Environmental Water Resources Management Research Articles

Risk to pollution of aquifers associated with productive activities and environmental management of water resources: bibliometric analysis and trends

Its analyzed the evolution and trends of the concept, and studies the models used to know the vulnerability and risk of aquifers and strategies for their management. The methodological process starts from questions guiding the knowledge of research trends, authors among others to proceed to carry out the analyses from the databases of Scopus, Web of Science and Dimensions. VOSviewer and Bibliometric (Rstudio) software were used. Among the most representative results, it was found that most of the research to determine the risk of aquifer contamination is focused on different models such as improved flux prototypes for NO2 emission from agriculture (IPNOA), pollutant origin surcharge hydraulically (POSH), intrinsic vulnerability methods ground water occurrence, overall aquifer class, depth to groundwater (GOD), depth recharge, aquifer, soil, topography, impact, hydraulic conductivity (DRASTIC), substance, infiltration, not saturated, type of coverage, topographic surface, conductivity (SINTACS) and chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) among others. Different models have been used that integrate both hydrological and hydro-geological aspects as well as social aspects including fundamental rights, other models such as the diffuse model, which has had better results in its application, the gaps in the research, are especially focused on conducting holistic research when assessing the risk of these dynamical systems.

TÉCNICAS DE BIORREMEDIAÇÃO PARA MELHORIA DA QUALIDADE DA LAGOA DO PIQUERI

Given the importance of environmental management of water resources, there is a need to find possible alternatives for recovery for water bodies that undergo processes such as silting, contamination and eutrophication. This article aims to test bioremediation techniques for lagoon do Piqueri, located in the neighborhood of Tatuapé, in the East Zone of São Paulo. The lagoon is silted up, with a low depth, eutrophic and contaminated by Escherichia coli. Therefore, presenting unsuitable water quality conditions and a risk to the aquatic life in the lagoon. Thus, the techniques aim at alternatives to improve the lagoon through palliative bioremediation agents compared to conventional forms of water treatment.

Contamination Assessment and Source Analysis of Urban Waterways Based on Bayesian and Principal Component Analysis—A Case Study of Fenjiang River

Contamination assessment and source analysis of urban waterways are important for the environmental management of water resources. This study applied an improved water quality index (WQI), which was called WQI-DET (water quality index deterioration) to analyze the Fenjiang River’s (Foshan City, South China) water quality monitoring data from 2016 to 2021. Between 2016 and 2021, the Fenjiang River had the highest WQI-DET value in 2016. Since then, the water quality has shown a decreasing trend year by year. Then, through Spearman analysis, it was identified that the chemical oxygen demand (COD) and ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) are the main factors of water quality deterioration. Moreover a Bayesian model was used to analyze and evaluate the main factors. On this basis, relationships between COD, NH3-N, the natural environment, and human activities were analyzed by principal component analysis. The results showed that NH3-N has been the main factor affecting the water quality in recent years and there were no significant changes in COD and NH3-N during the study period. However, COD and NH3-N showed significant differences in spatial distribution. Meanwhile, human activities contributed 52.3% to the variability in the water quality of the Fenjiang River, and natural factors only 26.8%; factors not considered in this study contributed the remaining 20.9%. Human activities had a more significant impact on the water quality of the Fenjiang River than natural factors.

Technology and policy integration: modelling morphometric characterization and land use change using artificial neural networks in the western amazon

This study aims to analyze in an integrated way the application of morphometric indices elaborated in geographic information systems and aspects of environmental management of water resources for the Micro Watershed of Garças River, located in the state of Rondônia. It used images with Digital Elevation Models (DEM) obtained by TOPODATA and Landsat 8 images obtained by INPE (the Brazilian Institute for Space Research). Subsequently, with the aid of the QGIS 2.18.0 software, the watershed was delimited, the NDVI and the slope were calculated and, based on initial data, morphometric characteristics were calculated. The watershed has an area of 1621.101 km², perimeter of 438.661 km and length of 82.04 km, with altimetry ranging from 77.8 to 177.8 meters, and form factor of 0.24, which characterizes a rectangular shape, indicating that the basin has a low propensity for floods. NDVI ranged from 0.187 to 0.49, and it has a coverage area of native vegetation superior to that of anthropized areas. Thus, the watershed morphometric study, together with data on use and occupation, provide essential elements for the planning of actions to be carried out in the watershed. Integração de tecnlogia e politica: modelando caracterização moformétrica e mudança de uso da terra usando redes neurais artificiais na Amazônia Ocidental RESUMOEste estudo tem como objetivo analisar de forma integrada a aplicação de índices morfométricos elaborados em sistemas de informações geográficas e aspectos de gestão ambiental de recursos hídricos para a Microbacia Hidrográfica do Rio Garças, localizada no estado de Rondônia. Foram utilizadas imagens com Modelos Digitais de Elevação (DEM) obtidas pelo TOPODATA e imagens Landsat 8 obtidas pelo INPE (Instituto Brasileiro de Pesquisas Espaciais). Posteriormente, com o auxílio do software QGIS 2.18.0, delimitou-se a bacia hidrográfica, calculou-se o NDVI e a declividade e, com base nos dados iniciais, foram calculadas as características morfométricas. A bacia possui área de 1621,101 km², perímetro de 438,661 km e extensão de 82,04 km, com altimetria variando de 77,8 a 177,8 metros, e fator de forma de 0,24, o que caracteriza um formato retangular, indicando que a bacia possui baixa propensão a inundações. . O NDVI variou de 0,187 a 0,49, e possui uma área de cobertura de vegetação nativa superior à de áreas antropizadas. Assim, o estudo morfométrico da bacia, juntamente com os dados de uso e ocupação, fornecem elementos essenciais para o planejamento das ações a serem realizadas na bacia.Palavras-chave: Morfometria. Gestão de bacias hidrográficas. GIS, autômatos celulares predição de mudança de markov

Seis anos de seca: Análise Espaço-temporal dos Espelhos d’água dos Reservatórios do Ceará por Sensoriamento Remoto

Nos últimos anos, em meio à seca e crise hídrica que afetou várias regiões do Brasil, em particular a região semiárida, as reservas hídricas superficiais vêm sendo constantemente monitoradas. Nesse contexto, o objetivo deste estudo foi mapear e analisar, por meio de Sensoriamento Remoto, a dinâmica dos espelhos d'água dos principais reservatórios do Ceará, a fim de mostrar como a área dos espelhos d'água dos reservatórios foram afetados pelas precipitações abaixo da média durantes os últimos seis anos de seca, compreendendo os anos de 2012 a 2017. Para isso, foi utilizado a plataforma Google Earth Engine para analisar imagens do Landsat, compreendendo o período interanual de 2012 a 2017. Para a delimitação das águas, foi utilizada uma técnica de realce para converter as imagens RGB para HVS, criando uma imagem pancromática e facilitando o processo de identificação dos espelhos d'água. Desse modo, os resultados indicaram que todos os reservatórios perderam área, onde alguns chegaram a secar completamente. Os resultados ainda sugerem que os reservatórios localizados nas bacias hidrográficas de clima mais úmido apresentaram menor perda de área em comparação com as de clima mais seco. Em virtude do número elevado de reservatórios, a utilização de imagens de satélite e técnicas de Sensoriamento Remoto são fundamentais para mensurar os efeitos da seca sobre as barragens. Tais informações são extremamente importantes para o planejamento e a gestão ambiental dos recursos hídricos, sob a perspectiva de fomentar políticas de abastecimento e, com isso, ampliar a capacidade de enfrentar problemas relacionados à segurança hídrica. Six years of drought: Spatio-temporal Analysis of Water Mirrors in Ceará Reservoirs by Remote Sensing ABSTRACT In recent years, in the midst of drought and water crisis that has affected several regions of Brazil, in particular the semi-arid region, surface water reserves have been constantly monitored. In this context, the objective of this study was to map and analyze, through Remote Sensing, the dynamics of the water mirrors of the main reservoirs in Ceará, in order to show how the area of the water mirrors of the reservoirs were affected by the precipitations below of the average during the last six years of drought, comprising the years 2012 to 2017. For this, the Google Earth Engine platform was used to analyze Landsat images, comprising the interannual period from 2012 to 2017. For the delimitation of the waters, an enhancement technique was used to convert the RGB images to HVS, creating a panchromatic image and facilitating the process of identifying the water mirrors. Thus, the results indicated that all reservoirs lost area, where some even dried up completely. The results also suggest that the reservoirs located in the hydrographic basins of the wetter climate showed less loss of area compared to those of the drier climate. Due to the high number of reservoirs, the use of satellite images and Remote Sensing techniques are essential to measure the effects of drought on dams. Such information is extremely important for the planning and environmental management of water resources, from the perspective of promoting supply policies and, with this, expanding the capacity to face problems related to water security.Keywords: Semi-arid, Water resources, Dams, Google Earth Engine, Landsat.

Producing the next generation of water resource experts in South Africa

The 2nd African Water Symposium, in conjunction with the 6th Orange River Basin Symposium, was held on the campus of the University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, on 7 and 8 October 2015. The theme of the symposium was 'systems thinking in environmental water resources management', with the aim of evaluating and debating a holistic approach to water management in southern Africa. The symposium included a panel discussion that was originally intended to define a roadmap towards effective water resources management, but it soon took on a life of its own and evolved into a discussion on how to develop and train the next generation of managers and scientists to tackle the current challenges being faced by the wider water sector. This commentary serves as a record of the main themes identified during the panel discussion and begins by setting the South African context and identifying the plurality of values and opinions held by stakeholders in the post-apartheid water sector. It then elaborates on the decline of water specialists in the country and identifies the characteristics needed from a new generation of water scientists and managers. Finally, it outlines some of the proposed strategies to cultivating a new cohort of specialists able to tackle the challenge of effective water resources management in South Africa.

Determination of indirect water consumption and suggestions for cleaner production initiatives for the milk-producing sector in a Brazilian middle-sized dairy farming

Current research measured the indirect water consumption in the milking process in a medium-sized dairy farming in the southwestern region of the state of Bahia, Brazil, to foreground the environmental management of water resources. The environmental impact associated with indirect water consumption throughout milk production (from milking to the moment milk is dispatched) was identified. The water consumption coefficient in the milking sector averaged 3.4 L-1 of milk produced, for 541 L of water consumed and a daily milk production close to 160 L. It should be underscored that professionals who deal with milking and cleaning activities have little or no instruction about the adequate use of water. Cleaner Production (CP) initiatives have been identified. It was proposed to the milking personnel that, if the initiatives are applied properly, they may contribute towards the reduction of water consumption and wastes without affecting either the quality of the final production. These initiatives comprised small and big actions such as staff training and replacement of cleaning equipment and fertilizing irrigation, which may immediately contribute towards the prevention or reduction of wastewater during milking. The qualitative and quantitative interpretation of data would contribute towards CP initiatives that might be implemented at the milking sector in the short, medium and long terms.

Modeling Nonpoint Source Pollutant Losses from a Small Watershed Using HSPF Model

Hydrologic models play an important role in the assessment of nonpoint source (NPS) pollution, which is essential for the environmental management of water resources. The present study has been undertaken to evaluate the applicability of a physically based continuous time scale, hydrological, and water quality computer model—Hydrologic Simulation Program-Fortran (HSPF)—in simulating runoff and sediment associated NPS pollutant losses from a small mixed type (land under agriculture, shrubs and forest, rocks, grasses) watershed of the Damodar Valley Corporation, Hazaribagh, India. Water soluble NO3–N, NH4–N, and P were considered as pollutants and their concentrations in the runoff were measured at the outlet of the watershed, randomly for 15 dates during the monsoon season (June–October) of 2000 and 2001. The model calibration and validation results reveal that the seasonal trend of HSPF simulated runoff, sediment yield, and NPS pollutants compared reasonably with their measured counterparts. Although the concentrations of pollutants were generally overpredicted for NO3–N and underpredicted for NH4–N and water-soluble P in the month of June when fertilizers releasing NH4–N and P are applied in rice fields, the differences in the mean concentration were not significantly different at a 95% level of confidence. Variation in the simulated losses of water soluble N and P species between the years occurred largely due to differences in the amount and distribution of rainfall. These results indicate that the HSPF model can be used as a tool for simulating runoff and sediment associated NPS pollution losses from the study area.

Às margens do rio: educação intercultural e professores indígenas

Este estudo focaliza a questão ambiental como tema transversal da geografia no currículo dos cursos de treinamento para professores indígenas coordenados pelo autor no Parque do Xingu, habitado por quatorze grupos étnicos diferentes. A discussão do gerenciamento ambiental dos recursos hídricos em terras indígenas destaca aspectos pedagógicos e políticos, o problema das terras ocupadas por grandes propriedades e a contaminação da água e destruição dos rios decorrentes. Os cursos de treinamento estimulam os professores a procurar soluções para esses problemas ambientais. O autor pesquisa a participação da sociedade civil na formação dos Comitês de Bacias Hidrográficas que integram a Política Nacional de Recursos Hídricos. Enfatiza a necessidade de uma educação ambiental multicultural que integre os estudantes indígenas e a sociedade brasileira como forma de identificar, como país, novas formas de relacionamento com o ambiente.

Environmental Management of Water Resources in Mexico

ABSTRACT The environment has been receiving high priority in Mexico in recent years. The country however is presently facing numerous environmental problems. These problems are already severe, and the financial and human resources available are limited. While a good beginning has been made, much more remains to be done.