Sustainable Water Management Research Articles

Effect of Land Use Land Cover on the Hydrology of Rwizi River Catchment located in Southwestern Uganda

Changes in land use and land cover usually affect the hydrological processes of river flows, sediment transport, and water quality on a global scale. Hence, the objective of this paper was to investigate the effect of Land Use Land Cover (LULCC) on the Hydrology of Rwizi River Catchment located in South-western Uganda using appropriate standard techniques and procedures including Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT). Model calibration and validation demonstrated good agreement (R² = 0.76-0.86, NSE = 0.75-0.78). LULC analysis revealed significant increases in built-up areas and forestland, with declines in grazing land and wetlands. These changes were driven by socio-economic factors and hydro-climatic influences. The study found strong correlations between LULC types and sediment yield, highlighting the implications for water quality and erosion control. The results show that urban growth raises surface runoff and peak flows as a result of a rise in impervious surfaces, whereas agricultural intensification raises water demand and lowers base flow, especially during dry spells. Deforestation has led to increased sedimentation rates, degrading water quality. These findings underscore the significant anthropogenic and climatic impacts on LULCC dynamics and hydrological processes in the catchment. The study emphasizes the critical need for integrated watershed management strategies to mitigate these impacts and ensure sustainable water management practices. By advancing understanding in hydrological sciences, this research informs policy and management decisions for sustainable development in tropical river basins globally.

A novel approach to wastewater treatment control: A self-organizing fuzzy sliding mode controller

<p>The treatment of wastewater plays a crucial role in protecting the environment and ensuring the sustainable use of resources. This research paper presents a new methodology for managing wastewater treatment operations, utilising Self-Organizing Fuzzy Sliding Mode Controller (SOFSMC) to enhance the efficiency of treatment procedures. MATLAB Simulink functions as a simulation tool that facilitates meticulous analysis. SOFSMC presents a control strategy that is both adaptive and robust. This strategy effectively regulates crucial parameters, including dissolved oxygen levels, pH levels, and flow rates. It achieves this within the challenging and complex framework of wastewater treatment, which is characterised by dynamic and nonlinear dynamics. Using a SOFSMC for wastewater treatment control is novel approach. This novel technique creates a self-learning, dynamic system using fuzzy logic (FL) and sliding mode control (SMC). This unique approach can autonomously adapt to wastewater treatment processes' complex and nonlinear dynamics, improving efficiency, resource optimisation, and system dependability. The results emphasise the potential of SOFSMC as a revolutionary approach for wastewater treatment. This approach can improve treatment effectiveness, conserve resources, and protect the environment. The proposed method SOFSMC, exhibits commendable outcomes, with an integrated absolute error of 0.082 mg/L, an integrated square differential error of 0.091 mg/L, and a response time of 1.85 seconds This study offers a substantial advancement in the field of wastewater treatment regulation, highlighting its significance in the context of sustainable water management and environmental conservation.</p>

Industrial park wastewater treatment using a combined sono-pulsed electrochemical-coagulation process

Maintaining sustainable water management practices, preserving ecosystems, and safeguarding public health has depend on the treatment of wastewater. It has a significant impact on reducing water pollution and protecting the water supplies. Sono-pulsed electrochemical oxidation (S-PEO) process is a wastewater treatment method that uses ultrasound (US) waves and electrochemistry to enhance the pollutant removal efficiency. This study aim is to investigate the mineralization of industrial park wastewater by using pulsed electrochemical oxidation (PEO) and a combination of sonolysis and pulsed electrochemical oxidation (S-PEO) processes. The research focuses on the percentage elimination of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and color, as well as the assessment of power consumption. The study considers the influence of experimental parameters like initial pH, electrolysis time, and current to find the optimum conditions for maximum percentage removal efficiency with minimization of power consumption. According to the study, the optimum values of responses for the S-PEO process were obtained at pH=7, electrolysis time=40 min, and current =0.5 Amp. The optimum values for the maximum removal percentages of the responses COD and color were 97.04 %, and 99.70 %, respectively. The minimum of power consumption for S-PEO was 0.19 kWh/m3. These results demonstrate that, the superior efficiency of the S-PEO process and its feasibility in the removal of industrial wastewater pollutants. Optimizing parameters like pH, time, and current intensity is crucial for optimal performance, reducing energy consumption and operational costs. The S-PEO technique eliminates pollutants from wastewater efficiently and effectively, making it the suitable process when compared to the others.

Hydrogeochemical Characterization and Multivariate Analysis of Groundwater in Pala, Burkina Faso: Implications for Sustainable Water Management

Hydrogeochemical Characterization and Multivariate Analysis of Groundwater in Pala, Burkina Faso: Implications for Sustainable Water Management

Factors Influencing Thai Tourists Satisfaction with SDG Adventure Destinations: Nakhon Nayok Province, Thailand

Purpose: 1) to investigate the adventure tourism information search by Thai tourists in Nakhon Nayok province 2) to examine the push motivation influences to adventure tourism in Nakhon Nayok province and 3) to examine the pull motivation influences to adventure tourism in Nakhon Nayok province. Theoretical reference: The study population consisted of Thai tourists traveling to Nakhon Nayok Province, with a sample size of 400, following the guidelines of Schumacker and Lomax (2010). Method: Data were collected using a questionnaire and analyzed using path analysis with a mathematical software program. Results and Conclusion: The results indicated that Thai tourists searched information of the adventure tourism from online in high level (Facebook and Instagram), the push motivation of Thai tourists influencing travel in SDGs adventure tourism in Nakhon Nayok was to learn something new and interesting, and the pull motivation influences to adventure tourism was good physical amenities: accommodation, transportation, and recreation facilities. Implications of research: The weight of direct effect, indirect effect and total effect of Thai tourists’information search, push factors and pull factors which influences travelling in SDGs adventure tourism were the attitude, satisfaction and expectation with a significance level of 0.01. respectively. Originality/value: Thai tourists want to visit SDGs adventure tourism in Nakhon Nayok Province not only the place ensures healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages but also availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

At Which Overpass Time Do ECOSTRESS Observations Best Align with Crop Health and Water Rights?

Agroecosystems are facing the adverse effects of climate change. This study explored how the ECOsystem Spaceborne Thermal Radiometer Experiment on Space Station (ECOSTRESS) can give new insight into irrigation allocation and plant health. Leveraging the global coverage and 70-m spatial resolution of the Evaporative Stress Index (ESI) from ECOSTRESS, we processed over 200 overpasses and examined patterns over 3 growing seasons across the Maipo River Basin of Central Chile, which faces exacerbated water stress. We found that ECOSTRESS ESI varies substantially based on the overpass time, with ESI values being systematically higher in the morning and lower in the afternoon. We also compared variations in ESI against spatial patterns in the environment. To that end, we analyzed the vegetation greenness sensed from Landsat 8 and compiled the referential irrigation allocation from Chilean water regulators. Consistently, we found stronger correlations between these variables and ESI in the morning time (than in the afternoon). Based on our findings, we discussed new insights and potential applications of ECOSTRESS ESI in support of improved agricultural monitoring and sustainable water management.

Unveiling the future water pulse of central asia: a comprehensive 21st century hydrological forecast from stochastic water balance modeling

This study uses a new dataset on gauge locations and catchments to assess the impact of 21st-century climate change on the hydrology of 221 high-mountain catchments in Central Asia. A steady-state stochastic soil moisture water balance model was employed to project changes in runoff and evaporation for 2011–2040, 2041–2070, and 2071–2100, compared to the baseline period of 1979–2011. Baseline climate data were sourced from CHELSA V21 climatology, providing daily temperature and precipitation for each subcatchment. Future projections used bias-corrected outputs from four General Circulation Models under four pathways/scenarios (SSP1 RCP 2.6, SSP2 RCP 4.5, SSP3 RCP 7.0, SSP5 RCP 8.5). Global datasets informed soil parameter distribution, and glacier ablation data were integrated to refine discharge modeling and validated against long-term catchment discharge data. The atmospheric models predict an increase in median precipitation between 5.5% to 10.1% and a rise in median temperatures by 1.9 °C to 5.6 °C by the end of the 21st century, depending on the scenario and relative to the baseline. Hydrological model projections for this period indicate increases in actual evaporation between 7.3% to 17.4% and changes in discharge between + 1.1% to –2.7% for the SSP1 RCP 2.6 and SSP5 RCP 8.5 scenarios, respectively. Under the most extreme climate scenario (SSP5-8.5), discharge increases of 3.8% and 5.0% are anticipated during the first and second future periods, followed by a decrease of -2.7% in the third period. Significant glacier wastage is expected in lower-lying runoff zones, with overall discharge reductions in parts of the Tien Shan, including the Naryn catchment. Conversely, high-elevation areas in the Gissar-Alay and Pamir mountains are projected to experience discharge increases, driven by enhanced glacier ablation and delayed peak water, among other things. Shifts in precipitation patterns suggest more extreme but less frequent events, potentially altering the hydroclimate risk landscape in the region. Our findings highlight varied hydrological responses to climate change throughout high-mountain Central Asia. These insights inform strategies for effective and sustainable water management at the national and transboundary levels and help guide local stakeholders.

Hydrochemical appraisal and suitability for irrigation and portable purposes in eastern Himalayan syntaxis of Tibet Plateau

The formation mechanism and quality evaluation of surface water and groundwater have provided valuable information on water management of alpine catchment, such as Tibet Plateau. However, scarce knowledge of surface water and groundwater has been achieved from Eastern Himalayan syntaxis in eastern Tibet due to harsh and complicated natural and geological conditions. This study collected 60 water samples from the Layue alpine catchment within Eastern Himalayan syntaxis, including 35 samples of groundwater and 25 of surface water. A combination of multivariate statistical analysis, ion ratio analysis, geochemical modeling, hydrogen and oxygen isotope analysis, and water quality index (WQI) analysis was employed to explore hydrochemical processes and irrigation and portable suitability. Results indicate that the groundwater types identified include bicarbonate-calcium, sulfate·chlorine-sodium, and mixed bicarbonate-calcium·sodium, while surface water are sulfate·chlorine-sodium, mixed bicarbonate-calcium·sodium, and mixed chlorine-calcium·magnesium types. Groundwater recharge primarily originates from meteoric precipitation, with recharge elevations ranging from 2216 to 3698 m, while surface water receives both precipitation and groundwater recharge in a proportion of 50.51%–87.96%. Silicate weathering and carbonate dissolution predominantly control the hydrochemical compositions. Sodium adsorption ratios (0.75–88.55) and electrical conductivity (85.20–1686.12 μs/cm) indicate water resource are mostly suitable for irrigation. The entropy-weighted water quality index (97% in total <100) denotes the suitability for portable use. These achievements would provide substantial support for the sustainable water management in alpine areas, especially for Tibet Plateau.

Exploring the institutional barriers to rural water management in Ghana

ABSTRACT Framed within policy support for bottom-up community water management in development practice in the global south, this paper explores the institutional barriers that impede effective community management of water infrastructure in water-stressed rural communities in the Upper Manya District and Yilo Krobo Municipality in the Eastern region of Ghana. The study adopted a qualitative research approach, using data collection methods such as in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with local government and community water management committees and participant observation across four communities. The findings revealed that irregular and inadequate monitoring, poor financial auditing and transparency, inadequate technical support, and limited community engagement were the institutional barriers confronting sustainable rural water management. The study argues that in community water management, hybrid models are more likely to work better than models that focus entirely on either top-down or bottom-up approaches since the former can strengthen technical capacity, financial accountability, and the experimentation of infrastructure co-design initiatives. The paper concludes that by addressing institutional lapses in Africa's infrastructural management regimes, rural populations can become part of, rather than left behind, in the global quest to ensure water availability and sustainable water management for all.

Towards a Community-Based Framework for Flood Risk Management in Woodlands Park, Gweru

AbstractUrban flood risks in Zimbabwe emanate from the twin challenges of rapid urbanisation and climate change. Most urban settlements have become increasingly anchorages, which require increased adaptation through the sustainable management of urban storm water. Building on the Woodlands Park case in Gweru, this paper locates the problem of recurrent floods to the impasse between residents and council authorities on the one hand, and climatic risks reinforcing underlying rapid urbanisation challenges on the other hand. The purpose of the study was to gather the views of residents and their role in seeking solutions to the storm water management challenges. Utilising a mixed methodology, insights were drawn from field observations and purposive selection of 50 household representatives, triangulated with the views of officials from Gweru City Council (GCC). Data were obtained through in-depth interviews using semi-structured questions and analysed using thematic content analysis where participants’ views were grouped into themes according to their resemblance. By utilising Vensim PLE 7.3 Software, we applied systems thinking theory to reveal the interconnectedness of the factors leading to heightened storm water challenges. The findings showed that Woodlands Park lacks proper drainage installations that meet the standards of GCC. Some residents use personal resources to make storm drains on their yards but with differing structural dimensions. The local drainage system gets choked by silt and illegally dumped litter. Municipal authorities do not undertake routine annual drain reticulation operations, exposing houses to flooding. We argue that municipal authorities, land developers and the residents have not equitably collated their efforts to create bargained storm water management initiatives. The study proposes a community-based, low-cost flood resilience framework that engages residents with technical guidance from municipal staff.

Biomonitoring of Heavy Metal Toxicity in Freshwater Canals in Egypt Using Creeping Water Bugs (Ilyocoris cimicoides): Oxidative Stress, Histopathological, and Ultrastructural Investigations.

The abundance of metal pollutants in freshwater habitats poses serious threats to the survival and biodiversity of aquatic organisms and human beings. This study intends for the first time to assess the pernicious influences of heavy metals in Al Marioteya canal freshwater in Egypt, compared to Al Mansoureya canal as a reference site utilizing the creeping water bug (Ilyocoris cimicoides) as an ecotoxicological model. The elemental analysis of the water showed a significantly higher incidence of heavy metals, including cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), and lead (Pb), in addition to the calcium (Ca) element than the World Health Organization's (WHO) permitted levels. The Ca element was measured in the water samples to determine whether exposure to heavy metals-induced oxidative stress engendered Ca deregulation in the midgut tissues of the creeping water bug. Remarkably, increased levels of these heavy metals were linked to an increase in chemical oxygen demand (COD) at the polluted site. Notably, the accumulation of these heavy metals in the midgut tissues resulted in a substantial reduction in antioxidant parameters, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and ascorbate peroxidase (APOX), along with a marked rise in malondialdehyde (MDA), cytochrome P450, and protein carbonyl levels. These results clearly indicate a noticeable disturbance in the antioxidant defense system due to uncontrollable reactive oxygen species (ROS). Notably, the results demonstrated that oxidative stress caused disturbances in Ca levels in the midgut tissue of I. cimicoides from polluted sites. Furthermore, the comet and flow cytometry analyses showed considerable proliferations of comet cells and apoptotic cells in midgut tissues, respectively, exhibiting prominent correlations, with pathophysiological deregulation. Interestingly, histopathological and ultrastructural examinations exposed noticeable anomalies in the midgut, Malpighian tubules, and ovarioles of I. cimicoides, emphasizing our findings. Overall, our findings emphasize the potential use of I. cimicoides as a bioindicator of heavy metal pollution in freshwater to improve sustainable water management in Egypt.

A synoptic review of deficit irrigation methods: sustainable water-saving strategies in vegetable cultivation

ABSTRACT It is elusive and highly challenging to sustain the productivity of vegetable commodities under limited available natural resources and anticipated future climatic scenarios. Amongst available natural resources, water remains the most limiting factor. Present vegetable cultivation practices involve the utilization of excessive quantities of water, thereby leading to the wastage of precious water resources. Therefore, sustainable management of irrigation water is crucial for future vegetable cultivation, as most vegetable crops are vulnerable to water scarcity at different growth stages, which can result in yield and post-harvest quality losses. Adoption of deficit irrigation (DI) is one of the sustainable irrigation water management approaches. DI is a sustainable water-saving approach, as irrigation water is applied in limited or lower quantities than the actual evapotranspiration-based crop water requirement. Strategic application of water at the right time and quantity with the right technique can greatly improve water use efficiency and water productivity. It could also enhance the post-harvest quality with marginal yield loss. Yield losses whatsoever could be compensated by expanding agricultural areas in water-scarce zones by adopting the DI strategy. This review discusses the concept and types of DI and examines its implications for the morpho-physiology and productivity of commercially important vegetable crops.

Water Footprint Assessment of Agricultural Production in Bilecik Province

The freshwater sources are under serious pressure both in terms of quality characteristics due to pollution and in terms of quantity due to the increase in parameters such as temperature and evaporation under the influence of global warming. To ensure sustainable use of these resources, it is necessary to employ high-efficiency pressurized irrigation systems and cultivate plant species that are resilient to various stress factors and highly productive. In determining the water usage characteristics of plants, rapid atmospheric effects brought by climate change, plant water and temperature stress, soil moisture should be monitored, and water production indicators should be determined. In the water-intensive agricultural sector, monitoring the water footprint has become one of the important indicators in terms of ensuring water-food-energy sustainability, efficient use and fair sharing of water resources. This study aims to determine the water footprint of agricultural production in Bilecik province and its districts located in the transitional zone. Accordingly, values of crop and livestock production throughout the province and using a volume-based approach, the water footprint of crop production is estimated at 0.6 billion cubic meters (BCM), while the water footprint of livestock production is 0.5 BCM, resulting in a total agricultural water footprint of 1.1 BCM. In crop production, green water footprint constitutes 33%, blue water footprint 59%, and grey water footprint 8% of the total water footprint. The data obtained will form the basis for developing strategies in sustainable water and food management, aligned with climate change scenarios, to achieve sectoral supply-demand balance.

METEOROLOGICAL DROUGHT RISK ASSESSMENT USING SPI NUMERICAL MODEL: A CASE STUDY OF HELMAND RIVER BASIN, AFGHANISTAN

Meteorological droughts, which result from insufficient precipitation, can cause significant economic damage. While preventing meteorological droughts is impossible, their harmful effects can be reduced through close monitoring. This study aims to evaluate the meteorological drought in the Helmand River Basin using the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) model. The hydrometeorological data used for this analysis were collected from the Ministry of Energy and Water (MEW) in Afghanistan. The precipitation data collected from MEW covers a 40-year period from 1979 to 2021. The SPI analysis of precipitation shows that 1990, 1991, and 1992 were moderately wet, while 1982, 1983, 1995-1998, 2005, 2014, and 2015 were nearly normal. However, moderately dry conditions were observed in 2000, 2001, 2018, and 2021. Among the sampled stations, Waras and Gardez consistently had low drought levels, while Tarnak, Shila-i-charkha, and Khwabgah stations experienced moderate-level drought. Meanwhile, Lashkargah and Adraskan stations exhibited relatively high levels of drought. In conclusion, this research on the HRB, using the SPI method, has provided valuable knowledge for understanding drought dynamics in the region. The findings underscore the importance of conducting region-specific analyses, the necessity of implementing sustainable water management strategies, and the global significance of addressing drought as a pressing environmental challenge.

Integrated hybrid membrane system for enhanced water treatment and desalination for environmental preservation

Technology advancements in desalination, water treatment, and energy efficiency are crucial to preserving our planet. It is critical to find solutions for the future that save natural resources and lessen environmental damage because the freshwater shortage is getting worse, and energy demand is increasing. They face various obstacles, even though their breakthroughs are extremely important. Lot of energy can be utilized for the traditional desalination techniques, as it negatively impacts the environment. Then, the process of the existing Water Treatment (WT) are expensive and ineffective. An Integrated Hybrid Membrane System for Enhanced WT (IHMS-EWT) is a unique technique for WT and desalination was suggested in this study. The integration of many membrane procedures like nanofiltration, reverse and forward osmosis, and membrane distillation, and these will helps in facilitating the best WT and desalination methods. Due to the incorporating Renewable Energy (RE), the IHMS-EWT also demonstrates the (SWMS) Sustainable Water Management System, as it enhances the EE and thereby reducing the environmental impact. The great potential in the wide range of applications was offered by the IHMS-EWT technique. Providing the decentralized WT solutions in the remote areas, this unique approach has the ability to reduce the fresh water scarcity in the coastal areas based on the demands of the municipal, industrial and agricultural demands. The environmental sustainability throughout the lenghthy operations was ensured by the support of IHMS-EWT. It also helps in providing resilience in the crisis situations. The cost-effective evaluations, operating parameter optimization, and performance prediction of the method was enabled by employing the computational modelling. Through simulatimg different contexts, the effective configurations and operational techniques are focussed on the study for enhancing the IHMS-EWT technology.The model shift in the SWM, the IHMS-EWT technique addresses the main problems and brings one step for more secure environment. Comparing to other existing methods, Improving the water purification by 98.2 %, 94.2 % efficiency rate, the EC prediction rate of 96.2 %, the cost-effectiveness rate by 82.4 % and the performance rate by 96.7 % by the suggested IHMS-EWT model and it was demonstrated by the outcomes of the experiment.

Evaluation of water resource balance in the Urmia Lake Basin: Integrating carrying capacity and water footprint model for sustainable management

Given the scarcity of water resources and the ever-growing demand, effective water flow management becomes crucial. The Lake Urmia Basin, a critical region in Iran, faces severe water scarcity exacerbated by climatic changes, land use alterations, over-extraction of groundwater, and mismanagement. This study evaluates the water resource balance by integrating carrying capacity and water footprint models to assess sustainable water management practices. Utilizing the InVEST model, water provisioning ecosystem services have been estimated as the supply, while the ecological footprint method quantifies water demand across various sectors. Three scenarios are evaluated: continuation of the current situation, an ideal scenario with substantial reductions in water consumption and pollution, and implementation of operational programs. The findings reveal significant water deficits in certain sub-basins, highlighting the need for a fundamental revision of resource allocation based on each region’s ecological capacity. Lake Urmia, the central nucleus of the basin, has experienced a significant size reduction, approximately 10 % of its original size, from the early 1990s to 2018, due to climatic changes, land use alterations, over-extraction of groundwater, and mismanagement. The environmental deficit in some sub-basins raises serious concerns, even in the best scenario where ecological footprint reduction is considered. These results underscore the effectiveness of ecosystem-based comprehensive capacity analysis for sustainable watershed development. This research offers a unified spatial system for quantifying ecological footprints and land resilience, providing critical insights into addressing water scarcity and supporting holistic regional planning.

Monthly new water fractions and their relationships with climate and catchment properties across Alpine rivers

Abstract. The Alps are a key water resource for central Europe, providing water for drinking, agriculture, and hydropower production. Thus, understanding runoff generation processes of Alpine streams is important for sustainable water management. It is currently unclear how much streamflow is derived from old water stored in the subsurface and how much stems from more recent precipitation that reaches the stream via near-surface quick flow processes. It is also unclear how this partitioning varies across different Alpine catchments in response to hydroclimatic forcing and catchment characteristics. Here, we use stable water isotope time series in precipitation and streamflow to quantify the young water fractions (Fyw; i.e., the fraction of water younger than approximately 2–3 months) and new water fractions (Fnew; here, the fraction of water younger than 1 month) in streamflow from 32 Alpine catchments. We contrast these measures of water age between summer and winter and between wet and dry periods and then correlate them with hydroclimatic variables and physical catchment properties. New water fractions varied between 3.5 % and 9.6 %, with values of 9.2 % in rainfall-dominated catchments, 9.6 % in hybrid catchments, and 3.5 % in snow-dominated catchments (mean across all catchments of 7.1 %). Young water fractions were approximately twice as large (reflecting their longer timescale) and ranged between 10.1 % and 17.6 %, with values of 17.6 % in rainfall-dominated catchments, 16.6 % in hybrid catchments, and 10.1 % in snow-dominated catchments (mean across all catchments of 14.3 %). New water fractions were negatively correlated with catchment size (Spearman rank correlation, rS, of −0.38), q95 baseflow (rS=-0.36), catchment elevation (rS=-0.37), total catchment relief (rS=-0.59), and the fraction of slopes steeper than 40° (rS=-0.48). Large new water fractions, implying faster transmission of precipitation to streamflow, are more prevalent in small catchments, at low elevations, with small elevation differences, and with large fractions of forest cover (rS=0.36). New water fractions averaged 3.3 % following dry antecedent conditions, compared with 9.3 % after wet antecedent conditions. Our results quantify how hydroclimatic and physical drivers shape the partitioning of old and new waters across the Alps, thus indicating which landscapes transmit recent precipitation more readily to streamflow and which landscapes tend to retain water over longer periods. Our results further illustrate how new water fractions may find relationships that remained invisible with young water fractions.

Unleashing Effective Models of Collaboration for Rainwater Harvesting: Experiences from Nepal

Background: Rainwater harvesting (RWH) is an age-old practice of a localized renewable and alternate source of water supply to meet the growing demand of people in developing countries like Nepal. Thus, the effective models of collaboration for providing water services through RWH is a pathway to the sustainable water management of the nation leading to achieving SDGs. Purpose: The paper aims at unleashing effective models of collaboration for RWH in the context of the rural areas of Nepal. Methodology: The study comprises a descriptive cum analytical research design based on both primary and secondary data. The necessary primary data were collected by conducting a field survey using a semi-structured questionnaire on a sample of 38 communities/projects having RWH systems while the secondary data were collected through relevant publications. The csollected data were analyzed using statistical tools through SPSS to derive results leading to major findings of the study. Analysis/Results: The study concluded that a collaborative plan provides a ground to get contributions from different stakeholders and increase their sense of ownership. The collaboration with the local government ensures co-financing and involvement in planning and monitoring and increases prospects for support to required rehabilitation in the future. Community engagement from planning to implementation to managing the systems ensures the system's functionality and sustainability, leading to caretakers’ management and promoting income-generating activities using waste/overflow water from the system. The multiple uses of water services (MUS) provide a basis for livelihood enhancement leading to regular payment of tariffs. The caretakers’ management ensures to fix minor repairs promptly as needed. A combination of monitoring and eval_uation with different stakeholders during implementation and afterward ensures efficient and effective implementation and sustainability of the RWH system. Originality/Value: No such study uses recent data related to effective models of collaboration for RWH in the context of the rural areas of developing countries like Nepal is accessible. The paper, therefore, is valuable for users’ committees, development actors, academia, and policymakers to create effective models of collaboration for RWH. This work may potentially be useful to academia for future studies. Future avenue: The extension of this study can be made by incorporating an analysis of diverse applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in the water management sector in future studies.

Pressure on water consumption by the expansion of fruit crops in Melipilla, Metropolitan Region of Chile

This study investigated the expansion of the surface of five fruit crop species between 2004 and 2020 and the magnitude of their water consumption, for three communes in the Province of Melipilla, Metropolitan Region of Chile. The statistical information about the crops was obtained from the fruit crop cadasters of the Region, and their spatial information was taken from the Rural Territorial Information System (SIT), while various sources of secondary information were used to approximate the water requirements of each species of interest. The results detail the cartography of expansion and increase in water consumption of the species on the dates of interest, which, in a context of mega-drought persisting since 2010, translates into a strong inverse correlation between consumption and water supply in the lower basin of the Maipo River. On the other hand, the magnitude of these water consumptions represents a significant proportion of water uses within the Maipo River basin, surpassing the combined uses of rural drinking water, forestry, livestock, and mining, and encompassing 22 % of urban drinking water consumption in the Metropolitan Region. As the relationship between availability and water deficit narrows, the absence of sustainable water management that could ensure water security within the country's most populous basin becomes palpable.

A literature review of electrocoagulation integrated systems on wastewater treatment

Electrocoagulation (EC), an newly arising electrochemical technology, gained more advances than other electrochemical technologies on wastewater treatment in recent years, including the absence of secondary chemical pollution, simplicity of equipment, and formation of large flocs than traditional chemical coagulation. Combined with existing treatment methods, such as membrane processes, adsorption and activated sludge, EC helps encounter existing issues and enhance the efficiency of current technologies. This paper reviews recent studies on the integration of EC and other technologies to illustrate the performance of the combined systems, especially the role played by EC. Then the advantages and the limitations of the integrated systems are assessed, as well as the challenges and future directions are discussed. Considering the growing global concern over water scarcity and environmental degradation, the application of EC-integrated systems represents a viable and indispensable solution for sustainable water management. This literature review intends to be helpful to researchers, investors, and government officials working and making long-range planning process on wastewater treatments.