Water Scarcity Situation Research Articles

Integrated Water Resources Management for Implementing Sustainable Energy Development—Challenges and Perspectives in Poland

Climate change causes a problem for the energy system in Poland, which is based on the availability of water resources throughout the year. In situations of water scarcity resulting from increased demand or due to water deficits caused by the phenomenon of drought, it is necessary to develop efficient management methods that take into account the needs of all stakeholders and obtaining approval for new investments. The principles of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) enable this efficiency to be achieved. The research used 51 questions in 3 surveys to assess the potential for IWRM implementation in 3 catchments located in an area of southern and south-western Poland with different topography, regional and socio-economic characteristics, i.e., the Białka (tourism domination), the Nysa Kłodzka (potential for hydropower) and the Widawa (lowland character). In order to interpret the results, the author’s method of grouping survey questions from different sources was applied. The results of the study showed that there is considerable social potential and willingness to develop cooperation between different stakeholder groups but there are barriers related to the state of knowledge and its transfer between stakeholders. It is important not to ignore the stakeholders whose resistance can effectively delay investment processes.

Effect of Deficit Irrigation on Agronomic and Physiological Performance of Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.).

Agriculture accounts for over 70% of global freshwater consumption, with increasing competition for water resources due to climate change and rising urban and industrial demands. This study analyzes the effect of deficit irrigation (DI) on the agronomic and physiological performance of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) in a Mediterranean climate. Deficit irrigation strategies, including sustained deficit irrigation (SDI) and regulated deficit irrigation (RDI), were evaluated against a control with full irrigation. The research was conducted over two growing seasons (2022-2023) at the Cajamar Experimental Centre in Paiporta, Valencia, Spain. RDI strategies achieved approximately 10% water savings without compromising marketable yield or fruit weight, while SDI resulted in significant water savings (~50%) but with a notable reduction in marketable yield, particularly in hot and dry conditions. SDI also reduced tree growth in height and trunk diameter compared to RDI and control strategies. The study concludes that RDI is a viable irrigation strategy for pomegranate cultivation under water-limited conditions, whereas SDI should be reserved for situations of severe water scarcity.

Using Non Parametric Approach to Explore Groundwater use Efficiency of Spring Maize in Bari Doab, Punjab Pakistan

In this contemporary world, researcher and policy makers are trying hard to nourish the expanding population in long term. One school of thought is trying to cope with the scenario of diversifying individual’s diet and other is emphasizing on increasing supply of food. With the passage of time extra food is the prime need keeping in view limited resources. In agriculture water is a significant player but alarming situation of water scarcity is adversely affecting the fate of Pakistan’s agriculture. Without improving production efficiencies, we could not meet the need of future generation. Present research is conducted with the intention to quantify the irrigation water used by spring maize and to investigate the various factors affecting the water use efficiency of spring maize in Bari doab. Primary data of 312 respondents from head middle and tail (104 from each location) of Depalpur distributary (District Okara) were surveyed by employing Multistage sampling technique. Results indicated that, on an average, 2915 m3 per acre of water was used to produce spring maize in the study area. Farmer residing in the middle location of the irrigation system achieved 83 percent of groundwater use efficiency. Farming experience, schooling years, tube well ownership, watercourse lining, and quality of subsoil water had a positive and statistical significant impact on groundwater use efficiency, while farm size had a negative influence on efficiency. Policy recommendation includes Government may invest in lining of watercourses to improve groundwater use efficiency of the farmers.

Water Pricing and Quotas: A Quantitative Analysis from a Private and Social Perspective

The current situation of structural water scarcity due to the rise in demand, the reduction in supply as a consequence of climate change, increasingly frequent drought periods, and overall quantitative pressure on water resources creates a need for economic instruments to reduce the amount of water used, especially in the agricultural sector. Thus, water pricing and allocation quotas (proportional reduction of allocations) may be suitable tools to reduce demand or allocate scarce water resources. For a comparative analysis of the performance of these two measures, a Positive Mathematical Programming model has been developed, using the Guadalquivir River Basin as a case study. Additionally, the analysis takes into account the revenue generated from water pricing and the marginal cost of public funds. The results indicate that, from the farmer’s perspective, quotas result in smaller losses than water pricing. However, when considering water pricing along with the revenue generated from this measure, this mechanism would be more beneficial for society as a whole, since the taxes collected could be used for other purposes, albeit with efficiency losses measured by the marginal cost of public funds and the excess burden of taxation.

Effects of water scarcity awareness and climate change belief on recycled water usage willingness: Evidence from New Mexico, United States

The global water crisis is being exacerbated by climate change, even in the United States. Recycled water is a feasible alternative to alleviate the water shortage, but it is constrained by humans’ perceptions. The current study examines how residents’ water scarcity awareness and climate change belief influence their willingness to use recycled water directly and indirectly. Bayesian Mindsponge Framework (BMF) analytics was employed on a dataset of 1831 residents in Albuquerque, New Mexico, an arid inland region in the US. We discovered that residents’ willingness to use direct recycled potable water is positively affected by their awareness of water scarcity, but the effect is conditional on their belief in the impacts of climate change on the water cycle. Meanwhile, the willingness to use indirect recycled potable water is influenced by water scarcity awareness, and the belief in climate change further enhances this effect. These findings implicate that fighting climate change denialism and informing the public of the water scarcity situation in the region can contribute to the effectiveness and sustainability of long-term water conservation and climate change alleviation efforts.

Placing civil society in water security governance: challenges and opportunities for engagement

ABSTRACT Achieving water security requires action at all levels of governance, and cooperation among state and non-state actors, including civil society. However, in many places, participatory arrangements to enable cooperation, such as river basin committees or water user groups, have not been created, due to resource constraints or scepticism regarding their effectiveness. Here, we develop a typology of five key ‘governance actions’ that non-state actors may undertake to address environmental problems. We apply this typology to empirical findings from a water scarcity situation in Johor, Malaysia, where subnational civil society actors undertook a range of responses. The analysis reveals that, despite the absence of formal engagement mechanisms, civil society positively contributed to the governance of water security through ‘defining issues’, ‘creating and sharing knowledge’ and ‘taking independent action’ that could potentially inform wider practice, but faced challenges in ‘monitoring and evaluating’ or otherwise providing a critical perspective on impacts of water insecurity. The findings indicate possibilities for place-based and interest-based partnerships between government and civil society, and for supporting vertical relationships among civil society actors operating at different levels of governance. The study contributes to debates around power relations, knowledge sharing, and decision making across multilevel environmental governance.

Surface and subsurface flow of a glacierised catchment in the cold-arid region of Ladakh, Trans-Himalaya

Hydrological assessments of high-altitude catchments in Trans-Himalayan Ladakh are necessary for a better understanding of water availability in the context of irrigated cultivation under conditions of insufficient quantitative information on cryospheric meltwater discharge. In this study, an integrated spatially distributed temperature index model and a coupled surface/subsurface flow model were used to simulate daily, seasonal, and annual surface and subsurface flows to assess the proportion of corresponding source contributors from the Stok catchment. Snow and glacier meltwater discharge secures irrigated agriculture of more than 300 households in this catchment. The models were forced by temperature, precipitation, ice- and snow-covered areas at daily time steps with calibration (2019; 108 days) and validation (2018; 93 days) against the observed discharge. The simulated discharge shows a good agreement with the observed discharge with R2 and RMSE of 0.8 (p < 0.01) and 0.6 m3/s, respectively. The results between 2003 and 2019 show that the snowmelt contribution to the total annual discharge is largest with 65 %, followed by glacier melt and rainfall contributions of approximately 19 % and 16 %, respectively. A reduction in glacierised areas by 4.2 % was observed while snow-covered areas showed high inter-annual variation. Simulated subsurface flow makes up 62 % (mean = 37.2 × 106 m3) of the total discharge with less inter-annual variation. The simulation suggests that while surface flow ceases during the winter period and peaks in August, the annualized mean flow amounts to ∼23.7 × 106 m3. More than 50 % of the melt occurs in the summer months of June, July and August, when the intensity of snowmelt, ice melt, and rainfall reach its maximum. The findings of this study on meltwater availability and surface/subsurface flow is important for irrigated agriculture of Stok village on a local scale, and it might also help to better understand socio-hydrological dynamics and situations of water scarcity in the wider cold-arid region of Ladakh.

Evaluate and design public policies to address water supply and quality issues in the water crisis in Monterrey and its metropolitan areas

The present article focuses on the evaluation and design of public policies aimed at addressing the issues of water availability and quality in the water crisis affecting Monterrey and its metropolitan area. As water demand has increased due to population growth and urban development, a situation of water scarcity has emerged, posing a threat to water security and the well-being of the region. The implementation of effective public policies on water is crucial to confront this crisis. Through rigorous evaluation of water availability and quality, it becomes possible to identify problem areas and sources of contamination, enabling concrete measures to be taken for mitigation and control. Additionally, appropriate design of public policies promotes water conservation, encourages sustainable water management practices, and establishes governance mechanisms to ensure their implementation. The successful implementation of these public policies entails a range of benefits and utilities. Firstly, it ensures the provision of potable water to the population, meeting their basic needs and improving their quality of life. Moreover, it promotes the conservation of water resources, preventing their overexploitation and ensuring long-term availability. Furthermore, it prevents water pollution, preserving its quality and safeguarding the health of the inhabitants. Encouraging results have been observed as a result of the implementation of effective public policies. There has been a decrease in water scarcity and an improvement in the quality of water available for human consumption and industrial use. Additionally, citizen participation and community engagement in water management have been promoted, strengthening the region's resilience to future water challenges.

Review of water scarcity assessments: Highlights of Mexico's water situation

AbstractThis article examines the situation of water scarcity and security in Mexico, with a focus on the drinking water supply issue in rural communities and the challenges posed by assessment methodologies. We conducted a comprehensive literature review to update the available information on the water crisis in Mexico and its impact on rural communities in the country, as well as the methodologies employed to assess water security and the methodological challenges associated with them. Among the most noteworthy findings is the persistent challenge in evaluating water scarcity and its implications for communities, due to the lack of consensus on the most precise methodology. Nevertheless, current methodological approaches suggest the integration of physical models with pertinent social, economic, and political data. The literature broadly agrees on the severity of the water scarcity crisis and the clear link between rural poverty and inadequate access to drinking water. Water scarcity is both a contributing factor to and a consequence of poverty, stemming from a complex interplay of socioeconomic pressures, inadequate institutional responses, and deficient water management. The paper concludes that water scarcity involves intricate interactions among various factors, encompassing physical water scarcity, pollution, and the impacts of climate change on the water cycle, and most critically, the complexities inherent in water management and regulatory frameworks. Therefore, the integration of well‐informed policies, effective management practices, and collaborative efforts is crucial for ensuring a prosperous and sustainable future. Effective water management can effectively mitigate the challenges of water scarcity and alleviate poverty.This article is categorized under: Engineering Water &gt; Water, Health, and Sanitation Human Water &gt; Rights to Water Science of Water &gt; Water and Environmental Change

Effect of Deficit Irrigation and Intercrop Competition on Productivity, Water Use Efficiency and Oil Quality of Chia in Semi-Arid Regions

Intercropping offers greater scope to introduce new crops. Cultivation of crops with diverse root architecture and different durations enhances the productivity of scarce resources like land and water. This study aimed to determine the effect of intercrop competition and irrigation regimes on yield, competition, land usage, irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE), and fatty acids of chia. The field experiment was conducted in semi-arid India during 2020–2022 with full (I100) and deficit irrigation (I50) and six intercrops. Results demonstrated that chia + fenugreek intercropping in I50 improved the crops’ competitiveness, land equivalent ratio (LER) (1.77), land use efficiency (142.5%), and the IWUE of chia (23.2%). Notably, a chia + radish/spinach system in I50 reduced the seed yield (42.6–45.0%) of chia over I100 monocropping. A chia + fenugreek system in I50 resulted in a higher seed yield (196.2 kg ha−1) than chia monocropping in I100. Further, chia + fenugreek intercropping resulted in higher omega-3 content (56.68%) under I100. Therefore, a chia + fenugreek system under I100 may be suggested over monocropping for better yield and oil quality. However, during water scarcity situations, growers can adopt a chia + fenugreek system under I50 which can give a similar chia equivalent yield and a higher LER and IWUE compared to chia monocropping under I100.

Water scarcity and COVID-19 mortality in rural chilean areas

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus around the world in March 2020, severely affected many areas of people’s life and health. Among the main ways to prevent its spread is by washing hands and food with soap and water. However, the latter is scarce in several municipalities of Chile, highlighting the difficulties of water supply at a national level. This work investigates the relationship between municipalities decreed by the government as being in a situation of water scarcity and the COVID-19 mortality levels found in rural areas between March 2020 and June 2021. Statistical data were used from different databases to correlate mortality rates with the level of municipal development and access to a drinking water network. A negative correlation was obtained between high COVID-19 mortality and low levels of communal development and connection to the drinking water network. As a result, it is deemed necessary to take into account geographical variables, such as water scarcity, in the generation of public health policies and water resource management.

The impact of human activities on blue-green water resources and quantification of water resource scarcity in the Yangtze River Basin

Under the influence of climate change and human activities, water scarcity and uneven spatial distribution have become critical factors constraining societal development and threatening ecological security. Accurately assessing changes in blue and green water resources (BW and GW) caused by human activities can reveal the actual situation of water scarcity. However, previous research often overlooked the calibration of GW and human water usage, and it rarely delved into the primary human factors leading to water scarcity and potential impact mechanisms. Therefore, based on the PCR-GLOBWB model that considers human impacts, and with reasonable calibration of B/GW and human water usage, hydrological processes were simulated under both human-influenced and natural conditions. A comprehensive assessment of the impact of human activities on BW and GW was conducted. The results show that: (1) BW and GW exhibit a spatial pattern of increasing from northwest to southeast in the basin. From 1961 to 2020, the proportion of BW showed an upward trend, while GW was decreasing; (2) The impact of human activities on changes in water resources is mainly concentrated in the midstream and dowmstream of the basin. Due to human influences, the green water flow (GWF) increased by 3–24.4 mm, and the BW volume increased by 67.2–146.4 mm. However, the green water storage (GWS) decreased by 5.6–75.4 mm; (3) The impact of human activities on blue water scarcity (BWscarcity) is significantly greater than green water scarcity (GWscarcity). The worsening of GWscarcity does not exceed 0.2, while areas where BW reaches significant deterioration (BWscarcity > 1.5) account for 1.3 %, 9.8 %, and 17 % of the upstream, midstream and downstream, respectively. (4) Irrigation activities are the main factor causing water resource scarcity. In the future, it is important to reasonably develop the potential for GW utilization and optimize BW management measures to address water resource crises.

A copula-based parametric composite drought index for drought monitoring and applicability in arid Central Asia

Due to the complexity of meteorological and hydrological conditions in a changing environment, previous drought indices for monitoring a specific drought type do not reflect the overall regional situation of water scarcity. Therefore, in order to obtain accurate and reliable drought monitoring, a more integrated drought index should be developed to identify drought events comprehensively. In this paper, a non-linear trivariate drought index (NTDI) was constructed based on the joint probability distribution of parametric copulas, combining precipitation (P), potential evapotranspiration (PET), and root zone soil moisture (SM) variables. Subsequently, it was respectively compared with four drought indices, SPEI, SSMI, SC-PDSI and TVDI, and cross-validated with actual recorded drought events and annual crop yield to evaluate its applicability in arid Central Asia (ACA). The results indicated that: (1) Frank copula (1-,3-month scale) and Gumbel copula (6-,12-month scale) were considered to be the best-fitted copula functions for constructing joint probability distributions in the ACA. (2) The NTDI integrated the P-PET and SM drought signals to sensitively capture drought onset and duration, reflecting the combined characteristics of meteorological and agricultural drought. (3) The drought information expressed by NTDI was generally consistent with recorded drought events, and the monitoring results are accurate. (4)The NTDI performed better in agricultural drought monitoring than other drought indices. This study provides a reliable multivariate composite indicator which is significant for drought monitoring, prevention and risk assessment in ACA.

Human mobility and environmental degradation: Shaping rural Morocco

AbstractEnvironmental degradation constitutes a disruptive force in man‐made and natural systems. The projected duplication of the frequency and duration of meteorological drought will contribute to a situation of water scarcity, which is expected to negatively impact the agricultural sector. This study focuses on Souss‐Massa, Morocco, a leading agricultural region, and it seeks to map how human mobility fits within a wider adaptation response to environmental degradation. Over 30 semi‐structured interviews were conducted with internal migrants and members of rural communities on the perceived impacts of environmental degradation and human mobility. Most of the interviewees perceive a reduction in the available water, and the agricultural sector is the most severely affected by those changes. Internal migration is the most frequent adaptation strategy mentioned, and the remittances it originates are supporting the communities of origin facing a deterioration of agricultural output.

Shape-Memory Three-Dimensional Evaporators with High Portability for Efficient Solar-Driven Freshwater Production.

Solar-driven water evaporation can alleviate the severe water scarcity situation in a nonpolluting and sustainable manner. Although the design of integrated three-dimensional (3D) solar evaporators has been proven to be effective in achieving ultrahigh evaporation rates and energy efficiency, their scalable application is still hindered by complex manufacturing processes and poor portability. Herein, we report a highly portable shape-memory 3D solar evaporator by depositing MXene on low-cost lignin-cellulosic sponges for freshwater production. When not in use, the 3D evaporator can be compressed into a thin film with up to 89.3% volume reduction, ensuring minimal space occupation and high portability. When needed, due to the shape-memory effect, the 3D structure can be rapidly restored by swelling the compressed film in water, resulting in an efficient 3D solar evaporator. This 3D evaporator exhibits not only a high evaporation rate of 2.48 kg m-2 h-1 under 1 sun illumination but also excellent long-term stability and recyclability. In addition, the 3D evaporator itself can serve as a water reservoir without requiring a continuous water supply during evaporation, showing remarkable application flexibility. This work opens a new perspective for manufacturing highly portable and efficient 3D solar evaporators and may facilitate their progress from the laboratory to commercial applications.

Application Potential of Wastewater Fertigated Short Rotation Coppice Systems in a Selected Region (Aligarh, UP, India)

In many Indian regions, increased wastewater is both a threat to public health and the environment, but it also presents an opportunity as a source of water and nutrients. With less than one-third of India’s wastewater treated and an alarming water scarcity situation, efficient wastewater treatment and reuse schemes are needed to face impending water and fertiliser shortages. This study explores the application potential of wastewater fertigated Short Rotation Coppice systems (wfSRC) as a cost-efficient and promising solution for treating and reusing wastewater in a specific region (400 km2, 184 settlements) of Aligarh (UP), India. Based on real data from a local wfSRC pilot site using bamboo, willow, and poplar, we analysed the system’s treatment performance, nutrient recovery, carbon sequestration potential, land requirements, biomass production potential, and cost–benefit, under various scenarios. The results show that the pilot wfSRC system is efficiently treating 250 m3/day of domestic wastewater on 6864 m2 of land, and serving 2500 people. The land requirements for wfSRC systems vary depending on local conditions (e.g., climate, soil type, wastewater composition) and user demands (e.g., water reuse efficiency, type, and amount of biomass). The calculated areas ranged from 2.75 to 25.7 m2/PE, which equates to a required land area in the whole study region of between 108 and 1006 ha in 2036. This would produce up to 100 DM t/ha/year of valuable biomass. Early local stakeholder involvement and the monitoring of pollutants are recommended as priorities during the planning process for the large-scale implementation of wfSRC systems in India.

Quantifying Household Water Use and Its Determinants in Low-Income, Water-Scarce Households in Karachi

Water system investments in megacities in South Asia are driven by a perceived ‘shortage’ of water supply compared to water demand. However, water demand estimates for such cities often do not reflect local socioeconomic and demographic characteristics nor account for seasonal variability. In this study, using a mixed-methods approach, we quantify household water use and its determinants and assess the seasonality of access to piped water in the low-income, water-scarce township of Lyari in Karachi. Results from over 600 household surveys show that the reported per capita water usage at the household level is lower than the assumed water demand by the city’s water utility. Water use is found to differ by gender, season, and economic status. More affluent households are able to “purchase” water security and sustain higher water use even in situations of extreme water scarcity. The perceived sufficiency of water supply improves markedly in the winter despite no increase in supply, indicating reduced demand. These findings can inform more accurate water demand projections for Karachi and highlight the importance of accounting for local socioeconomic and environmental contexts in water demand projections.

Assessment of the Quantity of Harvested Rainwater in IGAH Communities of Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria

Abstract: This research is aimed at assessing the quantity of harvested rainwater in Igah Communities of Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria. Data were collected through the use of questionnaire, interview and secondary data sources. Stratified random sampling was employed in the sampling of the respondents. Three hundred and ninety five copies of questionnaire were determined using Taro Yammane and administered, while three hundred and seventy two of them were completely returned. The data generated were statistically analysed through the use of descriptive and inferential statistical tools. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was employed to collapse the various variables responsible for the quantity of rainwater consumed into few underlying dimensions. Results obtained from the statistical analysis revealed that the mean rainwater consumption per person per day of 8.2 litres is far below the WHO recommended standard. Other results revealed that seasonality of rainfall, cost of constructing storage facilities and household size, limited financial capacity and geographical location are responsible for the existing rainwater quantity obtained in the area. Conclusions were drawn from the results, while the major recommendation was on the need for further investigation into water scarcity situation in the study area.

Influence of climate change and population growth on Amazon Metropolis water supply

The objective was to investigate the impacts of population growth in Belém-PA and climate change on the water balance and the volume of water available in the city's source. The water balance of the source was projected until 2099 using the GCMs (global climate models) MIROC5 and HADGEM2-ES aligned to the RCM (regional climate model) eta and two scenarios of greenhouse gas emission RCPs (representative concentration pathways) 4.5 and 8.5. The population of the city was projected until 2100 using the Gompertz model. The results projected a large reduction in the volume of precipitation in the months of august to November. This reduction combined with the results of population growth showed that the volume of water will not meet the future demand of the population, causing a situation of water scarcity until the end of the century. The solution will be to increase the pumping of raw water from the Guamá River to the source, increasing energy and water treatment costs. These increases could make Belém's water supply system unsustainable. Therefore, new ways of serving the public must be sought, such as the use of underground sources and the use of rainwater

Artificial neural network models for prediction of standardized precipitation index in central Mexico

Some of the effects of climate change may be related to a change in patterns of rainfall intensity or rainfall scarcity. So, humanity is facing environmental challenges due to an increase in the occurrence of droughts. Forecasting of droughts based on cumulative influence of rainfall could be greatly beneficial for mitigating adverse consequences on water-sensitive sectors such as agriculture. Then, predictive models of drought indices could help in assessing water scarcity situations, droughts identification and their severity characterization. In this paper, we tested the feasibility of the Artificial Neural Network as a data-driven model for predicting the monthly Standardized Precipitation Index in 4 regions (Semi-desert, Highlands, Canyons and Mountains) of north-central México using predictive variable data from 1965 to 2004 as training data and simulated data for the period 2005-2014. The best model was found using the Hyperbolic Tangent as activation function and the Adaptive Moment Estimation (Adam) algorithm as optimization method. The best model was set to the following architecture: 26-12-1 network with 4 weights and 365 trainable parameters. Based on analysis of scatter plot between predicted and observed Standardized precipitation Index values for the test dataset, the Coefficient of Determination was between 0.84 and 0.88. In terms of quantitative statistics averaged over the test set, Artificial Network Model performed very well in predicting Standardized Precipitation Index at the four analyzed regions. This was verified by all-region average value of performance statistics Mean Absolute Error (0.0805), Mean Square Error (0.0144) and the Coefficient of Determination (0.8671). In a nutshell we summarize that the Artificial Network models developed and tested in this study had good prediction skills of the monthly Standardized Precipitation Index for stations and its drought-related properties in the study region.