Improved Water Supply Research Articles

Polyurethane and fiber- based photothermal device for solar evaporation and crude oil adsorption

Photothermal materials exhibit significant potential for marine applications, yet their efficiency and durability require enhancement. This study presents a dual-layer photothermal device that integrates a polyurethane light absorption layer with a wood sponge layer, designed for water transport and thermal insulation. The wood sponge’s hydrophilicity and effective water transport properties improve water supply while minimizing heat loss. Under sunlight, the device achieves a surface temperature of 63.2°C and an evaporation rate of 1.86 kg/m2/h for seawater desalination. The porous design of both layers ensures salt resistance during extended desalination processes. Furthermore, the incorporation of disulfide bonds into the polyurethane enhances the material’s self-healing properties, enabling sustained performance even after prolonged use, thus extending its service life. Additionally, the device demonstrates effective crude oil adsorption capabilities attributed to its photothermal efficiency and porosity. This innovative design provides valuable insights for advancing solar-driven evaporation devices and crude oil adsorption systems in marine environments.

Using a Multicomponent, Collaborative Approach for Source Water Protection

Key TakeawaysDynamic multicomponent programs have been essential for Truckee Meadows Water Authority (TMWA) to address various source water protection issues in the Truckee River watershed.Collaboration of TMWA through well‐defined partnerships is critical to protecting and improving water supply sources.It may be necessary for TMWA to step into unexpected roles to protect water quality, and there is no single approach to source water protection.

Investigation of the impact of dual inoculations of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria on drought tolerance of maize grown in a compost-amended field under Mediterranean conditions.

In the current context of rapid climate change, water scarcity and soil poverty are becoming increasingly alarming, leading to growing losses of 30-50% of global agricultural production. It is imperative to find environmentally-friendly approaches for improving plant tolerance to drastic conditions, particularly in arid and semi-arid Mediterranean regions. Biostimulants based on symbiotic microbes are emerging as effective strategies for improving tolerance and agricultural productivity. This study aims to evaluate the effects of single and double inoculation of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (My) and plant growth-promoting bacteria (Ba) on the growth, physiological and biochemical traits of maize crop grown in compost (Co) amended soil under two irrigation regimes: well-watered (WW: 100% of crop evapotranspiration [ETc]) and drought-stressed (DS: 50% ETc) using drip irrigation system. Reducing irrigation to 50% reduced shoot dry weight (SDW), root dry weight (RDW), 1,000-grains weight (TGW) and grain yield (Y). However, Ba alone increased SDW by 63%, while CoMyBa improved RDW, TGW and Y by 197, 43 and 175%, respectively compared with the control under DS conditions. Dual inoculation boosted root colonization intensity, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), total chlorophyll and leaf area of maize seedlings in compost-amended soil, compared to the controls. The application of Ba significantly reduced hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde by 46%, in maize seedlings grown in compost-amended soil, compared to the controls under DS. Our results indicated that My and Ba significantly boost the ability of maize to tolerate drought by improving water supply and physiology and stimulating the accumulation of organic and inorganic osmolytes, as well as improving the properties of soils such as cation exchange capacity particularly amended by Co. The dual inoculations were the most effective and represent an environmentally-friendly and relatively inexpensive approach to optimizing agricultural production and soil restoration programs in Mediterranean regions.

Motivos del consumo de agua embotellada en México y las percepciones del consumidor

The main objective of this research paper is to analyses the reasons for bottled water consumption in Mexico and consumer perceptions. It was conducted a systematic literature review using the Preferred Reporting Item for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA) and the STROBE Checklist. The study design was chosen because it involves the utilization of explicit and reproducible methods for searching, appraising and synthesizing information on the topic. Electronic searches were conducted via Web of Science and Scopus, with articles published between 1987 and 2022 being identified. The articles were then screened for relevance, applicability, validity, and reliability. The data extraction process involved the use of the Systematic Review Data Repository (SRDR). The tool is web-based and seminal in the extraction and management of data for systematic review. A total of 26 articles were identified which offered a historical review of bottled water consumption in Mexico. The articles cite that the spike in demand for bottled water is caused by organoleptic and health perceptions among the customers. The perceptions are traced back to the 1985 earthquake and cholera outbreak in 1991, which caused water scarcity and contamination issues. The research is novel, with a review of the articles showing there is an apparent dearth of knowledge with regards to the main reason why Mexico is the number one consumer of bottled water. The information presented is seminal in helping public administrators improve water supply service quality and customer satisfaction rates.

Analysis of Clean Water Quality and Quantity for Domestic Needs in Rutong

This study evaluates the quality and quantity of clean water available for domestic needs in Rutong Village, South Leitimur District, Ambon City. This study uses a quantitative descriptive research approach to provide a comprehensive overview of the clean water situation in the area. The population of this study comprises the residents of Rutong Village, with samples randomly selected from 10 households using Water Waihula and Water Cabang Dua or Saplaring. Data collection techniques include observation, documentation, and interviews. Quality analysis of clean water involves laboratory tests covering physical, biological, and chemical measurements. Quantity analysis is conducted through water flow rate calculations while predicting water demand utilizing equations based on population and standard water requirements per individual. Test results indicate that the quality of clean water in Rutong Village meets the standards set by Permenkes No. 32 of 2017. All physical, chemical, and biological parameters comply with permissible maximum standards, including odour, taste, TDS, turbidity, temperature, colour, iron, hardness, chloride, zinc, and coliform bacteria. However, despite meeting quality standards, it was found that the quantity of clean water available still needs to meet the community's needs sufficiently. On average, residents can only use 120 litres of water per day, indicating a need for improvement in the clean water supply to adequately meet the community's needs.

Water, sanitation, and hygiene–specific risk factors of recent diarrheal episodes in children aged under 5 years: analysis of secondary data from the multiple indicator cluster survey (MICS 2019)

ObjectivesAccess to safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene, collectively called WASH, is a fundamental human right and a cornerstone of public health. However, inadequate WASH practices and environments significantly contribute to the global burden of diarrheal diseases, particularly, in children aged under 5 years. Inadequate WASH conditions are the primary drivers of various infectious diseases, including cholera, dysentery, hepatitis A, typhoid, and polio. MethodsWe conducted secondary data analysis using the 2019 Zimbabwe Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey to investigate the specific WASH risk factors associated with recent diarrheal episodes in children aged under 5 years. ResultsA total of 853 (14%) of 6092 children were reported to have experienced an episode of diarrhea in the last 2 weeks preceding the survey. Having insufficient water in the household was associated with 17.0% diarrhea episodes compared with 13.6% in those who did not face this problem. The availability of soap or detergents to wash hands was associated with a risk of diarrhea, with an odds ratio and 95% confidence interval of 1.19 (1.01-1.40), P = 0.033. The use of surface water, including rivers, dams, lakes, ponds, streams, canals, and irrigation channels, was associated with differences in diarrheal episodes, although this was of borderline significance, P = 0.082. Of the children who had a recent episode of diarrhea, 41.0% had their parents or caregivers seeking medical attention. ConclusionsThere is need for an improvement in safe water supply to households and an improvement in health education on the importance of using soap after using the toilet to avoid contamination of food and water.

Consideration of water policies in the urban development plans of Delhi: A collaborative planning perspective

AbstractThis paper discusses collaborative planning principles as a means to improve water supply systems in the case of Delhi, India, through primary and secondary data analysis. The theory of collaborative planning is a well‐established concept applied to obtain effective policies in planning through the collaboration of actors in a shared space. We use this framework to discuss strengths, weaknesses, and scope for collaboration in the current urban development plan formulation process of the city. Some of the principles of collaborative planning we use include communication, collective decision‐making processes, and network power in a shared institutional environment. Our findings indicate a lack of consideration of water policies in the urban development plans. This underlines a major gap in the current process of plan formulation and provides evidence that the absence of collaboration between institutions in both sectors contributes to poor water supply for the population in Delhi. At the same time, it emphasizes the importance of collaborative practices between urban development and water institutions for better planning of water service provision in Indian cities.

A quantitative analysis framework for analyzing impacts of climate change on water-food-energy-ecosystem nexus in irrigation areas based on WEAP-MODFLOW

Agricultural irrigation areas are vital for ensuring food security under climate change conditions with extensive water and energy consumption, which will inevitably exert pressures on ecosystem especially in arid and semi-arid areas normally with higher ecosystem degradation risk. The key to realize sustainable development lies in a quantitative analysis framework for analyzing impacts of climate change on water-food-energy-ecosystem nexus. Climate change exacerbates these challenges by impacting food production, water resources utilization, energy consumption for water supply and ecological conditions in irrigation areas. In this work, a quantitative analysis framework to analyze the trade-offs and synergies among various scenarios within the water-food-energy-ecosystem nexus in irrigation area was proposed. Two climate models (BCC and MIR1) were selected from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6), and three Shared Socioeconomic Pathway (SSP) scenarios (SSP245, SSP370, and SSP585) were employed to quantitatively evaluate different sustainable development strategies among water, food, energy and ecosystem sectors from five key aspects: irrigation demand, food production, groundwater supply for irrigation, ecological base flow and irrigation water shortage. The results show that the sustainability index (SI) of combined management scenarios CC1-IM, CC5-IM, CC1-WSI and CC5-WSI could be 12% to 25% higher than that of the corresponding single management scenario. Among the four climate change and management scenarios, the SI of the integrated measures scenario (CC1-IM, CC5-IM) was the highest, with values of 1.39 and 1.12 respectively. This work highlights the pomising results of the integrated measures scenario in alleviating food production challenges, protecting ecological base flows, reducing groundwater extraction, alleviating irrigation water shortages and improving water supply efficiency when dealing with climate change challenges.

Factors Affecting Borehole Water Project Sustainability in Dodoma, Tanzania: A case of Nghong'onha ward

Access to a clean, safe, and affordable water supply for domestic use is a fundamental human right. However, in many urban areas in sub-Saharan African countries, including Tanzania, not all people have access to water due to the operation, maintenance, and sustainability challenges of the built infrastructure. This study assessed factors affecting the sustainability of the Borehole water project in Dodoma Region, taking a case of Nghong'onha ward in the City Council of Dodoma. Specifically, the study focused on household water use practices and examined the factors affecting the sustainability of borehole water projects. The study used both primary and secondary data of a quantitative and qualitative nature collected through interviews, observations, and a documentary review. This study employed probability and non-probability sampling techniques to select a sample of respondents and key informants. The collected data were analysed for descriptive statistics such as frequencies and means and binary logistic regression analysis, whereas qualitative data were analysed using the qualitative content analysis technique. The study found that, on average, households consumed 82.27 litres of water daily, and 47.5% of respondents had to wait for 31–45 minutes to fetch water at the water point. Furthermore, findings revealed that community meetings (0.000), distance to water points (0.000), water facility spare parts availability (0.054), payment modality (0.023), and annual maintenance (0.011) significantly affected borehole water project sustainability. The study recommends that interventions to improve access to domestic water supply in the study area should focus on improving water supply infrastructure and the built infrastructure's operation, maintenance, and sustainability.

Improved water supply infrastructure to reduce acute diarrhoeal diseases and cholera in Uvira, Democratic Republic of the Congo: Results and lessons learned from a pragmatic trial.

Safely managed drinking water is critical to prevent diarrhoeal diseases, including cholera, but evidence on the effectiveness of piped water supply in reducing these diseases in low-income and complex emergency settings remains scarce. We conducted a trial of water supply infrastructure improvements in Uvira (DRC). Our primary objective was to estimate the relationship between a composite index of water service quality and the monthly number of suspected cholera cases admitted to treatment facilities and, as a secondary analysis, the number of cases confirmed by rapid diagnostic tests. Other exposures included the quantity of supplied water and service continuity. We used Poisson generalised linear models with generalised estimating equations to estimate incidence rate ratios. Associations between suspected cholera incidence and water service quality (RR 0·86, 95% CI 0·73-1·01), quantity (RR 0·80, 95% CI 0·62-1·02) and continuity (RR 0·81, 95% CI 0·77-0·86) were estimated. The magnitudes of the associations were similar between confirmed cholera incidence and water service quality (RR 0·84, 95% CI 0·73-0·97), quantity (RR 0·76, 95% CI 0·61-0·94) and continuity (RR 0·75, 95% CI 0·69-0·81). These results suggest that an additional 5 L/user/day or 1.2 hour per day of water production could reduce confirmed cholera by 24% (95% CI 6-39%) and 25% (95% CI 19-31%), respectively. Ensuring a sufficient and continuous piped water supply may substantially reduce the burden of endemic cholera and diarrhoeal diseases but evaluating this rigorously is challenging. Pragmatic strategies are needed for public health research on complex interventions in protracted emergency settings. The trial is registered in ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT02928341. https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02928341.

Impacts of Community Participation on Sustainability of Rural Water Supply Sytems: A Study from District Lahore, Pakistan

The availability and functionality of an improved water supply system among the population are basic human rights and imperative to prevent numerous viral/infectious diseases. The provision of safe drinking water, improved sanitation, and hygiene plays a central role in individual and communal health, but unfortunately, the situation is strikingly poor among nations, especially in developing countries like Pakistan. To understand the existing situation and the impacts of community participation on the sustainability of the water supply system, this study was conducted in the district of Lahore, Pakistan. The prime objective was to find out the participation of the community in planning, execution, operation and maintenance, evaluation process, and the management approaches and techniques with a view of seeing how best community participation level contributed to the sustainability of the water supply program. For this purpose, a simple random sampling procedure was applied to draw the sample from the population. A semi-structured questionnaire was used as a tool for data collection and validated through pilot testing. Results showed that participatory approaches in water supply program planning, execution, operation, maintenance, and evaluation led to community satisfaction and program sustainability.

Analysis of Municipal Water Supply and Drainage Pipe Design Technology

The quality and safety of residents’ water rely heavily on the design of municipal water supply and drainage pipes. Therefore, this paper aims to enhance the optimization of municipal water supply and drainage pipe design by focusing on design requirements, principles, and key elements. Drawing from relevant design optimization experiences, technology advancements, and optimization measures, the research will analyze and consolidate the essential aspects of municipal water supply and drainage pipe design. The goal is to fundamentally elevate the quality standards of these designs, ensuring they meet the criteria for engineering project excellence. Through this comprehensive approach, we aim to contribute to the improvement and sustainability of water supply and drainage systems, safeguarding the well-being of residents.

Assessing the effectiveness of reservoir operation and identifying reallocation opportunities under climate change

Reservoirs are designed and operated to mitigate hydroclimatic variability and extremes to fulfill various beneficial purposes. Existing reservoir infrastructure capacity and operation policies derived from historical records are challenged by hydrologic regime change and storage reduction from sedimentation. Furthermore, climate change could amplify the water footprint of reservoir operation (i.e. non-beneficial evaporative loss), further influencing the complex interactions among hydrologic variability, reservoir characteristics, and operation decisions. Disentangling and quantifying these impacts is essential to assess the effectiveness of reservoir operation under future climate and identify the opportunities for adaptive reservoir management (e.g. storage reallocation). Using reservoirs in Texas as a testing case, this study develops data-driven models to represent the current reservoir operation policies and assesses the challenges and opportunities in flood control and water supply under dynamically downscaled climate projections from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6. We find that current policies are robust in reducing future flood risks by eliminating small floods, reducing peak magnitude, and extending the duration for large floods. Current operation strategies can effectively reduce the risk of storage shortage for many reservoirs investigated, but reservoir evaporation and sedimentation pose urgent needs for revisions in the current guidelines to enhance system resilience. We also identify the opportunities for reservoir storage reallocation through seasonal-varying conservation pool levels to improve water supply reliability with negligible flood risk increase. This study provides a framework for stakeholders to evaluate the effectiveness of the current reservoir operation policy under future climate through the interactions among hydroclimatology, reservoir infrastructure, and operation policy.

Estimation of willingness to pay for improved water supply service: Case of Algerian households

ABSTRACT The purpose of this article is to evaluate the water company in Algeria (ADE) subscribers’ Willingness To Pay (WTP) for a better service offer. This study assessed the WTP for improved drinking water in the department of Souk-Ahras (Algeria), using contingent valuation survey data of 5,342 households, with a response rate of 10.86% (greater than 10% of each municipality's total number of subscribers). Then, Probit and Tobit models were applied to analyze the determinants of WTP. The results show that the majority of respondents (62.84%) testified that they were not satisfied with the quality of the service provided in terms of quantity and quality of the water distributed. This research revealed that the WTP for an improved water supply service was approximately 16.18 Algerian dinar (DZD)/m3 (approximately 0.11 US$/m3) instead of the current tariff (6.3 DZD/m3–0.04 US$ /m3). With this new water tariff, the average water charge for a household is around 1.37% of the average monthly income.

A multi-objective optimization-based framework for extending reservoir service life in a changing world

Reservoirs are an essential component of water resources systems, improving water supply reliability and security. With long-term climate and water demand changes, the performance of reservoirs may deteriorate, necessitating interventions such as infrastructure upgrades and/or water demand management. These interventions often require substantial financial investment, have long implementation time or impede economic development. Therefore, a more cost-effective and less disruptive alternative is needed to extend the service life of existing reservoir systems. Adapting reservoir operation policies to cater for future changes is such an alternative. By adapting reservoir operation policies to future water availability and demand changes, the capacity of existing systems can be fully utilized to avoid or postpone more expensive and disruptive interventions. However, there is a lack of an integrated framework for estimating the potential of service life extension by re-optimizing operation policies to cater to uncertain changes in future conditions. In this study, we develop a multi-objective optimization-based framework to allow operation policies to adapt to uncertain future changes in water availability and demand by optimizing operation policies for a range of plausible future conditions, thus enabling the service life of existing reservoir systems to be maximized albeit uncertainty in future changes. The developed framework is demonstrated using a reservoir system in Northern Australia. Results show that the service life of the reservoir can be extended by up to 40 years considering uncertain future water availability and demand. In addition, significant changes in operation policies and system responses with time are identified, providing valuable information for developing long-term reservoir planning strategies.

Area prioritising criteria during phased conversion from intermittent to continuous water supply: The case study of Lusaka Water Supply and Sanitation Company, Zambia

ABSTRACT Conversion from intermittent to continuous water supply is a recommended approach for improving water supply service to communities. The conversion process is complex and requires huge financial and human resources investments. Because such resources are always limited and cannot be adequately provided at once, phased conversion is encouraged. However, there are challenges with this approach in terms of which areas should be prioritized during the conversion process so that the water supply situation for the unconverted areas is not aggravated. This article uses a questionnaire and semi-structured interviews to identify the criteria for prioritising areas to be converted during phased conversion to continuous water supply from a water utility perspective. The Lusaka Water Supply and Sanitation Company is used as a case study. Results show that the financial sustainability of the utility company is the major criterion for selecting an area to be prioritized. In countries like Zambia where tariff structures are such that industries subsidise domestic water consumption and the affluent subsidise water consumed by the poor, prioritising financial sustainability entails giving priority to areas where high revenues are expected. This is synonymous with giving priority to the affluent or the middle-class areas with high densities of water consumers.

Multi-Objective Synergetic Operation for Cascade Reservoirs in the Upper Yellow River

The Yellow River, a critical water resource, faces challenges stemming from increasing water demand, which has led to detrimental effects on hydropower generation and ecological balance. This paper will address the complex task of balancing the interests of hydropower generation, water supply, and ecology within the context of cascade reservoirs, specifically Longyangxia and Liujiaxia reservoirs. Employing a systemic coupling coordination approach, we constructed a multi-objective synergetic model of the upper Yellow River in order to explore synergies and competitions among multiple objectives. The results reveal that there is a weak competitive relationship between hydropower generation and water supply, a strong synergy between hydropower generation and ecology, and a strong competitive relationship between water supply and ecology. The Pareto solution set analysis indicates a considerable percentage (59%, 20%, and 8% in wet, normal, and dry years, respectively) exhibiting excellent coordination. The probability of excellent coordination decreases with diminishing inflow. The optimization scheme with the highest coupling coordination demonstrates significant improvements in power generation, water supply, and ecological benefits in the upper Yellow River without compromising other objectives, fostering the sustainable operation of hydropower generation, water supply, and ecology in the upper Yellow River.

TiO2-MoS2-PMMA Nanocomposites for an Efficient Water Remediation.

An improvement of water supply and sanitation and better management of water resources, especially in terms of water reuse, is one of the priorities of the European Green Deal. In this context, it is crucial to find new strategies to recycle wastewater efficiently in a low-cost and eco-friendly manner. The immobilization of inorganic nanomaterials on polymeric matrices has been drawing a lot of attention in recent years due to the extraordinary properties characterizing the as-obtained nanocomposites. The hybrid materials, indeed, combine the properties of the polymers, such as flexibility, low cost, mechanical stability, high durability, and ease of availability, with the properties of the inorganic counterpart. In particular, if the inorganic fillers are nanostructured photocatalysts, the materials will be able to utilize the energy delivered by light to catalyze chemical reactions for efficient wastewater treatment. Additionally, with the anchoring of the nanomaterials to the polymers, the dispersion of the nanomaterials in the environment is prevented, thus overcoming one of the main limits that impede the application of nanostructured photocatalysts on a large scale. In this work, we will present nanocomposites made of polymers, i.e., polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), and photocatalytic semiconductors, i.e., TiO2 nanoparticles (Evonik). MoS2 nanoflakes were also added as co-catalysts to improve the photocatalytic performance of the TiO2. The hybrid materials were prepared using the sonication and solution casting method. The nanocomposites were deeply characterized, and their remarkable photocatalytic abilities were evaluated by the degradation of two common water pollutants: methyl orange and diclofenac. The relevance of the obtained results will be discussed, opening the route for the application of these materials in photocatalysis and especially for novel wastewater remediation.

UTILIZATION OF BIM TECHNOLOGIES FOR ENHANCING THE EFFICIENCY OF WATER SUPPLY AND WASTEWATER SYSTEMS DESIGN

Problem statement. The need for the formation and development of human resources in the construction industry of Ukraine to create a competitive sphere that complies with high standards of quality and efficiency, operating based on modern financial, economic, technical, and organizational mechanisms. One method to achieve the goals of innovative development is the modernization of architectural and construction design and engineering networks, particularly through the implementation of Building Information Modeling (BIM) technologies. These technologies enable effective decision-making at all stages of the life cycle of buildings and structures − from the initial idea to the stage of operation and even the dismantling of water supply and wastewater system engineering networks. The purpose of the article − to explore the utilization of BIM technologies to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of designing water supply and wastewater systems Conclusions. The application of BIM technologies in the design of water supply and wastewater systems significantly improves work efficiency. Creating digital models facilitates the interaction of all participants in the construction process and minimizes errors and conflicts during the design phase. The success of modernizing the construction industry became possible through active collaboration of all stakeholders. Public advocacy and participation in addressing industry issues provided a broader perspective on problem-solving. The implementation of BIM technologies allows for the development and improvement of water supply and wastewater system projects, contributing to work optimization and project planning enhancement.

The Incidence and Risk Factors for Enterotoxigenic E. coli Diarrheal Disease in Children under Three Years Old in Lusaka, Zambia.

This study aimed to estimate the incidence and risk factors for Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) diarrhea. This was a prospective cohort study of children recruited in a household census. Children were enrolled if they were 36 months or below. A total of 6828 children were followed up passively for 12 months to detect episodes of ETEC diarrhea. Diarrheal stool samples were tested for ETEC using colony polymerase chain reaction (cPCR). Among the 6828 eligible children enrolled, a total of 1110 presented with at least one episode of diarrhea. The overall incidence of ETEC diarrhea was estimated as 2.47 (95% confidence interval (CI): 2.10-2.92) episodes per 100 child years. Children who were HIV-positive (adjusted Hazard ratio (aHR) = 2.14, 95% CI: 1.14 to 3.99; p = 0.017) and those whose source of drinking water was public tap/borehole/well (aHR = 2.45, 95% CI: 1.48 to 4.06; p < 0.002) were at increased risk of ETEC diarrhea. This study found that children whose mothers have at least senior secondary school education (aHR = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.29 to 0.83; p = 0.008) were at decreased risk of ETEC diarrhea. Our study emphasizes the need for integrated public health strategies focusing on water supply improvement, healthcare for persons living with HIV, and maternal education.