Excessive Water Use Research Articles

An innovative approach for quality assessment and its contamination on surface water for drinking purpose in Mahanadi River Basin, Odisha of India, with the integration of BA-WQI, AHP-TOPSIS, FL-DWQI, MOORA, and RF methodology

Water is essential for life, as it supports bodily functions, nourishes crops, and maintains ecosystems. Drinking water is crucial for maintaining good health and can also contribute to economic development by reducing health-care costs and improving productivity. The present study evaluated the surface water quality of Mahanadi River (Odisha, India). Hence, to evaluate the hydro-chemical processes, sources of contamination, and water quality, a methodical examination was conducted using an integrated approach, namely Bayesian Approximation (BA), Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP)-Technique of Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS), Fuzzy Logic (FL), Multi-Objective Optimization on the Basis of Ratio Analysis (MOORA), and Random Forest (RF) method. For this, water samples from 16 locations were taken for a period of 2018–2024, to test 21 physicochemical parameters in the selected sampling sites. From the assessment of parameters, with respect to WHO standards, pH indicates alkaline, TKN, and TC in all samples surpassed the prescribed drinking water limit. However, major ion and hardness spatial interpolation maps typically show that the quality of the water declines from upstream to downstream, with extreme values found in the downstream. The index for BA-WQI value revealed that 50% of samples belong to unsatisfactory water quality. This was also accompanied by several parameter’s high values, namely TDS, NO3−, Cl−, and SO42−, which were also highest among all the locations. Again, it is noticed that 12.50% of sites come under the zone of excellent water. However, 37.50% of samples indicated a good water class. As a result, a renowned MCDM model, such as AHP-TOPSIS, was presented, which makes use of rough set theory and Bayesian weights to provide a trustworthy and objective assessment of the total pollution levels at each sample site. Hence, this innovative technique depicted that W-(9) was the most polluted region if compared to other places, followed by W-(8), (16), (2), and (7), respectively. Based on FL-DWQI values, 12.5% of monitored specimens point towards excellent category, and rest 18.75% indicated as good quality. The remaining samples, or 68.75%, consist of ‘poor, very poor, and unsuitable qualities'. However, it was relevant that the degree of pollution at these stations was more closely linked to a variety of expanding human activities, such as excessive water use, fertilizer effects, agricultural runoff, and industrial activity in and around the river corridor. Additionally, MOORA has been conducted and performance scores were extracted. These four polluted sites such as W-(9), (8), (16), and (4), which contain higher performance scores, were 0.89, 0.093, 0.06, and 0.04. The major four places containing variables that exceeded the WHO limits, which account for TKN, coliform, and EC properties, were named accordingly. It was discovered that the main causes of the river’s water quality adulteration were agricultural runoff and home waste water. Furthermore, a RF analysis of the 16 sites was carried out and five critical variables such as Cl−, TH, TDS, EC, and TC were obtained on the basis of R2 and RMSE score. Here, the first four RF factors were sufficient to explain 83.86%, 84.27%, 84.14%, and 85% of the model accuracy for correlation matrix. In the end, the target TC suggests about 89% of the total accuracy. Afterwards, water quality at all sampling locations was expressed in terms of RF-WQI. The value obtained varied between 15 and 243, denoting good to poor water. The main finding of the investigation was that at eight inadequate water sites, the main sources of adulteration of the river’s water quality were agricultural runoff, illegally deposited municipal solid waste, and deteriorating household water supplies. This work highlights the viability and dependability of integrating these techniques for monitoring and evaluating river water quality. Hence, these findings are essential for comprehending surface water sustainability, for human consumption in the research area.

Effect of soaked biomass on gasification temperature performance in an open-downdraft gasifier

Gasification of soaked biomass is a novel approach to saving cost and time of conditioning feedstock. It may have disadvantages on gasification temperature since an open-downdraft gasifier requires a zone with high temperature to maintain endothermic gasification processes. Heat is generated by exothermic reaction in the gasifier. It is supposed to be used by the gasification reactions, and excess water use it too. Ten varieties of biomass with different properties, shapes, and sizes were soaked and utilized as gasification feedstocks. The gasifier was able to maintain a stable temperature above 800 °C when fed soaked hardwoods, unlike soaked softwoods, which made the gasifier unable to maintain a temperature higher than 700 °C. Small, flat-shaped soaked biomasses were able to maintain high temperatures better than that of other-shaped biomasses. Particularly, soaked bamboo and soaked coconut shell made the gasifier able to maintain a high temperature zone of more than 1,000 °C.

If a fish comes out of the river and speaks, we should believe it: South African perspective on fish kills

AbstractIn South Africa, fish kill events are increasing in frequency because of multiple stressors associated with managing natural resources. Despite the ecosystem services associated with fish, South Africa's progressive legislation towards environmental protection seems to negate the management of fish kills. In this study, we provide an overview of reports and regulations associated with acute pollution spills resulting in fish kill events in South Africa. In addition, we highlight the implication of these using a fish kill event from 2019 on the Msunduzi River, South Africa, as a case study. The fish kill on the Msunduzi River showed a decline in relative abundance by up to 41%, and its ecological condition was already impaired by poor management. The poor condition of the Msunduzi River has jeopardised the recovery of the fish populations, and intervention is needed to restore the fish population that includes species red‐listed as vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. We found that despite the severity of fish kills and the detriment to the fish fauna, including near‐threatened species, there is a general apathy, incapacity and lack of knowledge on managing fish kills in South Africa. In addition, although several legislated Acts have good intentions for protecting nature, they do not align and show that a fish kill is an afterthought rather than a need to prevent. Poor management practices have exacerbated this in an already stressed state from excessive use of environmental water. As a way forward, the alignment of the various Acts associated with various ministerial departments in South Africa is needed so that better protection of the environment may occur. Finally, we argue that the African proverb ‘If the fish comes out of the river to tell you that the crocodile has one eye, you should believe it’ is not considered when managing water resources and that with the present ecological state and water resource use there may be no fish to ‘come out of the water’ warning us that our water is unsafe even for human consumption and use.

The Impact of Saline Water on Women's Health in the Coastal Region of Bangladesh: Special Attention on Menstrual Hygiene Practices.

Introduction Salinity intrusion is the most common global concern along coastlines, but it can happen inland also. The lack of freshwater is the primary issue affecting the coastal areas. Many health problems are prevalent among the inhabitantsdue to their frequent use of salted water. The health of women living along the coastline is getting progressively compromised due to salinity intrusion. Objectives The study aims to determine menstrual health practices and other health problems faced bywomen in the coastal region of Bangladesh. Methods The study was conducted using a survey research designfrom May 2023 to October 2023 on rural women aged 18 to 45 years, who lived in the Bangladeshi village of Koyra Upazila in the Khulna district. Thesample size of the study was 101. Open- and closed-ended questions from a planned interview schedule were used to gather primary data. Additional information from appropriate sources, e.g., newspapers, publications, and books, was utilized to enhancethe comprehensiveness of statistical analysis and support rationality. A p-value of 0.05 was considered significant. Statistical analysis was performed using STATA version 15 (StataCorp LLC, College Station, TX). Results Menstrual hygiene practices showed a higher prevalence of using fabric rags and reusing them after rinsing them in salt water (72.3%) than sanitary pads (25.7%). It was observed that the risk of diarrhea among tubewell water and rainwaterusers was significantly lowered by 0.25 times (95% CI = 0.06, 0.99; p = 0.049) and 0.06 times (95% CI = 0.01, 0.43; p = 0.005), respectively, compared to pond water users. Conclusion Salinityhas a significant impact on the livelihoods and health of coastal women. The village womenare unaware of the health risks of excessive saline water use. Establishing an adequate supply of freshwater reservoirsfor the entire communitythroughout the yearis analternativefor womento use as a source of water for hygiene necessities.

A Closed Loop Automated Drip Irrigation System Based on Arduino Uno

In recent years, the limited availability of irrigation water has made the optimal use of water a necessity. Successful irrigation practices in agriculture reduce excessive water usage and increase water use efficiency. Economical use of water can be made possible through modern irrigation systems. Nowadays, automatic control systems in agriculture have made significant progress and offer important advantages. In this study, a mini evaporation pan consisting of nested two cylinders was used (outer cylinder diameter 32 cm, inner cylinder diameter 27 cm, and both with a height of 20 cm) and the water remained at a constant level in both cylinders due to the notch beneath the inner cylinder. A water level sensor was placed inside the inner cylinder, and irrigation was activated based on the signal received from the sensor. The data from the sensor was processed by the microcontroller on the Arduino Uno, and three different irrigation applications were implemented by activating pumps connected to relays at 07:00, 14:00, and 21:00 o’clock, and then the mini-evaporation pan was refilled, and the system waited for the next irrigation period. The automation drip irrigation system maintained irrigation as a closed loop throughout the entire growth period of the lettuce plants using this approach. The addition of a fertilization unit to this system could make it more effective in plant production. The performance of the system will be significantly enhanced by enabling hardware that provides irrigation and fertilization to the plant according to its specific needs in terms of timing and quantity, along with appropriate software integration.

A Comparison of the Frequency and Intensity of Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and the Rainfall Anomaly Index (RAI) during the Meteorological Drought across Harohar-Punpun Basin (India)

The term "drought" applies to a prolonged period when there is a water shortage because of insufficient precipitation, an excessive rate of evaporation, and excessive use of water from reservoirs and other storage, including ground water. It is a slow-onset phenomenon that can have significant social, economic, and environmental impacts. Both the frequency and severity of droughts are increasing globally due to manmade and natural factors. This study looked at how well SPIs (3, 6, 12-month time scales) and RAI (Rainfall Anomaly Index) performed at identifying drought occurrences over a period of 70 years (1951 to 2021) in India's Agro-Ecological Zones. The RAI and SPI values were computed using rainfall data from 9 meteorological stations located throughout the Harohar- Punpun Basin. According to the results, the RAI is more capable than SPIs in detecting historical records of actual occurrences. Additionally, RAI is more effective than SPIs for determining both short- and long-term droughts. Since RAI can better capture the true nature of the drought situation in the Harohar-Punpun Basin, it appears to be more responsive to drought circumstances. The primary causes of drought, according to the study, include minor variations in precipitation, willful ground water removal, changing cropping patterns, and substantial changes in land use. Regional planners and administrators will surely find use for this scientific study and integrated watershed management methods for sustainable water resource management, particularly for this region.

Insights into Grain Milling and Fractionation Practices for Improved Food Sustainability with Emphasis on Wheat and Peas.

Cereal grains and pulses are staple foods worldwide, being the primary supply of energy, protein, and fiber in human diets. The current practice of milling and fractionation yields large quantities of byproducts and waste, which are largely downgraded and end up as animal feeds or fertilizers. This adversely affects food security and the environment, and definitely implies an urgent need for a sustainable grain processing system to rectify the current issues, particularly the management of waste and excessive use of water and energy. The current review intends to discuss the limitations and flaws of the existing practice of grain milling and fractionation, along with potential solutions to make it more sustainable, with an emphasis on wheat and peas as common fractionation crops. This review discusses a proposed sustainable grain processing system for the fractionation of wheat or peas into flour, protein, starch, and value-added components. The proposed system is a hybrid model that combines dry and wet fractionation processes in conjunction with the implementation of three principles, namely, integration, recycling, and upcycling, to improve component separation efficiency and value addition and minimize grain milling waste. The three principles are critical in making grain processing more efficient in terms of the management of waste and resources. Overall, this review provides potential solutions for how to make the grain processing system more sustainable.

Biological removal of nitrogenous waste compounds in the biofloc aquaculture system: a review

Abstract Aquaculture has experienced significant global expansion and is considered one of the fastest-growing sectors in food production. However, there exist additional challenges that restrict the capacity to achieve maximum efficiency in aquaculture systems, such as issues over water quality and shortages of appropriate live feeds. Intensive aquaculture systems involve the use of protein-rich prepared feed for feeding the cultured animals. This may give rise to the discharge of nitrogenous compounds into the water, which can pose a risk to the environment when present in excessive quantities beyond the acceptable levels. In recent years, an innovative method called biofloc technology (BFT) has become a practical solution to this issue. Undoubtedly, BFT offers a groundbreaking method for nutrient disposal that eradicates the requirement for excessive water use or equipment maintenance. Three primary types of microorganisms are crucial in alleviating the adverse impacts of nitrogen compounds in this technique. Photoautotrophs participate in the processes of removal and absorption, whereas chemoautotrophs promote nitrification and conversion. Heterotrophs contribute to the absorption process. Biofloc predominantly consists of heterotrophic bacteria, alongside algae, protozoa, rotifers, and nematodes. While there have been reviews carried out on multiple aspects of biofloc technology, there exists a lack of literature that tackles this particular field of research progress. This article discusses every aspect and techniques of biological management used for removing nitrogenous waste compounds in biofloc aquaculture systems.

Physiological Responses of Stress Tolerant Rice Varieties across Different Cropping Systems under Rainfed Stress

Rice, sustaining half of the world's population, is traditionally cultivated through transplanting, particularly in Asia. However, challenges like excessive water use, labour demands, and environmental stresses like drought prompt the search for alternatives. Our study evaluates the impact of various crop establishment methods (CEs) – conventional puddled transplanting, direct drill seeding on flatbeds (DSR), and direct seeding on raised beds (FIRB) – on five stress-tolerant rice varieties (V): DRR 42, DRR 44, Sukha Dhan 5, Sukha Dhan 6, and Sarjoo 52. The key physiological parameters like Relative Water Content, Membrane Stability Index, and Chlorophyll content were analysed across different CE and V combinations. Notably, FIRB consistently surpasses other methods, suggesting its potential in bolstering stress tolerance and yield. Among the five varieties, Sukha Dhan 5 (V3) displays the highest RWC, Sarjoo 52 (V5) in MSI, and DRR 44 (V2) demonstrates superior chlorophyll content. These varieties underscore their pivotal role in maintaining plant water status, facilitating robust photosynthesis, and enhancing stress resilience, thereby ensuring stable yields. Our findings underscore FIRB's promise in curbing water waste and mitigating drawbacks associated with conventional transplanting practices.

Assessing groundwater potential for mitigating salinity issues in agricultural areas of southern Dong Nai province, Vietnam

Excessive agricultural water use poses significant challenges, including contamination, soil subsidence, and groundwater depletion. Salt accumulation exacerbated by drought further complicates sustainable agricultural practices. In the context of global climate change, the Dong Nai region in southern Vietnam faces severe drought and saltwater intrusion, underscoring the need to assess Groundwater Potential (GWP). This study collected 69 soil samples to evaluate salt levels and used 48 samples to analyze the correlation between satellite imagery and electrical conductivity. The Artificial Bee Colony (ABC) - Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) hybrid model was employed with radar data. It found that salinity levels decrease from coastal to inland areas in southern Vietnam, being the highest in mangrove and agriculture regions. The ABC-ANFIS model achieved an R2test value of 0.821 and an accuracy of 84.325% within an Electrical Conductivity (EC) range of 0.2–26.86 dSm−1. The GWP index assists in identifying areas with favorable water potential. The results offer valuable for decision-makers, scientists, engineers, and farmers to effectively manage soil salinity and drought impacts for groundwater sustainable utilization.

Smart Irrigation and Pesticides System for Enhancing Harvesting in Agriculture Using IoT

Agriculture plays a vital role in the economy of many countries, serving as a primary source of food. However, traditional farming practices often face challenges such as inefficient water usage, over-reliance on pesticides, and inconsistent monitoring of crop conditions. In recent years, the Internet of Things (IoT) has emerged as a promising technology to address these challenges by providing real-time monitoring and control of agricultural processes. This leads in excessive water use, which has an impact on agricultural output. This integrated system means that farmers only need to perform little manual monitoring. The opening and closing of the reservoir and field gates, as well as the verification of the plant's age and the matching optimal water level necessary for that time of plant age, are all automated. Farmers may use their mobile phones to check the water level in the field since they are continually receiving updates on the field work. The most labour-intensive and time consuming activity in agriculture is water management. In our project, the water level in the agriculture harvest sting is measured, and if it is lower than the required level, the paddy field is automatically irrigated for the water source or tank using a water pump. It can comprehensively monitor air temperature and humidity, light intensity, ultraviolet light and other environmental elements. In specific use, the agricultural production environment monitoring system starts from the actual needs of the plantation zone and is assembled according to the environmental elements it needs to monitor.

Improving environmental sustainability in Hospitality and Tourism: the key strategies

The Hotel and Tourism Industry has experienced profound changes in recent years and has been one of the sectors most affected by COVID-19. With the return of tourist activity, many companies went back to their normal routines, but the sector has changed dramatically. Tourists have new expectations, needs, and priorities, and sustainability is the one that is most emphasised, particularly when it comes to excessive water consumption, misuse of energy, and poorly utilised waste. The industry has a unique opportunity to recognise the importance of sustainability and define strategies to guarantee customer satisfaction, in symbiosis with environmental concerns and the preservation of the planet for future generations.
 This study aims to characterise the good strategies and practices for environmental sustainability in Hospitality and Tourism, namely in terms of energy, water, and waste. The purpose is to present the procedures and processes that lead to greater sustainability performance and to accomplish this a focus group was organised, with 2 hospitality stakeholders, 2 environmental groups stakeholders, and 2 VET (Vocational Education and Training) stakeholders, to discuss and identify the main factors directly related to the excessive use of water and energy and the poor treatment of waste and ranked by the participants. The meeting was done face-to-face, lasted 3 hours, and was based on their expertise and good practices. The Hospitality and Tourism Industry is conscious of its ecological footprint, namely in terms of energy efficiency, water conservation, and waste management. Considering energy, some examples were given such as electricity-saving practices, using LED bulbs, occupancy sensors, and automatic light controls. With respect to water, it is mandatory to install low-slip faucets and shower heads, reduce laundry and cleaning, and recycle water that can be reused for irrigation or toilet flushing, reducing the use of fresh water.
 The research presented contributions to the growing Knowledge on this topic, and the findings propose a straightforward guide for managers in the Hospitality and Tourism industry. Further research is endorsed to reinforce the value of environmental sustainability and to involve a greater range of stakeholders with different profiles in the sector.

ئاڵنگارییەکانی ئاسایشی ئاو لە هەرێمی کوردستان

This study investigates two fundamental challenges facing the water security in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. These challenges are identified as internal and external. Internal challenges are dealt with from two perspectives: one has to do with climate change that leads to decreasing the rainfall and increasing droughts both of which negatively affecting water revenues. The other one is human-related challenges that are associated with water utilisation and water management issues. Such challenges include the excessive use and waste of water as well as water pollution that results in the inability of water revenues (especially surface water such as rivers and lakes) to meet the needs of people in the region. The external challenges, on the other hand, are related to the current water policies pursued by the neighbouring countries of Turkey and Iran. These countries use the water resources located within their borders as a weapon against the Kurdistan Region. About 60% of the region’s water resources comes from Turkey and Iran. Consequently, the strict water policy implemented by these countries has exerted a considerable negative impact on the total amount of water needs in the Kurdistan Region. affected.

DISCUSSION ON ECOLOGICAL AQUACULTURE AND INNOVATIVE OPERATION STRATEGY

This study aims to improve the problems faced by Taiwan's aquaculture industry, such as the increased risk of drug residues caused by excessive use of water and soil resources and high-density farming, and to improve its competitiveness. Improve regional production and marketing operations, increase environmental protection production methods, and increase young people's willingness to return to their hometowns to invest. In order to increase consumers' trust in aquaculture aquatic products, basic safety requirements can be achieved through production and sales history labels, vacuum-sealed packaging, and clear labels, thereby enhancing consumer loyalty. Brand features and product discounts can also enhance loyalty. This study uses the focus group interview method to understand the problems of regional farming and the expected future prospects. Results found that it is possible to integrate regional farmers, establish sales channels for agricultural and fishery products in Chiayi, achieve sustainable development and improve competitiveness, and increase the willingness of young people to return to their hometowns to invest. To sum up, there are the following three propositions: (1) Construct cooperation channels to increase the added value of production and sales. (2) Introduce friendly breeding and increase product differentiation. (3) Establish an intelligent platform to train young people to return hometown. In addition, it is also suggested to combine the promotion of local recreational fishery and the characteristics of e-commerce distribution and sales to establish an operation model of online distribution and sales; and widely publicize Taiwan's seafood and aquatic product certification and inspection system to promote friendly farming methods to improve the existing breeding environment. Protect the sustainable environment and increase production value.

Groundwater in India is Decreasing Because of Growing Urban Estates, Multiple Cropping Patterns and Excessive Water Use for Irrigation/agriculture

India is seeing a significant reduction in groundwater levels, attributed to changes in agricultural techniques, urbanization, and unsustainable water exploitation. This puts agriculture, the security of the water supply, and the daily lives of nearly 1.5 billion people in danger. The study explores the varied terrain of India, the different types of soil, and how heat waves and rainfall patterns are affected by climate change. The water crises in Chennai and Bengaluru highlight the need for strict water management techniques in the socioeconomic environment. In addition, the health consequences of tainted groundwater, which may contain dangerous substances like arsenic and chromium, demand prompt attention for appropriate disposal and surveillance to protect the public's health and welfare.

Effects of river regulation on aquatic invertebrate community composition: A comparative analysis in two southern African rivers.

While natural floods play a crucial role in shaping the composition of aquatic communities, the most rivers worldwide are regulated or dammed for anthropogenic purposes, resulting in alterations to the biological and chemical composition of these ecosystems. Studies have demonstrated various negative effects of river regulation on aquatic invertebrate communities globally. However, there is a scarcity of research in Africa, despite its vulnerability to anthropogenic impacts. This study aimed to compare aquatic invertebrate communities in the Phongolo River, an impacted regulated river, and the Usuthu River, a less impacted unregulated river, in South Africa. It further aimed to ascertain whether Lake Nyamithi, a naturally saline lake receiving water from both of the aforementioned systems, exhibited a stronger similarity to one of the two rivers in terms of its aquatic invertebrate composition. Aquatic invertebrate and water samples were collected from 2012 to 2018 over several surveys. The Usuthu River demonstrated a diverse and sensitive aquatic invertebrate community, emphasising its high conservation value. The Phongolo River demonstrated effects of anthropogenic impact, with taxa more resilient to changes in water quality and flow compared to the Usuthu River. Mismanagement and excessive water use may lead to the loss of any remaining sensitive aquatic invertebrate communities in this river. The presence of invasive molluscan in the Phongolo River and Lake Nyamithi also poses a threat to the native aquatic invertebrate communities. These invasive species are currently absent from the Usuthu River although other invasive species, such as the Australian redclaw crayfish, are found in both river systems. Lake Nyamithi displayed a unique aquatic invertebrate community, distinct from both rivers and their floodplains. This study provides important baseline information on the Usuthu River's aquatic invertebrates and emphasises the need to maintain adequate water flow in rivers and floodplains to protect biodiversity and sensitive species.

Agricultural soil pollution due to climate change

The agricultural sector is very important for human life because of its role for economic purposes and meeting food needs. The use of land for agricultural activities cannot be avoided because humans need food every day. The agricultural sector has a negative impact on soil conditions due to excessive use of fertilizers and water. Objectives: The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of climate change (climate change) on soil pollution. Method and results: The method used for this paper is a qualitative approach with a descriptive explanation. Conclusion: Climate change has an effect on temperature, rainfall, and sea level. The earth's temperature will increase, and there will be extreme rain and extreme weather, while the impact on sea water will increase sea level. This condition can cause flooding, flooding will erode the soil surface resulting in a decrease in soil quality. Pollution due to waste will cause soil pollution and have an impact on rising temperatures.

Household Water Use Efficiency and its implication for Sustainable Accessibility: A Case Study

The existential value of water for human survival and sustenance prompted the need to determine factors responsible for water use efficiency (WUE) among twenty-seven households working in Bowen University, Iwo, Nigeria. The households were made up of academic and non-academic staff who, by virtue of their exposure and experience are knowledgeable enough to respond accurately to the insightful questions. Specialized variables of indoor water use were assessed using a structured questionnaire. Estimates of usedvolume of each variable/day were expressed in litres, the frequency of use and the sources of the used water were obtained. All respondents have tertiary education and are females. The family size ranged from 2 to 5 and they generally source their water (96.37% groundwater) close to their homes and premises. Potential areas of excessive water use in homes were identified, using Factor Analysis, to be laundry, incidental uses and auto-wash which are in the non-consumptive category. The trio constituted 53.33% of all water usage in homes. This is evidently beyond sustainability threshold and demands further attention. Thus, water use efficiency in homes should conservatively address non-consumptive uses by using water-propelled machines at full capacities, water-reuse/recycling and taking sensible responsibilities for resource sustainability.

A Systematic Review of Polluting Processes Produced by the Textile Industry and Proposals for Abatement Methods

The textile industry is one of the most polluting industries worldwide because of its processes that entail the excessive use of water and chemicals, resulting in textile effluents that, in turn, are not treated and controlled correctly. This review aims to identify the most polluting processes in the textile industry and the most efficient methods to reduce the water footprint. The PICO method was used to define the search equation and obtain studies based on the topic, resulting in a total of 4783 articles; then, the PRISMA statement was used to carefully select studies, of which 32 articles met the inclusion criteria. The textile industry's supply chain presents high pollution levels, especially in the dyeing process, with a percentage of 33% effluents, since they use toxic chemicals such as ammonia, sulphide, and lead. Therefore, the study analyzes physical methods (hydrodynamic cavitation and flocculation), chemicals (electrocoagulation, EC-EO, and EC-EF), and biological (degradation assisted by bacteria) to treat wastewater. After analysis of the above methods for treating wastewater, electrocoagulation combined with electro-oxidation (EC-EO) obtained the highest efficiency rate with 88% COD removal and 100% colour removal.

Investigation and Comparative Assessment of Surface Water Quality for Drinking Purposes by Using Relief Algorithm, GIS, and Machine Learning: A Case Study of Mahanadi River Basin, Odisha (India)

Surface water is the best source of drinking water available. However, climate change, over-pumping, and a variety of contaminants have all led to the depletion of this valuable resource. Conducting surface water quality assessments for home usage, especially drinking water, is essential to safeguarding human health and effectively managing resources. In this study, this work has highlighted an evaluation of surface water quality of river Mahanadi, Odisha, for drinking purposes using Relief Algorithm (RA) based WQI (RA-WQI), with reliability-based MLs (Machine Learning) such as Weight of Evidence (WOE) have been employed. For this, water samples from 19 locations were taken for a period of 2018-2023, to test 20 physicochemical parameters in the selected sampling sites. The findings indicated that although pH changes, the water is alkaline and its value spanned from 7.73 to 7.9. The concentration of coliform and TKN is found to be higher at all locations. The highest levels of Cl- and SO42- are located close to the downstream area. Based on the results, anions and cations are observing a shift in the trend, i.e., Fe2+ > B+ and Cl- > SO42- > NO3- > F- respectively, throughout the occupied duration. Further, the calculated RAWQI revealed that 63.16% belong to poor water quality while 31.57% of sites come under the zone of excellent water. However, 5.26% of samples indicated an unsuitable water class. The analysis primarily revealed that at 8 samples, the main cause could be deterioration of domestic water, illegally dumped municipal solid waste, and agricultural runoff were the leading sources causing adulteration of the river’s water quality. As a result, a renowned ML models, such as WOE, were adopted and it suggests location SP-(9) was the most polluted in comparison with other locations, followed by SP-(8), (19), and (2) respectively. Following this, the analytic findings also suggests from the highest RA-WQI values that consists of 488, 243, 277 and 285 at this location. However, it was relevant that the degree of pollution at these stations was more closely linked to a wide range of expanding human activities, such as excessive water use, fertilizer effects, agricultural runoff, and industrial activity in and around the river corridor. According to the drinking water quality indices, the surface water in the area under investigation is classified as suitable for human consumption. Thus, the results illuminate the preservation and distribution of drinkable and irrigable surface water supplies, and provide decision-makers with a valuable resource for implementing successful surface water protection strategies in the area under study.