Meet Water Demand Research Articles

Deep Submarine Fresh Water: A New Resource for Volcanic Islands?

The discovery of large freshwater reservoirs off Hawaii suggests that other volcanic islands may have similar resources, which could help meet water demands amid population growth and climate change.

The geomorphology and ecosystem service economic value baselines of tributary watersheds in Malaysia

This study presents how a cluster of tributary watersheds was evaluated for geomorphology and ecosystem service economic value baselines. Tributary watersheds, although small, were focused herein as they are practical for community-based conservation. Based on the Market-Price Method, the watersheds were estimated to be worth USD49.59 ha−1 year−1 at the time of this study and USD58.13 ha−1 year−1 in 2026. The watersheds were able to meet water demand of 20.94 megalitre day−1 required by the 93,084 local populations during the worst-case scenario induced by a peak El Nino and Southern Oscillation event in 2016. Collectively, the watersheds were contributing 703.87 megalitre day−1; thus, water shortages are not expected in near future, unless if they are compromised. The data acquired are also compared with studies elsewhere, and some insights on other baseline metrics, risk factors and humanizing watershed conservation are discussed.

Changing climate drives future streamflow declines and challenges in meeting water demand across the southwestern United States

Society and the environment in the arid southwestern United States depend on reliable water availability, yet current water use outpaces supply. Water demand is projected to grow in the future and climate change is expected to reduce supply. To adapt, water managers need robust estimates of future regional water supply to support management decisions. To address this need, we estimate future streamflow in seven water resource regions in the southwestern U.S. using a new SPAtially Referenced Regressions On Watershed attributes (SPARROW) streamflow model. We present streamflow projections corresponding to input data from seven climate models and two greenhouse gas Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP4.5 and 8.5) for three, thirty-year intervals centered on the 2030s, 2050s, and 2080s, and for a historical thirty year interval centered on the 1990s. Across water resource regions, about half of the RCP4.5 models (51%) and two thirds of the RCP8.5 models (67%) indicate decreases in streamflow in the 2080s relative to the historical period. Models project maximum decreases in streamflow of 36–80% in all water resource regions for all periods and RCPs relative to historical streamflow, and maximum streamflow decreases of up to 20–45% in the 2080s at sites along the Colorado River used for measuring compliance with interstate and international water agreements. Headwaters are projected to experience the greatest declines, with substantial downstream implications. Among these estimates, the streamflows from models forced with RCP8.5 tend to be lower than those forced with RCP4.5. Not all climate models, times, and RCPs project widespread streamflow declines. The most ubiquitous streamflow increases are projected to occur in the 2030s under RCP4.5. Later time periods and enhanced greenhouse gas forcings indicate smaller regions of streamflow increase and lower accumulated streamflows, suggesting that limiting or reducing greenhouse gas concentrations could support future water availability. Although some possible streamflow increases are promising, the modest and spatially limited increases in streamflow projected for later time periods are still unlikely to be sufficient to meet the projected water demand. These results inform the likelihood of future water agreement compliance, and support developing strategies to balance water supply and demand.

COMPONENTS OF NON REVENUE WATER; ITS MANAGEMENT AS A TOOL FOR SUSTAINABLE WATER RESOURCES; A CASE STUDY OF DOKA DISTRICT, KADUNA NORTH LGA

Non-revenue water (NRW) is the difference between net water inputs in the distribution system and billed authorized consumption. Water resources are under stress due to growing population and climate change making a shift towards the implementation of non-revenue water reduction strategies in most countries worldwide (Kanakoudis and Muhammetoglu, 2014). It is expected that by 2030, 47 % of the world population will live in regions with severe water stress (González-gómez, García-rubio and Guardiola, 2015). The increase in water demand coupled with Non-Revenue Water (NRW) is causing a challenge in meeting water demands for all competing uses of water; hence the need to assess the management of non-revenue water in Doka district of Kaduna North LGA. In assessing the existing situation and the management strategies to minimize non-revenue water in the Doka district questionnaires and Key Informant Interviews (KII) were administered using purposive sampling. Results show that plumbing materials to fix bursts and leakages which contribute highly to NRW are inadequate to the tune of about 70%. There should be a proactive programme of constantly reviewing the basis for estimation of bills for customers who are currently not metered to improve the accuracy of these estimates while efforts should be made to complete the metering of all customers.

Analysis and Design of Intze Water Tank by Using STAAD Pro

Water tank is a water storage structured built for long term use. These tanks were utilized for various uses like distribution of water, firefighting, agriculture, food industry, paper mills etc. It comes in handy when there is an intermittent supply of water or scarcity of water. Materials like concrete, pvc Galvanized Iron, fibre is used to manufacture tanks. Water is pumped through pipe by using pumps from a source. For distribution purpose water can be distributed either gravity or pump to reach individual with desired pressure and velocity. Volume is calculated based upon population and their usage and demand. Water demand varies hour to hour. For a continues supply water tanks are best suited. To meet water demand by public water tanks are to be constructed. Design and analysis are similar for any liquid present in water tank but is should be crack free to avoid leakage

Evaluation of Reservoir Capacity and Reliability for urban water purpose in Dili, Timor Leste

Water shortages has an impact on all aspects of life in Dili, Timor Leste. To support the government vision and program in water sector, a study on the developing of water resource management strategies has been carried out. The priority strategy has resulted that is developing water resource infrastructure to meet urban water demand. One action plan of this strategy is to build reservoir infrastructure. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the construction of small or large reservoir to meet the water demand in Dili. Evaluation of the strategy implementation plan of the reservoirs development in the Beemos and Becora Rivers through analysis of the reliability and capacity of the reservoir using a simulation model of water release standard operating rules method. Water balance simulation results show that the reliability of clean water services from the two small reservoirs of Beemos and Becora cannot reach 100%, due to the limited capacity of the reservoir. The results of capacity optimization of large Beemos Reservoir show that the potential for inflow can be utilized 90%, therefore it can meet urban water demand until 2030. Although the simulation results show a good indication, the government still must carry out a detailed feasibility study in the upstream area before it is implemented. The developing of large reservoir can be recommended for implemented in the development of water resources to meet water demand in Dili therefore can support the Timor Leste's targets or vision in the water sector and the Sustainable Development Goals in the clean water and sanitation sector.

Achieving Sustainable Use and Management of Water Resources for Irrigation in Nigeria

Water resource is available in Nigeria to meet water demand for domestic, agricultural and industrial use. If well enhanced and protected from various source of pollution. However, less information is available on suitability of water resources for irrigation use in Nigeria. This article reviews literature of the past with regards to influence of geogenic and anthropogenic activities on water resource for irrigation purpose in Nigeria and also to explain the current state of suitability of water resource for irrigation studies in Nigeria and gaps in studies. It also summarizes future ways on water resource management and preventive measure for water resource pollution for irrigation use. Related articles were downloaded from Google scholar in water-related issues. This paper tends to review previous article on water resource in Nigeria, and its suitability for irrigation. The primary aim of this paper is to produce a synoptic overview of the water resources in Nigeria and its suitability for irrigation use. From paper reviewed it was observed that 89 % of water resources was considered suitable for irrigation.

Simulating the Effect of Water Recirculation on Flotation through Ion-Spiking: Effect of Ca2+ and Mg2+

Froth flotation is a multifaceted complex process which is water intensive. The use of recycled water as an alternative source of water to meet water demands of the process may introduce deleterious inorganic ions that affect the mineral surface, pulp chemistry, and reagent action, hence the need to establish whether threshold ion concentrations exist beyond which flotation performance will be adversely affected. This is of paramount importance in informing appropriate recycle streams and allowing simple, cost-effective water treatment methods to be applied. Here we report that increasing ionic strengths of synthetic plant water (SPW); 3, 5, and 10 SPW respectively, resulted in an increase in water recovery in the order 0.073 mol·dm−3 (3 SPW) < 0.121 mol·dm−3 (5 SPW) < 0.242 mol·dm−3 (10 SPW), indicating an increase in froth stability as higher water recoveries are linked to increased froth stabilities. This behavior is linked to the action of inorganic electrolytes on bubble coalescence which is reported in literature. There was, however, no significant effect on the valuable mineral recovery. Spiking 3 SPW to 400 mg/L Ca2+ resulted in higher copper and nickel grades compared to 3 SPW, 5 SPW, and 10 SPW and was deemed to be the Ca2+ ion threshold concentration for this study since 3 SPW spiked with further Ca2+ to a concentration of 800 mg/L resulted in a decrease in the concentrate grade. The spiking of 3 SPW with Mg2+ resulted in higher copper and nickel grades compared to all other synthetic plant water conditions tested in this study.

Controlling Stormwater Runoff That Limits Water Availability and Dryland Crop Productivity

Continued pumping for irrigation from the non-recharging Ogallala aquifer in Kansas and Texas is unsustainable. Reducing risks for dryland wheat (Triticum aestivum L ) and sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] production, which depends exclusively on precipitation to meet water demand is critical for future adoption. Stormwater runoff reduces the amount of precipitation available to crops, but management practices to minimize runoff concomitantly increase the opportunity time for infiltration and improve precipitation storage as soil water for crop use. Our objectives in this study were to evaluate tillage, slope and the effects of contour or with-slope farming on runoff, soil water at planting, and the growth and yield of wheat and sorghum grown in the three year wheat-sorghum-fallow (WSF) rotation. Long-term, 1983 to present, runoff was measured from gauged terraced and contour farmed fields managed in the WSF rotation with no-tillage (NT) or stubble-mulch (SM) tillage. We found significantly greater mean cumulative runoff during fallow for NT than for SM but only for the 1.8% terrace slopes., The corresponding soil water with NT increased by a significant ~27 mm over SM due to reduced evaporation but generally did not differ due to slope. Wheat yield decreased significantly as slope decreased from 1.8% to 1.2% but exhibited no yield response tillage. In contrast, grain sorghum yields were greater with NT than SM tillage residue management. Farming along the contour or slope manifested no differences in soil water, crop grain yield, or water use; however, they did increased significantly with no tillage for sorghum but not wheat. We conclude that management of tillage was more effective than slope effects in increasing water availability to crops because of evaporation reduction with crop residue.

Impacts of Municipal Water-Rainwater Source Transitions on Microbial and Chemical Water Quality Dynamics at the Tap.

When rainwater harvesting is utilized as an alternative water resource in buildings, a combination of municipal water and rainwater is typically required to meet water demands. Altering source water chemistry can disrupt pipe scale and biofilm and negatively impact water quality at the distribution level. Still, it is unknown if similar reactions occur within building plumbing following a transition in source water quality. The goal of this study was to investigate changes in water chemistry and microbiology at a green building following a transition between municipal water and rainwater. We monitored water chemistry (metals, alkalinity, and disinfectant byproducts) and microbiology (total cell counts, plate counts, and opportunistic pathogen gene markers) throughout two source water transitions. Several constituents including alkalinity and disinfectant byproducts served as indicators of municipal water remaining in the system since the rainwater source does not contain these constituents. In the treated rainwater, microbial proliferation and Legionella spp. gene copy numbers were often three logs higher than those in municipal water. Because of differences in source water chemistry, rainwater and municipal water uniquely interacted with building plumbing and generated distinctively different drinking water chemical and microbial quality profiles.

Modeling interdependent water uses at the regional scale to engage stakeholders and enhance resilience in Central Arizona

As cities and agricultural areas face water challenges associated with climate change, it is important to develop a better understanding of how human and natural systems will respond at the scales at which those changes will occur. This requires analytical tools to systematically explore regional contexts where multiple interdependent water, agricultural, and urban infrastructures interact. Toward this end, we develop and analyze a stylized model of a regional-scale system in the Southwestern U.S. The system is comprised of the Phoenix and Tuscon metropolitan areas and surrounding agricultural districts within the Central Arizona Project service domain and the water delivery infrastructure that connects these areas to the Colorado River basin. We use the model to analyze the impacts of changes in runoff in the upper Colorado River basin and the Salt, Verde, and Agua Fria basins on water supplies in the Central Arizona Project service area. Specifically, we explore how conceptualizing the Phoenix and Tuscon metropolitan areas and surrounding agricultural districts as an integrated system of urban, agricultural, and conjunctive ground and surface water management infrastructures can lead to strategies to meet water demand while maintaining groundwater neutrality.

Filling in the Flyover Zone: High Phosphorus in Midwestern (USA) Reservoirs Results in High Phytoplankton Biomass but Not High Primary Productivity

In lakes and reservoirs, climate change increases surface water temperatures, promotes thermal stability, and decreases hypolimnetic oxygen. Increased anthropogenic land-use and precipitation enhance nutrient and sediment supply. Together, these effects alter the light and nutrient dynamics constraining phytoplankton biomass and productivity. Given that lake and reservoir processes differ, and that globally, reservoir numbers are increasing to meet water demands, reservoir-centric studies remain underrepresented. In the agricultural midwest (USA), ubiquitous reservoirs experience eutrophy and hypolimnetic anoxia. Here, we explore influences of eutrophication and land-use on the proximate light and nutrient status of phytoplankton communities in 32 Missouri reservoirs. Light and nutrient status indicators include mixed layer irradiance, phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) stoichiometry/debts, photosynthetic efficiency, and photosynthetic-irradiance parameters. Contributing to the ongoing P versus N and P management debate, we evaluate if phytoplankton biomass and productivity are constrained by light, P, N, or a combination thereof, across gradients of trophic status and land-use during 2 contrasting wet and dry summers. Despite agricultural prevalence, P-deficiency is more prominent than either N- or light-deficiency. In 2018, ~46% of samples were P-deficient with ~36% indicating neither light nor nutrient deficiency. Gross primary productivity per unit chlorophyll-a (GPPB) demonstrated negative relationships with nutrients, biomass, and turbidity, and positive relationships with light availability. Subsequently, GPPB was highest in oligotrophic reservoirs where light utilization efficiency was also highest. Overall, phytoplankton biomass and productivity appear constrained by P and light, respectively. If midwestern reservoirs are precursors of future inland waters affected by climate change and eutrophication, our crystal ball indicates that both P and light will be important regulators of phytoplankton dynamics and subsequent water quality.

The Role of Renewable Energy Resources in Sustainability of Water Desalination as a Potential Fresh-Water Source: An Updated Review

Desalination is becoming a practical option to meet water demand in an increasing number of locations that are facing water scarcity. Currently, more than 150 countries in the world are already using desalination technologies, which account for about one percent of the world’s drinking water. Although for specific regions, desalination is the only feasible solution to close the supply–demand gap (for example the production of desalinated seawater in the Middle East is predicted to rise almost fourteen-fold by 2040), the sustainability of desalination systems is still remarkably under question. This review aims first to investigate the technical and economic trends and environmental and social aspects of desalination systems and then, in the second stage, to give an overview of the role of renewable energy technologies in the sustainability of the future water systems with an increasing share of desalination.

Hydrodynamic Modeling Results Showing the Effects of the Luce Bayou Interbasin Transfer on Salinity in Lake Houston, TX

An over-reliance on groundwater resources in the Houston (Texas) metropolitan area led to aquifer drawdowns and land subsidence, so regional water suppliers have been turning to surface water resources to meet water demand. Lake Houston, an important water supply reservoir 25 miles northeast from downtown Houston, requires new water supply sources to continue to meet water supply demands for the next several decades. The upcoming Luce Bayou Interbasin Transfer Project will divert up to 500 million gallons per day of Trinity River water into Lake Houston. Trinity River water has significantly different water quality than the Lake Houston tributaries. To evaluate the project's impact on water quality, the U.S. Geological Survey used an enhanced version of a previously released Lake Houston hydrodynamic model. With a focus on salinity and water-surface elevations, the model combined data from 2009-2017 with simulated flow from the Luce Bayou Interbasin Transfer to evaluate potential outcomes from three hypothetical flow scenarios. Overall, these scenarios found that the Luce Bayou Interbasin Transfer would cause salinities to rise over most of the modeled time (2009-2017), although salinities were buffered under 2011 drought conditions. Large inflow events equalized salinities under baseline conditions as well as the enhanced flow scenarios. Citation: Smith EA, Shah S. 2020. Hydrodynamic modeling results showing the effects of the Luce Bayou Interbasin Transfer on salinity in Lake Houston, TX. Texas Water Journal. 11(1):64-88. Available from: https://doi.org/10.21423/twj.v11i1.7094.

Fracture-controlled groundwater seeps into the Mediterranean Sea along the coast of Lebanon

Groundwater has recently become a main resource for domestic water and irrigation in Lebanon. During the last two decades, surface water and shallow groundwater have been severely exhausted to meet water demand. This study seeks to understand the groundwater flow/storage regime and the mechanism of water loss into the sea using a geospatial approach. Landsat thermal satellite images from years 2013–2015 are used to detect freshwater seeps in the coastal waters of Lebanon to analyse their distribution, time of occurrence and origin. The analysis is supplemented with data from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM), geological maps, the SRTM Digital Elevation Model (DEM), and springs’ location maps. A groundwater potentiality map is constructed to understand points of surface water entry into the ground, areas of accumulation and water transport pathways. Results show dominant thermal plumes off-shore adjacent to Akkar District and Batroun city. The former relates to direct rainfall and the latter to rainfall and snowmelt on land. No surface drainage is associated with either plume. Both plumes project 8–13 km from inland along fault alignments. These faults act as conduits to channel rainwater and snowmelt from the surrounding mountains before seeping into the sea. It is thus feasible to capture the water lost this way for farming and domestic uses. The study presents an integrative geospatial approach that can be extended and applied throughout the coastal Middle East and North Africa Region to assess freshwater seeps into the sea.

Impact of Population Growth and Climate Change on the Resilience of Florina’s Hydrosystem

This research work deals with an integrated assessment regarding a hydrosystem’s resilience under changing conditions. Particularly, the analysis is performed for Florina, a rural area in Northern Greece. In Florina, four reservoirs operate to meet water requirements for agriculture and industrial use, as well as, to satisfy the urban water demand of the local population. The analysis initially includes the hydrologic simulation of the natural system that is achieved by developing and implementing a hydrologic model on a monthly basis, using the available historic data for the region. It also incorporates the development of the reservoirs’ monthly water balance models to assess the reliability of the system based on the current water requirements and the historic datasets. In terms of rational water resources management under changing conditions, various combinations are investigated; all of which are based on four main scenarios (i.e., zero, three climate change scenarios, population growth scenario, scenarios regarding different distribution of irrigation water). The comparison among the aforementioned scenarios is finally shown through the variation in the hydrosystem’s reliability to meet water demands. Results show that each reservoir presents its own behavior with respect to its particular technical characteristics and the scenario performed. In general, reliability decreases, while, the implementation of the scenarios that introduce different practices regarding water distribution for irrigation showed that this practice can ensure a relatively higher reliability to the local hydrosystem

Agricultural water use accounting provides path for surface water use solutions

Agricultural water demands can conflict with habitat needs in many North Coast watersheds. Understanding different water use patterns can help reduce conflict over limited supplies. We measured on-farm crop water use and conducted grower interviews to estimate the agricultural water demand in the upper Russian River and Navarro River watersheds. Annual agricultural water demand was less than 11% in the Russian River, and 2% in Navarro River, of the total annual discharge in each watershed. However, because demands are concentrated in the dry season when instream flows are at a minimum, these relatively small amounts can represent a significant constraint to stream habitat conditions. We have shared our study results in broad basin and community water resource planning efforts, including flow management of the Russian and Navarro rivers and implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act in the Ukiah Basin. Findings and recommendations from this study have influenced on-the-ground solutions to meet water demand in these watersheds, including construction of off-stream wintertime storage capacity to replace summertime stream diversions, and use of a municipal recycled water conveyance system as a replacement for summer diversions.

Status of urban hydrogeology research with emphasis on India

Urban areas have witnessed an inexorable expansion in population density, urban sprawl, industrialization and agricultural activities in the past few decades. Withdrawal of groundwater to meet water demand has resulted in over-drafting of aquifers and, commonly, lowered water tables in many urban centres of India, like Delhi, Lucknow, Patna, Kolkata and others. Overdraft has also deteriorated the chemical and biogeochemical quality of surface water and groundwater. This paper highlights some of the research approaches, namely hydrogeochemical investigation, groundwater modeling, and use of geographic information systems and remote sensing, used worldwide to resolve issues specific to urban groundwater. The paper also highlights approaches that are practiced internationally (combined hydrogeologic and multi-isotopic studies, integrated modeling techniques, etc.) but still need to be developed on a large scale in India. A detailed overview of the literature indicates the need for a more holistic approach incorporating various types of conceptual and management models to strengthen the research level in India and elsewhere. For instance, a computational tool that can incorporate different models, such as for urban water and contaminant balance and pipeline leakage, should be developed to generate predefined scenarios of potential groundwater contamination and help in the socio-economic analysis of different scenarios. In hydrogeochemical approaches, multi-isotope ratios should be coupled with hydrogeologic approaches for better understanding of water quality problems.

Effects of an outflow regime adoption of the São Francisco River reservoir system to meet water demands for multiple uses

ABSTRACT The establishment of reservoir operation rules is a strategy used to increase storage volumes and satisfy water demands. However, these rules are not always compatible with the flow regime required to meet environmental needs. This paper aims to evaluate the effects of an outflow regime adopted by the São Francisco River reservoir system, which includes environmental water requirements, in the current laws for meeting water demands for multiple uses, according to Resolution 2081/2017 of Agência Nacional de Águas - ANA. The methodology adopted was the construction and simulation of alternative outflow operation scenarios, for a regular and a dry hydrological period, which were the following: 1) Outflow scenario according to Resolution 2081/17 and (2) Outflow scenario that considers a proposed environmental flow hydrogram for the low course of the São Francisco river. The operation effects in the meeting of multiple water uses were quantified in each scenario and compared with each other. The results suggest that when the maintenance of the aquatic ecosystems is a priority, the system demonstrated low water security in meeting the reservoirs target volumes and satisfying water demands, including the environmental flows.

Assessing Flow Pattern of Sabarmati River Portion at Hirpura Barrage Site Gujarat , India Using HEC-RAS Hydrodynamic Models and Physical Models

A barrage is proposed to be constructed across river Sabarmati, 60 km downstream of Daroi dam to create reservoir within the bank for recharging and meeting water demand of nearby areas. For analyzing the flow pattern and assessing the hydraulic parameters of Hipura barrage on Sabarmati river near Hirpura village of Mehsana District of Gujarat, a 3D physical model with geometrically similar scale 1:80 for river reach 3 km (1 km upstream and 2 km downstream) and for assessing the adequate energy dissipating arrangement a sectional model with scale 1:40 are used. These experimental observations on physical models are carried out at GERI and have been used to calibrate HEC-RAS based model for Manning’s roughness (n). The calibrated parameters of model are used to compute the hydraulic parameters in HEC-RAS model in the steady state condition of flow in the river reach for 25, 50, 75 and 100% of design discharge 16785