per person per year. The risk of developing a GI infection for drinking water no longer exceeded the suggested annual risk threshold (1 × 10-4) by days 31, 1, 52 and 80 for each pathogen, respectively. DALYs per person per year no longer exceeded the World Health Organization threshold (1 × 10-6) by days 27, <1, 43 and 72. In summary, storage time in the aquifer yields a significant reduction in health risk. The findings emphasize that considering microbial inactivation, caused by storage time and geochemical conditions within ASR storage zones, is critical for recharge water treatment processes.

Integrating remote sensing derived indices and machine learning algorithms for precise extraction of small surface water bodies in the lower Thoubal river watershed, India

Surface water resources have witnessed various challenges namely shortage of water availability, deterioration in water quality and reduction of water bodies due to climate change and anthropogenic activities. Thus, extracting surface water bodies accurately and examining trend in their areal extent assumes greater significance. This study makes a novel attempt to utilize remote sensing derived indices and machine learning algorithms to extract and examine spatio-temporal changes in surface water bodies in the lower Thoubal river watershed. Spectral water indices were derived using Landsat data for the years 1989, 1997, 2005, 2013 and 2020 and were fed into machine learning algorithms for precise extraction of surface water bodies. The random forest model exhibited superior performance in terms of surface water extraction. The Mann-Kendall test was then used to examine the trend of surface water bodies during 1989–2020. The analysis revealed a significant declining trend in water extent over the past three decades. Future simulations using a Markov-Chain model also projected a decreasing trend in water bodies for the years 2030 and 2040 in both wet and dry months. The morphological pattern of the surface water bodies was assessed using morphological spatial pattern analysis (MSPA). It has also shown decrease in area under water bodies. These changes in the dynamics of surface water bodies may be attributed to human encroachment on wetlands for settlement and farming purposes, damming of streamflow, garbage dumping and climate change. Thus, a comprehensive approach encompassing water conservation, demand management, supply augmentation, legislation and long-term planning is essential for fostering sustainable water resource management. The findings of the study may serve as a valuable record for decision-making process and policy responses. We argue that the methodology applied in the study may help in protecting and conserving neglected small surface water bodies in other geographical regions.

Climate oscillation impacts on water supply augmentation planning

Climate oscillations ranging from years to decades drive precipitation variability in many river basins globally. As a result, many regions will require new water infrastructure investments to maintain reliable water supply. However, current adaptation approaches focus on long-term trends, preparing for average climate conditions at mid- or end-of-century. The impact of climate oscillations, which bring prolonged and variable but temporary dry periods, on water supply augmentation needs is unknown. Current approaches for theory development in nature-society systems are limited in their ability to realistically capture the impacts of climate oscillations on water supply. Here, we develop an approach to build middle-range theory on how common climate oscillations affect low-cost, reliable water supply augmentation strategies. We extract contrasting climate oscillation patterns across sub-Saharan Africa and study their impacts on a generic water supply system. Our approach integrates climate model projections, nonstationary signal processing, stochastic weather generation, and reinforcement learning-based advances in stochastic dynamic control. We find that longer climate oscillations often require greater water supply augmentation capacity but benefit more from dynamic approaches. Therefore, in settings with the adaptive capacity to revisit planning decisions frequently, longer climate oscillations do not require greater capacity. By building theory on the relationship between climate oscillations and least-cost reliable water supply augmentation, our findings can help planners target scarce resources and guide water technology and policy innovation. This approach can be used to support climate adaptation planning across large spatial scales in sectors impacted by climate variability.

Reuse of Treated Wastewater: Drivers, Regulations, Technologies, Case Studies, and Greater Chicago Area Experiences

Water reuse is a practical solution to augment water supplies in areas where water resources are increasingly scarce. Water reuse technology is versatile and can be used to alleviate the different causes of water scarcity, such as groundwater depletion or increased availability of brackish water. Treatment technologies can be tailored specifically to the end use of recycled water, focusing on these drivers that are region-specific, for a more cost-effective treatment system. This is called a “Fit-for-Purpose” strategy that is commonly implemented in any water reuse project. However, implementing water reuse can be challenging due to infrastructural requirements, economic issues, and social acceptance. To help navigate these challenges, this article provides a comprehensive review of water reuse cases and presents guidelines that can act as a reference framework for future water reuse projects. This article also makes the case for implementing water reuse in the Greater Chicago area as a means of alleviating pressure on withdrawals from Lake Michigan.

Selecting renewable desalination using uncertain data: an MCDM framework combining mixed objective weighting and interval MARCOS

Abstract Using renewable energy to drive desalination is increasingly favored to augment water supply, given its cost advantage and energy saving. Divergent renewables can be integrated into different desalination technologies, resulting in the selection of an appropriate renewable desalination being a challenge. This work proposes a multi-criteria decision-making framework to evaluate renewable desalination alternatives from the perspective of multi-dimensional consideration and data uncertainty by developing a mixed objective weighting (MOW) method and extending the method of MARCOS (measurement of alternatives and ranking according to a compromise solution) into uncertain conditions. Mathematical contributions can be found in the two methods, i.e. the MOW improves the objectivity and fairness in the weighting result by considering the dispersions and correlations among the criteria's performances, and interval MARCOS guarantees stability in the ranking result while well preserving the uncertain data. An illustrative case concerning four renewable desalination alternatives is used to test the feasibility of the framework. After implementing comparisons regarding the weighting result and ranking sequence, the effectiveness of the involved methods is confirmed. In conclusion, by fully utilizing objective data concerning renewable desalination while eliminating subjective interference, the developed framework can offer a rational and reliable decision output.

Mainstreaming the framework of ecosystem services to enhance China's policy implementation for sponge city development

AbstractChina introduced sponge city development (SCD) as a policy initiative to address the complex, interlinked water challenges, such as urban pluvial flooding and water pollution, faced by urban development under climatic change and rapid urbanization. The initiative relies on low‐impact development (LID) techniques to integrate ecosystem conservation and urban development, with the aim to maintain or restore natural landscapes and their water regulating capacity as a way to mitigate urban flooding and associated pollution while augmenting water supply. While the country prepares for SCD demonstration and upscaling after pilot implementation since 2014, the initiative is subject to a design deficit in policy implementation that has received little consideration in both the literature and the policy arena but that negatively affects the effectiveness of SCD and its long run impact as intended by the policy. In this paper, we examine the design deficit by mapping and analyzing the policy implementation for SCD in the framework of theory of change (TOC). We present key conditions for individual components in SCD implementation to deliver causal pathways from program inputs to long‐term impacts, with identified issues characterizing the design deficit. We provide an overview of the literature on SCD to shed some light on current research while identifying knowledge gaps. The paper proposes and justifies the framework of ecosystem services as an innovative design tool to deliver a systematic approach needed to address the design deficit, paving the pathways for SCD from inputs to impacts fully developing the policy potential for green urban transition with resilience and sustainability.

Mechanisms and models for water transport in reverse osmosis membranes: history, critical assessment, and recent developments.

Water scarcity is one of the greatest societal challenges facing humanity. Reverse osmosis (RO) desalination, a widely used membrane-based technology, has proven to be effective to augment water supply in water-stressed regions of our planet. However, progress in the design and development of RO membranes has been limited. To significantly enhance the performance of RO membranes, it is essential to acquire a deep understanding of the membrane separation and transport mechanisms. In this tutorial review, we cover the pivotal historical developments in RO technology, examine the chemical and physical properties of RO membrane materials, and critically review the models and mechanisms proposed for water transport in RO membranes. Based on recent experimental and computational findings, we conduct a thorough analysis of the key transport models-the solution-diffusion and pore-flow models-to assess their validity for accurately describing water transport in RO membranes. Our analysis involves examining the experimental evidence in favor of the solution-diffusion mechanism. Specifically, we explain whether the water content gradient within the membrane, cited as evidence for the key assumption in the solution-diffusion model, can drive a diffusive transport through RO membranes. Additionally, we review the recent molecular dynamics simulations which support the pore-flow mechanism for describing water transport in RO membranes. We conclude by providing future research directions aimed at addressing key knowledge gaps in water transport phenomena in RO membranes, with the goal of advancing the development of next-generation RO membranes.

Simulation of chain of tanks to augment water supply: a case study from Tamil Nadu

Abstract The application of system dynamics techniques is gaining significance and is much needed for an effective management of the depleting water resources in a dynamically complex region and considers it as the feedback from the system. The present study deals with the application of a system dynamic approach to simulate a chain of four tanks in the Guduvanchery watershed, Tamil Nadu, India. Standard data-driven models cannot be effectively used due to a lack of quality data for ungauged basins. VENSIM was used for the system dynamic simulation to assess water availability for the sustainable management of water resources. Inflow into the four tanks, net losses in each tank, and crop water requirement were given as inputs into VENSIM. Along with different models, an extensive field survey was carried out to quantify each input component. Based on system dynamics simulation, only 28% of the total available water is used for irrigation and the rest is wasted due to evaporation, transition loss, and spill from the tanks. It was found that there was approximately 5.46 MCM of surface water available in the watershed, and it will be able to supply the domestic demand of the watershed of 0.672 MCM in addition to the irrigation requirement.

Public perception of water re-use: building trust in alternative water sources in Malmesbury, South Africa

The recent drought in the Western Cape Province in South Africa has been marked as the worst since 1904. The drought impacted severely on the availability of bulk water supply in many parts of the Western Cape Province, particularly the Cape Town Metro and surrounding districts. In order to alleviate water scarcity, wastewater recycling (water reuse) has been identified to have the potential to augment water supplies in the province. This paper argues that although water recycling has the potential to contribute towards alleviating water scarcity, studies have shown that public perceptions greatly influence the outcome of any water recycling scheme. The study collected data using face-to-face interviews, focus group discussions, and the application of the Story with a Gap participatory exercise. One of the key findings is that residents have to trust the municipal competencies and systems, and this can be achieved through meaningful engagement between the municipality and residents. We argue that rolling out a water reuse scheme by starting with affluent areas increases the likelihood of acceptance among low-income communities.

Beyond water scarcity: Water (in)security and social justice in Karachi

Study regionThe low-income and multiethnic settlement of Lyari situated at the tail-end of the water supply network for the coastal megacity of Karachi, Pakistan. Study focusWe demonstrate the effect of socioeconomic and political inequalities in determining a community’s level of water security, using a mixed-methods approach. We conduct a total of 465 household surveys supplemented with participant observation and stakeholder interviews. New hydrological insightsWeak urban water governance in Lyari contributes in pushing vulnerable sections of the population further to the margins. The intermittent piped water supply in Lyari is inadequate, unsafe, unreliable and inconvenient. This forces many households to resort to additional costlier and inconvenient sources of water and leads to severe inequities in water access. Lower-Income populations are especially affected and pay disproportionately higher amounts for a much lower water consumption. Lyari’s water problems, and those of similar settlements across Karachi and other megacities across the Global South, cannot be resolved by simply augmenting water supply. While increased water supply can help, results suggest that even with supply augmentations, Lyari and other similar settlements need institutional structures and policies to ensure equitable and more just access to existing and any increased water supplies.

Drought Diagnosis: What the Medical Sciences Can Teach Us

AbstractDrought management is currently informed by a variety of approaches, mostly responding to drought crisis when it happens. Toward more effective and integrated drought management, we introduce a conceptual drought diagnosis framework inspired by diagnostic concepts from the field of medicine. This framework comprises five steps: 1. Initial diagnostic assessment; 2. Diagnostic testing; 3. Consultation; 4. Communication of the diagnosis; and 5. Treatment and prognosis. To illustrate the need for the proposed approach, four case studies of recently drought‐affected regions were selected: the city of Cape Town, the state of California, the Northeast region of Brazil, and the Horn of Africa. Contrasting elements for these cases include the geographic extent and political boundaries, climate, socio‐economics, and the relevance of different water resources (e.g., rainfall, reservoirs, and aquifers). For each case, we identified documented practices and policies and reflected on them in terms of drought misdiagnosis or incomplete diagnosis that have aggravated socio‐economic and environmental drought impacts. A common example is the preference for technical solutions (e.g., installing infrastructure to augment water supply), rather than measures that reduce vulnerability. Analysis of these four drought case studies confirmed the anticipated need for a comprehensive approach to drought diagnosis for more successful treatment and prevention of drought. Using an analogy with medical science can be helpful toward comprehensively diagnosing droughts for a variety of contexts and assessing the effectiveness of proposed interventions. This framework can help drought managers to be more proactive in enabling drought‐affected regions to become more drought resilient in the future.