Sustainable Water Infrastructure Research Articles

Framework Model for Financing Sustainable Water and Sanitation Infrastructure in Zimbabwe

Financing frameworks for Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs) are lacking in developing countries. This study aims to develop a financing framework for adoption for water and sanitation PPP infrastructure projects in Zimbabwe. Using data covering a 25-year period from 1996 to 2021, Tobit econometric models are applied to the secondary data collected from both international and domestic sources. The results of this study confirm that capital market variables, bank market development, and economic affluence drive the financing of water and sanitation Public–Private Partnership infrastructure projects in Zimbabwe. It was also established that both public and private sources of finance are instrumental in financing water and sanitation PPP projects. The results inform our eventual framework model, which integrates the Public–Private Partnership (PPP) models, sources of finance for water and sanitation PPPs, and the drivers of water and sanitation PPP finance. This study recommends the application of the developed framework in the water and sanitation Public–Private Partnership infrastructure financing policy of developing countries so as to capitalise on the strengths, resources, and networks of the respective stakeholders in the PPPs.

Innovative Machine Learning Applications in Non-Revenue Water Management: Challenges and Future Solution

The escalating global concerns surrounding Non-Revenue Water (NRW) necessitate a paradigm shift in water management strategies, and innovative machine learning (ML) applications emerge as a transformative solution. This paper investigates the intersection of ML and NRW management, recognizing the pressing need to curb water losses due to leaks, theft, and inaccuracies. As water utilities grapple with the economic and environmental repercussions of NRW, this paper explores the potential of ML algorithms, such as predictive analytics to revolutionize traditional approaches. The discussion encompasses the intricate landscape of challenges, including data quality issues, model interpretability, and the inherent complexity of implementation. Recognizing the multidisciplinary nature of these challenges, the journal emphasizes the collaborative efforts required to harmonize technological innovation with practical implementation. As the world confronts the imperative to optimize water resources, this paper posits that innovative ML applications present a pivotal opportunity to not only enhance the accuracy and efficiency of NRW management but also to foster a more sustainable and resilient water infrastructure. Through a comprehensive grasp of challenges and a proactive pursuit of remedies, stakeholders can establish sustainable, resilient, and equitable water management systems. This paper acts as a valuable reference, providing a detailed discussion encompassing Europe, China, Japan, South Korea, and specific states within Malaysia, with a specific focus on non-revenue water (NRW) systems.

Review of remote monitoring systems for the delivery of sustainable and resilient water infrastructure

Purpose This paper aims to present a literature review of remote monitoring systems for water infrastructure in the Global South. Design/methodology/approach Following initial scoping searches, further examination was made of key remote monitoring technologies for water infrastructure in the Global South. A standard literature search methodology was adopted to examine these monitoring technologies and their respective deployments. This hierarchical approach prioritised “peer-reviewed” articles, followed by “scholarly” publications, then “credible” information sources and, finally, “other” relevant materials. The first two search phases were conducted using academic search services (e.g. Scopus and Google Scholar). In the third and fourth phases, Web searches were carried out on various stakeholders, including manufacturers, governmental agencies and non-governmental organisations/charities associated with Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in the Global South. Findings This exercise expands the number of monitoring technologies considered in comparison to earlier review publications. Similarly, preceding reviews have largely focused upon monitoring applications in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This paper explores opportunities in other geographical regions and highlights India as a significant potential market for these tools. Research limitations/implications This review predominantly focuses upon information/data currently available in the public domain. Practical implications Remote monitoring technologies enable the rapid detection of broken water pumps. Broken water infrastructure significantly impacts many vulnerable communities, often leading to the use of less protected water sources and increased exposure to water-related diseases. Further to these public health impacts, there are additional economic disadvantages for these user communities. Originality/value This literature review has sought to address some key technological omissions and to widen the geographical scope associated with previous investigations.

Sustainable Water Infrastructure: Visions and Options for Sub-Saharan Africa

Developing a sustainable water infrastructure entails the planning and management of water systems to ensure the availability, access, quality, and affordability of water resources in the face of social, environmental, and economic challenges. Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is currently in an era where it must make significant changes to improve the sustainability of its water infrastructure. This paper reviews the factors affecting water infrastructure sustainability and the interventions taken globally to address these challenges. In parallel, it reflects on the relevance of these interventions to the context of Sub-Saharan Africa through the lens of the STEEP (societal, technological, economic, environmental, political) framework. The paper goes on to recommend an extended analysis that captures additional critical dimensions when applying the concept of sustainability. Furthermore, this paper sheds light on the practice of sustainable development and fosters a deeper understanding of the issues, thereby forming the basis for further research and the development of sustainable and resilient solutions for water infrastructure and water asset management more generally.

Review of innovative approaches in water infrastructure: Sustainable desalination and public-private partnerships

The abstract concisely overviews the research paper "Review of Innovative Approaches in Water Infrastructure: Sustainable Desalination and Public-Private Partnerships." This comprehensive review explores integrating sustainable desalination technologies within Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) to address global water scarcity challenges. Examining advancements in reverse osmosis, solar desalination, and forward osmosis, the paper evaluates their environmental, social, and economic implications. It underscores the significance of PPPs in financing and implementing large-scale projects. Future trends, including technological innovations and climate-resilient strategies, are explored. The findings emphasize the need for inclusive governance, knowledge sharing, and adaptive policies to ensure the success of integrated desalination PPPs in fostering sustainable water infrastructure.

Identification of suitable sites for rainwater and storm water harvesting through spatial analysis and smart sustainable urban water infrastructure in Lahore, Pakistan.

Sustainable and water-wise cities maintain an eco-friendly urban hydrological cycle (UHC). Regrettably, the UHC of Pakistani cities is not consistently eco-friendly. Pakistan is situated within the influential area of the world's largest monsoon weather system. Cities like Lahore face simultaneous vulnerabilities to urban flooding and water scarcity due to extreme climate change events. Therefore, Pakistan's urban areas necessitate Urban Water Infrastructural Transformation (UWIT), achievable only after identifying suitable Rainwater and Stormwater Harvesting Potential Sites (RSWHPS) in Lahore. Hence, we conducted spatial analysis to pinpoint these RSWHPS within Lahore city for 2020, utilizing the World View Water Index (WV-WI). The results indicate 85.54 km2 of available areas for rain and stormwater harvesting potential during monsoon rains in Lahore. The area with the highest potential in Lahore is Wagha town, featuring 19.96 km2 of stagnant water. Additionally, RSWHPS is classified into four categories based on potential: high, medium, low, and water bodies in Lahore. Urgent transformation is required for the identified storm and rainwater harvesting sites. Consequently, this study will serve as a snapshot for policymakers to systematically address water shortage and urban flooding, making Lahore's hydrological cycle eco-friendly and sustainable.

Precipitation trends of major world cities with implications for sustainable water infrastructure management

Precipitation trends of major world cities with implications for sustainable water infrastructure management

Australian country paper: Integrated approaches to irrigation management in the future

AbstractIrrigation in Australia expanded dramatically during the early to mid‐twentieth century under an economic and social development regime of government. This led to overallocation and overuse of many of the country's water resources to the detriment of the rivers and riverine environments. To address this degradation federal and state governments have come together to implement a range of reforms at national, basin and catchment level to return water to the rivers but not at the expense of rural communities and a range of policy reforms to implement water resource best management practice including cost recovery pricing, accuracy in measurement (resource availability and extraction). The three most significant components of these reforms are the Murray–Darling Basin Plan, the National Water Initiative and the Sustainable Rural Water Use and Infrastructure Programme (SRWUIP). These actions are complemented by infrastructure and management improvements at on‐ and off‐farm levels and examples are documented.

ESTIMATION OF FUTURE POPULATION AND WATER DEMAND OF URBAN CENTERS OF INDIA: A CASE STUDY OF JAIPUR CITY

The rapid urbanization and population growth in India have led to increased pressure on water resources in urban centers. As one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, Jaipur is facing significant challenges in meeting the water demands of its expanding population. Therefore, it is crucial to estimate the future population and water demand of Jaipur city to develop effective strategies for sustainable water management. This case study aims to estimate the future population and water demand of Jaipur city using a comprehensive analysis of demographic and water consumption trends. The study utilizes a combination of statistical methods, demographic projections, and water demand modeling techniques to provide a holistic understanding of the city's future water requirements. The results of this case study provide valuable insights into the future population growth and water demand trends of Jaipur city. The findings can assist urban planners, policymakers, and water resource managers in formulating effective strategies for sustainable water management and infrastructure development. The study emphasizes the importance of incorporating future population growth projections and water demand estimations into long-term urban planning processes. This case study contributes to the understanding of the challenges posed by population growth and urbanization on water resources in India, using Jaipur city as a specific example. The estimation of future population and water demand serves as a foundation for developing proactive measures to ensure adequate water supply and sustainable urban development in the face of increasing demand and limited resources

Toward Sustainable Water Infrastructure: The State‐Of‐The‐Art for Modeling the Failure Probability of Water Pipes

AbstractFailures of water distribution networks (WDNs) are rising at an exponential rate, necessitating immediate attention. An effective way to reduce the failure rate is to develop accurate predictive models for the failure probability of water pipes, which are the most critical assets of WDNs. Despite the fact that researchers have invested efforts to develop various predictive models, the extant literature lacks a complete state‐of‐the‐art review. To fill this gap, this study employs a mixed approach (i.e., quantitative and qualitative) by providing (a) a bibliometric analysis of existing scholarly literature, (b) a systematic review of the techniques used in modeling the failure probability of water pipes, including physical, statistical, and machine‐learning (ML)‐based models, and (c) identified gaps and future research directions. The bibliometric analysis shows that ML‐based models are emerging and, hence understudied as compared to the physical and statistical‐based models. Regarding the systematic review, a proper understanding of the development of each model has been provided in addition to their advantages and critiques. Furthermore, failure probability integration methods are discussed. Findings reveal that the social and operation‐related predictors have been understudied, thereby suggesting their further exploration. This study adds to the existing body of knowledge by providing water utilities and academics with a comprehensive understanding of the probability of water pipe failure, which will be useful in the decision‐making process and network management.

Evaluation of the Impact of Drought and Saline Water Intrusion on Rice Yields in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam

The Mekong delta is Vietnam’s premier rice growing region, forming the livelihood basis for millions of farmers. At the same time, the region is facing various challenges, ranging from extreme weather events, saline water intrusion, and other anthropogenic pressures. This study examines how saline water intrusion and drought have affected rice yield in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta (VMD). Applying the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and the maximum and minimum values of annual average salinity, we spatially examine the effects of drought and saline water intrusion on rice yields over a 40-year period (1980–2019). Our results highlight that 42% of the natural land area of the VMD has experienced increased drought occurrence during the winter-spring (WS) rice cropping season, while certain inland regions have additionally experienced increased drought occurrence during the summer-autumn (SA) rice cropping season. The Tri Ton Station, which has a significant Sen’s slope of −0.025 and a p-value of 0.05, represents an upstream semi-mountainous part of the delta, indicative of a rising severity of reoccurring drought. It should be noted that the yield decreases during the summer-autumn season as the positive SPI_SA increases. Salinity, on the other hand, is associated with SPI_WS during the winter-spring season. Our results highlight the need for improved evidence-based planning and investments in priority adaptation for both sustainable water infrastructure and to improve system resilience.

Spatial distribution modeling of customer complaints using machine learning for indoor water leakage management

Customer complaints reflect the needs of citizens and provide valuable information for the efficient management of urban problems. Indoor water leakage management is required to achieve a sustainable water infrastructure and urban development. In this study, a machine learning (ML)-based modeling framework was developed for predicting the spatial distribution of customer complaints about indoor water leakage in the downtown area of Daegu Metropolitan City, South Korea. Two ML algorithms (XGBoost and LightGBM) were used with six resampling methods (e.g., undersampling, oversampling, and hybrid sampling) to compare the prediction performances. The combination of LightGBM and hybrid sampling showed the highest prediction performance. Post hoc analysis using Shapley Additive Explanations indicated that, among the various input features, the land cover type, building and water infrastructure characteristics were of primary importance. High-resolution gridded mapping clearly revealed the spatial pattern of complaint probabilities. These results provide a decision support tool for indoor water leakage management. The proposed modeling framework encompasses data preprocessing and integration, prediction, interpretation, and spatial mapping, and it is applicable to a wide variety of urban problems that require in-depth analysis of their spatial characteristics.

Multimethod Analysis of Factors for Reliable and Sustainable Rural Water Infrastructure Maintenance in Uganda

Multimethod Analysis of Factors for Reliable and Sustainable Rural Water Infrastructure Maintenance in Uganda

Analysis of the climate change impact on water availability and the links between water pollution and economy for sustainable water resource management in Kaski District, Nepal

Abstract The newly enacted national water policy is envisioned as ensuring water sustainability in Nepal. Despite theoretical pertinence, questions remain about the effective implementation due to limited studies on key aspects of sustainability, such as water supply and demand, pollution, and impacts of climate change and socio-economic growth. This study analyses the current and future availability of water under climate change scenarios and determines water resources carrying capacity (WRCC) as the maximum socio-economic growth that can be supported in a case study on the Kaski District, Nepal. Annual average water availability was estimated to be 11,030.7 million cubic meters (MCM) for the baseline period (1992–2010), and 7,677.4 and 7,674.2 MCM for the future period (2022–2050) under the representative concentration pathway (RCP) 4.5 and 8.5 emission scenarios, respectively. For the baseline period, WRCC far exceeds the current population; therefore, water resources will not be a limiting factor for local socio-economic development. Nevertheless, sustainable water infrastructure development policies are necessary to ensure a reliable water supply able to cope with increasing seasonal variability and declining future water availability. A total of 30,049 tons of biological oxygen demand (BOD) loads were estimated based on the economic activities of the Kaski District in 2011, with the direct and indirect sectoral roles of water pollution determined for the first time. Rather than a single pollution control strategy based on pollution loads, multiple sector-specific strategies are necessary to effectively implement water pollution control policies.

Designing sustainable and resilient water and energy infrastructure for a campus in Rwanda

This paper sets out the approach, solutions and lessons learned in designing sustainable and resilient water and energy infrastructure for the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture. It showcases the role that decentralised infrastructure and nature-based solutions can play in addressing the demand for infrastructure and food security. It argues there is a need to design for both current and future uncertainty, and to work with and protect the environment. Finally, it discusses the role of knowledge sharing between international and local partners to build and benefit from capability across the project team and ensure appropriate solutions for the context are adopted.

Delivering sustainable water infrastructure to regional NSW communities

ABSTRACT Water utilities with a population base of greater than 50,000 people can have several economically viable options for ensuring their services provide climate resilience and carbon neutrality through optimisation of their two largest operational expenses (OPEX): power for STP aeration and power for water supply pumping. Energy optimisation can be approached from a number of perspectives, including design, equipment selection, instrumentation and control, energy recovery from the sewage, pumping off-peak, reuse of sewage and water treatment residuals, etc. Smaller water utilities with less than 50,000 people have less latitude for applying these approaches due the lack of economic viability for smaller facilities, lack of staff or other. Smaller water utilities must still strive towards reducing their carbon footprints but maintain affordability to rate payers. Public Works Advisory (PWA) provides technical, advisory and design services to Government Agency clients, including Local Government Areas or LGAs. The PWA partnership with LGAs assists at the local level to deliver on the commitments of NSW and Australia to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030. Directly reducing the take and use of grid power supplied by coal fired power stations can have favourable outcomes, both for reducing GHGs and OPEX. The use of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in Australia is particularly attractive due to the continent having the highest direct normal irradiation or DNI. Current literature gives few examples of real operating data from PV systems in duty on water infrastructure, particularly for smaller installations. PWA target the highest OPEX areas for management of water and sewage and demonstrate with actual operating data from three full-scale case studies. PV panels can be economically employed by smaller water utilities for acceptable Internal Rate of Returns (IRRs), with or without batteries, to help reduce their overall carbon footprints.

Optimal energy management of water-energy networks via optimal placement of pumps-as-turbines and demand response through water storage tanks

A sustainable water infrastructure cannot be made possible without improving its energy efficiency in terms of the consumption value and the type of supplying resources. One solution to reduce the external energy requirement of the water systems is to decrease the energy consumption, while the internal energy recovery capacity is increased. Such is achieved by the present work through (1) optimizing the water demand and tanks’ and pumps’ scheduling and operations and (2) installing pumps-as-turbines (PATs) where there is excess pressure head in the water. In this paper, two optimization models are developed. The first optimization problem is designed to find the optimal number and location of the PATs among the eligible positions across a water system. The optimal solution will be incorporated in the second optimization problem, i.e., an economic dispatch problem, where the cost of energy generation of an integrated water-energy system is minimized while the water and electrical load demands, as well as the hydraulic integrity of the system are satisfied. The energy system consists of conventional power generation units aggregated of natural gas and diesel based generators, solar photovoltaic units, wind generators, and battery energy storage systems. The proposed models are verified with case studies, and the numerical results show more than 30% reduction in the daily electricity consumption of water systems and $79 in daily operating cost of energy generation in water-energy systems when 3 PATs were installed at optimal locations.

Optimal operation of water-energy microgrids; a mixed integer linear programming formulation

Increasing energy efficiency in water distribution systems is one of the most important aspects of a sustainable water infrastructure. Additionally, providing this energy from renewable sources is an essential step towards a cleaner production in energy infrastructures. Therefore in this paper, an optimization model is developed to minimize the energy consumption of a water-energy microgrid system. A day-ahead economic dispatch model is developed to minimize the daily cost of energy in the water-energy microgrid. The energy consumption of water system is minimized using tank’s and pump’s scheduling and operation, hydraulic factors, and daily demand. Particularly, the electricity consumption of the pump is minimized by adjusting its head gain and flow rate via a variable speed. The energy unit is composed of an aggregated conventional power generation, solar photovoltaic, wind generation, and battery energy storage system. To offer a global optimum for the proposed non-linear programming formulation, bivariate piecewise linear approximation is used to linearize the pump’s power consumption and gain, and conservation of energy-mass. In addition, univariate piecewise linear approximation is used to linearize the energy consumption function of conventional power generation systems. The optimization results of the mixed integer linear programming and mixed integer non-linear programming formulations for the studied water-energy microgrid system are compared and discussed. These models are developed to concurrently minimize the electricity consumption of a micro water-energy distribution network in two scenarios of (1) standalone water distribution system operation and (2) an integrated islanded micro water-energy system with electrical loads.

Potability assessment of packaged sachet water sold within a tertiary institution in southwestern Nigeria

Production of quality and safe potable water is vital to human health. This research examined the potability of the packaged sachet water being marketed within the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) campus. Seven sachet water brands were purchased randomly and the physicochemical and bacteriological qualities were determined. The results acquired are as follows: pH, 6.57–6.79 ± 0.02; electrical conductivity (EC), 0–145.00 ± 5.00 μScm−1, turbidity, 0.00–0.59 ± 0.02 NTU; total dissolved solids (TDS) 0.00–70.00 ± 0.00 mg/L; total suspended solids (TSS), 0.00–0.01 ± 0.00 mg/L; calcium, 42.00–161.00 ± 1.00 mg/L; iron, 0.65–1.25 ± 0.05 mg/L; alkalinity, 0.65–1.25 ± 0.05 mg/L; sulphate, 0.95–33.71 ± 0.01 mg/L; and nitrate, 0.01–0.04 ± 0.00 mg/L. Magnesium and phosphate were below detection level. The odour and taste were also unobjectionable. The physicochemical test results conformed with the World Health Organization World Health Organisation (WHO) (2004) and Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water Quality (NSDWQ) standards for drinking water. However, bacteriological analysis established the presence of total bacteria count in all water samples (100%) while two brands, (sample C and G), of the packaged sachet water (28.57%) were contaminated with total coliforms which failed to comply with WHO and NSDWQ standard. The analysed physicochemical and bacteriological parameters of the water samples exhibited significant differences (P < 0.05). Sustainable measures such as scientific examination of the water quality during preproduction, production and postproduction stages to determine the means of access of contaminants as its directly affect public health and safely should be routinely performed by the water producers. The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control should implement established regulations and execute their statutory responsibilities through routine checks and effective monitoring of the operation and production facilities. Furthermore, Standard Organisation of Nigeria should intensify its effort through restrictions of the manufacturers using substandard packaging materials for their production. Consequently, there is need to invest in sustainable water infrastructure (water supply systems, treatment plants, storage and water resource management) that will cater for the populace of the entire university community through partnership with relevant stakeholders in the water industry and donations from non-governmental, national and international organizations hence, reducing the dependence on water supply from substandard private vendors.

Assessing Health Impacts of Conventional Centralized and Emerging Resource Recovery-Oriented Decentralized Water Systems.

Energy shortage and climate change call for sustainable water and wastewater infrastructure capable of simultaneously recovering energy, mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, and protecting public health. Although energy and greenhouse gas emissions of water and wastewater infrastructure are extensively studied, the human health impacts of innovative infrastructure designed under the principles of decentralization and resource recovery are not fully understood. In order to fill this knowledge gap, this study assesses and compares the health impacts of three representative systems by integrating life cycle and microbial risk assessment approaches. This study found that the decentralized system options, such as on-site septic tank and composting or urine diverting toilets, presented much lower life cycle cancer and noncancer impacts than the centralized system. The microbial risks of decentralized systems options were also lower than those of the centralized system. Moreover, life cycle cancer and noncancer impacts contributed to approximately 95% of total health impacts, while microbial risks were associated with the remaining 5%. Additionally, the variability and sensitivity assessment indicated that reducing energy use of wastewater treatment and water distribution is effective in mitigating total health damages of the centralized system, while reducing energy use of water treatment is effective in mitigating total health damages of the decentralized systems.