Water For Consumption Research Articles

Assessment of physiochemical parameters of the Tawi River of Jammu and Kashmir, India for drinking and agricultural purposes

ABSTRACT Water is one of the essential components and nature's significant segment that provides substantial support to sustain life. The main aim of this study is to assess the ecological strategy of the Tawi River, Jammu & Kashmir, India for drinking and irrigation purposes. The Tawi River is one of the central lifelines of Jammu city. In this study, physicochemical parameters such as pH, TDS, Ca2+, Mg2+, complete alkalinity, EC, sodium, hardness, potassium, and chlorides are considered to analyze the quality of the Tawi River water. These critical parameters affecting water quality were examined in conformity to IS 10500:2012 that had aligned with the international standards such as EU directives (80/778/EEC), Council directives (98/83/EC), USEPA standard (EPA 816-F-02-013), and WHO guidelines (3rd Edition Vol. 1, 2008). Besides WQI quantification and examination, the quality of water is also segregated through different quality classes for accurate information. It is observed that many significant parameters are beyond the prescribed permissible limits indicating the unsuitability of water for household consumption without proper treatment. On the other hand, examination of parameters such as SAR, MH, KR, PI, and %Na indicates that the quality of the Tawi River water is, however, reasonable for irrigation purposes.

Bacteriology and Physicochemical Analysis of Borehole Water in Some Hostels of a Tertiary Institution in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Several factors influence the quality of water for human consumption. Most of these factors are more of anthropogenic origin than nature and thus exercises an untold health effect on the end-users of such water body. Bacteriology and Physicochemical Analysis of Borehole Water in Some Hostels of a Tertiary Institution in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Water samples were collected from six (6) hostels for each study period, and subjected to standard laboratory procedures to analyze for parameters such as pH, nitrite, nitrate, dissolved oxygen (DO), electrical conductivity (EC), Phosphate, as well as standard procedures for antibiotics susceptibility and molecular characterization. Result of the physicochemical parameters showed that the parameters ranged from 5.26±3.53 mg/L to 7.61±0.01 mg/L forpH; 0.61±0.01 to 2.56±0.01 mg/L for Dissolved Oxygen (DO); 96±1.41 μS/cm to 503.5±0.71μS/cm for electrical conductivity; 4.56±0.03 mg/L to 20.3±0.01 mg/L for nitrate; 0.003±0mg/L to 0.03±0mg/L for nitrite; 0.12±0mg/L to 0.17±0mg/L for phosphate. Statistical evaluation showed there was a significant difference (p < 0.05) between the mean values of physicochemical parameters studied, except for pH that recorded no statistical difference (p > 0.05). From the study, 5.6% of Staphylococcus species were resistant to Pefloxacin and Rocephin, while 5.9% of Bacillus species were resistant to Ampiclox. Similarly, 3.33% of Salmonella species were resistant to Augmentin, while the rest of the gram negative isolates were either susceptible or within an intermediate range of susceptibility to the antibiotics tested. Molecular characterization of some bacterial species isolated had pairwise identity with Klebsiella pneumonia strain CP27 and Escherichia coli strain RIZHAO 498.1, Staphylococcus haemolyticus strain SH1. The study has shown that the physicochemical water quality variables were all within the WHO limits, with bacterial species having high percentage susceptibility to the antibiotics tested. Regular water quality monitoring is however recommended to ensure continuous access to water of good quality in hostels within the university community.

Employing the agricultural water footprint concept to enhance the sustainable management of water resources: a review

ABSTRACT Agriculture is recognized as a significant consumer of water, with projections indicating an increase in consumption due to rising food demand and the impacts of climate change. Therefore, every country must ensure the adequacy and security of water for sustainable uses. This research reviews the water footprint (WF) index as a recent water indicator that measures the human appropriation of water resources for several consumptive uses that qualify decision-makers to manage water with high efficiency in agriculture sectors. Light is shed on the WF concept, virtual water, mechanisms of water use, and the applications in water resources management, as well as methods for assessment with its three components, blue, green, and gray. The comparison between these methods was discussed, and the differences and motives for use were clarified. The good innovation in this review is linking sustainability considerations with the WF, discussing measuring the sustainability of agricultural activities, and deducing the best policies and decisions to meet environmental and economic needs without compromising the requirements of the future. This outcome confirms the effectiveness of applying the WF in enhancing sustainability.

Influence of climate change on water quality in Terra Nova River basin, Pernambuco, Brazil

Climate changes tend to intensify water scarcity in arid and semi-arid regions, making water management in these areas more challenging, directly influencing hydrological dynamics, causing impacts on ecosystems and society. The Terra Nova River basin is crucial for the water security of the semi-arid region of Pernambuco, especially after the construction of the São Francisco River Integration Project (PISF), which saw the construction of six reservoirs to supply water for human consumption, agricultural, and industrial activities. Therefore, this study aims to analyzes the impacts of climate changes on water quality in the Terra Nova River basin in Pernambuco, using long-term data from the Hydrological Response Unit System for Pernambuco (SUPer). The ARIMA (Autoregressive Integrated Moving Averages) model is employed to predict water quality parameters in climate change scenarios, using data from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz). The variables include air temperature, precipitation, dissolved oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus. Simulated scenarios were compared with CONAMA No. 357/2005 limits, revealing potential decreases in dissolved oxygen and phosphorus concentrations, alongside an increase in nitrogen concentrations. Irregular rainfall rates, high air temperatures, and evapotranspiration, combined with conflicts by water resources, may exacerbate water access issues in the semi-arid region, worsening the water crisis and threatening water security.

Multivariate statistical analysis as a tool for monitoring drinking water sources in an Atlantic Rainforest Conservation Unit.

Water quality monitoring is paramount in identifying and mitigating pollution sources, protecting aquatic ecosystems, and ensuring safe water for human and wildlife consumption. This study is aimed at evaluating the quality of drinking water sources in three communities located in a Sustainable Use Conservation Unit in the municipality of Mangaratiba, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, employing a multivariate statistical analysis. A total of 161 water samples were collected from January to December 2022, encompassing 32 surface water and 129 tap water samples. Physicochemical parameters were determined in situ employing a Horiba U50 multiparameter probe. The samples were stored and transported at 4°C to the laboratory for microbiological analyses concerning total coliforms and Escherichia coli using a commercial enzymatic test. All samples contained coliforms, while E. coli were detected in 87% of the samples. The multivariate analysis indicated that the microbiological water quality in sampling region R2 was influenced by rainy periods and that, in general, the water quality within R3 was the most affected by the transport of solids to the water sources. The statistical methods applied herein aided in characterizing the study areas and detecting points of attention regarding physicochemical and microbiological parameters that significantly influence the water quality of each sampling point. Representative points for each study region were identified and may be employed for future monitoring and prevention actions.

Improving Water Productivity in Irrigated Agriculture: A Review of Techniques and Water Conservation Methods in Ethiopia

Water is a scarce resource and the competition for it is increasing from time to time due to population growth and economic status change. The population growth leads to high expectations to produce more food from irrigated agriculture which could not be satisfied by rain-fed conditions. As irrigated agriculture is by far the largest water consumer in an inefficient way, improving water productivity has paramount importance both for the production of more food and for wise utilization of scarce water. Beyond these, studies suggest that improving water productivity in Ethiopia contributes to an increase in the irrigated area, reduced competition, and conflict between users, increased profitability due to reduced labor cost, water pumping and working time, and generally increased food production. Different water productivity improvement techniques and water conservation methods have been tested in different parts of the country. These include improving the performance of irrigation schemes, regulated deficit irrigation practice, partial root zone drying, application of irrigation on selected crop growth stages, supplementary irrigation, drip irrigation, surge and cutback irrigation, and water conservation methods like mulching and integrating irrigation with conservation agriculture. The level of water productivity improvement varies considerably for different methods, study areas, crop types, and seasons. Generally, more studies concentrated on deficit irrigation and irrigation application at different crop growth stages. Water conservation and integration of cultivation practices with efficient irrigation led to an improvement in water productivity. Despite few studies, scheme-level study results suggest that the level of deficit irrigation should be selected based on the available irrigation water and cultivable land area for maximizing the benefit of the scheme. According to the economic profitability, crop types and crop varieties also should be selected for production with site-specific conditions. Despite different types and levels of reduced irrigation leading to lower crop yield, the inclusion of the economic importance is essential as most crops showed higher water productivity at lower irrigation levels. On the other hand, studies on the integration of different water productivity enhancement techniques and crop planting patterns are minimal in the country, though current studies revealed better water productivity. Moreover, basin-level water productivity improvement studies could contribute to alleviating water competition and increasing irrigated areas. Therefore, studies on the optimization of these different methods could be done at the basin level for better water resource utilization. Government policies should also focus on water productivity improvement for the implementation of research findings.

Bottled or Tap Water? Factors Explaining Consumption and Measures to Promote Tap Water

The production and consumption of plastic bottled water have several negative environmental impacts worldwide. To identify the barriers and motivations for drinking tap and bottled water, we conducted a nationally representative questionnaire survey among 3411 respondents in the Czech Republic in 2022. People aged 18–34 are moderate consumers of bottled water and very frequent consumers of tap water. Bottled water consumption tends to be less frequent among people with a higher education, while tap water consumption is less frequent among people with lower incomes. The most important factors that explain the frequency of drinking bottled and tap water are taste perception, health concerns and habit. Health concerns about tap water and the unpleasant taste of tap water increase the consumption of bottled water. People with a strong habit of drinking tap water are less likely to consume bottled water. The constructs from the theory of planned behaviour were statistically significant. The results can guide decision-makers in promoting tap water to consumers. To encourage tap water drinking, we suggest measures to increase the availability of tap water in public places in conjunction with campaigns targeting the taste and health perception, as well as the habit, of drinking tap water.

Aerodynamic analysis and hygrothermal transfer characteristics of cellulose evaporative cooling pads: A case study applied to protected agriculture

Evaporative cooling pads are clean media for cost-effective temperature management. However, the spatially integrated microclimate resulting from heat and mass transfer in the evaporative cooling pad is an uncertain and nonlinear complexity. Therefore, this purpose of this study is to present an innovative prediction model with computational fluid dynamics and evaluate the operating scenarios and geometrical properties of wet pads from quantitative metrics such as saturation efficiency and pressure drop. The reliability of the established numerical model of wet pads was verified by wind tunnel experiments and existing experiments, which predicted the outlet conditions in satisfactory conformity. The results showed that a wet pad with 8 mm ripple height and 19.6 mm ripple distance exhibits the best prospective, with energy consumption and specific water consumption reduced by 45.28 % and 26.26 %, respectively. Meanwhile, the cross strategy of 45_45° corrugation obliquity reduces the pressure drop by 18.95 %, providing uniform supply air distributions. The heat exchange of the wet pad is mainly concentrated within the first 35 mm from the inlet section, while the mass exchange of the wet pad is concentrated within the first 60 mm. The range of frontal air velocity with 0.9–2.5 m/s is recommend for the evaporative cooling system.

CÁLCULO DE LA HUELLA VIRTUAL DEL AGUA EN EL PROCESO PRODUCTIVO Y BENEFICIADO DE CAFÉ (Coffea arabica L.) EN HUATUSCO, MÉXICO, UTILIZANDO EL SOFTWARE CROPWAT 8.0

<p><strong>Background:</strong> The use and expenditure of water within agriculture is of vital importance, especially in coffee farming, therefore it is very important to know that the virtual water in the production of coffee beans, as well as in the process of wet processing (transformation of cherry coffee to dry parchment coffee), so far there is no data on the use of virtual water in coffee production in the study region. <strong>Objective:</strong> To determine the virtual water (green and gray) calculation of the virtual footprint by means of the FAO program CROPWAT 8.0 and the calculation of water expenditure in coffee mills in the region of Huatusco, Veracruz. <strong>Methodology:</strong> The program CROPWAT 8.0 was obtained, and normal climatological data were reviewed to obtain the data and to be able to make the calculations to obtain the virtual footprint, subsequently the water expenditure was measured in five wet coffee mills, for this purpose the mills were visited during the harvest season and the measurements could be made. <strong>Results:</strong> A total green and gray virtual footprint of 977.61 m<sup>3</sup>/kg of coffee produced in the field production process was estimated. In relation to the virtual water expenditure in the wet coffee mills where water expenditure was measured: two of the five mills analyzed had the following data: The third mill reached an expense of 566 m<sup>3</sup>/kg of processed cherry coffee and the five mill had an amount of 162 m3/kg of processed cherry coffee and an average of 155.13 m<sup>3</sup>/kg of processed coffee. In total, the virtual footprint obtained: green, gray and water consumption in the processing process was 1132.73 m<sup>3</sup>/kg of parchment coffee. The blue virtual footprint was considered zero since irrigation is not used in the region for coffee production. <strong>Implications:</strong> The data found are the pioneers in the calculation of the virtual footprint of the species <em>(Coffea arabica</em> L.) more studies on this subject are needed in the region which will raise awareness about the virtual footprint generated in the coffee production and processing process, as well as proposed alternatives for a more sustainable use. <strong>Conclusions:</strong> The virtual footprint obtained was high in the study region and like studies carried out in other countries, which indicates that there is an awareness of how much water is used in the production and processing of coffee, as well as its impact in the short, medium and long term.</p>

Digital Twin Technology and Social Sustainability: Implications for the Construction Industry

To date, a plethora of research has been published investigating the value of using Digital Twin (DT) technology in the construction industry. However, the contribution of DT technology to promoting social sustainability in the industry has largely been unexplored. Therefore, the current paper aims to address this gap by exploring the untapped potential of DT technology in advancing social sustainability within the construction industry. To this end, a comprehensive systematic literature review was conducted, which identified 298 relevant studies. These studies were subsequently analysed with respect to their use of DT technology in supporting social sustainability. The findings indicated that the studies contributed to 8 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a strong focus on SDG11 (77 publications), followed by SDG3 and SDG9, with 58 and 48 studies, respectively, focusing on promoting health and well-being and fostering resilient infrastructure and innovation. Other contributions were identified for SDG13 (30 studies), SDG7 (27 studies), SDG12 (26 studies), SDG4 (21 studies), and SDG6 (11 studies), covering areas such as climate action, responsible consumption, affordable energy, quality education, and clean water and sanitation. This paper also proposes future research directions for advancing DT technology to further enhance social sustainability in the construction industry. These include (i) enhancing inclusivity and diversity, (ii) workforce safety and well-being, (iii) training and skill development, (iv) policy and regulatory support, and (v) cross-disciplinary collaboration.

Physiological costs of warning: Defensive hissing increases metabolic rate and evaporative water loss in a venomous snake

To minimize predation risk and the cost of confronting predators, prey have developed a range of defensive strategies and warning signals. Although advantageous, defensive warnings may also induce physiological and energy costs to the emitter. Ventilatory sounds (hissing) are the most distributed warning sound in vertebrates. Because they involve the respiratory apparatus, defensive hissing may substantially increase evaporative water loss. Herein, we examined the determinants of hissing as well as its physiological costs in a medium-sized venomous snake, the long-nosed viper (Vipera ammodytes). We first used a neutral arena and applied standardized stimulation to measure the occurrence and acoustic characteristics of warning hissing. Then, we used open-flow respirometry to quantify changes in respiratory gas exchanges (oxygen consumption and evaporative water loss) during defensive responses. We demonstrated that males are more likely to engage in sound warnings when stimulated. Expirations generated the strongest signals compared to inspiration but did not differ between sexes. We found that defensive hissing dramatically increased average metabolic rate and evaporative water loss during the 10-minute stimulation period, and this effect was more pronounced in males. Metabolic rates and evaporative water loss were closely related to the duration of hissing. Overall, our results indicate that respiratory-based warning sounds induce significant physiological costs and may alter water balance. The higher responsiveness in males than females likely reflects sexually selective pressure (higher mobility for mate acquisition) and enhanced risk exposure.

Seasonal and depth-dependent thermoregulatory benefits of burrows for wombats – the largest burrowing marsupials.

Mammals use burrows to behaviourally thermoregulate, save water and avoid predation. The advantages of burrows vary not only seasonally but also with burrow depth. To quantify these effects, we used biophysical ecological models, which predict an animal’s energetic and hydric costs within a characterised microclimate. For Australia’s three extant wombat species we quantified variation in the energetic advantage of burrows spatially, temporally, and with burrow depth. We simulated resting wombats with different traits (e.g., body size, fur) in different microclimates (above ground and burrows of varying depth) at six sites across Australia, two for each wombat species, over five years (1980, 1990, 2000, 2010, 2020). We assessed time spent within their thermoneutral zone—heat production equals heat loss thus minimising energy and water expenditure —and frequency of extreme heat stress (i.e., no viable hydric solution for the conditions stipulated). Our findings show that burrows are essential for reducing energetic and hydric costs and for survival during the hottest season in areas with no shade, e.g., the semi-arid zone. We found no evidence that extreme heat stress has increased temporally i.e., due to climate change, but it was frequently predicted in shallow burrows in 2020, having rarely been previously forecast. For energy requirements, we found lower thermoregulatory costs for deeper burrows in the cold season and for shallow burrows in the hot season. This work underscores the critical balance between wombat survival, burrow utility, and environmental dynamics, offering new insights into mechanisms that dictate mammal behaviour from a thermoregulatory perspective.

Assessment of Animal Drinking Water Quality in Livestock Farms in Galapagos Islands

The purpose of this research was to determine the quality of water for bovine consumption on livestock farms in the El Progreso parish - Galapagos by applying a quality index following the Brown methodology proposed by the National Sanitation Foundation of the United States. Information was collected from the livestock farms through a socio-environmental diagnosis of the area, where five localities were considered: San Joaquín, Las Goteras, Cerro Verde, Puerto Chino and El Progreso from which fifteen livestock farms were selected for the respective sampling of the sources. of water. Therefore, nine parameters were considered for the analysis of the respective water sources: pH, TDS, Fecal Coliforms, electrical conductivity, hardness, nitrites, phosphates, temperature and turbidity. Of the total livestock farms monitored, three of them presented a rating of Good quality in a range of 70 to 90, while the remaining farms recorded values with a Medium classification, which are those that recorded AQI values between 51 to 70 according to the criteria established by the NSF. This research highlights the importance of frequently carrying out analyzes of the water sources from which cattle drink to determine the quality of the resource, and also provide technical advice to ranchers in the area on the management and cleaning of the reservoirs.

INTEGRATING LAND USE ANALYSIS WITH WATER DEMAND ESTIMATION: A CASE STUDY OF PUTRAJAYA, MALAYSIA

The challenges posed by population growth, urbanization, and changing land use patterns on sustainable water resource management are significant. This paper puts forth an integrated framework aimed at assessing future water demand in Putrajaya, Malaysia. The proposed framework combines population projections, estimations of water demand, and analyses of land use activities. Through an examination of demographic trends and land use patterns, the framework predicts population growth and identifies areas with high water demand. Daily water use patterns in homes and businesses (temporal analysis) inform the designing future water infrastructure, incorporating temporal aspects. Statistical and spatial analysis techniques are then utilized to merge these projections with water demand estimations to quantify water requirements in various zones and types of land use. This study has unveiled two daily peaks in water demand, which align with household schedules. Residential areas emerge as the primary consumers of water, displaying an evening peak distinct from the midday peak seen in businesses. The current water demand in Putrajaya is estimated at 94 million litres per day, with domestic usage surpassing non-domestic usage in a ratio of 3:2. Projections based on future land use plans foresee a 19% increase in demand, underscoring the urgency for proactive water management strategies. Spatial analysis has highlighted residential areas as the main users of water, with demand levels varying throughout the city. By comprehending these temporal and spatial patterns, water authorities can strategically target interventions, optimize infrastructure siting, and forecast future demand trends. These proactive measures are essential for securing a sustainable water future for Putrajaya.

Efficient biodecolorization of direct black 22 Azo Dye by Aspergillus tamarii Kita UCP1279 isolated from caatinga soil

The textile industry is a major consumer of water, generating large volumes of wastewater contaminated with harmful substances, particularly azo dyes, which contain aromatic rings, amines, and sulfonic groups that contribute to their environmental toxicity. The use of microbial agents for wastewater treatment offers a cost-effective and sustainable solution, minimizing sludge production. Fungi from the Caatinga biome have demonstrated potential for bioremediation, especially under extreme environmental conditions. This study explores the ability of Aspergillus tamarii Kita to decolorize the azo dye Direct Black 22 (DB22) under varying conditions, including the use of both active and inactive fungal biomass, in static and agitated systems (120 rpm), at a controlled temperature of 30°C. Dye concentrations of 50, 125, and 250 mg/L were evaluated over time intervals of 75, 180, and 180 minutes, respectively. The influence of dissolved oxygen concentration and redox potential on the decolorization process was also investigated to identify optimal treatment conditions. Decolorization efficiency was quantified via spectrophotometric analysis. Results revealed decolorization rates of 100%, 97%, and 63% for the respective dye concentrations, with active biomass in agitated conditions achieving the highest removal rates. The study further demonstrated that dissolved oxygen levels and redox potential are critical factors in enhancing dye decolorization. These findings underscore the bioremediation potential of Aspergillus tamarii Kita in treating textile dye effluents, offering a promising approach to sustainable industrial wastewater management.

Machine Learning Techniques for Monitoring Water Quality in Water Resources

More than 66% of the Earth's total surface area is covered by water. Clean water is one of the basic needs of everyday life. Consistent pollution of water bodies can have far-reaching effects on the lives of living organisms. The World Health Organization has reported that the provision of safe drinking water for human consumption is a challenge that has reached alarming levels. This is because nearly 70% of the total water withdrawals worldwide are used in agriculture. To determine the water's suitability for human consumption, Tests are typically conducted by examining the properties of water in terms of physical, biological, and chemical conditions. There are various methods to measure water quality. Recently, an ongoing process has been shown to improve water quality. To solve this problem, this paper is using a machine learning model to Contribution for creation a smart model capable of classifying potable and non-potable water that is released to the water share by the competent authorities and the ability of Machine Learning models to monitor and predict water, especially Managing and Planning Water Resources. datasets were utilized in training and evaluating machine learning models, which includes (3276) samples with nine attributes and two labels indicating water usability According to the in our work the (Random Forest) algorithm have the best Through the results that appeared by accuracy (0.954084, 0. 882484, and 0. 931849 for three sizes of data.) and then (Decision Tree, K-Nearest Neighbor, Logistic Regression, SVC) sequentially. Index Terms—Machine Learning, potable water, Water Quality, water resources.

Bacteriological Evaluation of Drinking Water Quality from Kabul University Taps

Human health is significantly affected by poor-quality drinking water, and water-borne diseases are of the most significant concern. A wide variety of microorganisms contaminate drinking water. Water consumers face substantial challenges due to these pollutants and harmful bacteria. To evaluate the microbiological quality of drinking water samples from different places to identify and count Escherichia coli and Coliform bacteria, multiple tube fermentation technique tests (most likely 100 ml) were used. Bacteria were identified using their morphological, biochemical, and cultural characteristics. Sixty tap water samples were collected from different locations at Kabul University. Of these, 36 samples (60 %) were positive for E. coli and Coliform bacteria, and 24 (40 %) were negative. Girls’ and boys’ dormitories showed the highest bacterial contamination level among the multiple positive water samples collected from different locations. Thirty-one samples (86.1 %) of the water were contaminated with Coliform, and five (13.8 %) samples revealed contamination with E. coli. Therefore, it is suggested that all drinking water sources should plan and carry out regular bacteriological evaluations, water supply monitoring, regular treatment, and adequate sanitation.

GROUNDWATER POLLUTION SOURCE USING PRINCIPAL COMPONENT ANALYSIS IN GUELMA PLAIN, NORTHEAST ALGERIA

This study was conducted in the agricultural region of Guelma, located in northeastern Algeria, where groundwater is the main source of water for human consumption, agriculture, and industry. The objective was to characterize groundwater quality and identify potential pollution sources using multivariate statistical methods, including Principal Component Analysis (PCA), correlation matrix, and the Piper diagram. The analyses revealed strong correlations between certain ions, such as sodium and chloride, suggesting carbonate dissolution processes, such as calcite and dolomite, leading to increased water hardness. The Piper diagram allowed for the classification of water types based on the relative concentrations of major cations (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺+K⁺) and anions (Cl⁻, SO₄²⁻, CO₃²⁻+HCO₃⁻), showing a predominance of mixed hydrochemical types influenced by both natural and anthropogenic processes.PCA then simplified the interpretation by identifying the most influential variables that could serve as key indicators for the continuous monitoring of water quality. Overall, the results indicate that groundwater chemistry in this region is strongly influenced by human activities and local geological conditions, highlighting the need for sustainable management and continuous monitoring to protect this vital resource.

Optimization of Purchase Decisions: A Segmentation, Targeting, and Positioning Approach at AMIU Malabo Depot

This study investigates how marketing strategies—specifically segmentation, targeting, and positioning—affect consumer decision-making when purchasing refill drinking water at AMIU Depot Malabo, Parepare. Utilizing a quantitative research approach, the study employs various data collection methods, including direct observation, conversations with respondents, distributing questionnaires, and reviewing documents. Participants were selected incidentally from consumers at AMIU Depot Malabo. The findings indicate that both segmentation and targeting have a significant effect on purchasing decisions, while positioning does not appear to have a substantial impact. However, when considered together, these three strategies significantly influence purchasing behavior. Additional analysis shows that the independent variables account for some variation in consumer purchasing decisions. To enhance understanding, it is recommended that future research explore other factors that might affect the decision-making process for refill drinking water consumers.

Improving Water Efficiency Through Channel Lining - A Case Study of the Birinchiguri Runoff Irrigation Project in Assam, India

Water is the most essential commodity for human beings to be alive and so it is very necessary to make proper use of water without wasting it. Irrigation sector is the biggest consumer of water as more than 80% of available water resources in India is being presently utilized for irrigation purposes. However, the average water use efficiency of irrigation projects in the country is assessed to be only of the order of 30 to 35%. In the north eastern region also, performance of the existing irrigation schemes suffer from low water use efficiency due to distribution losses and poor operational maintenance and management and results in non - availability of water in the tail ends. Again, water demand for various purposes namely irrigation, drinking, domestic, power, industrial and other uses is increasing day by day leading to severe seasonal stress on water resources in the region. Its scarcity is more pronounced with increasing population and needs. In the present study, the water use efficiency of the Birinchiguri Flow Irrigation Project is determined as per methodology given in the guidelines for computing the Water Use Efficiency of the Irrigation Projects, Central Water Commission (CWC), February, 2014. It has also been attempted to analyze the scope of improvement of water use efficiency of the same.