Sustainable Water Use Research Articles

From Drop to Delta: Optimizing Water Footprint for Food Security

Due to population growth and decreasing freshwater resources, many countries may face a decline in their ability to be self-sufficient in food production. The issue of freshwater contamination and scarcity needs to be addressed globally because a sizeable majority of the world's population lives in areas where water scarcity occurs for at least one month every year. The world economy plays a role in localized water contamination and depletion, especially as water is increasingly used for exporting goods. The idea of water footprints is a practical way to gauge how much water is needed to produce goods and services and to promote sustainability in industrial and food production. The use of water for various reasons can result in the appropriation of valuable data that can be used to examine the environmental, social, and economic effects and advance conversations about fair and sustainable water use. The idea of a water footprint ultimately aims to encourage wise and effective water use.

Temporal and Spatial Variation Analysis of Groundwater Stocks in Xinjiang Based on GRACE Data

Situated in China’s arid and semi-arid zones, the Xinjiang region heavily relies on groundwater for its freshwater supply. This study utilizes data from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellite mission, covering the years 2003 to 2021, to quantitatively evaluate the temporal and spatial changes in groundwater storage anomalies (GWSA) in the Xinjiang region. Furthermore, we incorporate the HydroSHEDS dataset to examine the spatial variations in groundwater storage anomalies across watersheds of varying scales. Based on our findings, the GWSA decreased during the study period at a mean rate of −0.381 mm/month, marked by a consistent trend and notable interannual variability. In addition, significant regional disparities are observed; while groundwater storage in the southeastern watersheds is on an upward trend, a general decline is noted in the northern and central regions. The most pronounced depletion is detected in the northwest, especially in the Ili River basin and along the western slopes of the Tianshan Mountains. These changes are intricately linked to anthropogenic factors, including population growth and escalating water demands. In response, the study advocates for the development and enforcement of more rigorous and scientifically informed groundwater management strategies to promote sustainable water use in Xinjiang.

Geospatial assessment of the carbon footprint of water and electricity consumption in residential buildings in Doha, Qatar

The process of estimating the carbon footprint (CF) has become a key method for managing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, guiding strategies for emission reduction and validating those strategies. Given the complexity of quantifying total lifecycle emissions in residential buildings, this study delves into assessing the CF focusing on water and electricity consumption in two types of residential buildings: mainly residential villas and residential flats. This assessment was carried out in Doha City, Qatar, using data on water and electricity consumption from 2017 to 2020. The study employs the Multi-Regional Input-Output Life Cycle Assessment (MRIO-LCA) model to calculate and convert the water and electricity consumption data into the CF of these buildings. Further, the study employs various methods for statistical and spatial statistical analysis of CF emissions, including geographically weighted regression (GWR), Ordinary Least Squares (OLS), and hotspot and cold spot assessments. The annual electricity CF emissions from these buildings are approximately 7 MtCO2 equivalent, with residential villas contributing about 83% of this total. Concurrently, the annual average water CF in residential buildings is around 0.06 MtCO2 equivalent, predominantly attributed to villas. The findings highlight the substantial impact of residential structures, particularly villas, on the city's overall CF emissions. Furthermore, the findings underscore the significant impact of residential structures, especially villas, on Doha's CF emissions, revealing a marked seasonal increase, particularly during the summer months and a notable spike in 2020. The spatial analysis of CF emissions reveals consistent spatial clustering patterns across different seasons in 2020. Elevated CF emissions from villas are concentrated in Doha's central, northern, and northeastern regions, while cold spots are predominantly in the eastern and southern areas. Understanding CF in residential settings is crucial for developing strategies to reduce emissions, enhance energy efficiency, and address climate change. This research helps inform targeted interventions for more sustainable residential energy and water use, aligning with broader environmental and climate goals.

The Effect of Discounting on the Formulation of an Aquifer Management Policy Based on Groundwater Trading

Optimal groundwater management is a necessary condition for achieving the objective of sustainable development, which is directly linked to issues of intergenerational equity. Thus, groundwater management policy shaping has to consider such issues, in particular through the implementation of appropriate discounting methods. The existing literature in the field of groundwater management focuses on a single discount function (DF), the exponential one, without considering the impact of different DFs on the results obtained. At the same time, tradable water rights (TWR) systems have been suggested as policy instruments for more efficient and sustainable water use. This paper focuses on the impact that different DFs have on the formulation of groundwater management policies based on TWR. To this end, a dynamic model is formulated, which concerns groundwater pumping from an aquifer by two groups of users participating in a TWR system and four different DFs are considered to calculate the present value of social welfare: no discounting, exponential, hyperbolic and Gamma discounting. The results of simulations based on data for an aquifer in Northern Greece show that there is a high sensitivity of the results to the DF, which has a direct effect on social welfare from groundwater consumption, aquifer’s hydrological behavior and TWR system intertemporal economic efficiency.

Hydrochemical Characteristics and Suitability Assessment of Groundwater Quality for Irrigation

The hydrochemical properties of groundwater play a crucial role in crop growth and soil health, as well as the maintenance of irrigation equipment. To ensure suitable water quality for irrigation, the present study was conducted to evaluate the hydrochemical properties of irrigation groundwater in a typical agricultural region of Serbia. Groundwater was sampled at three monitoring locations in the Srem region in Republic of Serbia between 2011 and 2020. Examined parameters included electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved salts (TDS), pH values, and the concentrations of cations (sodium (Na+), calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+) and potassium (K+)) and anions (bicarbonate (HCO3−), chloride (Cl−), sulfate (SO42−), and nitrate (NO3−)). Further assessment was done using three classification systems; Nejgebauer’s, the US USSL, and the FAO classification. To obtain a more detailed assessment, additional indices were included, such as Soluble Sodium Percentage (SSP), Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR), Residual Sodium Carbonate (RSC), Permeability Index (PI), Kelly’s Ratio (KR), Magnesium Adsorption Ratio (MAR), and Total Hardness (TH). The PCA analysis detected that the concentration of K+, Ca2+, and Na+ in the irrigation water were lower in recent years, while the concentration of Cl− was higher. The cluster analysis grouped the parameters into three clusters; I—electroconductivity, II—dry residue and HCO3−, and III—other water parameters for all three monitoring localities. According to the applied classifications, the majority of underground water samples were suitable for irrigation. However, some samples fell out of the range of the first class, indicating the need for regular water quality monitoring. In light of climate changes that influence water deficiency, the urgent need for wise and sustainable water use implies the application of a comprehensive approach to irrigation water quality assessment, as shown in this study.

Water Governance in the Cambodian Mekong Delta: The Nexus of Farmer Water User Communities (FWUCs), Community Fisheries (CFis), and Community Fish Refuges (CFRs) in the Context of Climate Change

Cambodia faces the challenge of managing excess water during the wet season and insufficient water during the dry season. This harms human life and endangers aquatic and natural resources, agricultural practices, and food security. Water governance is crucial to ensure the well-being of both people and their food security. However, Cambodia’s water governance is hindered by various obstacles, including sectoral and centralized influences, top-down and large-scale strategies, weak coordination among relevant agencies, and limited involvement of local communities. This study examines water governance across different sectors, from centralized to community-based natural resources management, and explores the opportunities that can be done to improve water governance. This study undertakes the literature and case studies of farmer water user communities (FWUCs), community fisheries (CFis), and community fish refuges (CFRs) in three Mekong Delta provinces in Cambodia. This study concludes that water governance has been challenged by FWUCs competing for water resources to intensify rice production at the expense of increased pesticides and fertilizer uses, which undermine the fishery productivity, degrade the natural resources in rivers and water bodies, and increase water conflicts among farmers and sectors in the face of climate change. To enhance water governance in Cambodia, it is critical to integrate it at the district level. This will promote sustainable water use and management across the country and pave the way for a brighter future.

The coincidence of climate extremes with sensitive crop growth phases: Projected impact on sustainable crop water use and crop yield in the IGB river basins

Increased climate variability and extremes are unequivocal with unprecedented impacts on water resources and agriculture production systems. However, little is known about the impacts of climate extremes at the intra-seasonal level which remained largely unexplored. We investigated the coincidence of climate extremes with sensitive crop growth phases of wheat and rice in the Indus, Ganges and Brahmaputra (IGB) river basins of South Asia. We also quantified the related impacts on irrigation water demand (IWD), gross primary production (GPP) and crop yields (CY) simulated by a hydrological-vegetation model (LPJmL) during 1981–2100 using RCP4.5-SSP1 and RCP8.5-SSP3 framework. The climate extremes revealed a higher frequency and intensity during crop growth phases with significant increasing trends in future. Diverse changes in IWD, GPP and CY are projected in future under the influence of crop phase-specific extremes. The crop phase-specific changes in the IWD of wheat and rice will intensify in the future. More than 50 % of the change in future wheat irrigation is caused by warm and dry extremes during the ripening phase. Whereas, increase in IWD for rice is mainly associated with warm extremes only. The crop phase-specific GPP shows a decreasing trend in future for both wheat and rice in the Western part of IGB with the largest decrease during the reproductive phase of wheat (up to 36 %) and vegetative phase of rice (>20 %). This decrease is clearly reflected in seasonal yields i.e., both wheat (20 %) and rice (12 %) showed a decrease in future linked with warm and dry extremes. However, in the Eastern part of IGB, the GPP will mostly increase in future during the three crop phases of wheat and rice. These results can be used to help develop efficient adaptation strategies considering seasonal changes and sensitive crop phases for sustained food and water security in South Asia.

The circular economy of water across the six continents.

Water is our most valuable and precious resource, yet it is only available in a limited amount. Sustainable use of water can therefore only operate in a circular way; nonetheless, still today depletion of water resources proceeds at an accelerated pace. Here, we quantitatively assess the water circular economy and the status of water management across 132 countries distributed over six continents by introducing the water circular economy index, WCEI, based on the three pillars of water circular economy, i.e., decreasing, optimising, and retaining. This index relies on eight indicators such as water stress, tap water price, water use efficiency, the degree of water resource management, proportion of safely treated wastewater, population with access to safe drinking water, drinking water quality, and surface water changes in hydrological basins. It allows ranking 132 countries, and most importantly to identify criticalities and bottlenecks in the sustainable use of water resources across the six continents, pointing at possible directions and actions towards a fully circular economy of water.

Circular Economy 2.0: How artificial intelligence is transforming sustainability in water use

Circular Economy 2.0: How artificial intelligence is transforming sustainability in water use

CLIMATE CHARACTERİSTİCS OF LORAS MOUNTAIN AND HATUNSARAY (KONYA) AND ITS INTERACTION WİTH THE CULTURAL ENVIRONMENT

Climate characteristics are important in examining the mutual relationship between geomorphology and human activities. The characteristics of the climate are an important factor explaining the environmental relationships between the characteristics of the natural environment and the cultural environment. For this reason, the main purpose of the research should be to make a general analysis of the climatic structure that emerges in determining the climate characteristics in the research areas. From this point, the climate elements of the study area were obtained and subjected to a general climatic analysis. The current problem and suggestion were developed by interpreting the data presented. Observation data of Güneydere, İnlice, Loras Dağı, Hatunsaray and Akören stations were taken into consideration in order to make a consistent climate conclusion due to reasons such as elevation differences and unevenness in the study area. As an effect of the climate and with the addition of geological-geomorphological development, the population in the research area is generally engaged in agriculture and animal husbandry as an economic activity. In order to reduce the impact of the negative consequences of the climate, the people in the study area increase their intervention in the topography as much as possible by building wells, ponds and canals, especially in order to meet the need for irrigation and drinking water in agriculture. For this reason, planned water storage and sustainable water use studies need to be planned in order to meet the water need in periods when rainfall decreases in the field.

Resilient and thriving communities – A proactive approach to sustainable water use

Resilient and thriving communities – A proactive approach to sustainable water use

Understanding Consumer Choices: Towards Sustainable Water Use in India

This study addresses the pressing issue of water scarcity in India, focusing on sustainable water management and the crucial role of consumer behavior. It establishes a clear correlation between safe water access, economic development, and public health, emphasizing the interconnectedness of these factors. The concept of a water footprint, comprising green, blue, and gray components, provides a framework for analyzing global water usage. The socio-economic context highlights the significance of recognizing water as an economic good for efficient resource allocation. Global water availability is discussed, revealing the inadequacies in freshwater distribution and the widening gap between demand and supply. India's precarious position, given its large population, is underscored. Issues related to water consumption, including reckless groundwater exploitation, emphasize the need for stakeholder involvement and a paradigm shift in water management. The study stresses the urgency of an action plan for sustainable water management, advocating strategies such as storage, conservation, and recycling. Disproportionate water usage in agriculture and urban inefficiencies are addressed, urging modernization and technological advancements. Public engagement emerges as pivotal, with consumer behavior significantly impacting water usage patterns. The study discusses the role of public feedback "report cards" in promoting accountability among service providers, whether private or government-owned. Highlighting growing awareness in India, referencing NITI Aayog's Composite Water Management Index, the study emphasizes the disparity between population and freshwater resources. Groundwater depletion and per capita water use statistics underscore the need for immediate action. The study explores untapped water supply sources, advocating for the reduction of system leakage and promoting rainwater harvesting. The potential of stormwater and wastewater management is discussed, emphasizing the importance of incorporating green infrastructure solutions. In conclusion, the study underscores the significance of studying consumer behavior to enhance water conservation strategies. Recommendations include assessing consumer awareness, understanding utilization patterns, and perceptions affecting economic impact. The research advocates for a paradigm shift in water use and recycling, emphasizing the critical role of consumers in shaping a sustainable water future for India.

The Spatiotemporal Eutrophication Status and Trends in the Paldang Reservoir, Republic of Korea

The Paldang Reservoir (PDR), the largest artificial lake in the Republic of Korea, has recently experienced increased chemical oxygen demand (COD), eutrophication, and algal blooms due to climate change. This study aimed to analyze the hydrological characteristics and water quality of the PDR and assess its spatial and seasonal eutrophication status changes using the Korean-type trophic quality index (TSIKO) and the seasonal Mann–Kendall Test (SMK). The PDR’s water was graded “good” in terms of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and “fair” for COD, total phosphorous (TP), and chlorophyll-a (Chl-a), according to Korean water quality standards. COD and Chl-a had a significant positive monotonic relationship. According to the TSIKO calculations, the trophic state of the PDR was mesotrophic, but eutrophic during the summer season. TSIKO (Chl-a) in summer tended to increase with a slope value of 0.22 mg/m3/year. The main causes of eutrophication in the PDR were proposed to be TP and phytoplankton overgrowth. Therefore, lake and reservoir functions need to be assessed, and solutions that can effectively protect them from excessive eutrophication to ensure sustainable clean water use and protect freshwater ecosystems need to be found.

Monitoring Changes in Groundwater Resources Due to Increased Surface Water Delivery Efficiencies in the Lower Republican River Basin

Groundwater and surface water, including such engineered surface water bodies as irrigation canals and drainage ditches, are connected. As such, changes to the management of these surface water bodies will affect interconnected groundwater systems as well. In the Lower Republican River Basin in Kansas, United States, a regional irrigation district has converted several irrigation canals to buried pipe to reduce water lost to evapotranspiration and groundwater recharge, increasing the delivery efficiency of its system. The objective of this work was to investigate the change in local groundwater levels due to this conversion. Seven existing wells in the vicinity of converted or soon-to-be converted irrigation canals were equipped with pressure transducers, and hourly water-level measurements were collected over several years. Average water levels decreased in all wells post-conversion compared to measurements taken between 1970 and 2001. The water levels did not decrease equally, and in several wells, the water-level variance also changed from pre- to post-conversion. It is hypothesized that the observed changes are controlled by many factors, including those related to canal conversion (proximity to the converted canal and time since canal conversion), proximity to other surface water features such as the main stem of the canal and reservoir, and subsurface characteristics that influence the rate of infiltration from precipitation events. This research highlights the interconnectedness of surface and subsurface water resources and how water management decisions need to consider how these interactions may change to support sustainable water use.

Hydrological changes in the drought‐prone region of Maharashtra (India): Implications for sustainable water use

Recent climatic changes and anthropogenic activities considerably affect regional water resources, particularly in water‐scarce regions. The present study, therefore, aims to understand the changes in monsoon rainfall, potential evapotranspiration (PET), surface runoff, dam storage and groundwater in the drought‐prone region of Maharashtra. The analyses of trend and step‐change were carried out using standard parametric tests. The results were verified with the application of non‐parametric statistical techniques. Notably, monsoon rainfall and runoff were observed to be declining. Exceptionally, the Yerala Basin witnessed significant increase in rainfall along with heavy rainfall events. Contradictorily, Agrani and Man Basins registered a notable decline in rainfall and runoff. As vulnerability to hydrological disasters is high, these basins should be carefully monitored. Although surface water harvesting brought a positive change in post‐monsoon groundwater level, it was the main reason for a decline in runoff volume at downstream reaches, which led to intra‐basin water disparity. The study area witnessed significant increase in groundwater extraction. Unfortunately, the misuse of government‐subsidized schemes exacerbates groundwater exploitation and stockpiling of water resources. Moreover, the increasing rate of PET augments hydrological losses and amplifies water distress. Interestingly, almost all the hydrological changes were notably experienced during the post‐2000 period. To cope with present and future water scarcity problems, it is therefore necessary to restrict irrational use and allocation of available limited water resources. The findings that emerge from this investigation may help to formulate judicious water policies and plans which could be implemented by the government, agronomists, water resource managers and farmers.

Quantitative delineation of water sources in the river Ganga using stable water isotopes

AbstractQuantitative delineation of water sources in a large river system is essential for the sustainable use of water. In the present study, we have tested two different methodologies to estimate the contribution from different water sources in the river Ganga. The first model uses stable isotopes and physicochemical parameters of water to delineate the contribution of glacier‐melt, groundwater, and surface runoff in different stretches of the river Ganga. The end member‐based mixing model provides glacier‐melt contribution of ~31.2%, ~5.5%, and ~0.5% in the upper, middle, and lower stretch of the river Ganga. The model showed maximum contribution from groundwater (~66.3%) in the middle stretch and surface runoff (~57.2%) in the lower stretch of the river Ganga. However, the uncertainties in the estimates from the three‐component mixing model were significantly high due to temporal variability in the end member values. To provide estimates with lower uncertainty, an alternate method (discharge dependent budget estimation [DDBE]) has been proposed which delineates the contribution of groundwater and surface runoff in small segments of the river. The DDBE model confines the calculation for budget estimates to smaller segments of the river and hence leads to lower uncertainties in the results, providing improved systematic estimation of water budget for large river systems. In the present study, estimates from the DDBE model suggest that groundwater contributes ~79% of the additional water whereas the contribution from surface runoff is ~21% in the middle and lower stretch of the river Ganga. The DDBE model was successfully applied in 5 small segments along the stretch of the river Ganga and the methodology used shows great potential for systematic delineation of water sources in large river system.

Wastewater Management in Tomato Factories

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) is a globally consumed vegetable with a significant role in the food industry. In 2021, global tomato production exceeded 189.1 million metric tons, emphasizing its economic importance. This research delves into the challenges posed by wastewater generated during tomato processing and explores sustainable strategies for managing it. Case studies were conducted in tomato processing plants in California, Kadawa (Kura LGA, Kano State), and Kumo (Gombe State) to assess their wastewater management practices. The findings revealed a lack of uniform wastewater collection systems in the studied factories, highlighting the need for improved environmental sustainability. As Bauchi State's population and industrialization grow, addressing the wastewater issue becomes increasingly urgent. Inadequate wastewater management can have detrimental effects on human health, water supplies, and the environment. To mitigate these challenges, this study proposes the integration of sustainable techniques in tomato processing factories. The objectives include quantifying wastewater generation, designing a functional factory layout applicable to other food processing industries, and creating a factory design that promotes sustainable water use. Site selection criteria were established, focusing on accessibility, labor availability, utilities, expansion potential, topography, and environmental impact. After a thorough evaluation, a site in Hardawa, Misau Local Government Area of Bauchi State, was identified as the most suitable location for the proposed tomato processing factory. The factory's design brief includes provisions for production facilities, administrative blocks, and worker facilities. Space requirements were determined based on the anticipated activities within each section. The proposed design emphasizes water harvesting and recycling to reduce wastewater generation and promote sustainability. In conclusion, this research underscores the importance of addressing wastewater management in tomato processing factories. By implementing sustainable design principles, factories can minimize environmental impact, enhance operational efficiency, and demonstrate commitment to ethical business practices. The proposed design offers a comprehensive solution to the wastewater challenge, ensuring compliance with environmental standards and safeguarding natural resources. Recommendations include collaboration between factory management and government authorities, the adoption of sustainable design approaches in future tomato processing facilities, and the allocation of resources for ongoing maintenance. Embracing these recommendations will contribute to more responsible and environmentally conscious tomato processing practices.

Unequal prefecture-level water footprints in China: The urban-rural divide

Water is vital for inclusive human well-being and economic growth, but water and its benefits are not equally distributed to all. The water gap between city dwellers and rural folks was not well understood. In this paper we assessed prefecture-level urban and rural water footprints (WFs) in China, using an improved multi-region input-output (MRIO) table with resolved urban and rural final consumption data. The assessment provided a quantitative foundation for evaluating and explaining urban and rural water use inequality from the consumption perspective. The results showed that per capita urban WF was on average 2.1 times per capita rural WF. The urban-rural WF divide constituted an important contribution to spatial WF inequality, in addition to provincial-level and prefecture-level differences. Compared to previous provincial-level WF analyses, this high-resolution prefecture-level urban and rural analysis showed clear evidence of economically developed urban areas as hotspots of large WFs. Specifically, our results provided a quantitative assessment revealing that 10 % China's population (urban residents in 51 prefectures) appropriated 25.8 % of the national WF. The dominant driving factor for urban-rural per capita WF disparity in all the prefectures was the consumption level, accounting for on average about 84 % of the disparity. There is an urgent need to leverage socio-economic development and urbanization against equitable and sustainable water use. The results have implications to equitable and sustainable water management from a broader macro-economic view.

Balancing water use and nutrition for crop production in a highly dense population – Bangladesh

The challenge of sustainably feeding billions of people, particularly in highly populated emerging economies, such as Bangladesh, requires addressing the environmental consequences of crop production, such as sustainable water use in agriculture. Here, we assessed the sustainability of crop water use and analyzed the balance of water use and nutrient density by integrating the crop water use and nutritional provision data with a hydrological model, WaterGAP 2.2d. Findings revealed that Bangladesh overconsumed approximately 20 billion m3 of freshwater (19 % of total water consumption) owing to crop production during 2000–2016, with rice being a key crop. Shifting crop consumption from rice to alternative crops, such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, and maize, can improve both nutritional adequacy and sustainable water use. The analytical framework supports sustainable crop production by identifying key crops and watersheds that can contribute to sustainability, considering both sustainable water use and nutritional adequacy.

Validating a Scale for Innovation in Sustainable Water Management in the Manufacturing Sector: A Slovenian Study

Abstract Based on the results of our research, we have developed a reliable and valid scale for assessing the innovation success of sustainable development practices, with a specific focus on reducing drinking water consumption in the production sector, where so-called industrial water is used (for production, cooling, or both). We found that the assessment of innovation success in sustainable development management practices, specifically aimed at reducing drinking water consumption in the production sector, comprises two dimensions: measuring success in water use innovations and innovative success in water treatment and conservation. The study also found that the assessment of innovation success in sustainable development management practices, particularly focused on reducing drinking water consumption in the production sector, is influenced by reporting on sustainable water management, innovations in organizational systems, innovations in materials and processes for sustainable water use, and analysis with goal setting in water use innovations. This comprehensive analysis provides organizations without established metrics with a tool to identify potential areas for improvement, thereby enhancing ecological methods and increasing production efficiency.