Modeling the in-water concentrations of ammonia if spilled into coastal and marine waters.

Growing water scarcity across the European Union (EU) increases the need for improved water-use efficiency in water-intensive sectors such as recreational facilities. This study evaluates the feasibility of integrating alternative water sources—including rainwater, graywater, and filter backwash water—into swimming pool operations through a comparative analysis of EU legislation and selected national regulatory frameworks. The study is based on a structured desk review of scientific literature, legal documents, and technical standards published between 2010 and 2025, complemented by a qualitative SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis. Previous studies indicate that public swimming pool facilities may consume approximately 20–50 m3 of water per day, highlighting the potential benefits of alternative water supply strategies. However, regulatory fragmentation and the absence of harmonized EU-level quality standards for recreational water reuse remain the main barriers to wider implementation. While Regulation (EU) 2020/741 establishes minimum requirements for reclaimed water reuse in agricultural irrigation, no dedicated framework exists for swimming pool facilities. Among the analyzed options, rainwater harvesting and graywater reuse appear to be the most feasible solutions. Clearer regulatory guidance and risk-management procedures could support the safe adoption of alternative water sources and contribute to improving water-use efficiency in the recreational sector.

Plastic and microplastic (MP) pollution, along with alien species invasion, are of great concern for natural habitat preservation and human health, and are two important and concomitant likely causes for global biodiversity loss. In the present study, a Seabin, a device for buoyant waste collection in calm waters, was used to also characterize the waste collected in northernmost side of Lake Garda (Italy) in a period of very low anthropogenic pressure, the Winter season of 2024–2025. During the survey, 92.6 g of plastic was collected, i.e., a total of 540 pieces. About 6.9 mg of plastic per m3 of water was found, corresponding to about 0.04 plastic items per m3 and approximately 13 pieces of microplastics per day. Fourier-transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy identification showed that the plastic was composed mainly of polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS). Microorganisms (Diatoms, Bacillariophyta) and microcrack formation with deposits of inorganic matter (mainly Si, Al, O, Ca) were also evidenced by SEM/EDX in all the observed aged MP. Qualitative evaluation of the captured biota highlighted the presence of at least five alien species, including invasive Dikerogammarus villosus. This study describes an easy and cost-effective novel methodology for simultaneously monitoring plastic waste and alien species presence in calm waters, which acts also as a mitigation tool for plastic pollution. The results could be of interest not only to policymakers and scientists, but also for public health and for environmental monitoring.

With the rapid adoption of dishwashers in China’s households, the consequent growth in energy and water consumption presents new challenges for energy conservation, emission reduction, and water resource management in China. To address this, this study adopts the concept of the energy–water nexus to analyze the factors influencing dishwasher usage behaviors and quantifies the co-benefits of energy and water conservation through questionnaire surveys, establishing a household dishwasher energy and water accounting model. The findings reveal that dishwasher usage behaviors are influenced by dietary habits—greater oil usage in cooking leads to higher frequency of use and a greater tendency to select intensive wash modes, thereby increasing energy and water consumption. It is projected that by 2030, promoting energy-efficient dishwashers could achieve annual savings of approximately 390 million kWh of electricity and 4 million m3 of water. Furthermore, shifts in dietary habits offer significant potential for achieving co-benefits in energy and water conservation. Encouraging households to adopt low-oil cooking practices could yield additional annual savings of 5.14 billion kWh of electricity and 9.57 million m3 of water. Based on these results, this paper puts forward policy recommendations to facilitate the coordinated management of household energy and water conservation.

The environmental impact of surgical instruments and procedures is attracting increasing attention. Single-use instruments are gaining adoption across various healthcare settings, including in orthopaedic surgery, because of their convenience and immediate availability. However, the replacement of reusable instruments, whether kept in stock (RI-S) or procured on loan (RI-L), with single-use instruments has raised obvious ecologic concerns, such as waste management, greenhouse gas emissions, and resource depletion. Our study aimed (1) to assess the environmental impact (as estimated by acidification, climate change, freshwater eutrophication, water depletion, and resource depletion) of both single-use instruments and RI-S or RI-L employed in TKA procedures and (2) to identify whether one option is more ecologically sustainable (as determined by a life cycle assessment [LCA]). A comprehensive LCA was conducted according to ISO 14040/44 guidelines to calculate the environmental impact of single-use instruments and reusable instruments by considering raw material extraction, manufacturing, distribution, reprocessing (where applicable), and end-of-life waste management. Data were collected both from a 5-year retrospective audit of the manufacturer and from our hospital's sterile facility. Reusable instruments were assessed under two scenarios: RI-S and RI-L. To determine which option was more ecologically sustainable, environmental impacts were quantified using the LCA software GaBi 6 TS and the LCA database Ecoinvent 3.5 and analyzed according to the International Reference Life Cycle Data System. Our analysis of environmental impacts indicates that, per procedure, RI-S, RI-L, and single-use instruments were associated with 44.3, 66.5, and 62.9 kg CO 2 equivalent (eq), respectively. Single-use instruments had the lowest contribution to water depletion (6.3·10 -1 m 3 eq), while RI-S and RI-L accounted for 2.1 and 3 m 3 eq, respectively. Finally, regarding resource depletion, RI-S, RI-L, and single-use instruments corresponded to 5.2·10 -3 , 7.7·10 -3 , and 2.2·10 -3 kg Sb eq, respectively. The environmental impact of single-use instruments was mainly attributed to raw material production, which contributed to 73% of its carbon footprint and 64% of its total resource depletion impact. On the other hand, for reusable instruments, the sterilization phase was a major contributor to water depletion, accounting for 71% in RI-S and 80% in RI-L, as well as for carbon footprint, where it accounted for 35% in RI-S and 38% in RI-L. No single scenario outperformed across all environmental categories, with RI-L being the least favorable option. Both single-use instruments and RI-S involved tradeoffs. In comparison to RI-S, single-use instruments generated an additional 18.6 kg CO 2 eq per procedure, which is equivalent to an 85-km trip with a fuel-powered car, but saved 1.5 m 3 of water (corresponding to eight bathtubs). Our analysis suggests that the RI-L should be avoided and that certain compromises should be made, whether utilizing RI-S or single-use instruments, because the environmental impact must be considered as a whole by looking at all impact categories. One approach would be to reduce the number of items in reusable instrument trays through patient-specific surgical planning. The other would be to use single-use instruments while trying to minimize other disposable consumables. Given the high volume of orthopaedic surgeries, surgeons can contribute to environment protection by implementing greener practices. Strategies include using bespoke reusable instrument trays containing only the essential items for each procedure or employing single-use instruments while limiting other disposable consumables.

Simultaneous access to electricity and drinking water remains a major challenge in rural areas of Benin. This work proposes the design of an integrated system combining solar and hydropower to effectively meet the energy and water needs of a typical community of 10,000 inhabitants. The methodology adopted is based on needs assessment, equipment sizing (solar panels, pump, tank, turbine, and alternator), and a techno-economic feasibility study. The results obtained demonstrate the feasibility of a system capable of producing an average of 1,976.98 kWh per day and supplying 2,668.88 m³ of water, thus guaranteeing energy and water self-sufficiency for rural populations. This innovative solution highlights the importance of an integrated approach to address the challenges of the energy transition and universal access to basic services in Benin.

ABSTRACT Assessing irrigation needs for agriculture is key for reducing water resources. This study evaluated requirements for corn and soybean in Togo's Kara Agropolis, tackling climate change and water scarcity via remote sensing and spatial analysis of evapotranspiration (ETc), effective rainfall, and soil water capacity. Findings from 2021 to 2023 indicate that the water requirements for both crops were met despite a decline in water availability. Projections based on the ACCESS-CM2 model under the SSP-4.5 scenario predict substantial increases in irrigation: corn will require 400,000 m³ of water by 2030 and 1,000,000 m³ by 2050; soybean needs will increase from 75,000 m³ in 2030 to nearly 200,000 m³ by 2050. Additionally, 6,843 hectares may become unsuitable for rainfed corn by 2030, increasing to 7,162 hectares by 2050. These results underscore the need for improved water resource management to sustain agricultural productivity.

Bioinspired polyethylene/boron nitride woven mesh integrating heterogeneous wettability and radiation cooling for water recycling of cooling tower.

The high urbanization rate of Ternate Island, a small volcanic island located in North Maluku Province, Indonesia, has dramatically changed the land-use patterns of the island in the last twenty years. This paper will analyze how these changes, especially forest land and agricultural land being transformed into built-up spaces, affect the recharge capacity of the groundwater and the sustainability of the water resources in general. On the basis of multi-temporal satellite images (Landsat 7 and 8 of 2009-2023), GIS-based spatial analysis, hydrological modeling, and SWOT analysis, the study indicates that the areas under built-up hindrances grew by 943.3 ha in 2009 to over 2,000 ha in 2023, whereas forest cover refers to the decline of about 24 percent. Although the slopes of Mount Gamalama have fairly high potential for natural infiltration, the rising impervious surfaces have decreased the effective groundwater recharge and the risk of flooding during heavy rainfall. Despite having registered a surplus of 38.9 million m3 of water in 2018, the current plans to keep converting land unless the situation is controlled pose a threat to long-term water security. The proposed study is an integrated management framework that incorporates the concept of green infrastructure (retention ponds, biopores), mandatory green open space regulations, and reforestation targets, as well as digital monitoring systems. Contrary to earlier studies wherein the majority of the research concentrated on mainland or larger islands, this study is the first to carry out a comprehensive spatial-hydrological evaluation with specific reference to small volcanic islands with high levels of demographic pressure within eastern Indonesia that can be transferred to other island-like situations of the world.

<span>This study integrates Linear Programming (LP) and Geographic Information System (GIS) to optimize land and water resource utilization in Indonesian rural areas. The proposed multi-period LP model aims to maximize farmers’ net profit under land, water, and labor constraints, where decision variables represent the land area (in tumbak) allocated to each crop per period. Conducted in three agricultural villages of Garut Regency with 60 farmer respondents selected through stratified sampling, the model was solved using Excel Solver and spatially visualized through GIS. Results show an optimal cultivated area of 453.202 tumbak, utilizing 16,412.49 m³ of water and 5,319.098 man-days of labor, producing Rp 2,078,047,500 in gross revenue and Rp 26,493,556 in net profit. Land-use efficiency improved by 64.8% from baseline conditions, with land as the main binding constraint. The model offers a practical decision-support tool for policymakers to plan crop rotation, irrigation scheduling, and sustainable land-use strategies.</span>

Abstract Background and Aims Hemodialysis relies heavily on water and energy resources, making sustainability a critical consideration. As global concerns about environmental impact grow, strategies to minimize resource use while maintaining clinical outcomes are essential. Standardized protocols that combine sustainability and clinical effectiveness are key to advancing quality management in dialysis. While a dialysate flow of 500 mL/min has been the standard for decades, modern dialyzers suggest higher flows offer limited benefits. Adapted Flow technology adjusts dialysate flow proportionally to blood flow, aiming to optimize resource use without compromising dialysis efficiency. This study evaluates whether implementing an Adapted Flow protocol influenced dialysis adequacy, measured by Kt/V, and water consumption in Brazil. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted in dialysis clinics operated by a single organization across all regions of Brazil. Clinics were included if they exclusively used machines with Adapted Flow and had been part of the network for at least 90 days by October 2023. The protocol, disseminated in July 2024 and fully implemented by September 2024, emphasizes maintaining a Kt/V target of ≥1.3 while reducing resource consumption. It standardizes Adapted Flow with a fixed 1.2× ratio to optimize dialysate delivery and outlines steps to improve Kt/V when below target, including adjustments to blood flow, session duration, dialyzer selection, and vascular access assessment. If these measures are insufficient, a multidisciplinary review is recommended rather than increasing dialysate flow. Kt/V data were collected for Q4 2023 (pre-implementation) and Q4 2024 (post-implementation). Weighted and simple averages, medians, and ranges of Kt/V were calculated, and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test was applied to assess differences. Water consumption data, when available, were compared between quarters using descriptive statistics and percentage changes. Analyses were performed using Python (version 3.9). Results Fifty-two dialysis clinics met the inclusion criteria, distributed across Brazil's five regions: 4 in the north, 6 in the northeast, 7 in the central-west, 28 in the southeast, and 7 in the south. Among 28 clinics with available data, water consumption decreased from 97,041 m³ in Q4 2023 to 82,458 m³ in Q4 2024, reflecting an 11% reduction and saving 14,583 m³ of water. During the same periods, dialysis sessions increased from 250,485 in 2023 to 255,960 in 2024. The total Kt/V values analyzed were 22,322 in 2023 and 22,679 in 2024. The weighted mean Kt/V was 1.79 in Q4 2023 and 1.77 in Q4 2024. Median Kt/V values were 1.63 and 1.66, respectively. No statistically significant differences were observed in Kt/V between the periods (P = 0.354). Conclusions The observed reduction in water consumption, despite an increase in dialysis sessions, supports the successful implementation of the Adapted Flow protocol across multiple clinics. Dialysis adequacy, as measured by Kt/V, remained stable, suggesting resource optimization can be pursued without compromising patient care. These findings highlight the potential for dialysis services to align clinical outcomes with environmental sustainability, emphasizing the value of standardized protocols in advancing quality management and ecological responsibility. Further studies are needed to explore long-term impacts on clinical and sustainability outcomes.

Historically, multistage flash distillation (MSF) ledpotable waterproduction. By 2019, emerging technologies largely replaced MSF; however,it remains attractive for its energy and exergetic efficiency dueto its reliance on low-temperature heat sources, especially when cogenerationis involved. In contrast, the sugar-energy industry consumes around0.7 m3 of water per metric ton of sugar cane processed.Rising environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) concernshave intensified efforts to reduce water use. Accordingly, this studyidentified an optimal configuration for integrating a once-throughMSF (MSF-OT) system with a sugar cane processing facility. The proposedsystem recovers water from vinasse, a byproduct of ethanol production,by using steam generated during the sugar cane juice concentrationprocess as its energy source. The process was modeled in MATLAB usingdata from a Brazilian plant, and optimization was performed with agenetic algorithm targeting exergy efficiency, total heat exchangearea, and thermal performance ratio. The Order Preference by Similarityto Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method subsequently selected the best alternativefrom the Pareto Front. Results indicated that 58 flashing stages anda terminal temperature drop in the condenser of the first stage of4.3 °C are the optimal configuration, producing 50,080 m3 of distilled water per harvest.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination of drinking water is now a critical environmental and public health concern. Conventional water treatment is ineffective, prompting investment in solutions like granular activated carbon, ion exchange, membrane filtration, foam-fractionation and electrochemical oxidation. However, selecting appropriate technologies involves trade-offs among performance, resource use and environmental impact criteria. Our analysis aims to offer new insights into the climate impacts per gram of PFAS removed and the annual capital and operational costs per volume water treated. We also highlight critical limitations of environmental assessment of PFAS treatments, particularly regarding toxicity-related impacts, that have not kept pace with developments in life cycle assessment methodology. Our analysis synthesizes data from 17 disparate publications on PFAS treatment technologies. Emissions from innovative treatments vary widely, with climate impacts ranging from 0.1 to 70 190 kg CO 2 eq. per gram of PFAS depending on raw water PFAS concentrations. The economic analysis showed that operational costs span from $0.03/m³ to $28/m³, while capital expenditures range from $0.01 to $0.51/m³ of water treated and exhibit some economies of scale. This work also underscores the importance of using life cycle assessment and life cycle costing approaches to comprehensively evaluate PFAS removal technologies.

The main objective of this study was to assess theimpact of a commercial probiotic as a water additive on the survival, growth performance, and water quality of C. catla. A field trial was conducted for 66 days. About 360 C. catla fry (0.25 ± 0.01 g) were distributed randomly among 12 quadruplicate-designed cemented tanks, each containing 30 healthy fish in 0.15 m3 of water. Control tanks were not treatedwith probiotics while the treatment tanks received 0.012 g m-2 week-1 and 0.03 g m-2 week-1 of the probiotic. Principal Component Analysis was carried out to identify key water quality factors. One-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s test was used to compare statistical differences. The results showed that adding probiotics significantly decreased ammonia concentration (p < 0.05). No significant differences were found in water temperature, total dissolved solids, pH, and electrical conductivity between treatments and control. The fish in tanks treated with probiotics showed a substantial increase in survival rate (p < 0.05), with the highest value of 92 ± 1.5%.The survival of C. catla fry was enhanced when a high dosage of 0.03 g m-2 week-1 was administered. Despite the positive impact on survival, probiotic treatment did not influence the overall growth performance.

The Altay oasis, located at the heart of the transnational ecological conservation zone shared by China, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Mongolia, is a region with tremendous potential for water resource utilization. However, with the continued expansion of agriculture, its ecological vulnerability has become increasingly pronounced. Within this fragile balance lies a critical opportunity: efficient water resource management could pave the way for sustainable development across the entire arid oasis regions. This study uses a decision tree model based on a feature threshold to map the spatial distribution of major crops in the Altay Prefecture oasis, assess their water requirements, and identify the coupling relationships between agricultural water and land resources. Furthermore, it proposed optimization planting structure strategies under three scenarios: water-saving irrigation, cash crop orientation, and forage crop orientation. In 2023, the total planting area of major crops in Altay Prefecture was 3368 km2, including spring wheat, spring maize, sunflower, and alfalfa, which consumed 2.68 × 109 m3 of water. Although this area accounted for only 2.85% of the land, it consumed 26.23% of regional water resources, with agricultural water use comprising as much as 82.5% of total consumption, highlighting inefficient agricultural water use as a critical barrier to sustainable agricultural development. Micro-irrigation technologies demonstrate significant water-saving potential. The adoption of such technologies could reduce water consumption by 14.5%, thereby significantly enhancing agricultural water-use efficiency. Cropping structure optimization analysis indicates that sunflower-based planting patterns offer notable water-saving benefits. Increasing the area of sunflower cultivation by one unit can unlock a water-saving potential of 25.91%. Forage crop combinations excluding soybean can increase livestock production by 30.2% under the same level of water consumption, demonstrating their superior effectiveness for livestock system expansion. This study provides valuable insights for achieving sustainable agricultural development in arid regions under different development scenarios.

This study focuses on designing a solar-powered water-pumping system. All system components have been theoretically pre-selected, including a design explanation and practical designs created using PVsyst and SolidWorks to ensure the effective construction of the water pumping system. The specific pumping requirements necessitated 4 kW of energy, which is provided by 21 solar panels of 200W each (totaling 4.2 kWp). The system is designed to pump 40 m3 of water from a depth of 160 meters each day. The selected components include a submersible pump (PS4000 C-SJ8-15) and a controller (PS4000) intended for a tilt angle of 30 degrees. The study also examined various technologies and found negligible differences in energy assessments (only +0.0035%), which validated the alignment in component selection. It concluded that solar-powered systems are economically viable and operate with a commendable efficiency of 32.5% (system efficiency). The conclusion of the findings, however, was a favorable view of the potential of solar energy as a viable alternative to fossil fuels in Syria. The case study of the solar water pumping system from Syria proves the technical feasibility and high potential of solar irrigation in Syria. The study ended on a positive note regarding the future of solar energy in Syria as a viable alternative to conventional energy sources.

Abstract This study applied stable water isotopes (δ18OH2O and δ2HH2O) and remote sensing techniques to predict basin‐wide CO2 uptake in the tropical Deduru Oya River Basin (DOB) in Sri Lanka. It used the fact that water and carbon cycles are linked by transpiration. Between November 2022 and October 2023, the DOB lost 2,563 million m3 of water by evapotranspiration (ET). This number corresponds to 65.8% of the 3,895 million m3 of incoming precipitation. Based on the δ18OH2O in a revised Craig–Gordon model and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), our data showed that ET could be separated into its subcomponents evaporation (E), transpiration (T), and interception (I) with 10.4%, 53.9%, and 1.5% of the annual precipitation, respectively. After translation to carbon uptake via the water use efficiency (WUE), the DOB showed a net primary productivity (NPP) of 1,130 g C m−2 that corresponded to 2,808 × 109 g C for the entire basin. After subsequent subtraction of basin‐wide soil respiration (1,737 × 109 g C) and surface water degassing (101 × 109 g C) back to the atmosphere, our study yielded a net ecosystem production (NEP) of 979 ± 313 × 109 g C for the entire basin. These result indicate that the DOB is a carbon sink. Our study is the first to present this technique together with error propagation and with CO2 evasions from surface waters.

In this study, it will be calculated how much water evaporation will be prevented if a Floating Solar Power Plant (FSPP) is installed on a certain part of the Keban Dam lake in Elazığ (38.41˚N, 39.14˚E), Türkiye by using the Penman and Linacre methods and the Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) method, which are widely used in evaporation calculation. Thus, it will be calculated how much energy can be produced with this saved water. Keban Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP), examined in this study, is Türkiye's 3rd largest hydroelectric power plant with an installed power of 1.330 MWe. It is the fourth largest lake in Türkiye and the second largest dam lake after the Atatürk Dam. Keban Dam meets the electrical energy needs of 1.750.733 people in their daily lives with an average electricity production of 5.794.927,279 kWh. It has been calculated that thanks to a floating photovoltaic power plant that will cover 10% of the dam lake, a total of 31.305.282 m3 of water in normal water code will be prevented from evaporating annually, and thanks to this water, energy benefit will be provided with the power plant with an installed power of 6.624,84 MWe. In addition, it has been analyzed that 11.297.018 kWh of electricity can be produced from the dam turbines with the water prevented from evaporating thanks to FSPP. Approximately 72.39 MWe energy is needed for the Ağın, Pertek, Serince, Palu-Kovancılar, Uluova, Kuzova irrigation projects around the Keban Dam lake. It has been determined that the amount of water and energy needed for irrigation of these plains can be obtained thanks to FSPP.

In accordance with Article 131 of the Water Code of Ukraine, the territory of our country is divided into nine river basins: Dnipro, Dnister, Dunaju, Pіvdennogo Bugu, Donu, Vіsly, Prichornomor’ja, Priazov’ja and Crimea. There are 12 water management areas within the Dnister River basin. The aim of the study is to compare the volume and structure of water use in all water management plots of the Dnister basin. The study of the structure of water use in the water management plots of the Dnister River basin is extremely relevant in the context of the current challenges of sustainable water management. The Dnister basin covers the territory of several regions of Ukraine and part of Moldova, providing water to millions of people and numerous industrial, agricultural and energy facilities. Growing anthropogenic pressure, climate change, degradation of aquatic ecosystems and declining water quality require a rethinking of approaches to water resources planning and use. Structural analysis of water use allows identifying the dominant sectors of water consumption, assessing the efficiency of water intake, wastewater disposal and water treatment, and identifying potential risks and conflicts between water users. This is especially important for the implementation of integrated water resources management, as required by the EU Water Framework Directive and national legislation of Ukraine. The article presents a comparative analysis of the structure of water use in the Dnister River basin in 2023. It was found that the largest volumes of water intake and use of fresh water are observed within the water management plot from the mouth of the Byk River to the mouth of the Dnister River (within Ukraine). The structure of water use in the water management plots of the Dnister basin is dominated by the use of water for industrial, drinking and sanitary needs. In the Dnister River basin, about 60% of wastewater is treated at wastewater treatment plants. This indicator is highest in the water management plots of the Seret and Bystrytsia rivers. In 2023, the volume of recycled water use in the Dnister River basin was about 2.5 million m3 of water. So, according to the results of a comparative analysis of the structure of water use of water management areas of the Dniester basin, it was found that the territory of the water management area from the mouth of the Byk River to the mouth of the Dniester River (within Ukraine) prevails in terms of water intake from natural water bodies (M5.2.0.11). This same area is characterized by the largest volumes of fresh water use. The highest volume of total water drainage in 2023 was recorded within the water management area from the source to the mouth of the Stryi River (M5.2.0.01). In the structure of water use of water management areas of the Dniester basin, the use of water for production, drinking and sanitary and hygienic needs prevails. In the Dniester River basin, about 60% of return (waste) waters are treated at treatment facilities. This indicator is highest in the water management areas of the Seret and Bystrytsia rivers (88-99%, respectively). The lowest wastewater treatment index, and accordingly high volumes of polluted wastewater discharge, are recorded in the water management areas of the Dniester estuary and from the mouth of the Hnyla Lypa river to the mouth of the Seret river (including the Hnyla Lypa river and excluding the Bystrytsia and Seret rivers) (M5.2.0.04). Key words: Dnister River, riverbasin, waterintake, wastewater, water purification.

To evaluate the water replenishment effect of ecological sluices in the Tarim River’s mainstream and the water demand for ecological restoration, this study focused on the area controlled by a typical sluice group in the middle reaches. Using Landsat imagery (2000–2020) and the Penman-Monteith method, we quantified the spatiotemporal evolution of vegetation water consumption and ecological water demand, proposing corresponding sluice operation strategies. The results show: (1) From 2000 to 2020, natural vegetation consumed 1.62 × 108 m3 of water on average, increasing by 0.1 × 108 m3 per 5 years. Woodland and grassland expanded by 67.18 km2 per 5 years, demonstrating effective ecological restoration. (2) Vegetation water consumption varied spatiotemporally, peaking near sluice-fed branch canals and declining with distance from the river. The highest consumption occurred in 2015, concentrated in mid-growth periods. (3) Ecological water demands were: 1.76 × 108 m3 (maintaining 2020 conditions), 1.62 × 108 m3 (2000–2020 average), and 2.01 × 108 m3 (optimal 2015 level). By linking sluice impacts to vegetation water use and quantifying restoration needs, this study provides a scientific basis for water management and ecological regulation.