Water Supply Management Research Articles

Reactivation of public–private partnership (PPP) models for rural water supplies in Rwanda: strengthening operation and maintenance systems

ABSTRACT The responsibility for operation and maintenance (O&M) in rural piped water supply systems in Rwanda has been transferred from the community to private operators (POs) during 2004. However, water supply services were suspended in many cases because of a lack of proper rehabilitation and regular maintenance due to technical and institutional capacity gaps of POs and other key stakeholders. As countermeasures, this project used the following six approaches: elaborating the O&M framework including the adoption of a licensing system for POs, establishing a drinking water quality monitoring framework, developing stakeholder capacity, developing inventory data and facility mapping, strengthening data management systems, and installing the necessary equipment for water supply management. As a result, the annual downtime of water supply services in the model districts was reduced by 41%. The result was inferred to be mainly related to the establishment of a licensing system for POs, improved reporting mechanism and royalty payment strategy, dedicated bank accounts for water, and the development of an asset inventory. To reactivate the public–private partnership models, it was important to identify specific issues from the national guidelines and contents of the contract between asset owners and POs to activities in the field and to work on improving them realistically.

Can Agricultural Managed Aquifer Recharge (Ag‐MAR) Recover Return Flows Under Prior Appropriation in a Warming Climate?

AbstractGroundwater return flow to streams is important for maintaining aquatic habitat and providing water to downstream users, particularly in irrigated watersheds experiencing water scarcity. However, in many agricultural regions, increased irrigation efficiency has reduced return flows and their subsequent in‐stream benefits. Agricultural managed aquifer recharge (Ag‐MAR)—where artificial recharge is conducted via irrigation canals and agricultural fields—may be a tool to recover these return flows, but implementation is challenged by water supply and water management. Using climate‐driven streamflow simulations, an integrated operations‐hydrology model, and a regional groundwater model, we investigated the potential for Ag‐MAR to recover return flows in the Henrys Fork Snake River, Idaho (USA). We simulated potential Ag‐MAR operations for water years 2023–2052, accounting for both future water supply conditions and local water management rules. We determined that Ag‐MAR operations reduced springtime peak flow at the watershed outlet by 10%–14% after accounting for return flows. Recharge contribution to streamflow peaked in July and November, increasing July–August streamflow by 6%–14% and November–March streamflow by 9%–14%. Furthermore, sites where Ag‐MAR was conducted incidental to flood irrigation had more water available for recharge, compared to sites requiring recharge rights, which are junior in priority to agricultural rights. Mean annual recharge volume for the incidental recharge sites averaged 12% of annual natural streamflow, ranged from 269 to 335 Mm3, and was largely available in April and October. We demonstrate Ag‐MAR can effectively recover groundwater return flows when applied as flood irrigation on agricultural land with senior‐priority water rights.

Impact of irrigation systems on water saving and yield of greenhouse and open field cucumber production in Saudi Arabia

Water resources worldwide are limited, especially in desert areas like Saudi Arabia. Therefore, the rational and sustainable management of irrigation water supply is an imperative requirement. This research aimed to assess how different irrigation systems, such as partial root-zone drying (PRD) and regulated deficit irrigation (RDI), would affect the growth of cucumber crops. The study specifically focused on comparing the impact of these irrigation techniques when implemented with surface (S) and subsurface (SB) drip irrigation methods. The research was conducted in both controlled environments and open-field settings in central Saudi Arabia. Additionally, the study aimed to promote the adoption of RDI and PRD irrigation systems among Saudi farmers as a means to conserve essential irrigation water resources. The treatments consisted of two groups: the drip irrigation group with a single line (RDI), which includes full irrigation and deficit irrigation, and the group with the (PRD) for the root zone with two lines with the same irrigation ratios as the first group. The productivity of the RDI-S regular drip irrigation treatment was considered 100 % as the control on which the results of all treatments are measured. The results showed that in terms of irrigation technique, the PRD-SB technique had the highest productivity during the winter season in a greenhouse, with an average of 13.8 kg m−2 for all irrigation levels, while the RDI-SB technique had the highest productivity during the summer season, with an average of 16.1 kg m−2. Regarding irrigation level results, the study showed that an irrigation level of 100 % is the highest yield in all irrigation techniques, with a general average of 14.9 kg m−2 for all irrigation techniques during the winter season and 16.4 kg m−2 during the summer. The study showed that irrigation with the PRD-SB system was the most productive in the open field at all irrigation levels, with an average of 7.3 kg m−2. It could be concluded that using PRD and RDI systems for indoor and outdoor cucumber production can save irrigation water in arid regions.

Combining wavelet-enhanced feature selection and deep learning techniques for multi-step forecasting of urban water demand

Abstract Urban water demand (UWD) forecasting is essential for water supply network optimization and management, both in business-as-usual scenarios, as well as under external climate and socio-economic stressors. Different machine learning and deep learning models have shown promising forecasting skills in various areas of application. However, their potential to forecast multi-step ahead UWD has not been fully explored. Modelling uncertain UWD patterns and accounting for variations in water demand behaviors require techniques that can extract time-varying information and multi-scale changes. In this research, we comparatively investigate different state-of-the-art machine learning- and deep learning-based predictive models on 1-day- and 7-day-ahead UWD forecasting, using daily demand data from the city of Milan, Italy. The contribution of this paper is two-fold. First, we compare the forecasting performance of different machine learning and deep learning models on single- and multi-step daily UWD forecasting. These models include Artificial Neural Network (ANN), Support Vector Regression (SVR), Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM), and Long Short-Term Memory network with and without an attention mechanism (LSTM and AM-LSTM). We benchmark their prediction accuracy against autoregressive time series models. Second, we investigate the potential enhancement in predictive accuracy by incorporating the wavelet transform and feature selection performed by LightGBM into these models. Results show that, overall, wavelet-enhanced feature selection improves the model predictive performance. The hybrid model combining wavelet-enhanced feature selection via LightGBM with LSTM (WT-LightGBM-(AM)-LSTM) can achieve high levels of accuracy with Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency larger than 0.95 and Kling–Gupta Efficiency higher than 0.93 for both 1-day- and 7-day-ahead UWD forecasts. Furthermore, performance is shown to be robust under the influence of external stressors causing sudden changes in UWD.

Implementation of an intelligent drinking water supply system using GIS mapping and smart metering for reliable water supply management

ABSTRACT The demand for water resources has increased due to population growth and the effects of cyclical droughts on irrigated agriculture. Due to these current circumstances, there is an imbalance between the limited supply of water and the rising demand for water. According to this perspective, accurate data on the spatial and temporal patterns of stockholder water demand can only be obtained through effective water planning and management. Geographic information system (GIS) mapping and smart metering are being used to implement intelligent water supply systems for dependable water supply management. In water supply systems, GIS models aid in data comprehension, analysis, and querying using advanced technologies that can significantly enhance work in the field of urban planning.

Basic Sanitation Management at Ibnu Cholil Islamic Boarding School in Bangkalan Regency

Basic sanitation is critical to achieving health as it plays a major role in preventing the spread of disease. The benefits of basic sanitation management include the prevention of diseases such as diarrhea, dengue, and typhoid. The purpose of this study was to determine the management of basic sanitation which includes the provision of clean water, waste management, provision of healthy latrines, and provision of sewerage in Ibn Cholil Islamic Boarding School, Bangkalan Regency. The type of research used is descriptive with a qualitative approach. Research instruments were interviews and observation checklists with POAC assessment criteria (planning, organizing, actuanting, and controlling). The research variables were the provision of clean water, waste management, provision of healthy latrines, provision of sewerage. The results of the research on basic sanitation management of clean water supply in male dormitories (71%) are in the good category and in female dormitories (62%) are in the sufficient category. Waste management in male dormitories (52%) and in female dormitories (56%) is included in the sufficient category. The provision of healthy latrines in male dormitories (68%) and in female dormitories (73%) is categorized as good. The condition of sewerage in male dormitories (10%) and in female dormitories (24%) is categorized as insufficient. The conclusion of this study shows that the implementation of basic sanitation management management in Ibn Cholil Islamic boarding school, Bangkalan Regency is in the moderate category. It is necessary to educate about basic sanitation management and direct monitoring from the health center. INDEX TERMS Basic Sanitation, Management, Boarding School.

Drought, water management, and agricultural livelihoods: Understanding human-ecological system management and livelihood strategies of farmer's in rural California

Mitigating impact between agricultural livelihoods and water conservation efforts in the face of significant drought requires a sophisticated understanding of policy efforts enacted to manage water supply and the logic of human livelihood decision-making. This case study extends literature on human-water decision-making in agricultural areas by using a political ecology framework to understand how and why farmers facing significant water shortages make livelihood decisions, and how such decisions are affected by broader socio-political contexts. Specifically, we focus on farmers' livelihood strategies in the Central San Joaquin Valley of California. Here, the effects of extreme and persistent drought have resulted in a resource management governance structure that forces farmer decision-making within the narrow bounds of the newly emerging California water policy. We argue that government public policy intervention has created a potential system of “big winners and big losers,” leading to three divergent strategies farmers adopt: Nimbility, Abandonment, and Policy Engagement. These findings raise questions about how policy interventions shape livelihood strategies of farmers in the Tulare Lake Basin and by extension other areas where public policy intervention is emerging to respond to decreased water supply resources.

MODELLING DOMESTIC WATER DEMAND IN MALAYSIA TO IDENTIFY INFLUENCING FACTORS: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

Water crises are often experienced by many developing countries worldwide. Predicting future domestic water demand and identifying the influential factors are vital to managing water supply effectively. This study aims to determine the best predictive models among Multiple Linear Regression (MLR), Multi-layer Perceptron (MLP), and Radial Basis Function (RBF) Neural Networks as well as to identify the significant influential factors towards domestic water demand. Based on the yearly records from 2000 to 2018 obtained from the Malaysian Water Association, the Department of Environment, and the Department of Statistics Malaysia the analysis results indicate an increasing pattern of domestic water in Malaysia with the demand for non-domestic water twice lower than domestic water. Based on RMSE and R-squared, Multi-layer Perceptron is the best model for predicting domestic water demand. The MLR model shows that the two most significant influential factors towards domestic water demand are price and design capacity, with negative and positive relationships. The results describe that an increase in price affects a decrease in water demand, while an increase in design capacity will reduce the water demand. The findings suggest that the water utilities in Malaysia should focus more on these identified factors.

Environmental management of the water supply of Cidade Universitária Prof. José da Silveira Netto (UFPA) and implementation model for granting water use

This study was carried out in the Prof. José da Silveira Netto University City, on the campus of the Federal University of Pará (UFPA), on the evaluation of the environmental management of water supply and the normative status of models for granting the right to use water resources in the administrative body, the State Secretariat for the Environment and Sustainable Development (SEMAS/PA). The aim of the study is to propose necessary procedures for implementing a project to support good environmental management of urban sanitation systems, based on SEMAS/PA Normative Instruction no. 3 of March 26, 2014. The methodology was developed through documentary/bibliographical research and visits to the competent bodies (SEMAS/PA, CPRM and FEMAC) and technical visits to the sectors of the university city. The studies show that the process of environmental management of water resources and the model for granting water rights need to be improved from the outset. The water resource use on the campus of the Federal University of Pará should meet this requirement and comply with the applicable regulations and any technical conditions proposed by the competent environmental protection agency.

Water Supply Management Through an Innovative Dashboard Solution

The increased public awareness and stronger restrictions have led to a rising recognition of the significance of advanced technology, especially Geographic Information Systems (GIS), in the management of water resources. The use of GIS in water management is highlighted in this work, with particular attention paid to pollution control, hydrologic modelling, and analytical water supply systems. Furthermore, by combining six conditioning factors and applying vulnerability analysis and logistic regression, it offers a novel approach to leak detection in water distribution networks (WDNs). In order to support preventive maintenance and resource allocation, the model predicts vulnerable locations properly. It is also suggested to use machine learning algorithms to optimise turbine maintenance schedules as part of a predictive maintenance framework for hydroelectric power facilities. High accuracy rates are attained by the framework, which finds important variables for maintenance prediction. These methods provide useful instruments for effective management of water resources overall.

A physical-based semi-distributed continuous hydrological modelling for Brahmani River Basin, Eastern India

ABSTRACT This paper describes a case study of continuous hydrologic modeling in the Brahmani River basin in India using the Hydrologic Engineering Center—Hydrologic Modeling System (HEC–HMS). The soil moisture algorithm (SMA) was employed as loss method for continuous simulations in the thirteen sub-basins. The sensitivity analysis showed that soil storage, tension storage and soil percolation are most sensitive parameters. The model performance was assessed for calibration period of 15 years (1990–2004) and validation period of 12 years (2005–2016), using statistical and visual evaluation techniques. During the calibration period, the observed and simulated values showed a good fit, with R2 ranging from 0.67 to 0.74, NSE from 0.66 to 0.72, and PBIAS from −8.5 to −9.5%. Similar performances are obtained during the validation period, with R2 ranging from 0.62 to 0.70, NSE from 0.60 to 0.68, and PBIAS from −2.5 to 21.4%. The results of the SMA procedure employed in the HEC-HMS model give valuable information for flood control and water supply management in the Brahmani Basin and similar other regions in Eastern India.

Sustainable dynamic planning and policy implementation for water, energy and food resources

The current investigation focuses on analyzing dynamic approaches to sustainable water resource management policies, considering the interconnectedness of water, food and energy resources. This analysis takes into consideration changes in demand resulting from population growth and economic development over a twenty-year timeframe, employing a systems dynamics methodology. Initially, the model was developed and simulated using data from the case province as a macro-scale representation of the water-food-energy resource framework, while also factoring in the continuation of current conditions. Through sensitivity analysis utilizing the Monte Carlo model, the study addresses the formulation of sustainable water resource policies across four main categories: water demand management, water supply management, food resource management, and energy resource demand management. Additionally, it explores the integration of policies within an optimal framework. The simulation of proposed solutions revealed that a combination of water demand management and food resource management yielded the most promising outcome. Specifically, the recommended solution entails enhancing water irrigation efficiency by 17 % through the expansion of pressurized irrigation network coverage, adjusting cropping patterns by 12 %, reducing agricultural product losses by 7 % via improved food supply management, minimizing food demand by 7 % due to reduced food consumption losses, and achieving an annual 8 % increase in crop performance. These selected policies form the foundation for sustainable water resource management strategies.

Tortuosity Engineering of Water Channels to Customized Water Supply for Enhancing Hydrogel Solar Evaporation.

Hydrogel as a solar evaporator shows great potential in freshwater production. However, hydrogels often lead to an imbalance between solar energy input and water supply management due to their excessively high saturated water content. Thus, achieving a stable water-energy-balance in hydrogel evaporators remains challenging. Here, by tortuosity engineering designed water transport channels, a seamless high-tortuosity/low-tortuosity/high-tortuosity structured hydrogel (SHLH structure hydrogel) evaporator is developed, which enables the hydrogel with customized water transport rate, leading to the controlled water supply at the evaporator interface. An excellent equilibrium between the photothermal conversion and water supply is established, and the maximum utilization of solar energy is realized, thereby achieving an excellent evaporation rate of 3.64kg m-2h-1 under one solar illumination. This tortuosity engineering controlled SHLH structured evaporator provides a novel strategy to attain water-energy-balance and expands new approaches for constructing hydrogel-based evaporators with tailored water transportation capacity.

Water Reuse in the Hill Country: Lessons from Existing Reuse Facilities in Texas and Opportunities to Advance Reuse in Comal County

The Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance outlines the opportunities present in the Texas Hill Country to use recycled water to alleviate the burdens placed on the Edwards and Trinity aquifers by focusing on the present state of recycled water use in Comal County, Texas. The impacts of population growth, prolonged drought, and wastewater disposal on water sources in Comal County are analyzed along with current sources of water reuse to show where recycled water can be utilized effectively. Reclaimed water systems in seven municipalities across Texas are analyzed as case studies to provide examples for further implementation. Water reuse is integral to protecting water supplies and ensuring counties in the Hill Country can adequately protect the health, safety, and quality of life of current and future residents. Water reuse is a vastly underutilized tool in the effort to manage water supplies in the Hill Country, and there are a variety of authorization, financing, and implementation opportunities present in the region to take better advantage of this resource.

Sustainable management of small-town water supply in Nepal: improvement through the multi-stage training mechanism

ABSTRACT In Nepal, a project to sustain a safe water supply for small towns was executed in 68 towns, each with distinctive water sources and topographical situations. This project adopted two approaches to establish a standardized capacity development process for small-town water supplies. The first approach, the Management Model, consists of standard operating procedures (SOPs) and business planning. The second approach, termed the Support Model, entails a comprehensive system for training, monitoring, and evaluating water supply management. Throughout the project, a total of 31 SOPs pertaining to operation, maintenance, and facility rehabilitation manuals were developed. Moreover, four courses consisting of training, basic and on-site training, and interactive workshops were conducted. Consequently, the data deficiency rate reduced significantly by 61%, while 87% of water samples met water quality standards. In contrast, the operating ratio and water production rates improved by 17 and 29%, respectively. The materials produced from these models are expected to contribute to small-town water supply systems beyond the pilot sites. This is due to the versatility of the model for future applications. Although the project was effectively implemented, continuous support for small-town water supply by the Government of Nepal is needed for future sustainability.

Optimizing solar evaporation efficiency: integrating controllable water supply and efficient salt collection methods

Solar desalination presents a promising solution for providing high-purity fresh water in regions lacking sophisticated energy infrastructure. Specifically, the efficiency of solar-energy-driven interfacial evaporation relies on achieving a balance between supplied solar energy and the energy demand for evaporation through water supply management. Another significant challenge for practical application is salt crystallization on the photoabsorber surface. To address these issues, two strategies are proposed: I) Construction of a three-dimensional (3D) solar evaporator that achieves a balance between supplied energy and the heat energy required for interfacial evaporation (demand energy) by optimizing the height of the support structure and II) implementation of a tunable two-dimensional water supply path made of cotton. This not only facilitates optimal water supply for interfacial evaporation but also functions as a salt collection layer, enabling efficient salt collection post desalination. With the specific design of the proposed 3D solar evaporator, our device achieves a remarkable efficiency, approaching its performance limit (94%) with an evaporation rate of 2.30 kg/m/2/h, along with efficient salt collection and scalability. This work presents a novel approach for fabricating a cost-effective solar evaporator capable of consistently delivering affordable fresh water in remote areas.

Evaluating Trends of Temperature Index in Gia Lai Province Based on IITA and IPTA Approaches under Climate Change

This study performs historical trend analysis for average, maximum, and minimum temperatures using the integration of the Improved visualization for trend analysis (IITA) and Innovative Polygon Trend Analysis (IPTA) of Şen to evaluate the tendency of extreme temperatures on different time scales (annual, monthly and seasonal) in Gia Lai province from 1980 to 2019 at three stations, including Pleiku, AyunPa, and An Khe. Results recorded over the past four decades, the temperature trend in Gia Lai has been gradually warming. The average temperature in each month of the year ranges from 19 to 28°C, December and January usually have the lowest temperature of the year with a variation lower than 20°C. On the contrary, the months of April, May, and June often have the highest temperatures of the year, with a variation greater than 26°C. The outcomes of this research have provided a general picture of temperature characteristics, useful information for the management and planning of land use, irrigation and water supply in Gia Lai province under unpredictable climate change.

Sustainability of Housing Conditions in Rural Kerala

Housing being an important component of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development is an essential driver in achieving sustainable development goals directly or indirectly. Adequate and affordable housing leads to benefits in health, education and economic opportunities. “Adequate housing means more than a roof over one’s head. It also means adequate privacy; adequate space; physical accessibility; adequate security; security of tenure; structural stability and durability; adequate lighting, heating and ventilation; adequate basic infrastructure, such as water supply, sanitation and waste management facilities; suitable environmental quality and health related factors; and adequate and accessible location with regard to work and basic facilities: all of which should be available at an affordable cost” (UN-HABITAT, 2023). The state of Kerala occupies a unique position not only among the states in India but also among the developing countries as well in its high level of human and social development. Regarding housing, the average size, quality, and investment per house in the state were better than in other parts of the country. Today, housing condition in Kerala is much better when compared to the rest of the country. Kerala has achieved massive improvements in quality of human life. In this context, the present study attempts to examine the sustainability of housing conditions in rural Kerala by analysing the unit level data of NSSO 76th round for rural sector of Kerala based on the criteria for sustainability in housing adapted from the relevant literature in this regard.

Development of a Framework to Improve the Provision of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene in Healthcare Facilities of Mwandi District in Western Province

Healthcare facilities (HCFs) require safe water, sanitation, hygiene, environmental cleaning, and waste management (WASH) in the provision of quality services to promote, restore, maintain, and improve health. However, the unavailability of studies on the challenges and opportunities of WASH services in HCFs of Mwandi District has limited the potential for improved health care and quality of life. Without proper elucidation, this has the potency to dissuade women from using HCFs for childbirth and healthcare, potentially increasing maternal mortality rates. To examine the challenges and opportunities in accessing safe WASH services in HCFs in Mwandi District, more of Qualitative techniques were utilized to gather data from 8 HCFs in Mwandi District. This involved initial observations employing the WASH Status Checklist, followed by focus group discussions with expectant mothers and 23 key informant interviews. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. The results showed that only half of the investigated facilities provided basic water services, hampered by water salinity issues. Even though most facilities had improved sanitation facilities, they, however, do not meet the basic sanitation standards. This was primarily due to issues such as corroded pipes, insufficient accessible toilets for people with disabilities, and the absence of menstrual hygiene facilities. Many facilities lacked gender-segregated staff facilities. Most of the facilities had functional hand hygiene facilities but also did not meet the basic standards due to a lack of soap for hand washing. A significant number encounter inefficiencies in cleaning protocols, and the majority face poor infrastructure conditions. The findings further revealed that these challenges stem from inadequate prioritization and funding for Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) initiatives. The existing knowledge often concentrates on individual components, the findings stress the necessity for an integrated approach that collectively addresses water supply, sanitation, hygiene, and waste management. This holistic perspective can significantly contribute to the development of more effective guidelines and policies, offering a nuanced understanding of the interconnected nature of WASH components. Furthermore, the research sheds light on the pivotal role of localized political will, specifically highlighting the influence of Health Centre Advisory Committees (HAHC) in shaping governance at the community level, especially concerning WASH projects. The study offers a comprehensive overview of challenges and sustainability opportunities related to WASH services, crucial for their effective functioning. It emphasizes the necessity for heightened awareness and increased budget allocation for the sustainable maintenance of WASH services

Assessment of Factors Impacting Water Supply Services in Lusaka District: A Case of Lusaka Water Supply and Sanitation Company

The water supply situation in Lusaka district faces numerous challenges related to reliability, accessibility, and sustainability of water supply services. Despite a population of 3,079,964, only 134,807 household connections were established by LWSC in 2022. With a record 4.5% population increase from 2022 to 2023, the demand for water stands at over 420,000 cubic meters per day, while LWSC produces 250,000 cubic meters per day. Groundwater, accounting for 57% of LWSC's water, is threatened by land development and pollution. Meanwhile, 45% of the population relies on site sanitation, contributing to groundwater pollution, the very source LWSC is dependent upon. Lusaka faces low or no water supply, an average of 18 hours per day. Despite existing research on the peri-urban water supply, a gap remains in addressing the challenges of rapidly growing urban areas like Lusaka. This study aims to fill this gap by providing a comprehensive analysis focusing on the unique challenges faced by LWSC, such as land development, population growth, and climate change. The research will offer practical solutions for sustainable water supply management in Lusaka and similar contexts. The research philosophy employed for this study is interpretivism, as it allows for a deep understanding of the subjective experiences and perceptions of experts involved in the water supply sector in Lusaka. This approach aligns with the qualitative nature of the research, which aims to explore and understand the complex interactions between various factors influencing water supply services in the district. The findings of the study reveal that climate change, population growth, and land development are significant factors influencing water supply services in Lusaka. Erratic rainfall patterns and prolonged droughts have led to challenges in water availability and quality, while rapid population growth has increased the demand for water supply services, putting pressure on the existing infrastructure. Unplanned land development has also led to challenges in water supply services, particularly in areas with shallow water tables that are vulnerable to groundwater pollution. The study recommends investing in climate-resilient infrastructure, diversifying water sources, enhancing water conservation practices, and strengthening land use planning regulations to address these challenges and ensure the sustainability of water supply services in Lusaka.