Sustainable Use Of Water Resources Research Articles

Impact of urbanization and planting structure on water footprint of food, cash, and feed crops in China’s northern agro-pastoral ecotone

China, especially the northern agro-pastoral ecotone, is facing severe water scarcity, which presents a significant challenge for the agriculture sector, the largest consumer of water. This study selected Yanchi County as a typical area. First, the water footprint method is used to evaluate the water usage of food, cash, and feed crops in the region from 1990 to 2020. Then, the vector error correction model (VECM) is used to analyze the short-term effects and long-term effects of urbanization and planting structure on the water consumption of these three types of crops. The results show: 1) The total agricultural water footprint (WF) in Yanchi County, as well as the WFs of the predominantly grown food and feed crops, show an upward trend. Additionally, the proportion of blue WF is relatively high across all crop types. 2) Reducing the proportion of food crops will increase the WF of cash and feed crops, but it will not necessarily decrease the WF of food crops. 3) An increase in the level of urbanization may reduce the agricultural WF in the short term, but ultimately, it will lead to an increase in the WF. Overall, this study reveals the growing pressure on agricultural water use faced by the agro-pastoral ecotone during the processes of urbanization and planting structure transformation. It highlights the importance of developing rain-fed agriculture, seizing the technological development opportunities brought by urbanization, and reasonably adjusting the cropping structure for the sustainable use of water resources.

Dynamics of Energy Fluxes in a Mediterranean Vineyard: Influence of Soil Moisture

Accurate evaluation of grapevine water use is essential for optimizing water management and maximizing grapevine yield and berry quality in Mediterranean climates. Understanding the water and heat flux dynamics in a vineyard during grapevine berry maturation is of utmost importance. This study focuses on evaluating sensible and latent energy fluxes at the canopy, the soil beneath the canopy, and the interrow areas. The primary objective is to develop a model framework for accurately estimating these energy fluxes, contributing to a better understanding of their behavior during berry ripening. The model’s accuracy was assessed by comparing the estimated fluxes with those measured by an eddy-covariance system installed at a reference height of three meters in the experimental vineyard. This validation step was essential to confirm the model’s ability to capture the intricate energy flux dynamics of the vineyard, especially during grape maturation. The results revealed a high level of agreement between the observed and estimated fluxes, confirming the model’s reliability. This comprehensive evaluation of energy fluxes provides valuable insights for optimizing irrigation strategies. By doing so, this study contributes to improving grape quality, ensuring sustainable water resource use, and ultimately enhancing vineyard productivity in arid and water-scarce regions.

The Synergistic Effect of the Same Climatic Factors on Water Use Efficiency Varies between Daily and Monthly Scales

The coupled processes of ecosystem carbon and water cycles are usually evaluated using the water use efficiency (WUE), and improving WUE is crucial for maintaining the sustainability of ecosystems. However, it remains unclear whether the WUE in different ecosystem responds synchronously to the synergistic effect of the same climate factors at daily and monthly scales. Therefore, we employed a machine learning-driven factor analysis method and a geographic detector model, and we quantitatively evaluated the individual effects and the synergistic effect of climate factors on the daily mean water use efficiency (WUED) and monthly mean water use efficiency (WUEM) in different ecosystems in China. Our results showed that (1) among the 10 carbon flux monitoring sites in China, WUED and WUEM exhibited the highest positive correlations with the near-surface air humidity and the highest negative correlation with solar radiation. The correlation between WUEM and climate factors was generally greater than that between WUED and climate factors. (2) There were significant differences in the order of importance and degree of impact of the same climate factors on WUED and WUEM in the different ecosystems. Among the 10 carbon flux monitoring sites in China, the near-surface air humidity imposed the greatest influence on the WUED and WUEM changes, followed by the near-surface water vapor pressure. (3) There were significant differences in the synergistic effects of the same climate factors on WUED and WUEM in the different ecosystems. Among the 10 carbon flux monitoring sites in China, the WUED variability was most sensitive to the synergistic effect of solar radiation and photosynthetically active radiation, while the WUEM variability was most sensitive to the synergistic effect of the near-surface air humidity and soil moisture. The research results indicated that synchronous responses of the WUE in very few ecosystems to the same climate factors and their synergistic effect occurred at daily and monthly scales. This finding enhances the understanding of sustainable water resource use and the impact of climate change on water use efficiency, providing crucial insights for improving climate-adaptive ecosystem management and sustainable water resource utilization across different ecosystems.

Dual Method for Comprehensive Evaluation of Sustainable Water Resources’ Utilization Capacity in Huangshui River in Yellow River Basin, China

The evaluation of sustainable water resources’ utilization capacity in the Huangshui Basin is essential for effective management and development in the water-scarce regions of northwest China. This research provides valuable insights into the basin’s potential capacity for sustainable water resource use by developing a comprehensive evaluation index that addresses the following three critical aspects: climate factors, water resource systems, and socio-economic conditions. The evaluation is conducted using a dual method, as follows: the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation model and the ELECTRE III evaluation method. The results indicate that the Huangshui Basin’s water resources, as a whole, exhibit a medium sustainable utilization capacity. Climatic factors and socio-economic characteristics are the main factors affecting the sustainable utilization of water resources in the Huangshui Basin. Remarkably, both methods yield consistent results, indicating that the overall sustainable utilization capacity of the Huangshui Basin’s water resources is medium. Climatic factors and socio-economic characteristics are identified as the primary aspects influencing the sustainable utilization of water resources in the basin. Based on these findings, recommendations such as enhancing the introduction of external water resources, improving water resources’ management, and implementing comprehensive remediation efforts can help to elevate the level of sustainable water use. This research not only contributes to a deeper understanding of the basin’s water resources’ dynamics, but also serves as an important reference for informed decision making regarding sustainable utilization in the Huangshui Basin.

Ukraine’s water security under pressure: Climate change and wartime

Ukraine’s water resources depend on external water flow and are unevenly distributed across the country. Water security in Ukraine is threatened by climate-related risks, including droughts and floods, resulting in substantial economic losses. But the greatest risks to water security are posed by military operations. Russia’s occupation of the southeastern part of the territory of Ukraine and the annexation of Crimea in 2014, along with the start of a full-scale military invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, further worsened the state of Ukraine’s water resources. The destruction of the Kakhovka reservoir deprived Ukraine of 10% of its water resources, which were used to support the agricultural and industrial South of Ukraine. It has caused a loss of access to quality drinking water for 6 million people in Ukraine and more that 13 million people have a limited access to water for satisfying sanitary and hygienic needs. The continuation of the war will have multiple negative sustainability implications not only in Ukraine but also on a global scale, hampering the achievement of clean water and sanitation, conservation and sustainable use of water resources and energy, and food security.

Assessing water quality environmental grades using hyperspectral images and a deep learning model: A case study in Jiangsu, China

Water quality assessment is essential for effective environmental management, yet traditional methods such as chemical sampling are often labor-intensive and inefficient for large-scale, continual monitoring. This study addresses these limitations by leveraging hyperspectral images (HSIs) analysis and introducing a capsule network (CapsNet) model enhanced with a multidimensional integration attention (MDIA) mechanism. The model is specifically designed to integrate both channel and spatial information, enabling precise water quality grade assessment by detecting subtle features within HSIs data. To validate the performance of the model, spectral data from 5 water quality regions are collected and processed via a UAV-carried spectrometer, with 4503 water quality data samples. Rigorous classification experiments demonstrated that the model achieves 98.73 % accuracy, with an average improvement of 4.89 % compared with the other models. This approach significantly improves decision support systems for water resource management, facilitating the sustainable use of water resources.

Impacts of LULC changes on runoff from rivers through a coupled SWAT and BiLSTM model: A case study in Zhanghe River Basin, China

Changes in river runoff have a significant impact on the sustainable use of water resources in a watershed, and these changes are closely linked to variations in land use/land cover (LULC). This research explores an innovative approach in the Zhang River Basin (ZRB), China, by coupling a concept-based hydrological model, the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), with a deep-learning model, the Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory Network (Bi-LSTM), to improve the accuracy of river runoff simulations. By analyzing LULC changes in 2002, 2012, and 2022, this study developed three SWAT models and three coupled SWAT-BiLSTM models to quantitatively assess the impacts of these changes on river runoff through eight LULC scenarios. The findings revealed significant LULC changes from 2002 to 2022, with cropland and grassland areas decreasing while forest and urban land areas increased. The total area of grassland, forest, and cropland made up over 93 % of the basin, indicating active land type conversions. Calibration and validation results demonstrated that the SWAT-BiLSTM model outperformed the conventional SWAT model, yielding higher accuracy in runoff simulations. Specifically, the SWAT-BiLSTM model achieved R2 values of 0.89 and 0.90 during calibration and validation, compared to the SWAT model's R2 values of 0.76 and 0.79. Scenario analyses indicated that expansions in farmland, grassland, and urban areas were correlated with increased river runoff, while an expansion in forested areas led to reduced runoff. Notably, urban land changes had the most pronounced impact on runoff, emphasizing the need for careful runoff management and flood risk mitigation in urban planning. By combining SWAT and Bi-LSTM models, this study provides an innovative assessment of the impact of LULC changes on water resources in the ZRB. The results offer valuable insights for water resource management, LULC optimization, and flood risk management, highlighting the potential application of deep learning techniques in hydrological simulation. This research serves as a scientific basis for policy-making and sustainable land use planning in the ZRB and similar regions.

Prediction of regional water resources carrying capacity based on stochastic simulation: A case study of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Urban Agglomeration

Study regionBeijing-Tianjin-Hebei urban agglomeration in China Study focusThe prediction of water resources carrying capacity (WRCC) can provide an effective reference for the rational allocation and efficient utilization of water resources. Traditional prediction methods obtained a definite WRCC value but fail to reflect the uncertainty of WRCC changes and limit reference for the optimal allocation of water resources. To ensure the accuracy, availability and comprehensiveness of prediction, this paper adopts the improved principal component analysis (PCA) to screen indicators, and predicts the WRCC through the coupled model of Monte Carlo and Grey Wolf Optimization-Support Vector Machine(GWO-SVM), addressing single result issues and computational complexity. At the same time, various regulation schemes for sensitive indicators are designed to provide an effective guidance for the optimal allocation and sustainable use of water resources. New hydrological insights for the regionIn 2025, the probability of WRCC in Tianjin, Handan, Xingtai, Hengshui, Cangzhou, Langfang to maintain grade III is more than 80 %, and that in Beijing, Baoding, Tangshan, Qinhuangdao, Zhangjiakou, Chengde to reach grade IV is more than 50 %. The sensitivity analysis shows that the sensitive indicators mainly focus on water supply and consumption, water use efficiency and pollutant gas emissions. The WRCC can be further improved under different schemes. The results can provide effective guidance for the optimal allocation of water resources and maintain sustainable economic and social development in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei urban agglomeration.

A Comprehensive Evaluation of Water Resource Carrying Capacity Based on the Optimized Projection Pursuit Regression Model: A Case Study from China

The Han River Ecological Economic Belt (HREEB) has a substantial amount of water resources; however, its distribution is uneven, and issues such as seasonal and engineering water shortages are prevalent. This necessitates a thorough assessment of the current water resource situation and trends in water resource carrying capacity (WRCC) to provide scientific support for the rational allocation of water resources. This study employed the RAGA-PP model to establish a WRCC evaluation index system composed of four subsystems: water resources, economy, society, and the ecological environment. The WRCC of the 17 major cities in the HREEB was evaluated from 2008 to 2022. The differentiation method was introduced to compare the reliability of the RAGA-PP model with three evaluation methods: the entropy weight TOPSIS method, the rank sum ratio method, and the principal component analysis method. In addition, an obstacle degree model was introduced to analyze the factors influencing WRCC enhancement. The results indicated the following. (1) In the differentiation test of the four models, the RAGA-PP model was found to have the highest differentiation value, and the results showed that it was more reliable in the WRCC evaluation of HREEB. (2) WRCC in the HREEB underwent significant changes between 2008 and 2022. (3) The WRCC in Shiyan and Wuhan, which are located in the eastern part of the HREEB, were high in Hubei, low in four cities in Henan, and satisfactory in three cities in Shaanxi. (4) The carrying capacity of the subsystems of the cities in the HREEB exhibited fluctuating changes with obvious internal variations. (5) The problems in the WRCC guideline layer were consistent across all cities in the HREEB, with limited per capita water resources being the primary issue in the indicator layer. Assessing WRCC is essential for achieving sustainable water resource use and high-quality regional development.

Livestock in Riparian Areas: A Neglected Environmental Issue.

The presence of livestock in riparian areas raises several questions about the conservation and sustainable use of water resources and biodiversity in Brazil. Although the Native Vegetation Protection Law (No. 12,651) focuses on riparian vegetation, protected as Permanent Preservation Areas (APPs), it does not exclude the presence of livestock in these fragile areas. Here, we provide an overview of APPs in Brazil and analyze the legal instruments that enable livestock in these areas, gathering the scientific evidence on associated environmental impacts. Currently, cattle in riparian areas represent a direct threat to biodiversity and ecosystem functioning and services, especially because these animals promote trampling, loss of vegetation, soil erosion, siltation, and pollution through urine and feces. To avoid cattle in APPs, legislation should be revised to implement more stringent restrictions; in parallel, alternatives for watering the animals must be sought, such as, for example, the installation of artificial ponds and drinking fountains. It would be appropriate to propose legislation or create incentives to fence livestock in pasture areas to preventing it from accessing APPs. Increasing cattle confinement is an alternative measure to traditional ranching in open pasture. Riparian zones represent a critical environment for biodiversity and society, so the presence of cattle and its associated negative impacts should be seriously considered by authorities.

Quantile Regression Illuminates the Heterogeneous Effect of Water Quality on Phytoplankton in Lake Taihu, China

Lake Taihu, a subtropical shallow lake in the Yangtze River Basin, is the third-largest freshwater lake in China. It serves not only as a crucial source of drinking water and an ecological resource but also holds significant economic, tourism, and fisheries value. Phytoplankton, a vital component of aquatic ecosystems, plays a critical role in nutrient cycling and maintaining water structure. Its community composition and concentration reflect changes in the aquatic environment, making it an important biological indicator for monitoring ecological conditions. Understanding the impact of water quality on phytoplankton is essential for maintaining ecological balance and ensuring the sustainable use of water resources. This paper focuses on Lake Taihu, with water samples collected in February, May, August, and November from 2011 to 2019. Using quantile regression, a robust statistical analysis tool, the study investigates the heterogeneous effects of water quality on phytoplankton and seasonal variations. The results indicate significant seasonal differences in water quality in Lake Taihu, which substantially influence phytoplankton, showing weakly alkaline characteristics. When phytoplankton concentrations are low, pondus hydrogenii (pH), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN), water temperature (WT), and conductivity significantly affect them. At medium concentrations, COD, TP, TN, and WT have significant effects. At high concentrations, transparency and dissolved oxygen (DO) significantly impact phytoplankton, while TP no longer has a significant effect. These findings provide valuable insights for policymakers and environmental managers, supporting the prevention and control of harmful algal blooms in Lake Taihu and similar aquatic systems.

Evaluation of Water Resources Carrying Capacity in Shandong Province Based on Entropy Weight TOPSIS Model

In order to scientifically evaluate the water resources carrying capacity of Shandong Province, this paper constructs an evaluation framework of nine key indicators, including water supply coefficient and per capita GDP, from three dimensions: hydrological resource status, economic and social development level and ecological environmental protection. Then, the entropy weight method combined with TOPSIS model was used to carry out in-depth analysis and quantitative evaluation of Shandong's water resources carrying capacity. The results show that: from 2015 to 2020, the water resources carrying capacity of Shandong Province first increased steadily, then decreased slightly, and then continued to rise sharply. From 2015 to 2020, the water resources carrying capacity of Shandong Province was always in a state of shortage; In the future work, we should pay more attention to the balanced development of economic and social development level and carrying capacity, and continue to strengthen the management of water-saving and planned water use, so as to achieve sustainable use of water resources.

Climate change and watershed hydrology: assessing variability in water balance components and groundwater flow patterns

ABSTRACT This study aimed to quantify the effect of climate change on water balance and groundwater flow systems over the Walga–Darge watersheds. In this paper, Water and Energy Transfer between Soil, Plants, and Atmosphere under quasi-Steady State and MODFLOW were used to assess the hydrological impact of climate change. The Mann–Kendall test and Sen's slope estimator were used to analyze climate change. The mean annual temperature shows increasing trends, whereas the mean annual precipitation indicates decreasing trends. The simulated annual mean surface runoff is projected to decrease by 17.18, 22.04, and 31.37 for 2040, 2060, and 2080, respectively, compared to the 1980s. The model also indicates a reduction in precipitation and increased temperature causes a relative change in recharge, ranging from a decrease of 2.65, 38.82, 50.91, 61.57, and 75.49 in the 2000s, 2010s, 2040s, 2060s, and 2080s, respectively. The MODFLOW outputs furthermore show that annual groundwater discharge to the stream has decreased by −26.46% from 1985 to 2020 and is expected to decrease by −34.02% by 2080 due to climate change. The results of the study indicate that the increasing trends in temperature and decreasing rainfall amounts pose a significant threat to the sustainable use of water resources.

A bibliometric study on sustainable water management research evidence from the Scopus database

The recognition of the importance of sustainable water management has increased due to the emergence and strong focus on the Sustainable Development Goal. Consequently, there has been progress in understanding various disciplines, specifically aimed at addressing concerns related to water consumption and pressure, sustainable water generation, and the sustainable administration of water resources. Therefore, the aim of this article is to bridge this gap by using a bibliometric approach to analyze the number of contributions and their impact on the literature regarding awareness of sustainable water management in the field of management sciences. This study seeks to identify areas of research that can be further explored to improve the literature on this emerging subject through a critical analysis of articles obtained from the Scopus database. It is important to note that sustainable water management and awareness are two interconnected and crucial domains that play a vital role in ensuring the sustainable use of water resources and promoting public health. The uniqueness of this study is of great importance for scholars, researchers, and policymakers in the field of management sciences, as it presents a comprehensive research agenda on the awareness of sustainable water management.

Examining Crop Yield Losses in Iğdır Plain Irrigation Systems in Türkiye Amidst Water Constraints

Water stands as a crucial component of agricultural production. This study aims to propose water efficiency measures in agriculture as an essential element for climate change adaptation. In this study, yield losses in staple crops in agricultural regions are analyzed by using the most suitable methodologies, particularly in agriculture-reliant developing nations. Furthermore, this study seeks to determine the financial consequences of such losses. The methodology applied for this purpose was implemented in Türkiye’s Iğdır Plain, selected as the study site. As the first step, the yields of the first three most cultivated products in each product group were assessed under normal climatic conditions in terms of their crop water requirements and irrigation water requirements. Subsequently, the irrigation water supply was reduced by 10%, and the resulting yield losses were calculated per hectare. Then, the overall crop losses after applying the 10% water constraint were determined in the total cultivation area. Among the crops cultivated in the region, the analysis reveals that clover from the field crops category exhibits the highest water dependence, while apricot demonstrates the least reliance on water resources. As a result, the recommended crop rotation for the Iğdır Plain under water constraints comprises wheat, apricot, watermelon, maize, melon, apple, tomato, peach, and clover. The following measures are proposed to ensure sustainable use of water resources and reduce exposure to climate change: increasing the water transmission efficiency and water use efficiency in irrigation areas, allocating more space to water-stress-resistant crops in the crop pattern in basins, and substituting crops requiring excessive water with less water-dependent crops.

High-resolution estimates of water availability for the Iberian Peninsula under climate scenarios

Water availability is of paramount importance for sustainable development and environmental planning, specifically in regions such as the Iberian Peninsula, renowned for diverse landscapes and varying climatic conditions. Due to climate change, understanding the potential impacts on water resources becomes essential for effective water management strategies. This research effort aims to assess future potential water availability for the Iberian Peninsula in different climate scenarios, employing cutting-edge water resource modelling techniques integrated within a geographic information system (GIS) framework. In this study, potential water availability is defined as the annual demand for water that can be satisfied at a specific point in the fluvial network with certain reliability. An ensemble of state-of-the-art climate models is utilised to project runoff for the Iberian Peninsula during the mid- and late-twenty-first century periods. These climate projections were subsequently processed using the GIS-based water resource management model, WAAPA, to derive potential water availability under a range of realistic hypotheses. The results indicate that anticipated shifts in precipitation patterns will lead to alterations in hydrological regimes across the region, significantly impacting future water availability. By using GIS-based methodologies, we can facilitate the identification of vulnerable areas susceptible to changes in water availability, offering spatially explicit information along the main rivers of the Iberian Peninsula for decision-makers and stakeholders. High-resolution spatial outputs from this research and detailed water availability estimates serve as valuable input for integrated water resource management and climate change adaptation planning. By combining advanced GIS-based hydrological modelling with climate scenarios, this research presents a robust framework for assessing water resources amidst a changing climate, applicable to other regions struggling with analogous challenges. Ultimately, our study provides vital insights for policymakers and stakeholders, empowering them to make informed decisions and devise adaptive measures to ensure sustainable use of water resources despite uncertain future climatic conditions.

Spatio-Temporal Dynamics of Center Pivot Irrigation Systems in the Brazilian Tropical Savanna (1985–2020)

The 204-million-hectare Brazilian tropical savanna (Cerrado biome), located in the central part of Brazil, constitutes the main region of food and natural fiber production in the country. An important part of this production is based on center pivot irrigation. Existing studies evaluating the spatio-temporal dynamics of center pivots in Brazil do not consider their retraction. This study aimed to evaluate the expansion and retraction of center pivots in the Cerrado biome in the period 1985–2020. We relied on the data produced by the MapBiomas Irriga project. In this period, the area occupied by center pivots increased from 47 thousand hectares in 1985 to 1.2 million hectares in 2020, mostly concentrated in the states of Minas Gerais, Goiás, São Paulo, and Bahia, confirming previous reports available in the literature. Among the 13 irrigation poles recognized by the National Water Agency (ANA), the Oeste Baiano (Bahia State) and the São Marcos (Goiás State) presented the largest areas of center pivots (173,048 ha and 101,725 ha, respectively). We also found that 76% of the center pivots are concentrated in the regions with low water availability (0.01–0.45 mm day−1). Within this 16-year period (2005–2020), more than 10% of center pivots found in 2005 were either abandoned or converted into rain-fed crop production. The results of this study can provide an important foundation for public policies directed toward the sustainable use of water resources by different consumers.

Attribution Analysis of Climate Change and Human Activities on Runoff and Vegetation Changes in the Min River Basin

Hydrological processes and the sustainable use of water resources in a river basin are altered by climate change and changes in human variables. This study examined the significant effects of vegetation and hydrological, climatic, and human activity changes on the basin’s biological environment and usage of water resources. The Min River Basin (MRB) in the upper Yangtze River served as the study location. Mann–Kendall and Pettitt mutation test techniques were used to examine the features of runoff changes in the basin. The effects of meteorological and anthropogenic factors on runoff and vegetation changes in the MRB from 1982 to 2020 were quantitatively evaluated using the expanded Budyko equation. Following this, spatial and temporal variations in land use and the NDVI in the basin were studied. The results of the research demonstrated the following: (1) The MRB yearly runoff trended downward and that an abrupt change in runoff happened in 1994. (2) Precipitation (Pr) showed a decreasing tendency from the base period (S1) to the change period (S2), but potential evapotranspiration (ET0) showed an increasing trend. (3) From 1985 to 2020, the land use area of the MRB changed rapidly, and the construction land and water area increased by 322% and 58.85%, respectively, while the cultivated land area decreased by 11.72%. (4) From S1 to S2, there was a rising trend in both the NDVI and the Budyko parameter n. The contributions of Pr, ET0, NDVI, and n to the runoff change were 32.41%, 9.43%, 27.51%, and 30.65%, respectively.

Energetic, Exergetic, and Techno-Economic Analysis of A Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Utilization Process via Integrated Torrefaction–CLC–Methanation

Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) or utilization (BECCU) allows net zero or negative carbon emissions and can be a breakthrough technology for climate change mitigation. This work consists of an energetic, exergetic, and economic analysis of an integrated process based on chemical looping combustion of solar-torrefied agro-industrial residues, followed by methanation of the concentrated CO2 stream with green H2. Four agro-industrial residues and four Italian site locations are considered. Depending on the considered biomass, the integrated plant processes about 18–93 kg h−1 of raw biomass and produces 55–70 t y−1 of synthetic methane. Global exergetic efficiencies ranged within 45–60% and 67–77% when neglecting and considering, respectively, the valorization of torgas. Sugar beet pulp and grape marc required a non-negligible input exergy flow for the torrefaction, due to the high moisture content of the raw biomasses. However, for these biomasses, the water released during drying/torrefaction and CO2 methanation could be recycled to the electrolyzer to eliminate external water consumption, thus allowing for a more sustainable use of water resources. For olive stones and hemp hurd, this water recycling brings, instead, a reduction of approximately 65% in water needs. A round-trip electric efficiency of 28% was estimated assuming an electric conversion efficiency of 40%. According to the economic analysis, the total plant costs ranged within 3–5 M€ depending on the biomass and site location considered. The levelized cost of methane (LCOM) ranged within 4.3–8.9 € kgCH4−1 but, if implementing strategies to avoid the use of a large temporary H2 storage vessel, can be decreased to 2.6–5.3 € kgCH4−1. Lower values are obtained when considering hemp hurd and grape marc as raw biomasses, and when locating the PV field in the south of Italy. Even in the best scenario, values of LCOM are out of the market if compared to current natural gas prices, but they might become competitive with the introduction of a carbon tax or through government incentives for the purchase of the PV field and/or electrolyzer.

Context-based Good Governance Approach: A Sustainable Solution for Water Crisis

Water governance is a complex, multilevel process based on the socio-political and administrative systems. The sustainable use of water resources is the main challenge of the present-day global water governance. The top-down, technocratic approach to governance made the water crisis, the crisis of governance. Literature shows a radical change towards a more humanistic, situation-based strategy that can solve water issues. The article analyses the significant water challenges, which include governance, scarcity, sustainability and adaptability. The article focuses on the importance of considering good governance principles such as accountability, transparency, responsiveness, effectiveness and efficiency, inclusiveness and equity and citizens’ engagement in water governance, with particular emphasis on the context-based approach. The central argument is that the water governance system differs according to the context of governance, and the application of the good governance principle should follow contextual understanding. A major suggestion is that a context-based, good governance approach can be the sustainable solution to the water crisis.