Water Department Research Articles

Origins of the Flint Water Crisis: Uneven Development, Urban Political Ecology, and Racial Capitalism

What conditions gave rise to the Flint Water Crisis? Students of contemporary urban disasters tend to advance two claims, increasingly in tandem. First, preexisting racial and class inequalities structure both the impact of disasters on urban communities and the dynamics of resettlement. Second and similarly, neoliberalism (variously theorized as neoliberal urbanism and the growth machine) prefigures urban disasters and underpins an ensuing market-oriented process of redevelopment. While long-standing patterns of inequality and neoliberalization are important contextual factors, by themselves they tend to undertheorize the timing and ecological content of urban crises. In this article, we synthesize the literature on uneven development, urban political ecology, and racial capitalism to advance an alternative hypothesis. Drawing on interviews with Flint residents and Michigan officials, the archival correspondence of government agencies, and ethnographic data, we argue that the Flint Water Crisis was the consequence of an extractivist project of White state and suburban actors to “regionalize” and thereby expropriate the assets and natural resources controlled by the predominantly Black working-class city of Detroit. Specifically, the formation of two regional water authorities required that Flint leave the Detroit Water and Sewer Department for an interim water source, the Flint River, which had been contaminated by decades of automotive toxins.

Low frequency noise study of entertainment venues

Noise impacts from entertainment venues have long been a challenge to communities, local government and venue operators. A study into the decay rate of low frequency music noise from venues was undertaken in the Entertainment Precinct of Northbridge, Western Australia, for the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER). A drone mounted measurement method was utilised to gain an understanding of venue noise emissions via roof elements, combined with on-ground measurements and software noise modelling. The aerial measurements proved effective at low frequency, allowing for a more comprehensive analysis of the ten venues assessed. While the study revealed several challenges and discoveries, the concept of aerial noise measurement was proven to be useful in this application. The findings will further contribute to the development of guidelines and recommendations for noise management in Northbridge, ensuring a better acoustic environment for residents and visitors while maintaining the viability of the venues in the area.

Artificial deep neural network enables one-size-fits-all electric vehicle user behavior prediction framework

As greener mobility becomes the norm with the advent of electric vehicles (EVs), a natural question arises: how big of a change are we seeing in terms of the stochastic energy demands imposed by EVs? There have been considerable difficulties in analyzing the adoption of all types of EV infrastructure due to the lack of publicly available individual EV user data across various service providers, such as distribution network operators, EV aggregators, EV users, utilities, regulators, and academics. In this study, we introduce the JETPANN (Joint EV energy consumption and charging duration Training Prediction using Artificial Neural Networks), a novel jointly trainable artificial deep neural network framework for predicting stochastic EV user behavior by predicting their stay/charging duration and energy consumption simultaneously. We used a large-scale dataset of individual EV users’ charging transactions collected at a multi-site UCLA campus, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), the Port of LA, the City of Santa Monica, and the City of Pasadena over a five-year period. This includes more than 50 EVSEs (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment) and 216 EV charging points. Over 50,000 real-time transactions were recorded in our database with 341 distinct EV users. In this research, essential attributes of each charging session were identified, extracted from our database, and then fed into our JETPANN network. Using a jointly trained framework, our AI-enabled network predicts the stay/charging duration and the energy consumption of all the recorded EV users with an accuracy of above 99 percent. The proposed technique was tested and validated using all the collected historical charging data from individual EV users via realizing mean-absolute errors of training loss versus validation loss. Utilizing hyperparameter tuning and semi-grid search, the JETPANN with semi-optimized hyperparameters was achieved with the lowest mean-absolute errors of 0.927 and 0.068 in predicting stay/charging durations and energy consumptions, respectively, in a jointly trainable framework. This study demonstrates the potential of the JETPANN framework in the prediction of EV users’ behavior by using large-scale real-world data collected from a diverse pool of EV users, including faculty and students, occasional and frequent users, and early and late adopters.

Analysing problem-solving in the ICRC’s Water and Habitat Department: A humancentric approach

Analysing problem-solving in the ICRC’s Water and Habitat Department: A humancentric approach

Reengineering and Its Reliability: An Analysis of Water Projects and Watershed Management under a Digital Twin Scheme in China

Water project and watershed management is currently being reengineered under digital twin schemes in China through pilot projects. An evaluation on pilot reengineering is important for its further implementation and improvement. This paper investigates national legislation and pilot projects’ implementations of a digital twin watershed and digital twin water project from the perspectives of design, policy, technology, investment, personnel, cyberspace security, co-construction, and sharing through interviews and expert review, and it uses a Bayesian network to study their reliability. First, the design of the digital twin watershed and digital twin water project is reasonable with regard to system architecture and business management. Second, although there are some national legislations on cyberspace security and geospatial data, they are incomplete for policy making and are probably infeasible for some technology. Third, there are insufficient mechanisms to sustainably support investment, personnel, and cyberspace security. Forth, co-construction and sharing are required for both inside and outside water departments. Fifth, the Bayesian network is useful for investigating the reliability of weak nodes, and it is helpful for the design and further implementation of the digital twin watershed and digital twin water project, as will be demonstrated with an anonymous example. This study could provide useful insights into the further reengineering of water projects and watershed management under a digital twin scheme in the world.

Measurement of Long-Term CH4 Emissions and Emission Factors from Beef Feedlots in Australia

One of the major challenges for the Australian feedlot and meat sectors is to have accurate and robust long-term greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions data. Long-term measurements of methane (CH4) emissions (2015–2017) were made at two Australian beef feedlots having different climates, cattle types, and management practices. Emissions were measured using the inverse-dispersion model (IDM) micrometeorological technique, using CH4 concentrations measured at the feedlots with a closed-path Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic technique (CP-FTIR). The emissions data were used to evaluate methods used by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water to estimate CH4 emissions from feedlots in Australian national inventory calculations. Expressed as a CH4 yield (emissions per unit dry matter intake, DMI), the two feedlots had emissions of 13.1 and 18.9 g CH4 kg−1 DMI. The lower-emitting feedlot had emissions that were 30% lower than the national inventory calculations based on feed intakes, while the second feedlot had emissions that were similar to the inventory calculations. The accurate quantification of emissions from feedlots, as demonstrated as part of this study, is important for validating the national accounting methods and therefore the sector’s GHG emissions profile.

Determinants of Waste Management Programmes on Sustainable Environmental Conservation in Mukuru Slums in Kenya

Surging amounts of waste are reported globally and especially in lower-income countries, with negative consequences for health and the environment. Increasing concern has been raised for the limited progress achieved in practice by diverse sets of policies and programmes. Waste management is a wicked problem characterized by multilayered interdependencies, complex social dynamics and webs of stakeholders. Interactions among these generate unpredictable outcomes that can be missed by decision makers through their understanding and framing of their context. This study therefore aimed at unlocking the intrigues behind unending waste management concerns that have continued to bedevil Mukuru slums despite the interventions in place and to develop sustainable mechanisms to address the challenges. The study was descriptive in nature and tried to understand determinants of waste management towards attaining a sustainable environmental conservation. The study targeted key informants drawn from the Nairobi county department of environment, water and sanitation, civil society groups, NEMA and local provincial administration and community members in Mukuru slum. Stratified sampling technique was used to select the sample population for the study. Since the study used primary data, a well set of questionnaire was used to collect the data from the respondents. The collected data was subjected to scrutiny through screening to ensure completeness and eliminate all the errors, before final analysis, aided by statistical packages for social sciences (SPSS) software. Regression analysis was also performed to determine the relationship between the poverty, management capabilities, financial resources and regulatory policies on sustainable environmental conservation. Data presentation was achieved through tables, graphs and charts. Findings revealed that poverty level, financial resources, management capabilities, and regulatory policies have great influence on sustainable environmental conservation in Mukuru slums. Therefore, the study recommended for integrated waste management approach that is community centered to bring every community member on board and other key stakeholders. On financial resources, the study recommended for robust public-private sector partnership to build up financial capital necessary for management of waste menace and conserve the environment and allocation of more resources. There is a need for more trainings, and awareness creation and formulation of elaborate policies to create autonomy for NEMA to enable the organization implement and enforce its regulations effectively. The study outlined that further studies can be done on the impact of socio-demographic factors, household perceptions and attitudes on waste management and socio-economic factors on sustainable environmental conservation.

Development of a procedure and tool for retrofit hydropower evaluation at South African dams

South Africa is in a critical power situation and is in dire need of additional generation capacity. Thus, renewable energy sources such as wind, solar and hydropower should be evaluated to identify high-potential and cost-effective sites. Rivers in South Africa, as a water-scarce country, are already heavily impounded, meaning that there are limited sites available for conventional hydropower generation. Instead, novel solutions such as retrofitting hydropower installations to existing infrastructure, like existing dams, are required. To estimate the retrofit hydropower potential at dams, a set of five tools was developed using Python 3, known as the University of Pretoria Retrofit Hydropower Evaluation Software (UP-RHES). The UP-RHES screens potential sites where historic flow records are available, then downloads the required flow records from the national database and performs a first-order hydraulic assessment of the site, as well as a first-order life cycle cost analysis. By applying the UP-RHES to 118 dams operated by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), it was found that a total estimated hydropower potential of 128 MW with an annual energy output of between 385 and 469 GWh exists at South African dams. The Vaal, Pongolapoort, Goedertrouw and Blyderivierpoort Dams were found to be feasible sites with a combined capacity of 77 GWh/annum.

Building capacity of young water professionals through action research and transdisciplinary approaches

AbstractWater management has become quite complex due to population pressure, climate change, and urbanization. Future young water professionals (YWPs) need to be capable of working with real‐world situations, and they need to be suitably trained so that they can effectively communicate with decision‐makers and enable innovative ideas to be adopted in policy development and actions on the ground. To get the ideas converted into actions, we need not only YWPs who are well‐trained in water science and engineering but also in social, economic, governance, policy, and other related aspects. This special issue is devoted to the India YWP training program, led by Western Sydney University and the Australia India Water Centre (AIWC), aimed at developing a cohort of skilled YWPs and nurturing the next generation of water leaders in support of India's water reform agenda and the National Water Mission. The program engaged 20 YWPs, consisting of equal gender representation, selected by the Ministry of Jal Shakti from various water management agencies and departments across India. In this special issue, there are six articles that cover the design and implementation of YWP training programs, the mentoring of YWPs within the training program, a reflection on transdisciplinary learning, and two example SUIPs. Together, these articles provide details on how to design and implement an innovative YWP training program, what works well and what can be done better, and what YWPs can get out of the program in terms of working on a client‐based, real‐world project. Overall, well‐designed transdisciplinary training can help YWPs bring new thinking and leadership to tackle future water challenges, including water governance, stakeholder involvement, critical thinking, problem analysis, and effective communication in various situations. Furthermore, such training can help YWPs develop their vision and capacity for more effective planning, design, implementation, and management of water projects and initiatives.

Training young water professionals in leadership and transdisciplinary competencies for sustainable water management in India

AbstractYoung water professionals (YWPs) have a critical role in ensuring how water resources will be managed to contribute towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. To address the challenges of climate change, population growth, and urbanization, YWPs require leadership skills, transdisciplinary competencies, technical knowledge, and practical experience. This article presents the India YWP training program, led by Western Sydney University and the Australia India Water Centre (AIWC), aimed at developing a cohort of skilled YWPs and nurturing the next generation of water leaders in support of India's water reform agenda and the National Water Mission. The program engaged 20 YWPs, consisting of an equal gender representation, selected by the Ministry of Jal Shakti from various water management agencies and departments across India. The 11‐month training program was designed to be transformative and interactive, and it used an online platform comprising online lectures, mentoring, and project‐based learning facilitated by the AIWC team. The training methodology focused on engaged learning, incorporating online workshops, Situation Understanding and Improvement Projects (SUIPs), online group discussions, and mentoring. The SUIPs provided a platform for YWPs to work in pairs, receiving guidance from AIWC members, enabling them to develop practical skills and knowledge in real‐world contexts. The program effectively enhanced participants' capacities in project planning, design, implementation, and management, while fostering critical thinking and problem‐solving skills by adopting transdisciplinary approaches. Furthermore, participants demonstrated improved leadership, project management, time management, and communication skills. The training helped YWPs to equip them with a holistic perspective and stakeholder‐focused mindset to address diverse water challenges from a holistic and long‐term standpoint.

Utilization of Vermicompost and Npk Fertilizers on the Growth, Yield, Nutrient and Protein Content of Mung Bean (Vigna Radiata L.)

A pot experiment was conducted in Soil, Water and Environment department, University of Dhaka, during the late rabi season for 60 days with mung bean plants. The study was cnducted to evaluate the interactive effects of vermicompost and NPK fertilizers on mung bean plants’ growth, yield, nutrient and protein content. The trial was laid out in a completely randomized design (CRD) followed by three replications, having ten treatments, including control. The first four treatments contained vermicompost mixed with soil at the rate of 2, 4, 6, and 8 ton ha-1. The other four treatments contained 50% of N12P22K10 kg ha-1, while a single treatment possesses N25P45K20 kg ha-1. The growth and yield contributing parameters, viz. plant height (30 cm), leaf number (18 plant-1), leaf area (152 cm2), branch number (4 plant-1), weight of seed (4.45 g), yield of fresh (17.81 g) and dry (10.32 g) mung bean plant was found maximum with T10 (vermicompost 8 ton ha-1 + N12P22K10 kg ha-1). The mineral nutrient content N (4.69%), P (0.08%) and K (0.65%) attained the highest in the harvested seed in the same T10. The protein content (29.32%) was also found highest in T10. On the basis of the findings, it may be recommended to use VC 8 ton ha-1 plus N12P22K10 kg ha-1 to cultivate the mung bean in the context of Bangladesh. J. Biodivers. Conserv. Bioresour. Manag. 2023, 9(1): 29-40

Estimate measurement errors of household water meters using a large amount of on-site data feedback

Water meter measurement error is considered as one important component of non-revenue water by International Water Association. Its magnitude depends combinedly on users’ consumption behaviors (intake spectrum) and metrological characteristics of water meters (meter error curve). Most published researches have only analyzed the meter error curves without taking the users’ consumption behaviors into consideration. This study developed a practical approach by using the relative difference chart of master-meters and sub-meters groupings (i.e., RM-μz chart) to identify average metering errors for a major water utility company in Taiwan. About 120,000 sets of “master-meter and sub-meter grouping” data of Taipei Water Department were analyzed. The approach successfully estimated average metering errors of its 99.6% domestic meters (around 1.6 million water meters), the results are 9.9, 6.1, and 10.0% less than the actual water consumption recorded by the sub-meters, master-meters, and direct-meters, respectively.

Estimating river discharge from rainfall satellite data through simple statistical models

Quantitative knowledge of river discharge measurements is essential for understanding coastal and estuarine dynamics and salinity variations. However, direct measurements are scarce for a large portion of rivers in Brazil. In this study, five simple models based on remote sensing and local rainfall datasets (MERGE) for the Ribeira de Iguape catchment are used to estimate the Valo Grande Channel (VGC) discharge on the southeastern coast of Brazil. These models use linear, quadratic, exponential, and two different multiple linear regression methods. The predicted VGC discharge time series resulting from each model is compared with the estimated time series based on in situ data from the Water and Electric Energy Department (DAEE in Portuguese). The estimated time series presented reasonable results, with skills varying from 0.84 to 0.92 and Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) indices varying from 0.54 to 0.75, with the highest values corresponding to the multiple linear regression models. This methodology allowed us to reproduce longer time series at a daily frequency, as well as monthly averages between 2000 and 2020.

Trinseo spills latex polymer into the Delaware River

Environmental regulators were forced to monitor drinking water in the Philadelphia area after a chemical plant operated by Trinseo in Bristol, Pennsylvania, spilled more than 30,000 L of an acrylic latex polymer into a tributary of the Delaware River. The spill started the night of March 24 and flowed into the river until the morning of March 26. Trinseo blamed an equipment failure, saying that the liquid overflowed a containment system and went down a storm drain. The Philadelphia Water Department initially warned residents that they may want to avoid drinking tap water but later said it was safe. The department tested the city’s water for butyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, and methyl methacrylate and didn’t detect any contaminants. The state’s Department of Environmental Protection also didn’t detect any contaminants and hasn’t found any impact on fish or other wildlife. The chemical spill follows the Feb. 3 derailment of a train

Evaluation of using local information from donor catchments to improve the performance of selected deterministic and empirical design flood estimation methods in South Africa

There are a number of design flood estimation methods routinely used in South Africa. Flood Frequency Analysis (FFA) remains the preferred technique in instances where adequate records of observed data are available. However, in many parts of South Africa, rivers are not gauged for continuous streamflow monitoring. In the case of ungauged catchments, hydrologists and engineers generally make use of methods based on deterministic and empirical approaches for design flood estimation. Due to the limitations and performance of these methods, improved approaches need to be developed for design flood estimation in ungauged catchments. International practice has shown that making use of local information transfer from nearby gauged catchments, also referred to as donor catchments, can improve flood estimation in ungauged catchments. The main considerations for implementing such methods are the type of information transferred and selection of suitable donor catchments. Approaches for donor catchment selection include physical similarity, spatial proximity and integrated similarity. Some studies have also shown that the use of multiple donor catchments can offer further improvements. Thus, a methodology is proposed and evaluated in this paper for using local information transfer in the form of a method and location-specific adjustment factor from gauged donor catchments to improve the performance of selected deterministic and empirical flood estimation methods widely used in South Africa. The pilot study was undertaken at 48 catchments located in the north-eastern part of South Africa, with river flow data provided by the Department of Water and Sanitation. The results show that the degree of improvement for each of the methods is largely dependent on the approach used for donor catchment selection. Even though the best approach for donor catchment selection varied for the different design flood estimation methods, the integrated similarity approach performed consistently well for all methods considered. Similar to the use of single donor catchments, the results obtained from the use of multiple nearest donor catchments also varied for each of the methods used. Due to the general improvements, and the promising results and success of the simple approach used in this study, it is recommended that further refinements of the proposed methodology and approaches to donor catchment selection be considered for future research projects in order for the method to be used by engineers and hydrologists in practice.

Evaluation of Kovacs 1988 Regional Maximum Flood Method

Estimation of design flood peaks is required for the design and evaluation of hydraulic structures. Methodologies developed between the 1960s and the late 1980s, such as the Regional Maximum Flood (RMF), are used to estimate extreme flood peaks in South Africa. The RMF method uses envelope curves to estimate the maximum flood that can be expected in a specific region in South Africa and neighbouring countries, and represents an indicative upper flood limit for other flood estimation methods. The method developed by Kovacs for South Africa was last updated in 1988. Using more than 30 years of additional data for analysis, this paper highlights the RMF's perceived shortcomings. In two RMF regions, updated observed flood peaks exceeded the existing envelope curves. In 78% of the catchment areas of the evaluated stations, the station RMF values were at least 50% more than the observed maximum flood peak. When the different parameters from the Kovacs 1988 and present DWS (Department of Water and Sanitation) datasets were compared, 98% of the evaluated stations had different flood peaks recorded/reported, while 33% of the stations logged different catchment area sizes. Kovacs 1988 ratios used to estimate flood peaks at different probabilities of occurrence, using the RMF, were found to generally over-estimate expected flood peaks. It is concluded that the 1988 RMF method needs to be updated to still provide relevant guidance.

Exploring the invisible water insecurity of water utility shutoffs in Detroit, Michigan.

A lack of regular access to clean and safe water and sanitation is a persistent problem in many parts of the world. Most water insecurity studies focus on the world's less-industrialized and lower-income countries, where sanitation and water delivery infrastructure may never have existed. However, many individuals in higher-income countries experience invisible water insecurity, wherein specific households or individuals lack access to sanitation and clean water despite the relative wealth of their country. In the United States, invisible water insecurity tends to manifest as a result of homelessness, a lack of plumbing facilities, and water utility shut-offs. Using a water shut-off dataset from the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department, we investigate the relationship between a suite of demographic variables and the water shut-off rates in different neighborhoods throughout Detroit, Michigan. We find that shut-offs are more common in areas with more Black households that are more impoverished. Our findings indicate that this relationship links to structural disadvantage resulting from a legacy of racism and segregation in the city.

How Do Oysters Remove Nitrogen?

Nitrogen is natural and necessary, yet nitrogen levels above natural levels can cause algal blooms and eutrophication of coastal systems. The purpose of this document is to describe how oysters and oyster reefs remove nitrogen. This new 7-page publication of the UF/IFAS Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences is intended for policymakers, environmental organizations, and coastal residents who want to know about oysters' role in improving water quality through nitrogen removal. Written by Heather Donnelly, Ashley Smyth, Shirley Baker, Laura Reynolds, and Angela Collins.https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss711

Composting Horse Manure on Small Farms: Managing Your Compost Bins

This new 5-page publication of the UF/IFAS Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences is the second in a two-part series on composting horse manure on small farms. The purpose of this article is to share some how-to tips on building and managing manure compost bins. This article is intended for noncommercial horse owners. Written by Erika Sakers, Mary G. Lusk, Carissa Wickens, and Caitlin Bainum.https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss710

Manure Composting for Small Horse Farms

The purpose of this new 5-page publication of the UF/IFAS Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences is to present the benefits of composting horse manure on small farms and to provide guidance on how to implement manure composting. This article, the first in a two-part series, is intended for recreational horse enthusiasts managing equine on small (<20 acre) farms. Written by Erika Sakers, Mary G. Lusk, Carissa Wickens, and Caitlin Bainum.https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss709