Reduce Water Consumption Research Articles

A novel foam process with CO2 dissolved surfactant for improved sweep efficiency in EVGSAU field

A successful CO2-foam gas conformance enhancement technology pilot has operated at the East Vacuum Grayburg San Andres Unit (EVGSAU) since Jan 2018 by ConocoPhillips in cooperation with Dow. In early 2020, the scope of the pilot was expanded from one pattern to three patterns. The expansion phase was implemented to evaluate scalability of this technology to patterns with diverse conformance issues and productivity inefficiencies. Severe vertical and areal conformance issues were initially identified in these patterns, resulting in early gas breakthroughs and poor oil sweep efficiencies. Due to economic success of the first phase, the same surfactant with high foaming tendencies, high gas solubility, and low adsorption characteristics was implemented in the new patterns.The first phase of foam implementation on an inverted pattern showed a complete elimination of out-of-zone injection, redistribution of CO2 into previously un-swept flow intervals, and oil production uplift.In contrast to this first pattern, the gas injectivity was reduced by 20–50% after only two foam cycles in the new patterns. Based on injection profile logs (IPL), no out-of-zone injection was identified before the surfactant injection for the two new patterns, which can be the reason for such rapid injectivity responses. Similar to the first pattern, deep conformance corrections were confirmed as gas was redirected from highly connected producers to other producers within the new patterns. A lower surfactant dosage was applied to one of the new patterns to optimize chemical consumption, while sustaining the performance. The surfactant concentration was also reduced in the first pattern to study the effect of a lower dosage on a known performing pattern. During the foam implementation, the gas to water ratio (GWR) at the pattern injectors was increased to maintain the patterns at the baseline total fluid throughput. This adjustment resulted in more than a 50% reduction in water consumption and a 17% improvement in gas utilization. Overall, a sustainable increase in oil production rate (∼35% over the baseline for the last two years) was achieved in the three foam patterns. This robust solution of gas conformance enhancement required ∼2 lbs. of foaming material per barrel of incremental oil produced, which confirms economic success and commercial viability of the foam technology for a full field-scale implementation.The application of this foam technology has potential to extend the life of a mature asset like EVGSAU by arresting the historical decline in the oil production rate. Reduction in energy and water consumption per barrel of oil produced make the CO2-EOR process more sustainable and strengthen its potential in carbon capture, utilization and sequestration (CCUS) application.

Rainwater Harvesting at Universities. Case study: Valle de las Palmas

Rainwater harvesting systems have become a necessary strategy in universities to reduce water consumption and to achieve efficient use of water resources, particularly in semi-arid areas, where the use of these systems is ideal and innovative for sustainable water management. However, the design and implementation of these systems needs to be well planned and cost-effective as well as compliant of the needs of the specific college campus. This work proposes to implement this technology for the design of a rainwater harvesting system at the Valle de las Palmas academic unit: the Faculty of Engineering and Technology Sciences (FCITEC), in order to take advantage of the area’s Winter rainfall, and to be used on the landscape areas of the campus. There is evidence that certain universities have obtained significant savings and a decreasing demand for water from their municipal hydraulic networks, such as the Federal University of Pará, in Japan and the Federal University of Viçosa in Brazil. The FCITEC is located in the municipality of Tijuana, Baja California; a region considered as semi-arid, with long drought periods, high temperatures and a short season of Winter rainfall. Baja California’s main source of water supply comes from the Colorado River, representing 80% of the state’s water supply while 20% comes from underground aquifers. Due to the limited rainfall in the Colorado River basin, water levels have dropped significantly in recent years, affecting the city of Tijuana since, during hot seasons, the public water system implemented rotation practices which provoked many neighborhoods to run out of water (including the FCITEC). Therefore, it is a priority to consider water collection systems to take advantage of winter rains as a sustainable and profitable short-term solution for water management in universities, thus reducing the demand for consumption from the water supply network and contributing to the environmental sustainability of water resources.

Agrotekstil Uygulamaları için Sürdürülebilir Ulva Lactuca Cinsi Yosun ve Kenevir Bazlı Kompozitlerin Geliştirilmesi

As the global population grows, there is an increasing demand for food, requiring sustainable farming methods to increase agricultural productivity. Soil covers and mulches used in agriculture are mostly made of synthetic materials derived from petrochemicals, which pose various problems such as soil contamination and long-term insolubility. This study aims to use Ulva Lactuca algae as a sustainable raw material for soil covers, as it contains vitamins and minerals that the soil needs. As seawater acidity increases, the population of this algae is also increasing, creating the opportunity to use it in agriculture. The product is expected to retain moisture and reduce water consumption and high temperatures. In addition, hurds obtained from industrial hemp waste are used due to their high-water retention potential. The study combined Ulva lactuca algae from the Marmara region and hemp strings from Narlı and Vezir seeds to create various composites with different structures. Basic tests were conducted to determine the mechanical and physical properties of the products. The goal is to increase soil organic matter by using these materials as fertilizer after their use as soil covers.

Modern AAC additive—A ready tool helping with decarbonization of AAC production by reduction of water, cement, lime and energy consumption

AbstractEuropean Association of AAC producers (EAACA) has set the goal for the AAC industry to become carbon‐neutral by 2050, so it is now more important than ever to explore ways to achieve it. One of the readily available solutions is a dedicated additive for AAC production, production, the effects of which positively affect the reduction of CO2e emissions. The additive is a tool helping the chemical reaction and offers improvements in two key emission sources for AAC. The first one is cement and lime usage, responsible for 74% of CO2e emissions in AAC production. A few percent cutbacks of binders consumption generate direct results in this area. The second one is the production process itself, being accountable for 13% of CO2e emissions. Lowering water content in the mix directly results in a lower requirement for steam during autoclaving, therefore impacting energy usage. Reductions in these two areas can be calculated in terms of CO2e emissions, as well as economical savings. The financial advantages generated by the additive are always higher than the cost of it. The chemical and process background presented in this paper is supported with examples from AAC plants worldwide, and complemented by GHG methodology calculation where 3,6% of CO2e emissions reductions can be achieved solely by using modern additive for production.

Fast in the pandemic, durable after droughts, inequal during economic downturn. A 20 year multi-dimensional retrospective analysis of water demand change in Southern California

Determining changes in water consumption behavior due to recurring external stressors (e.g. droughts and socio-economic fluctuations) and previously unseen shocks like the COVID-19 pandemic can support future demand-side management (DSM) programs and identifying vulnerable social groups. Yet, most studies analyzing external drivers of water consumption change are noncomparative as they examine only one stressor at the time, mainly droughts. Here we develop a multi-dimensional retrospective analysis (MDRA) to quantify residential water consumption changes in Southern California over the last two decades under compound hydroclimatic, economic, and pandemic stressors. We then uncover what socio-economic groups relate to predominant behavioral changes under each stressor. We observe a long-lasting decreasing water consumption trend for more than 76% of the analyzed households. Socio-economically vulnerable households were more likely to reduce water consumption during the economic and pandemic stressors. Differently, affluent neighborhoods tended to increase water consumption during or after droughts and the pandemic. Our MDRA supports utilities and policy makers to discern the impacts of different stressors on water demand and helps to identify social and economic sensitivities across a service area to develop adaptive DSMs and assistance programs.

Experimental study on suppression of thermal runaway in lithium-ion battery by mixed particle size water mist

With the implementation of the green energy development strategy, new energy vehicles and related industries have been experiencing rapid growth, leading to an expansion in the market scale of the lithium-ion battery (LIB) industry. While the high energy density of LIB is being pursued, the risk of thermal runaway (TR) cannot be underestimated. Water mist (WM) is currently considered an efficient and environmentally friendly fire extinguishing agent, highly favored for its exceptional cooling capabilities. In this study, an alternative WM control strategy is proposed that capitalizes on the distinct advantages of varying particle sizes of WM during different cooling stages and integrates them to enhance overall cooling effectiveness. The experimental results demonstrate that the utilization of WM with mixed particle sizes not only reduces the peak temperature of TR, but also significantly shortens the cooling time. Compared to using WM with a single particle size, this method greatly reduces water consumption and enhances its utilization rate. This finding can offer valuable suggestions for the future implementation of WM in battery fire suppression systems design.

Optimal consequence management of pollution intrusion into water distribution networks considering demand variation and pipeline leakage: a case study

Abstract To ensure the preservation of public health during periods of water distribution network (WDN) contamination, implementing effective consequence management (CM) plans is crucial. This study aimed to minimize the number of operational interventions and mitigate adverse effects on public health by considering WDN leakage and demand changes during contamination events. Surveys conducted during the contamination period revealed an impressive 88% reduction in water consumption. Subsequently, a real case study focusing on a segment of Tehran's WDN in Iran's capital city was conducted, examining four scenarios to test the proposed method. Without employing leakage and demand reduction strategies, the total contamination exposure amounted to approximately 184 kg. However, by incorporating water demand reduction, leakage, and their simultaneous simulation, maximum contamination exposures of 154.4, 171, and 124.4 kg were respectively achieved. Furthermore, it was found that the optimal CM plan required significantly different valve configurations. Neglecting demand changes and leaks in the CM plan led to inaccurate calculations regarding hydraulic and quality status, pollution levels in the network, and contamination exposure for WDN users; therefore, erroneous decision-making.

Incremental Hemodialysis: A Road to a Greener and Personalized Nephrology

Introduction: Healthcare facilities are among the greatest contributors to resource consumption and waste generation. Nephrology is one of the most polluting medical areas, mostly due to hemodialysis (HD). Incremental hemodialysis (iHD) has gained attention due to several clinical advantages, by decreasing the number of sessions while the patient still has residual kidney function. Beyond these benefits, this regimen might also be both more economical and environmentally friendly. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential reduction of resource consumption, waste generation and carbon footprint associated with the implementation of iHD. Methods: We conducted a single-center retrospective analysis of 157 incidental patients initiating HD in our centre in 2019 (pre-pandemic). Retrospectively, a set of criteria identifying eligibility for an iHD program were applied to those patients. Results: Twenty-three patients (15%) would have been eligible for iHD instead of starting a standard HD program. In that scenario, iHD implementation would have reduced from 36 to 85 tons of CO2 equivalent emissions and 4186 kg of contaminated waste yearly, at our unit. iHD would also allow savings of almost 60 000€ and a reduction in water consumption of 418 600 L in one year. Conclusion: This study shows that iHD can significantly attenuate the environmental and economic impact of HD. These findings encourage kidneycare programs and policymakers to adopt greener options but should never be detrimental to the clinical decision of referencing a patient to iHD.

Relationships of Water Quality Parameters for Hydroponic Production of Kale (Brassica oleracea) with In-Ground Passive Cooling System

Greenhouses in Philippines are encountering high ambient air temperature problem. Along with this, the water quality directly affects the growth, development and yield of hydroponically grown plants. This study was conceptualized through the principle of cooling the nutrient solution that will effectively regulate plant’s growth and yield with relatively low investment and easier management. One of the essential elements of a functional hydroponics system is water quality monitoring, hence this study utilized a monitoring system for water quality parameters. Nutrient solution was closely monitored to maintain and ensure that nutrient levels are not too low to inhibit growth and not too high to be potentially toxic. The study was conducted to develop a monitoring system for environmental and water quality parameters of in-ground passive cooling system for hydroponic production of kale. Specifically, the study aimed to determine the relationships of water quality parameters such as pH, EC, TDS, and temperature for kale production, compare the performance of an in-ground passive cooling system (IGPCS) and without cooling system (Control) on hydroponically grown kale, and to evaluate the water productivity of the in-ground passive cooling system. This study utilized both in-ground passive cooling system (IGPCS) and control (without cooling system) to compare its performance based on the growth and yield of the kale, and to determine the water productivity of utilizing IGPCS. In addition, water quality parameter such as pH, EC, TDS, and temperature were closely monitored using the installed monitoring system, and relationships of these water quality parameters were established. The gathered data were analyzed using trend analysis in Microsoft Excel, Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was computed in Completely Randomized Design (CRD) and comparison among means were compared using Least Significant Difference (LSD) Test at 5% level. Results revealed that EC and TDS of nutrient solution are inversely proportional to pH and temperature of nutrient solution, moreover EC and TDS are directly proportional, also with pH and temperature of nutrient solution. The performance of the IGPCS and without cooling system is comparable with growth and yield of kale in terms of leaf length, leaf width, number of leaves, weight and yield at harvest, but are significantly affected by the location of growing pipes where crops received less and ample amount of sunlight. Since the temperature of IGPCS was reduced up to 3°C, kale plants with cooling system uptake less water compared to without cooling system and results to higher productivity. Therefore, regulating one of the water quality parameters directly affects other water quality parameters, so relationships of these water quality parameters were established through close monitoring of water quality parameters using the monitoring system. Utilization of IGPCS reduced the temperature of the nutrient solution up to 3°C which gave higher yield (44.01 g/plant) than without cooling system (41.18 g/plant). Kale production in tropical areas can have higher yield using the in-ground passive cooling system that reduced water consumption, resulting to higher productivity.

Estimated Impacts of Smart Water Meter Implementation on Domestic Hot Water Consumption and Related Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Case Studies

This study investigates the water–energy–carbon (WEC) nexus in cities across four countries, namely the United Kingdom (UK), the United States of America (USA), Australia (AUS), and South Korea (KOR), over a decade, from 2011 to 2021. The primary objective is to assess the impact of smart water metering (SWM) implementation on the WEC nexus, with a specific focus on domestic hot water (DHW) consumption and associated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The analysis of the collected data reveals diverse patterns among cities with varying levels of SWM implementation. Notably, cities with higher SWM implementation demonstrated significant reductions in water consumption, indicating the effectiveness of the efficient water consumption and demand management achieved through SWM. The study emphasizes the importance of addressing GHG emissions related to water heating, with the carbon intensity of water heating identified as a critical factor in this context. To achieve net reductions in GHG emissions, intensive efforts are required to simultaneously decrease both DHW consumption and the carbon intensity of water heating. The research findings highlight the potential for substantial GHG emissions reductions by combining SWM implementation with the decarbonization of water heating. By recognizing the interdependencies within WEC systems, this study underscores the significance of SWM in advancing toward a carbon-neutral society. In conclusion, this study contributes valuable insights into the WEC nexus and emphasizes the role of SWM in achieving sustainability goals. It advocates for integrated policies to effectively address the interconnected issues of the WEC nexus for effective climate change mitigation.

Promoting sustainable growth and self‐production of energy through the water industry, as key elements for climate change action

AbstractThe paper focuses on climate actions through water activity and energy synergies supporting a water public operator—Canal de Isabel II—to fight against climate change in the region of Madrid. Actions for its mitigation such as the generation of electricity through water treatment activity are undoubtedly a great tool to face climate change and mitigate CO2 emissions. Led by the Strategic Plan of Canal, a water & energy cycle has been designed that, taking advantage of the different processes carried out, and thanks to the appropriate technologies, allows the generation of 100% renewable electrical energy. Through its solar energy plan, Canal is making an important technological effort to reduce energy consumption, taking advantage of the extensive area the water company has for its operations. At the same time, wastewater solutions ans possibilities are becoming more attractive. This paper explains how the Canal is transforming biogas from wastewater treatment plants into fuel for vehicles. On adaptation, this document describes measures for increasing the availability of resources, reducing water consumption, and preparing for new challenges, provided that water remains an essential resource affordable and accessible to all. In this sense, Canal's main contribution and responsibility is to ensure its availability in the event of water scarcity and to avoid the effects of extreme weather phenomena. In addition, the paper presents important projects related to such adaptations as the tariff structure to discourage high superfluous uses of water or the water reclaimed production. This integrated approach to water and energy production and consumption represents an unbeatable strategy that is recommended for dealing with this global problem in a sustainable way. Canal's activities prove that a water company can aspire to be more sustainable through the implementation of integrated projects on the water and energy nexus.

Integrating the Theory of Planned Behavior and Motivation to Explore Residential Water-Saving Behaviors

Water scarcity in the United States needs to be addressed with demand- and supply-side initiatives. Yet, water is often provided for a low cost to households in residential areas that have the potential to reduce water consumption. The theory of planned behavior (TpB) is a social science theory used to understand why volitional conservation behaviors, including water conservation, are performed by consumers. Additional predictors are included in TpB in water literature, and motivations for behavioral actions may help further explain residential water conservation behavior. This study sought to determine whether TpB and motivation predicted residential water conservation behavior. Data were collected with an online survey (n = 907) in September 2022 from residents of Florida, Georgia, and Alabama using non-probability opt-in quota sampling. The data were analyzed in R using the lavaan package. The results indicate that there was a significant direct effect of attitude and subjective norms on intention. There was a significant direct effect of intention on behavior. There was a significant negative direct effect of extrinsic motivation on behavior. Mediation was present in the model with intrinsic motivation. Perhaps the respondents had not thought about rewards or punishments in the context of water conservation because of the availability of water at a low cost and therefore were not extrinsically motivated to conserve water.

Ecological and economic basis of balanced development of horticulture in Ukraine

The current state and ecological and economic foundations of balanced development of horticulture are analyzed. According to the data of the State Statistics Service of Ukraine, the balance of fruits, berries and grapes in Ukraine for 2015–2020 in relation to the growth of production during this period was 73%, imports decreased by 2 times, exports increased by 5 times, processing volumes increased by 2 times, the consumption fund increased by 46%. Inventories increased by 3.9 times in 2020 compared to 2015, which is due to problems with product sales, disruption of logistics due to the Covid-19 pandemic, decrease in sales and purchase prices by manufacturers, etc. Reasonably improving the efficiency of the use of enterprise resources, improving the breed-varietal structure of fruit and berry plantations and the introduction of innovative resource-saving technologies can really be priority directions for increasing productivity in the field of horticulture. It was determined that the implementations of measures to increase the efficiency of the use of water resources in horticulture, which will reduce irrigation costs and conserve water resources. This can be achieved, in particular, with the help of modern drip irrigation systems, which make it possible to reduce water consumption by 30-50% compared to traditional irrigation methods. It is also important to conduct regular monitoring of the groundwater level and develop a system for their effective use. It has been proven that horticulture is an important branch of the economy, which ensures the cultivation of fruits, berries, nuts and other useful plants. However, at the same time, it can have a significant impact on the environment and natural resources. Therefore, to ensure the ecological and economic sustainability of horticulture development, it is necessary to take into account the ecological and economic aspects of growing plants. One of the main aspects is the preservation of soil fertility and its water-physical properties. Soil is an important resource that ensures plant development, water storage and carbon conservation. Growing plants can lead to loss of fertile soil, erosion, water and air pollution. In order to preserve the fertility of the soil, it is necessary to use environmentally friendly farming methods that reduce the impact of agrochemicals on the soil.

A decade-long study on the effect of furrow and subsurface drip irrigation using unconventional water on soil salinity and the growth of pistachio trees

Furrow irrigation is the most common method of irrigating pistachio orchards in Iran. Water use efficiency using this method of irrigation is close to 35%. Ten years ago, a subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) project was initiated with highly saline and alkaline water for the first time in Iran at the Feyzabad pistachio research station, at 34̊ 54ʹ 15ʺ N, 58̊ 45ʹ 37ʺ E, located in the northeast of Iran, at an altitude of 850 meters from the sea. The water salinity and sodium adsorption ratio were 11.5 dS m-1 and 15.5 at the beginning of the project, and they reached 16.25 dS m-1 and 17.7 in 2021. The amount of SDI water consumption in the first year of the project (2012) was 1640 m3 ha-1 yr-1, and as the trees aged, water consumption reached 3000 m3 ha-1 in 2022. The amount of water utilized for furrow irrigation was about 6912 m3 ha-1 in 2022. Salt entering the soil through irrigation water differed by about 41 t ha-1 in 2022 between the two methods. After ten years of project implementation, the root development layer was more than 100 cm and less than 50 cm, respectively, for SDI and furrow. The trend of soil salinity has changed from 2012 to 2022: it went from 34.7 dS m-1 in 2012 to 110 dS m-1 in 2018, and then decreased to 65 dS m-1 in 2022 in the surface layer of the SDI method. In contrast, salinity increased almost twofold within the root development layer (60-140 cm) in the SDI. In the last two years (2021 and 2022), the height, crown width, trunk circumference, and yield of the pistachio trees were not significantly different between the two irrigation methods. However, there was a significant difference in the irrigation treatments during the two last years (2021 and 2022) in the annual growth, the average number of flower buds in the branch, and the average number of flower buds abscised. The branch vegetative growth in 2022 had decreased by almost 50% compared to 2021 in both methods. The results showed that the lowest annual growth was achieved in the SDI in 2022. Overall, the efficiency of water consumption in the SDI and furrow was equal to 0.09 and 0.06 kg m3, respectively. SDI net income was 1284 $ higher after expenses were deducted from 2012 to 2022. Therefore, due to severe climate change and excessive salinity increase in soil and water resources, a well-managed SDI can provide a more sustainable production method for salt-affected soils for pistachio orchards by reducing water consumption and salt entry into the soil.

Enhanced Oil Recovery and CO2 Storage Performance in Continental Shale Oil Reservoirs Using CO2 Pre-Injection Fracturing

CO2 pre-injection fracturing is a promising technique for the recovery of continental shale oil. It has multiple advantages, such as oil recovery enhancement, CO2 geological storage and water consumption reduction. Compared with conventional CO2 huff and puff and flooding, CO2 pre-injection features higher injection rates and pressures, leading to EOR and improved CO2 storage performance. Combining physical experiments and numerical simulation, this research systematically investigated the EOR and storage performance of CO2 pre-injection in continental shale reservoirs. The results showed that CO2 pre-injection greatly improved the oil recovery; after seven cycles of soaking, the average oil recovery factor was 39.27%, representing a relative increase of 31.6% compared with that of the conventional CO2 huff and puff. With the increasing pressure, the CO2 solubility grew in both the oil and water, and so did the CO2 adsorption in shale. Numerical simulation indicated that the average CO2 storage ratio of the production stage was 76.46%, which validated the effectiveness of CO2 pre-injection in terms of CO2 geological storage.

Optimization of metals and rare earth elements leaching from spent Ni-MH batteries by response surface methodology

ABSTRACT The rechargeable battery market has almost doubled in 15 years. Regardless of the type of batteries, their limited lifespan means that sooner or later they will constitute a mass of waste whose management is problematic as their content is high in elements and metals of high economic interest, but also toxic to the environment. This project is to optimize the solubilization conditions for rare earth elements (REEs) and other metals from waste nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) batteries. The Ni-MH battery powder used contained the following main elements: Ni (548 g/kg), La (45 g/kg), Co (32 g/kg), Zn (22 g/kg), Nd (15 g/kg), Sm (12 g/kg), and Ce (11 g/kg). The metals were solubilized in the presence of sulfuric acid. Acid concentration, solids concentration, leaching time, and temperature were optimized using the Box–Behnken design methodology. The optimal conditions identified are an H2SO4 concentration of 2 M, a S:L ratio of 10% (w:v), a leaching temperature of 60°C and a reaction time of 90 min. These conditions make it possible to solubilize 81% Ni, 99% Co, and 70% REEs, while the mathematical model predicted 83% Ni, 100% Co, and 80% REEs respectively. The process was also operated in counter-current leaching mode with the optimal parameters. The high solubilized yields obtained after five loops for all metals, REE and the significant reduction of water consumption confirm that this process leaching can be apply for industrial application.

Renewable Energy Role in Climate Stabilization and Water Consumption Minimization in Jordan

Climate change is one of the most essential phenomena studied by several researchers in the last few decades. The main reason this phenomenon occurs is greenhouse gases (GHG), chiefly CO2 emissions. About 30% of the created GHG emissions are achieved by electricity generation. This article investigates the role of renewable energy projects in Jordan, specifically wind and solar energy, in mitigating climate change and water consumption reduction using RETScreen software. It was found that the cumulative water consumption reduction from 2017 to 2021 due to the use of wind and solar projects is equal to 6.9491 × 109 gallons. Finally, the results show that the future dependence on renewable energy projects in Jordan to meet the growth in demand by the year 2030 reduces the expected increment in the climate temperature by 1.047 °C by that year.

Water-energy nexus in the combined cycle power plant using energy, exergy, economic and environmental analyses

The growing demand for water and energy and the limitation on their resources necessitate comprehensive studies on the water-energy nexus from different aspects in large industries, especially power plants. In the present study, the water-energy nexus has been analyzed using energy, exergy, economic, and environmental analyses for the retrofit scenarios in a combined cycle power plant. The injection of boiler blow-down into the condenser will save 47809.5 m3 of make-up water and 1.115 million m3 of natural gas per year. Replacing the Maisotsenko evaporative cooler with the fogging system increases the revenue index and the water consumption index by 2.7%. The raw water is replaced with high-quality water. The output power of the combined cycle power plant is reduced by 2.1 MW (0.83%) due to the steam injection from the heat recovery boiler into the combustion chamber of the gas unit, while its exergy degradation rate is reduced by 8.5 MW (2.42%). Also, the efficiency of the first and second laws have been decreased by 0.49% and 0.4%, respectively. The results show that the recovery of boiler blow-down for condenser or steam injection into the combustion chamber of the gas unit from heat recovery of the boiler reduces water consumption and exergy destruction simultaneously. Using Maisotsenko cycle and steam injection into the combustion chamber of the gas unit from the heat recovery of boiler reduces the exergy destruction and NOx emissions. The present study provides useful insights to quantify the water-energy nexus for decision-makers in the industry to reach proper decisions according to the opportunities and limitations.

EVALUATION OF STRATEGIES FOR THE REDUCTION OF WATER CONSUMPTION IN REAL ESTATE PROJECTS

Activities related to the construction sector consume a large amount of water; consequently, it is imperative to quantify the amount of water used in each project phase. Particularly the operation of a real estate project is characterized by being much longer than the other project phases, resulting in significant water consumption. This work aims to evaluate the impact of strategies in reducing water consumption during the operation stage of real estate projects. To achieve this goal, a baseline scenario of water consumption was developed for the operation stage of the real estate projects in the city of Bogota, Colombia, from 2022 until 2050. Strategies used to reduce water consumption during the operation stage of real estate projects were implemented to the baseline to evaluate their impact. The cost of implementing each measure and the monetary benefits obtained were analyzed to quantify the effectiveness of each measure. The results of this work allow determine whether certain strategies will have a better impact in reducing water consumption and generating monetary savings.

ОЦЕНКА ВЛИЯНИЯ КАПЕЛЬНО-ДОЖДЕВАЛЬНОГО ОРОШЕНИЯ И ИМПУЛЬСНОГО ДОЖДЕВАНИЯ НА РОСТ, РАЗВИТИЕ И ПРОДУКТИВНОСТЬ ЯБЛОНЬ В УСЛОВИЯХ ЮГА КАЗАХСТАНА

In the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as in many countries located in the arid zone, ag-riculture is fundamental in economic development. Increasing water deficit requires reduction of water consumption in irrigated agriculture through introduction of technologies providing optimal conditions for growth and development of agricultural crops. Drip irrigation and sprinkling are promising technologies for optimizing the conditions for plant development. 
 Drip-sprinkler irrigation technology is aimed at increasing of irrigation water use effi-ciency under the main drip irrigation method and during high air temperatures (more than 25oC) to improve micro- and phytoclimate parameters in the period of additional sprinkling irrigation. 
 Impulse sprinkling improves the microclimate in the apple-trees development environment, water regime indicators of plants within day time in comparison with periodical regular sprinkling and increases the productivity of apple-trees.