Reliable Water Supply Research Articles

Transient-based multiple branch detection in reservoir pipeline valve systems

Efficient management of pipeline assets is crucial for a reliable urban water supply. Unknown side branches in pipeline systems can hinder the prediction of hydraulic transients, owing to unexpected pressure responses. Herein, we developed a method for detecting multiple side branches in a simple reservoir pipeline valve system. A polynomial-based transient characterization scheme was proposed to address nonlinear valve manoeuvres, which substantially improved the transient simulations over conventional orifice-based approximations. A procedure for pressure signal manipulation via the superimposition of pressure signals with and without branches and isolation of the interference between various branched elements, which distorted the pressure response of multiple branches, was introduced. The model performance was evaluated by comparing the interference-isolated signals obtained from the conventional method, proposed scheme, and experimental datasets. Effective phase matching of the pressure responses obtained via the proposed scheme and experimental data indicated the potential of the former for detecting multiple branches.

An Environmental Operation of Reservoirs through Linking Ecological Storage Model and Evolutionary Optimization

This study proposes an ecological reservoir operation by linking ecological model and optimization model of reservoir. A remote sensing based ecological model was developed in which water temperature and total dissolved solids were simulated in the surface layer of reservoir. Moreover, ecological suitability maps were generated by a fuzzy inference system in which water temperature and total dissolved solids were inputs and normalized suitability was output. An ecological reservoir operation model was developed consistent with the ecological model to minimize ecological suitability loss of the reservoir as well as water supply loss. Moreover, a non-ecological operation was developed to minimize water supply loss only. Reliability and vulnerability indices and average habitat suitability in the reservoir were applied to measure the performance of the optimization model. Results indicated that reliability of water supply is reduced 6% due to using ecological operation model of the reservoir. Furthermore, vulnerability of water supply is increased more than 14% using the ecological operation. In contrast, the average habitat suitability of the reservoir is increased more than 0.35 by ecological operation which means it is remarkably effective on mitigating ecological impacts. Based on case study results, applying ecological operation of the reservoir is necessary to mitigate the ecological impacts of the reservoir on the ecological sustainability of reservoirs as well as downstream. The proposed method is able to balance the habitat requirements and humans’ needs.

Effect of Deficit Irrigation on Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Yield and Water Use Efficiency in the Semi-Arid Region of Awash Basin, Ethiopia

Crop production is largely limited by water availability in arid and semi-arid regions of Ethiopia. Changing climate conditions and declining water resources demand appropriate approaches to improve crop yield and water use efficiency through a reduced and more reliable water supply. A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of limited irrigation water use on bread wheat production and water use efficiency under the semi-arid climate conditions of Awash basin of Ethiopia. Five irrigation levels, that is, full irrigation (100% ETc/control), 85% ETc, 70% ETc, 55% ETc, and 40% ETc, were evaluated using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replicates. Statistical analysis has shown a significant effect of irrigation levels on wheat grain yield, water use efficiency, economic profit, wheat grain quality, and aboveground biomass. The highest grain yield (5,085 kg ha−1) was obtained from 100% ETc irrigation application (i.e. 417.2 mm of water), and the lowest grain yield was obtained from 40% ETc (i.e. 223.7 mm of water) application. A deficit level of 85% ETc resulted in a yield that was comparable to that of full irrigation. Compared to other treatments, the 70% ETc application produced the highest water use efficiency (1.42 kg m−3). Using the saved water obtained from 70% ETc deficit irrigation application, 23.4% more wheat could be produced on 1.38 ha of land, resulting in the highest profit (US$2,563.9) and higher MRR (137%). The yield response factor and crop-water production function indicated that maintaining irrigation at optimal levels can prevent potential yield reductions. Consequently, a 70% ETc deficit irrigation application was found to be optimal for increasing wheat grain yield, water use efficiency, and economic benefits from irrigated wheat production. These results suggest that deficit irrigation for wheat under semi-arid climatic conditions is a viable irrigation management option for enhancing water use efficiency.

Innovative technologies and their implementation in the field of sanitation and water supply

Digitalization in the water supply and sanitation system refers to the introduction of modern digital technologies and solutions to enhance the efficiency and productivity of these systems. Numerous innovations and advanced technologies contribute to improving the efficiency, reliability, and environmental sustainability of water supply and sanitation systems. This includes the use of various water-saving technologies, ultrafiltration, remote monitoring and control systems, smart water meters, and more. To maximize the efficiency of the water supply and sanitation system, it is essential to integrate as many different innovative technologies as possible. The article identifies existing problems within the water supply and sanitation system and explores solutions through various innovations. It also discusses the innovative technologies already implemented in the system and how they contribute to its improved operation.

A Feasibility Study on the Implementation of a Solar Powered Water Desalination Plant

Water desalination plants powered by solar energy represent a viable solution for addressing a part of the water needs in areas without a reliable water supply. In this case extending the electric grid and water delivery to remote communities remain challenging for some countries. Using Namibia as a case study, this work carried out a feasibility study on the extent of which, solar energy could be used to power the entire desalination process thereby aiding groundwater usable for human consumption. This process includes but not limited to desalination of underground wells and boreholes as solution to the water shortage problem in remote places. In this study, a solar-powered desalination technique that could enhance the process of clean water provision to villagers is proposed. It further compares and analyzed various desalination technologies to determine the best fit based on the dryness of areas. Ohawuwanga Village in Namibia was used for evaluation purpose with a sampling instrument-questionnaire which determine the village's daily water consumption and corresponding power required. Modelling, simulation and analysis of the system was carried out using MATLAB Simulink in terms of energy consumption. Other parameters considered in this research are cost, water recovery ratio, salt removal factor, durability and market analysis. The research revealed that electrodialysis is the best technology for desalination in terms of efficient power consumption amidst other factors compared.

Water quality assessment monitoring system using fuzzy logic and the internet of things

Water utilization has recently been at its highest level of demand. The water needed to be clean, healthy, and determined to be suitable for consumption. Therefore, it is necessary to have a system that can monitor the water quality so thatinformation related to wate r suitability can be received regularly and in real-time. This paper addresses the critical need for real-time water quality monitoring systems. This study proposed a novel approach integrating the Tsukamoto fuzzy algorithm into an internet of things (IoT)-based framework, forming part of the Fuzzy Inference System. Our system serves as a decision support tool, enabling continuous assessment of water quality. The method categorizes water quality into three levels: good, moderate, and unhealthy, providing timely and precise suitability information. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the fuzzy logic method in delivering accurate output. Through remotely deployed IoT devices, water suitability and status can be monitored and analyzed in real-time over the internet. This research bridges the gap between traditional water quality assessment methods and the demands of our modern, technology-driven society, ensuring a reliable supply of safe and consumable water.

Analysis of Stormwater and Rainwater Harvesting Potential Based on a Daily Water Balance Model: A Case Study of Korea

The increasing intensity of rainfall resulting from climate change is projected to worsen the inundation of urban areas by floods. As a viable alternative, stormwater harvesting presents an opportunity to enhance water supply reliability while reducing pressure on both water resources and urban stormwater drainage systems. The stored rainwater can be supplied with a radius of one kilometer around the storage facility, so less pumping energy is consumed compared to supplying the stored rainwater far away from the storage facilities. To visually depict the characteristics of the selected storage facility, land cover maps were created using ArcGIS. These maps were created for a circular region with a radius of one kilometer around each studied storage facility. In this study, a daily water balance model was formulated using spreadsheets to assess the potential of harvesting stormwater and rainwater for various pre-existing storage facilities. Five different types of storage facilities were selected for this study. The term “SRWH facility evaluation criteria” as a whole is used for the storm or rain (SR) water supply satisfaction rate, the SR guarantee rate, and the SR utilization rate. The results provide evidence that, for each selected studied storage facility, the SR water guarantee rate can potentially surpass 70% under conditions of low water demand. Moreover, we investigated the potential of the existing storage facilities to work as multifunctional resources, while the original purpose for which each facility was constructed remains un-affected.

Thermal Performance Analysis of U-pipe Evacuated Tube Solar Heater System with and without PCM

The study presents a comprehensive thermal performance analysis of a U-pipe Evacuated Tube Solar Collector (U-ETSC) system, integrated with Phase Change Material (PCM), for satisfying water demand in domestic applications. The innovative approach of incorporating PCM aims to enhance the system's efficiency during night or off-sunny hours, addressing a common limitation in solar heater systems. The research primarily focuses on the impact of varying mass flow rates of the heat transfer fluid (HTF) on the thermal dynamics of the system. Experimental results reveal that as the mass flow rates of HTF increase from 0.5 to 1 and then to 1.5 liters per minute, there is a notable change in the phase transition times of the PCM. Specifically, the melting time of the PCM is increased by 13% and 16% for the respective flow rates, suggesting a delayed response in energy absorption. Conversely, the solidification time of the PCM is reduced by 16% and 18% respectively, indicating a faster release of stored thermal energy. This behavior underscores the PCM's significant role in stabilizing the system's thermal output during varying solar intensities. The findings of this study highlight the potential of integrating PCM in U-ETSC systems to achieve a more consistent and reliable supply of hot water for domestic purposes, especially during periods when solar irradiance is low or absent.

Evaluating the Major Sources of Surface Water Quality in Pokhara Metropolitan City, Gandaki Province, Nepal

The Mardi Watershed serves as a crucial source of drinking water for Pokhara Metropolitan City (PMC), Gandaki Province, Nepal, offering a wide range of ecosystem services including fishing, tourism, transportation, livestock support, and, notably, clean drinking water. However, the main river and its tributaries face degradation due to a blend of human and natural impacts. This comprehensive study rigorously examines the physicochemical and biological attributes that define water quality within the watershed. Recognizing the global importance of water quality for human well-being, this investigation specifically evaluates the suitability of water for drinking purposes. Twenty-three samples were collected and subjected to analysis for the twenty-one distinct physicochemical parameters. The analysis covers physicochemical parameters such as pH, water temperature, conductivity, total dissolved solids, alkalinity as well as concentrations of ions such as calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+), sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), ammonium (NH4+), nitrate (NO3-), bicarbonate (HCO3-), sulfate (SO42-), and phosphate (PO43-), free carbon dioxide (CO2), chloride (Cl-), total hardness (TH), calcium hardness (CaH), magnesium hardness (MgH), iron (Fe2+), turbidity (Turb.) Simultaneously, biological markers including total coliforms were assessed. The overall water quality aligns with the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, a significant exception lies in microbial indicators. Microbial presence, likely a result of increasing anthropogenic pressures, is relatively elevated in most samples. Furthermore, the cumulative outcome reveals a Water Quality Index (WQI) of 22.04, indicating excellent suitability for drinking. Since, effective management strategies are crucial for ensuring a consistent and sustainable supply of potable water to the urban population, information obtained through this study can contribute to the sustainable management of water quality and maintaining a reliable supply of safe drinking water to urban communities.

Improving Water Distribution Network Models with Data Assimilation: Unleashing the Power of Real-Time Improvements

Ensuring a reliable water supply in the face of changing conditions and growing demand is a critical global challenge. Water distribution networks (WDNs) are essential infrastructure, but traditional modeling methods based on historical data often struggle to adapt in real-time and integrate new information. In order to lower model errors in WDN models, this study explores the use of a Data Assimilation (DA) method that makes use of the Ensemble Kalman Filter. The study explores the effectiveness of the DA method, and a novel Greedy Algorithm (GA) for optimizing the location of sensors. The study shows that the DA method improves the WDN model and the GA is able to successfully determine optimal sensor locations. It was observed that increasing the number of sensors in the WDN increased the effectiveness of the DA method. This study highlights the potential of data assimilation to improve WDN modeling. Water utilities can gain from more precise predictions, greater system performance, and efficient decision-making for the management and maintenance of water distribution networks by allowing models to adapt and improve dynamically

Studying the impacts of deep uncertainties on water resources system in Ba River Basin through the combined use of a climate stress-test and land use change

Study regionBa River Basin, Viet Nam. Study focusThe impacts of deep uncertainties on the water resources system in the Ba River Basin are explored through the combined use of a climate stress-test and land use change. The performance of the water resources system is assessed using water supply reliability under various climate conditions and land use. A MIKE HYDRO Basin model is developed with 7 irrigation regions, 45 irrigation users, 8 regular users, 48 reservoirs, and 10 hydropower plants. 40 different combinations of climate conditions and land use change were simulated. New hydrological insights for the regionClimatic and land use change is expected to reduce water supply reliability in the river basin by between 2.1% and 5.2%. The most significant reliability decrease is in Nam Bac An Khe (−29.4%), while the most increase is in Upper Ayun (+10.9%). The spatial variation of climatic change impact is high and is reflected in the reliability range. The reliability range of Upper Ayun and Ayun Pa is narrow (1.2% in Upper Ayun and 0.7% in Ayun Pa). In contrast, the reliability range of Nam Bac An Khe, Krong Pa, Krong Hnang, and Upper Dong Cam is wide (14.3% in Nam Bac An Khe, 12.7% in Krong Pa, 12.4% in Krong Hnang, 11.7% in Upper Dong Cam, and 3.4% in Lower Dong Cam).

Water quantity–quality assessment in the transboundary river basin under climate change: a case study

Abstract This study combined hydrological and water quality simulation models with a water resources planning model to project future water supply conditions under the dam construction in the Harirud River, located at the Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, and the Iran border. The sustainability requirements and possible conflicts among riparian countries were assessed under climate change and future development in Afghanistan's upstream. The water quantity and quality of the Doosti Dam Basin on the Harirud River were investigated based on a contemporary time (1955–2015) to predict the future condition (2020–2099). The representative concentration pathway scenarios were applied based on five bias-corrected climate models. Results showed that most areas of the study area experienced an increase in temperature (1.5–3.8°C) and a decrease in precipitation (19–24%). The Doosti Dam inflow decreased by about 70% after the Salma Dam construction, and the reliability and sustainability of agricultural water supply in Iran and Turkmenistan will reduce to less than 3% under the representative concentration pathways 8.5 climate change scenario. The results show that the Doosti Dam is not a reliable source to supply the domestic water demand of Mashhad, the second most important city in Iran.

Development of a novel power and freshwater cogeneration plant driven by hybrid geothermal and biomass energy

The reliable supply of electricity and potable water has crucial importance on achieving higher level of human welfare, where the primary energy source to provide these requirements is fossil fuels at present. Since the combustion of fossil fuels has irreparable environmental impacts, thus utilization of clean and renewable energy resources is a promising alternative to overcome the energy-related environmental issues. In this regard, present research aims at development of an effective co-generation of electricity and freshwater plant driven by hybrid geothermal and biomass renewable energy sources. To make a comprehensive system assessment, thermodynamic, exergy, environmental and economic aspects are considered and appraised in detail and multi-objective optimization is used to detect the best performance of the plant. The results indicated feasibility of hybridization of biomass and geothermal resources for efficient co-production of potable water and electricity. Under optimized operation, the plant exergetic efficiency, unit product cost, exergo-environmental index, and CO2 emission are found to be 44.12 %, 66.97 $/MWh, 0.5114 and 0.7105 kg/kWh, respectively. The second law analysis revealed that, from 18302 kW of input exergy, a value of 9357 kW is destructed within the components, where the gasifier owns the largest portion with 3569 kW.

Climate Change Impact On Upper Layang Reservoir Operation

The goal of reservoir operation policies is to get the most out of the water that can be stored and delivered as a water supply. Water shortages and floods may become more common in Malaysia because of climate change and global warming. The biggest impediment to developing reliable water storage and supplies in Sg Layang Reservoir, Johor, Malaysia, is a lack of water. Forecasting reservoir water levels is critical for storage management, particularly in water supply systems. As a result, the objective of this research is to create a reservoir simulation model using the Hydrologic Modeling System (HEC-HMS) to generate water levels to compare with observed water levels and to predict water levels using input variables such as future daily rainfall to examine the reservoir’s performance under changing conditions. Rainfall data from 2011 is utilized to calibrate the system, while data from 2012 to 2013 is used to validate it. The observed rainfall data was applied to the Sungai Layang watershed region. The correlation coefficient, R2, was employed to show the watershed’s best value. The calibration procedure has an R2 of 0.91, whereas the validation procedure has an R2 of 0.88. The accuracy of the model is satisfactory, as the R2 is near to 1.0, and calibration parameters can be employed in the following design processes, according to the analysis completed by HEC-HMS applications. The simulation was carried out using the same parameters in 2017, 2030, and 2050 with four distinct scenarios to evaluate water level behavior using future rainfall data. According to the simulation, most of the water level in the future will be below the crucial threshold of 23.5m. The findings reveal that climate change has an impact on reservoir functioning in terms of rainfall intensity.

The use of temporary, permeable structures in the lower burdekin river: A novel approach to river-level management

A review of in-channel structures finds a wide range of purposes, including enhancement of the storage capacity of rivers to improve water supply reliability and/or flood protection, and various other hydro-ecological, water quality, geomechanical and sediment transport functions. The installation of in-channel structures is typically intended to be permanent, or at least semi-permanent. The purpose of this note is to document the novel use of temporary in-channel structures in the lower reaches of the Burdekin River, within the Australian dry tropics. Their application reduces freshwater discharge to the sea during low-flow periods thereby enhancing the sustainability of irrigated agriculture within the Lower Burdekin Delta. Temporary structures are constructed in the Burdekin River to enhance the reliability of pumping stations by raising the river level locally and preventing sea water from reaching extraction points. The structures are designed to restrict river flow only partially during low-flow periods and to wash away during high-flow events, which provides several benefits, including the passage of riverine fauna and reduced river siltation. The long-term utilisation (1950s to present) of temporary structures in the Burdekin River is testament to their successful implementation, which may offer benefits over permanent structures for other dry-tropical regions.

The Failure Risk Analysis of the Water Supply Network

The primary objective of this work is to introduce a novel approach that modifies the method for analyzing and assessing the risk of water supply network failure. The approach aligns with recommendations from the World Health Organization and the European Union regarding the reliability and safety of water supply to consumers. The presented method for assessing the risk in the water distribution subsystem was based on the vulnerability identifying method (VIM) and involves the determination of the vulnerability index (VI). The VIM vulnerability factors considered encompass the failure rate, chemical stability of water, and issues related to water corrosion properties in water distribution subsystems. The obtained risk assessment includes parameters such as the probability of hazard occurrence, the consequences of these hazards, and vulnerability to them. This concept was evaluated using real operational data from the water distribution subsystem. The estimated risk level, under the given operating conditions, indicates its acceptability.

Cape Town residents’ willingness to pay for a secure and ‘green’ water supply

The City of Cape Town experienced a serious drought between 2016 and 2018 which led to severe water shortages and concerns for the environment. This study took advantage of a period of unprecedented levels of awareness about water security in order to investigate households’ willingness to pay (WTP) for reliable water supply and their WTP to avoid environmental damages in securing this supply. Increasing the supply of water from dams and groundwater will ultimately impact on aquatic ecosystems, but alternatives are more expensive. We surveyed 248 households from 105 suburbs and used contingent valuation methods to investigate WTP for both secure and less damaging or ‘greener’ ways of supplying water. Depending on income level, households were willing to pay 63–127% more for their normal levels of consumption in order to have security of supply, and a further 35–68% more to ensure its environmental sustainability. Based on the relationship between WTP for 7 income categories, the overall WTP for secure water supply under non-drought conditions amounted to some 2.8 billion ZAR/year, which is about 90% higher than pre-drought revenues. Aggregate WTP for securing this supply using options that ensured the protection of the region’s rivers and estuaries was 3.3 billion ZAR. These results have an important bearing on water investment and pricing decisions over the longer term.

The influence of the static component of the water supply network on the change in the power consumption of the pumping unit with frequency control

RELEVANCE. The effective functioning of urban water supply systems plays an important role in maintaining the normal life of cities and towns. Of particular importance is the management of pressure and the optimization of hydraulic regimes in water-wired networks, since they directly affect the reliability of water supply and the efficient use of resources. However, the determination of the optimal parameters and methods of regulation in each specific case requires careful research and analysis. In the context of a constant increase in requirements for automation of water supply and growing investments in its infrastructure, the problem of a correct feasibility study for such investments is of particular relevance.PURPOSE. For smooth regulation of the pressure characteristic of the pump in the conditions of the need to maintain a given pressure of the water supply network, frequency converters are widely used. In the context of the significance of an accurate assessment of investment costs for the automation of pumping units, it becomes necessary to obtain equations that take into account the features of the operation of the water supply network at the pre-design stage. In this regard, the authors of the article set themselves the goal of studying the degree of influence of the static component of the water supply network on the change in the power consumption of the pumping unit with frequency regulation and testing the obtained dependencies on real statistics of the water and energy consumption modes of the Sozh water intake of the Gomel water utility.METHODS. To solve the tasks, classical formulas of similarity of the pumping unit were used, reflecting the relationship between flow, pressure and power consumption. The mean squared error, the mean absolute error and the average absolute error in percentages were used as the evaluation metric for verifying the electric power supply model of the pumping unit.RESULTS. The study demonstrates a significant improvement in the accuracy of power consumption modeling when using a modified coefficient reflecting the degree of power change when the frequency of the supply network changes. When using this approach, the standard error is reduced more than twice, from 0.35 to 0.167, the average absolute error is reduced from 0.347 to 0.165, and the average absolute percentage error is reduced from 0.20% to 0.08%.CONCLUSION The conducted research confirms the effectiveness of the use of frequency control of pumping units, which provides a nonlinear change in electrical power, and demonstrates the possibility of more accurate forecasting of electricity consumption, taking into account the specifics of the water supply network. The results of this work can be useful for projects to optimize urban water supply systems, providing more accurate planning and use of resources.

Developing a primal-dual algorithm for optimal planning of groundwater resources

Abstract The exploitation of water resources to provide water for agriculture follows methods that increase the efficiency of adopted policies. One of the effective ways to improve the efficiency of these systems is to evaluate the role of flow estimation in improving performance indicators such as reliability and vulnerability. In the correlation of water, energy and food, the purpose of decision-making is to achieve a balance between water extraction and energy consumption, which will lead to a reduction in the risk of supplying the water needed by the plant during periods of drought stress. In this article, a decision-making method using discrete wavelet transform and primal-dual algorithm is introduced to estimate the amount of monthly groundwater extraction. The proposed model has been evaluated by the Nash–Sutcliffe method and the mean squared error and optimized to increase the reliability of agricultural water supply. The results indicate the strong role of the accuracy of the proposed method in the efficiency of the aforementioned policies, as it has shown an 8% increase in reliability.

Sand dam contributions to year-round water security monitored through telemetered handpump data

Sand dams are a form of rainwater harvesting, prolific in arid and semi-arid lands. Water is provided partly via handpumps, which, as the only improved method of abstraction from sand dams, are important for drinking water security. Accelerometers and cellular transmitters were fitted to 30 handpumps by the Africa Sand Dam Foundation (ASDF) in 2019 to monitor the use and reliability of the handpumps by recording hourly water volume abstracted. Data from April 2019 to October 2021 for 26 of these sites, alongside qualitative data, were analysed and each handpump’s contribution to year-round water security was explored, focusing on the long dry season when water supply from other sources is compromised. ion was over 20 times higher in the long dry season than in any other season, and at sites with higher salinity, higher livestock use, and larger dam wall area. At 21 wells, abstraction was still being recorded at the end of at least one long dry season; however, high spatial and temporal heterogeneity between pumps and seasons means that not all sand dams deliver reliable water supply year-round. Quantifying the contribution that sand dams make to water security is crucial for understanding their resilience against a changing climate and can aid decision makers when choosing the most appropriate water management technique. Knowledge of temporal and site heterogeneity in abstraction can inform when other water sources need increasing and can help with sand dam design optimisation. Overall, our results indicate the positive contribution that sand dams make to year-round water security through the water that is abstracted through handpumps.