Tap Waters Research Articles

Domestic wastewater treated with Sagittaria latifolia in constructed wetlands

Constructed wetlands are viable alternatives for the removal of multiple pollutants. The performance of Sagittaria latifolia in free flowing and subsurface wetlands in removing pollutants from domestic waters was evaluated. 12 wetlands will be followed, three free with species and three without species, three subsurface with species and three without species, with retention times of 6.7 days for the free and 3.5 days for the subsurface. The subsurface with species presented an effluent with turbidity of 4.4±0.8 NTU, color of 143.9±27.4 UC and 33.9±25.7 mgL-1 of COD. The free samples with species presented turbidity of 10.1±2.8 NTU, color of 346.3±87.0 UC and 74.7±30.0 mgL-1 of COD. The wetland with the best performance was the subsurface with species, eliminating turbidity, color, and COD in 95.9, 89.4, 95.7% respectively, obtaining a COD kinetic coefficient of 0.34 (free flow) and 0.89 days-1 (subsurface).

Biomass Quantification of the Critically Endangered European eel from Running Waters Using Environmental DNA

The European eel Anguilla anguilla is a critically endangered catadromous species. There is an urgent need for close surveillance of the populations that are still viable in European rivers. The species is difficult to observe in freshwater because of its bottom-dwelling behavior; the currently employed methods of eel monitoring in Europe based on the physical capture of individuals are stressful and may cause mortality. Here, we present a new highly sensitive method based on an A. anguilla-specific qPCR marker designed within the cytochrome oxidase I mitochondrial gene for application on environmental DNA (eDNA). Since the detectability of eDNA depends on the hydrographic conditions, we applied correction for altitude and a linear model and were able to predict the eel biomass from the eDNA in the different rivers of northern Spain still holding wild populations. The method was validated by electrofishing surveys. This novel eDNA-based marker allows for estimating the European eel biomass in running waters from small 1.5 L water samples and could complement, or replace in some cases, current eel surveys without disturbing wild populations.

Invasive fusariosis in acute leukaemia patients-An outbreak in the haematology ward.

Fusarium, a common fungus, emerges as a pathogen in severely immunocompromised patients. We present a series of patients who developed invasive fusariosis (IF) during admission to an acute leukaemia ward: an outbreak of 12 cases in June and July 2018, followed by four sporadic cases until 2021. No case was reported earlier. All patients were clustered in the same location with indoor air and water installations found to be contaminated with Fusarium spp. thus a nosocomial outbreak was assumed. Following the water installation replacement, the number of Fusarium cases dramatically dropped to one or two isolated instances per year in the same location. All 16 patients had acute leukaemia and developed IF during severe neutropenia following induction therapy. IF diagnosis was based on positive blood cultures (14 patients) and/or on tissue biopsies (3 patients). The median time from admission to the IF onset was 20 days, and from the first day of severe neutropenia (≤500/mm3) was 11.5 days. All patients were febrile, eight had moderate-to-severe myalgias, eight had respiratory involvements: lung lesions and/or sinusitis and seven had characteristic skin lesions. Follow-up: 12 out of 16 (75%) were alive on Day 90; nine out of 15 (60%) were alive on Month 6. All with intractable neutropenia died. In severely neutropenic febrile patients, the triad of respiratory involvement/skin lesions/severe myalgia may suggest Fusarium aetiology. The ability to recover from neutropenia is critical to surmount IF. The indoor environment in immunocompromised dedicated settings must be constantly controlled.

Solute transport through undisturbed carbonatic clay soils in dry regions under differing water quality and irrigation patterns

The often-indispensable use of poor-quality irrigation water in drylands instigates diverse physicochemical dynamics leading to soil salinization and sodicity which are recognized as major contributors to land degradation. This study aimed to examine the effects of water quality and irrigation mode on solute transport conditions in terms of ion exchange of colloidal particles. Laboratory studies with undisturbed soil columns were carried out with two water treatments - tap and sodic waters - as well as two water flow velocities: fast leaching which corresponds to Darcy velocity equal to the saturated hydraulic conductivity and slow leaching equal to half the fast-leaching case. Results indicated that the flow velocities did not significantly influence pH, EC and ion concentrations due to the high calcium carbonate and clay contents of the soil which make the soil less permeable. However, flow velocity rapidly decreased in the fast leaching compared to that in slow leaching as the sodic water was applied. This reveals the destructive effect of Na+ in the soil. The EC rapidly dropped at the beginning of leaching for both water qualities opposite to pH, then became steady. All sodic applications caused an increase in Na+ till the end of treatments. This also resulted in variations in measured soluble anions. In general, sharp decreases in highly soluble anions were observed in all treatments, leading to an increase in HCO3–, especially for sodic treatments. Overall, sodicity caused significant changes in flow dynamics and ion concentrations and created favorable conditions for secondary salinization in this low permeable soil system.

Neighbours' Mini Water Networks in Saguia, Arrangements, Solidarity and Innovation in Urban Water Services in Niamey, Niger

Niamey, the capital of Niger, like other cities in sub-Saharan Africa, is experiencing water insecurity due to the mismatch between rapid urban growth and substantial investment in water services. On the outskirts of the city, where the water distribution network is almost non-existent or inconsistent, private water points are increasingly being built, particularly private boreholes, as an alternative solution. This article based on a methodology combining qualitative and quantitative data collected from 20 beneficiaries, 3 suppliers and 5 carters, focuses on the mini water networks of neighbours. A new form of solidarity around water in Saguia, an outlying district of the city of Niamey, through the 'co-production' of water services and the mutualisation of water installations between neighbours-providers and neighbours-beneficiaries. This new 'social' service offer, built around arrangements between neighbours, deserves to be studied by analysing it as both an innovation and a social response adapted to the absence of a formal water network and to the uncontrolled and planned urban sprawl in Niamey. The neighbours' mini water networks thus contribute to the universalization of access to water and to urban sprawl by allowing the construction and occupation of new formal and informal neighbourhoods not covered by the official water network.

Determination of Nickel in Selected Surface Waters of the Bonaberi Industrial Zone, Douala IV Council, Littoral Cameroon

Aims: To assess the source and level of Nickel in selected surface waters and its impact on the community of the Bonaberi industrial zone.
 Study Design: Cross-sectional study design that involved semi-quantitative and qualitative data collection method.
 Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out in the area of Bonaberi industrial zone, Douala IV district between February 2019 to August 2020.
 Methodology: 25 Different surface water samples were collected from 5 sampling sites. Water samples were collected in polyethylene bottles previously washed with deionized water and rinsed with sample to be collected from different sites and acidified with 5 ml concentrated nitric acid. The contents of the metal were analyzed using Colorimetric merck microquant procedure. Two way ANOVA test and a P-value (<0.05) was considered significant.
 Results: Spring Water had a significant concentration of nickel in the various sites (0.06 mg/L), industrial waste (0.05 mg/L), River (0.04 mg/L), Well (0.03 mg/L), Tap waters (0.02 mg/L).
 Conclusion: Nickel is one of the most toxic naturally occurring metal(s) that is very dangerous to environmental sustainability when present in high concentrations. The study justifies the need to ascertain the long-term effects of Nickel contaminant(s) at waste dumping sites. Strengthening waste management systems and water quality monitoring should be implemented in the watersheds to minimize the health effects and deterioration of the aquatic ecosystem. Adequate measures should be taken to educate the community on heavy metals pollution on surface water and their effects to health and environment.

Multibody constrained dynamics of deepwater Y-method installation system

Installation of subsea equipment in deep water is a difficult task that necessitates a precise and safe executional strategy to minimize mishaps that might result in loss of life and equipment damage. Installation of a multibody structure is accompanied with undesirable dynamic behaviour and system responses. Due to its interconnectedness and nonlinearity, modelling the multibody dynamic system (MBDS) is challenging and complicated. In this study, the constrained dynamics of a multibody system is achieved by applying techniques including two tugboats and a payload in the context of an offshore installation scenario with a sea depth more than 1500 m. Given the lifting and installation operations performed using two wire ropes and three bodies with six degrees of freedom (6 –DOF), respectively, the coupled equations of motion of a multibody system are computed using Embedding Techniques or velocity Transformation Techniques. The hydrodynamic force and the two-strand forces are reduced to linear forces, but the hydrostatic force and the mooring forces are considered as nonlinear external loads. Runge-Kutta Method of Fourth-Order is used to calculate the numerical solution to the MBDS's equations of motion. The presented theoretical model is validated by comparing it to a previously published numerical model; the findings of both models are in good agreement. The outcomes of the suggested theoretical model are compared to the OrcaFlex numerical simulation. The suggested theoretical model demonstrates more computational accuracy and numerical stability than OrcaFlex. The findings of this investigation will enhance the safety and stability of multibody structure installation in deep water.

Ingestion of microplastics by bigeye scad, Selar crumenophthalmus in Municipal Waters of Malimono, Surigao del Norte, Philippines

Ingestion of microplastics by bigeye scad, Selar crumenophthalmus in Municipal Waters of Malimono, Surigao del Norte, Philippines

Mapping the unjust global distribution of harmful fisheries subsidies

Harmful fisheries subsidies contribute to overfishing leading to environmental and societal impacts. If only fisheries and ecosystems within the subsidising nations’ jurisdiction were affected, then unilateral actions might be sufficient to help safeguard our ocean and the people reliant upon it. However, just as fish move between jurisdictions, so too do the subsidised fishing fleets that target them. As such, the impacts and solutions to subsidies-induced overfishing are often matters of international concern. Mapping the distribution and flows of harmful subsidies is therefore key to understanding these concerns, informing multilateral reform, and empowering impacted nations to strengthen the terms of access to their waters and resources. Here we quantify the amount of harmful fisheries subsidies that supports fishing in the high seas, domestic and foreign waters. We estimate that between 20% and 37% of all harmful fisheries subsidies support fishing in foreign waters or the high seas, that is outside the jurisdictions of the subsidising nations. We show that harmful subsidies primarily originate from nations with high-Human Development Index (HDI), strong fisheries management capacity and relatively sustainable fish stocks, yet disproportionately impact nations with low or very low-HDI, lower management capacity and more vulnerable fish stocks—40% of the harmful subsidies that support fishing in very low-HDI nations waters originate from high-HDI and very-high HDI nations. We show that Asia, Europe, and North America, are net subsidy sources; they provide more harmful subsidies to their fishing fleets than their respective ecosystems are impacted by; while Africa, South, Central America and Caribbean, and Oceania are net subsidy-sinks. This discrepancy between the source of harmful subsidies and the nations that are ultimately impacted is unsustainable and unjust. Prohibiting all harmful subsidies to distant-water fishing and fishing in the high seas—with narrow exceptions for Small Island Developing States—should be prioritised to support the advancement of sustainable and equitable fisheries worldwide.

Heavy metal(loid)s contamination in water and sediments in a mining area in Ecuador: a comprehensive assessment for drinking water quality and human health risk.

Elevated heavy metal(loid)s concentrations in water lower its quality posing a threat to consumers. This study aims to assess the human health risk caused by heavy metal(loid)s in tap water in Santa Rosa city, Ecuador, and the ecological risk of stream water and sediments in the Santa Rosa River. Concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn were evaluated in tap waters, stream waters, and sediment samples during the rainy and dry seasons. The Metal Index (MI), Geo-accumulation Index (Igeo), Potential Ecological Risk Index (PERI), and the levels of carcinogenic (CR) and non-carcinogenic risk (HQ) were determined. The results revealed severe pollution levels, mainly in Los Gringos and El Panteon streams, both tributaries of the Santa Rosa River, the primary water source for Santa Rosa inhabitants. More than 20% of the surface water samples showed severe contamination (MI > 6), and 90% of the tap water samples presented a MI value between 1 and 4, which indicates slight to moderate pollution. Drinking water displayed high levels of As, with 83% of the tap water samples collected from households in the dry season above the recommended concentration set by the World Health Organization and Ecuadorian legislation. The Igeo-Cd in the sediment samples was significantly high (Igeo > 3), and the PERI showed very high ecological risk (PERI > 600), with Cd as the main pollutant. HQ and CR were above the safe exposure threshold, suggesting that residents are at risk from tap water consumption, with As being the primary concern.

Plumbing Work in Green Market Based on Value Engineering

The green traditional market concept begins with the structure of the market section. This concept consists of various ideas that make markets environmentally friendly, these ideas include composting buildings, open gardens, bathrooms/toilets, parking areas and planting in the market. Understanding Value Engineering in general is a management technique that uses a systematic approach, creative and organized effort that is directed to analyze the function of a system with the aim of achieving the required function at the lowest possible cost. However, this remains within the established technical functions and limits. The method used is value engineering with the aim of understanding and identifying obstacles in the application of value engineering and lean six sigma methods in dirty water installation work in market buildings with the concept of green building. The research instruments were arranged in the form of variables which were formulated in the form of questions (questionnaires). Cost efficiency was obtained in clean and dirty water installation work of a savings of 9.8%.

New strategies for the removal of template from the ion and molecularly imprinted polymers: Application to the fast and on-site Cr(VI) detection with a smartphone

The extraction of templates from MIPs is not an easy task as well known, because of the high affinity between monomers and templates. Herein, a new strategy for the immediate removal of the template was developed. Two polymers were prepared, one for hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) and the other for rutin molecule, to overcome the extraction problem for ions and molecularly imprinted polymers. A diphenylcarbazide solution was used for removing Cr(VI), allowing an immediate extraction of this ion from the polymer. For rutin molecule, the aluminum solution allowed fast removal. Since these removal strategies imply extracting with coloration development, these elution solutions could be used simultaneously for the extraction and detection of the analyte. Indeed, an analytical reading kit has been 3D-printed for the Cr(VI) smartphone detection. In this tool, a column containing the ionic imprinted polymer (IIP) was used as sorbent and diphenylcarbazide solution for eluting and detecting Cr(VI). The developed sensor exhibited a detection limit of 0.006 µg mL-1. The proposed procedure was applied successfully for Cr(VI) determination in tap and river waters showing satisfactory recoveries. These extraction methods pave the way for the application of other ligands for the gentle, fast and on-site removal of different templates.

Overall performance evaluation of an urban water supply system: a case study of Debre Tabor Town in Ethiopia

Abstract Urban water utilities in Ethiopia, including Debre Tabor Town, commonly suffer from an intermittent water supply, water quality issues, poor service delivery, and other problems. Thus, the main focus of this study was to evaluate the actual performance level of the water supply system of the town based on hydraulic efficiency, quality, cost recovery and customer satisfaction. The water distribution system status was measured by using reliability, resilience, and vulnerability as performance indicators. Weightage Arithmetic Water Quality Index (WAWQI) and household-based questionnaires were used to evaluate the water quality and customer satisfaction, respectively. Pressure and velocity-based sustainability index of 0.614 and 0.132 showed acceptable and unacceptable water supply status, respectively, and overall moderate sustainability. Results of the WAWQI revealed that more than half of the sampled tap waters were either poor or unfit for drinking purposes. The comparison of income collected from customers and the water production costs of the utility showed that only 34.31% of production cost is covered by customers. Generally, 62.6% of the society confirmed that they are unsatisfied with the existing water supply system. Thus, to improve the performance, it is recommended to address all the major social, economic, environmental and technical problems.

A new benzothiazole azo dye colorimetric chemosensor for detecting Pb2+ ion

In this work, a new benzothiazole azo dye sensor (BTS) was synthesized, and its cation binding affinity was studied using the colorimetric method, UV–vis, and 1H NMR spectral data. The results revealed that the sensor BTS exhibits a remarkable tendency for Pb2+ ion to perform spontaneous visual color change from blue (BTS) to pink (BTS + Pb2+), without any color change in the aqueous solutions of other cations such as Hg2+, Cu2+, Al3+, Ni2+, Cd2+, Ag+, Ba2+, K+, Co2+, Mg2+, Na+, Ca2+, Fe2+, and Fe3+ ions. The observed selectivity could be due to the formation of the complex (BTS + Pb2+), which led to a blue shift from 586 nm (BTS) to 514 nm (BTS + Pb2+) in the UV spectrum. The job’s plot provided the stoichiometry ratio of the complex (BTS + Pb2+) to be 1:1. The limit of detection (LOD) of BTS for Pb2+ ion sensing was obtained at 0.67 µM. Additionally, the binding constant for BTS toward Pb 2+ ion was studied using the Benesi-Hildebrand equation. As a result of the BTS test paper strips investigations, it was found that the synthesized sensor BTS could be used as a rapid colorimetric chemosensor for the detection of the Pb2+ ions in the distilled, tap, and sea waters.

Extensive Cryptic Diversity and Ecological Associations Uncovered among Mexican and Global Collections of Naegleria and Vermamoeba Species by 18S Ribosomal DNA, Internal Transcribed Spacer, and Cytochrome Oxidase Subunit I Sequence Analysis.

Free-living amoebae (FLA) are phagocytic protists that play crucial roles in microbial communities as significant microbial grazers. However, our current knowledge of their diversity, ecology, and population genetic structures is marginal due to the shallow and biased sampling of ecosystems and the use of few, poorly resolving molecular markers. Thirty-two FLA were isolated from soil and water samples collected across representative ecosystems of the State of Morelos in Central Mexico, including the drinking water distribution system (DWDS) from the state capital. We classified our isolates as members of Acanthamoeba, Vermamoeba, Naegleria, and Tetramitus by 18S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequencing. Vermamoeba isolates were recovered exclusively from the DWDS samples. In contrast, Naegleria strains displayed a broad distribution in soil and water samples across the natural ecosystems. We used a combination of phylogenetic and population genetic analyses of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences from our isolates and a comprehensive set of reference sequences to analyze the currently known diversity of Naegleria spp. Significant associations were uncovered between the most prevalent lineages of Naegleria and Vermamoeba and broad ecological and geographical variables at regional and global levels. The population structure and cryptic diversity within the Naegleria galeacystis-Naegleria americana and Vermamoeba vermiformis species complexes were thoroughly analyzed. Our results prove that the genus Vermamoeba, which was previously thought to consist of only one species, actually encompasses at least seven widely distributed species, as indicated by consistent evidence from Bayesian phylogenetics, two species-delimitation programs, and population genetics analyses. IMPORTANCE Our study sheds new light on the population genetic structure of V. vermiformis and diverse Naegleria species. Using improved molecular markers and advanced analytical approaches, we discovered that N. americana, previously considered a single species, actually contains multiple distinct lineages, as revealed by COI sequencing. These lineages are highly differentiated, with little gene flow between them. Our findings demonstrate that the genus Vermamoeba holds multiple cryptic species, requiring a significant taxonomic revision in light of multilocus sequence analyses. These results advance our understanding of the ecology, molecular systematics, and biogeography of these genera and species complexes at both regional and global scales. This study has significant implications for diagnosing amoebal infections and evaluating health risks associated with FLA in domestic and recreational waters.

Spherulitic Lead Calcium Apatite Minerals in Lead Water Pipes Exposed to Phosphate-Dosed Tap Water.

Phosphate dosing is the principle strategy used in the United Kingdom to reduce the concentration of lead in tap waters supplied by lead water pipes. The mechanisms of phosphate-mediated lead control are not fully understood, but solid solutions of lead calcium apatite are thought to play an important role. This study investigated the microstructure of a lead pipe, supplied with high-alkalinity tap water, in which the lead calcium apatite crystals were spherulitic having rounded and dumb-bell-shaped morphologies. XRD, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, optical microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive spectroscopy showed that the lead pipe had a well-established inner layer of litharge; a middle layer containing lead calcium apatite spherulites, plumbonacrite, and some hydrocerussite; and an outer layer containing iron, lead, phosphorus, calcium, silicon, and aluminum. It was found that spherulitic lead calcium apatite could be grown in the laboratory by adding hydrocerussite to synthetic soft and hard water-containing phosphate, chloride, and citrate ions at pH 5.5 but not when the citrate was absent. This suggests that dissolved organic molecules might play a role in spherulite formation on lead water pipes. These molecules might inhibit the formation of lead calcium apatite, reducing the effectiveness of phosphate dosing in lead water pipes.

Genotypic differences for salt tolerance in bael (Aegle marmelos) cultivars

Salinity induced changes in physiological relations and the concomitant effects on plant growth were recorded in four bael (Aegle marmelos Correa) cultivars, viz. NB-5, NB-9, CB-1 and CB-2. Plants raised in normal soil (ECe 1.3 dS/m) were irrigated with tap (ECiw 0.5 dS/m) and saline (ECiw 3 and 6 dS/m) waters. Data were recorded for growth, physiological parameters and mineral nutrition 180 days after imposing the salt treatments. NB-5 outperformed other cultivars under saline conditions by maintaining higher leaf chlorophyll and proline levels, retaining Na+ ions in stem and root tissues and by preferentially accumulating K+ and Ca2+ ions to overcome the toxic effects of Na+. Break down of salt tolerance in other cultivars at 6 dS/m salinity can be explained by build up of Na+ to the toxic levels and an accompanying decrease in leaf and stem K+ concentrations. Based on these findings, bael cultivar NB-5 appears to be suitable for commercial cultivation in salt-affected soils.

A Further Insight into Extraction Procedures Suitable for Separation of Gold Nanoparticles from Environmental Waters

Gold nanoparticles (AuNP) are being utilized in an ever-expanding number of applications ranging from scientific research to industrial processes. Increasing nanoparticle emissions in the environment have become of public and academic concern. Since the effects of AuNP on human health are not fully understood, the accumulation of reliable and detailed data is critical for the assessment of their potential risk of harm to humanity. Even their concentrations in natural and engineered water systems do not belong to commonly published data. To obtain such information, the environmental chemists use various sophisticated analytical methods that are often very expensive. Therefore, this paper aims to challenge the analytical potential and advantages of cheaper and equally reliable alternatives that couple the well-established extraction procedures with common spectrometric methods to quantify the ultratrace concentrations of AuNP in complex aqueous matrices. Both types of extraction procedures, solvent extractions as well as sorbent extractions, are discussed in the text. A detailed inspection of different types of interactions that are responsible for the ability to selectively separate AuNP from mixtures containing various ionic species, gold ions, other metallic nanoparticles, and dissolved organic matter can be found in this overview. The examples of the tolerance limits reported for several coexisting components of interest are also given. Practical applications of the extraction procedures, summarized in this article, were demonstrated in analysis of actual environmental matrices, such as tap, river, lake, brook, mineral, and sea waters.

Conceptual design of the next generation of W7-X divertor W-target elements

The stellarator Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X) will start operation with an actively water cooled divertor made of target elements armored with CFC (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Carbon) NB31 tiles in 2022. The next step (> 2030) is the installation of a metallic water cooled divertor. Research activities have been launched supported by EUROfusion to develop the next generation of metallic target element. The purpose of the conceptual design is to prepare the first prototyping phase. Stationary loading and water cooling conditions are: 10 MW/m², Tin=30°C, Pstatic=1 MPa, Vaxial=9m/s. Similar to the current divertor, the heat sink is made of CuCrZr . Two kinds of armor materials are considered: pure tungsten and W3.5Ni1.5Cu heavy alloy. One of the main constraints is to keep a weight similar to the CFC design to limit the divertor module weight for assembly. The first analyzed model is a straightforward adaptation of the simplest geometry of a CFC element. Thermal calculations show that the maximal temperatures remain within acceptable limits and 3.5 mm armor layer should be considered as the upper thickness limit. By reducing the distance between coolant and loaded surface the need for swirl flow should be assessed in more details. In addition to modelling, first trials for the industrial manufacturing of the CuCrZr heat sink, armor, bonding procedure have been launched.

Naegleria australiensis isolated from a wastewater treatment station in Santiago Island, Cape Verde.

Despite the Naegleria genus being isolated from different natural environments such as water, soil, and air, not all Naegleria species are capable of causing infections in humans, and they are capable of completing their life cycle in environmental niches. However, the presence of this genus may suggest the existence of one of the highly pathogenic free-living amoeba (FLA) species: Naegleria fowleri or the brain-eating amoeba. This facultative parasitic protozoon represents a risk to public health, mainly related to domestic and agricultural waters. In this research, our main objective was to determine the existence of pathogenic protozoa in the Santa Cruz wastewater treatment plant, Santiago Island. Using 5 L of water we confirmed the presence of potentially pathogenic Naegleria australiensis, being the first report on Naegleria species in Cape Verde. This fact demonstrates the low efficiency in the treatment of wastewater and, consequently, a potential threat to public health. Nevertheless, more studies will be needed for the prevention and control of possible infections in this Macaronesian country.