Water Management Technologies Research Articles

Exploring the opportunities and constraints to the development of locally applicable water management technology in three sub-Saharan African cities

This exploratory qualitative study utilised the IPCC categories of adaptation opportunities and constraints as a framework to understand the barriers and enablers to the development and uptake of contextually relevant climate-resilient water management technology in three sub-Saharan African cities. In-depth interviews were undertaken with key informants from the research, government, and civil society sectors to gain insight into perceived opportunities and constraints to the development, uptake and market dissemination of such technology in Blantyre, Harare and Gaborone. The majority of the identified opportunities and constraints aligned well with the global IPCC categories, while certain IPCC categories were found not to be relevant to the three city contexts of the study. Two new categories of adaptation opportunities and constraints were discovered (i.e. they did not fit within an IPCC category); they were an opportunity: ‘climate change windows of opportunity’, and a constraint: ‘ethics and intellectual property’. Our results indicated that the nuances of the Global South context are often not well-considered in the design of climate-resilient water management technology, and that a number of constraints detract from the development, uptake and dissemination thereof. There are however, opportunities inherent to sub-Saharan African cities which could be used to stimulate the development, uptake and dissemination of locally designed or modified water technology. We discuss some implications of our finding and new frontiers for research on this topic by way of conclusion.

Kariz (Ancient Aqueduct) system: a review on geoengineering and environmental studies

Kariz (Qanat or Roman Aqueduct) is an old knowledge that has been used in more than 35 countries. Kariz, previously recognized as a water management technology, involves horizontal subsurface galleries and vertical monitoring shafts, which works based on natural gravity force. This paper reviews various geoengineering and environmental impacts studies that have been carried out on Kariz networks during recent decades. Geoengineering studies aim to figure out the location, geometrical structure, depth and path of Kariz galleries, which characterize a major hazard particularly in sites located in cities. Among the geoengineering studies, geophysical methods such as electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and electromagnetic (EM) methods are very common methods in exploring underground tunnels and other structural parameters related to Karizes. Defining the location and size of un-mapped Karizes also help to estimate the risk of subsidence and to develop plans for restoration and safety. Further, remote sensing and geographic information system (GIS) techniques, which have been recently applied in a number of fields, are discussed. These new techniques help to map the positioning of networks in regions. Other emerging impacts of Kariz systems as an environmentally-friendly technology, its impacts on tourism attraction, land subsidence, and water management have been explored here. Due to modern lifestyle and demand for clean water as a result of population growth, especially in semi-arid or arid climates, this review study aims to explore the important role of Kariz system as a sustainable way of underground water management.

A review on green pavement hydrological design and recommended permeable pavement with detention storage

This paper reviews innovation of green pavement technology for storm water management in an urban environment. This can be related with hydrological performance and assessments of the permeable pavement. Features of the typical permeable pavement are presented and discussed. Topics covered include recognizing important of permeable pavement, stormwater management benefit and detailed hydrological properties and design. The information in this paper provides stakeholders with an overview of research and development of green pavement. In particular, it discussed the benefit and advantages of the green pavement in current use. On the other hand, the permeable pavement with subsurface detention namely StormPav is presented. The hydrological design modification and innovation, as well as hydrological design and stormwater management benefits have been summarised. Therefore provided another option for green pavement infrastructure series to be used in roadworks.

Ecopharmacovigilance: Perspectives, concepts, applications, and relationships in modern context

Introduction: Environmental scientists have made great strides to regulate pharmaceutical waste. However, the monitoring of emerging environmental problems induced by drugs should attract the further interest of pharmacy and pharmacovigilance scientists. Ecopharmacovigilance (EPV) as a kind of pharmacovigilance for the atmosphere is widely recognized as essential to minimize the environmental impact of pharmaceutical toxins.
 Methods: In efforts to answer the environmental issues created by medications, the constructive involvement of the pharmaceutical sector is essential. On a prioritized basis, EPV can target individual pharmaceuticals. For EPV deployment targeting pharmaceutical contamination, certain advice and management practice solutions are recommended. On administration certain drugs are metabolized throughout the bloodstream, being inert or becoming converted to metabolites, whereas others are excreted in the urine or liver and excreted in the sewage. The substances that are released into drainage can be processed into a number of chemicals by a sewage treatment process.
 Results: The involvement of different drugs and their components have been found in the marine world, with the aquatic environment being the most researched to date. Nanostructure materials have been around for a long time, and their interactions with biological processes have been discussed in various applications to enhance the understanding and importance of environmental and health effects.
 Conclusions: In order to regulate pharmaceutical residues in effluents, Technologies for sewage water management should be applied. In particular, the presence of pharmacy including pharmacovigilance professionals is also important for enhancing multidisciplinary collaboration.

Harnessing indigenous knowledge for climate change-resilient water management – lessons from an ethnographic case study in Iran

ABSTRACT Through an in-depth ethnographic case study, we explore water management practices within the Jiroft County province in Iran and discuss the applicability of indigenous knowledge of regional water management to the resource governance of arid regions across the world. We explore, through qualitative analysis, the relationship between community social structure, indigenous knowledge, water management technologies and practices, and water governance rules under conditions of anthropogenic climate change. From participant observational and interview data (n = 32), we find that historically-dependent community roles establish a social contract for water distribution. Cultural conventions establish linked hierarchies of water ownership, profit-sharing and social responsibility; collectively they construct an equitable system of role-sharing, social benefit distribution, socio-ecological resilience and adaptive capacity in the face of climate change-induced drought. We conclude that the combination of hierarchical land ownership-based water distribution and what we term ‘bilateral compensatory mutual assistance’ for the lowest-profit agricultural water users, provides a model of spontaneous common pool resource management that bolsters community drought resilience. We use this case to proffer recommendations for adapting other centralized, grey infrastructure and regulatory models of water management from lessons learned from this spontaneous adaptive management case.

Assessment of water management technology on rice productivity on iron poisoning rice fields in Jambi

The study of “Water Management Technology Against Rice Productivity in New wetland Openings of Iron Poisoning Rice” was carried out in Betara District, West Tanjung Jabung Regency from April to October 2018. The research used a randomized block design (RBD) with four replications. The treatment consisted of four intervals of providing irrigation water, namely; (CI) Continuous irrigation, (DWI1) Dry wet irrigation (DWI) 5 day intervals from 1 week to 7 weeks after planting (WAP), (DWI2) DWI with 7 days interval from 1 week to 7 WAP, and (DWI3) DWI 7 days interval from 1 WAP to 65 days after planting (DAP) and inundation 15 days before harvest (DBH). Fertilizer recommendations based on soil nutrient status as a result of analysis with the Swamp Soil Test Kit (SSTK), namely 1.0 tonnes / ha lime, 75 kg ha-1 Urea (basic fertilizer) then based on LCC, 150 kg ha-1 SP 36 (given entirely at planting time) and 125 kg ha-1 KCl (1/3 part at planting, 1/3 part at 3-4 WAP and 1/3 part at plant age 6-7 WAP. Result showed the water supply interval significantly affects the growth and production of rice, the highest yield is obtained with a 7 day water supply interval from 1 to 7 WAP, with rice production 4,29 tonnes ha-1, whereas with the provision of water from 1 WAP until just before harvest, the rice production was 2.06 tonnes ha-1.

Interplay of Climate Variability, Land Use Change, Crop Yield and Farm Households Food Security in Offin River Basin, Ghana

Climate variability and adapted land use systems have altered climate systems. Their impact on agro-ecosystems adversely affects crop yield, food security and livelihoods of farm households. This paper examines the coupled effects of climate variability and land use change on crop yield and food security among farm households in the Offin River Basin. The study used remote sensing, geographic information systems, time series climate and crop yield data and farm household survey in examining the impacts of climate variability and land use change on crop yield and farm household food security. Landsat Multi-Spectral Scanner (MSS), Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) and Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper plus (ETM+) were used to assess land use and land cover change and agricultural drought conditions in the area. Spline interpolation techniques and Spearmans’ rank correlation were employed to assess the trend and spatial distribution of rainfall and temperatures in the basin. Multiple linear regression model (MLRM) and Pearson correlation were used to assess the effect of rainfall and temperature on major food crop yields. Household Food Balance Model (HFBM) was used to measure food security status at farm household level. The results revealed that climate variability coupled with adapted land use systems in Offin River basin have contributed to massive deforestation, accelerated soil degradation and recurrent agricultural droughts resulting in the loss of productive farmlands and low food crop yields. Household food balance model (HFBM) analysis revealed that 60.8% of the farm households in the basin could not meet the minimum recommended energy level of 2900 kilo calories intake per person per day while 39.2% of farm households were food secured subsisting on more than recommended kilo calories per person per day. Utilization of inland valleys, food crop management practices, soil and water conservation and management technologies, mixed cropping systems and crop diversification were found to have contributed positively and significantly to farm household food security. It is recommended that Government agencies such as MoFA, GASIP and existing Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) should increase investment in soil and water conservation strategies (SWCS) and inland valleys food production systems to enhance food production and food security systems among farm households.

Rainwater Harvesting An Emerging Technology For Water Management In Hilly Region

Rainwater Harvesting An Emerging Technology For Water Management In Hilly Region

Experimental practice in the ruins of the Green Revolution: commoning with/in a water-scarce field

This article considers water scarcity as an expression of agrarian crisis in South India. It explores how the drought affects the everyday life of communities in the area of Kadavur, limiting their possibilities to choose what crops they can grow, what food they may eat, and what futures they will cultivate. Moreover, it draws from the framework of experimental practice proposed by Papadopoulos in order to understand how more-than-social movements engage in material organizing to transform their condition. In the first part, it constructs the biofinancialization of organic millet, in relation to the making of cheap rice. Hence, it presents an ethnography of alterontological politics through enhanced care and tinkering with food. Moreover, the article explores the role of water management technology in the troubled ecology of the drought. Finally, by discussing an ethnography of borewell repair, it sheds light on the odd entanglements between a global technology and this situated ecology. This brings the fieldworker into the picture and considers the emergent politics of communing with/in the field.

A Study in Sorption of Cu+2 , Fe+2 and I2 onto Graft copolymers of Cellulose with N-Vinyl Pyrrolidone and Butyl Acrylate, and Their Functionalized Derivatives

Cellulose is of special interest due to its abundance in nature and it provides excellent materials for membranes both in native and derivatized forms. Graft copolymers of cellulose when used in separation and enrichment technologies have advantages over the conventional ones, due to chemical resistance, radiation stability and low cost of preparation. Cellulose based graft copolymers and hydrogels offer large hydrophilic area despite being insoluble in water and enrich or separate metal ion by binding, adsorption, chelation and ion exchange processes. Potential of cellulose as sorbent can be improved by radiation and chemical grafting, crosslinking and polymer analogous reactions on some graft copolymers. Grafting of suitable monomers with hydrophobic and hydrophilic/ionic moieties combine high degree of selectivity, permeability and longer stability, and enables complexation with low molecular weight species. Incorporation of functional groups like nitrile, hydrazino, hydroxamic acid and phosphate by derivatization and post polymer reactions enhances metal ion sorption capacity of Cellulosics. In present study an attempt has been made to study the sorption of Fe+2, Cu+2 and I2 on select graft copolymers of cellulose with N-Vinylpyrrolidone (1-Vinyl-2-prrolidone, N-VP) and Butyl Acrylate(BuAc) on to cellulose and some of their functionalized derivatives, on the basis of lowest to highest percent grafting (Pg). An attempt has also been made to investigate selectivity in metal ion sorption and effects of structural aspects of functionalized graft copolymers to find their end-uses as cost effective and eco-friendly polymeric materials for waste water management technologies.

Educação ambiental e intervenção na microbacia do Lajeado Sabão, em Concórdia-SC

O objetivo deste artigo é apresentar o processo de uma experiência pedagógica ambiental desenvolvida na Escola de Educação Básica Professor Olavo Cecco Rigon, localizada na microbacia hidrográfica do Rio Lajeado Sabão, no Município de Concórdia-SC. No ano de 2016 iniciou-se o Projeto denominado “Conhecer e interagir com e na bacia hidrográfica da Escola”, financiado pela Agência Nacional de Águas e Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Ensino Superior. A metodologia adotada engloba a pesquisa-ação, aplicada exploratória, bibliográfica, de campo e qualitativa. O estudo ocorreu com duas turmas de terceiros anos do ensino médio. Dentre os resultados obtidos estão o desenvolvimento de trabalhos pedagógicos sobre o tema gerador água, sobre a implementação de práticas ou tecnologias sociais de gestão, governança e preservação das águas e sobre a produção de materiais didáticos pedagógicos. A partir da temática, a pesquisa desenvolveu a educação ambiental de forma interdisciplinar e continuada com os estudantes, voluntários, população do entorno da microbacia, além de implementar projetos de intervenções nos espaços mencionados. Palavras-chave: Águas. Desenvolvimento Regional. Educação Básica. Meio Ambiente.

A Review on the Removal of Dye, Pesticide and Pathogens from Waste Water Using Quantum Dots

The industrial pollutants in water bodies tend to unsuitable for living organisms and irrigation uses. Water contamination is exaggerating at regular pace and the universe is holding carcinogenic agents. Therefore, there is a necessity of immediate action to generate a potential and efficient technology for water management. By means of this, quantum dots (QDs) have emerged as an effective probe for the removal process. This review discusses the methods for removing and degrading the coloured components, pesticides, pathogens from waste water and contaminants removal ability of QDs.

Kuzey Gana'da Sürdürülebilir Arazi ve Su Yönetimi Teknolojilerinin Kullanımını Etkileyen Faktörler

Climate change continues as a threat to smallholder farmers in Northern Ghana, which is arid in nature and prone to draught conditions. Sustainable Land and Water Management (SLWM) technologies have been introduced to smallholder farmers in the area as adaptation strategies to mitigate the negative effects of climate change. Adoption of the SLWM technologies have the potential of reducing the negative impact of climate change, and also improve crop yield. There is a death in knowledge in understanding factors that influence the uptake of the SLWM technologies in Northern Ghana. The study therefore, examined the factors influencing SLWM technology uptake in Northern Ghana. The study was undertaken among 300 smallholder farmers in the three Northern Regions of Ghana through a multi-stage sampling technique. Data were gathered through a survey and a Poisson model was employed to assess the drivers and intensity of adoption. Results showed that factors such as support received, labour, water availability, exposure, access to information and farm size influenced the uptake of the SLWM technologies. The study recommends that policy makers should work towards improving the factors that influence the uptake of the SLWM technologies. It is also important to adopt private-public partnership model in the implementation of the SLWM technologies.

A concerted research effort to advance the hydrological understanding of tropical páramos

AbstractPáramos, a neotropical alpine grassland‐peatland biome of the northern Andes and Central America, play an essential role in regional and global cycles of water, carbon, and nutrients. They act as water towers, delivering water and ecosystem services from the high mountains down to the Pacific, Caribbean, and Amazon regions. Páramos are also widely recognized as a biodiversity and climate change hot spots, yet they are threatened by anthropogenic activities and environmental changes. Despite their importance for water security and carbon storage, and their vulnerability to human activities, only three decades ago, páramos were severely understudied. Increasing awareness of the need for hydrological evidence to guide sustainable management of páramos prompted action for generating data and for filling long‐standing knowledge gaps. This has led to a remarkably successful increase in scientific knowledge, induced by a strong interaction between the scientific, policy, and (local) management communities. A combination of well‐established and innovative approaches has been applied to data collection, processing, and analysis. In this review, we provide a short overview of the historical development of research and state of knowledge of the hydrometeorology, flux dynamics, anthropogenic impacts, and the influence of extreme events in páramos. We then present emerging technologies for hydrology and water resources research and management applied to páramos. We discuss how converging science and policy efforts have leveraged traditional and new observational techniques to generate an evidence base that can support the sustainable management of páramos. We conclude that this co‐evolution of science and policy was able to successfully cover different spatial and temporal scales. Lastly, we outline future research directions to showcase how sustainable long‐term data collection can foster the responsible conservation of páramos water towers.

Shane Snyder named editor in chief of ACS ES&T Water

Shane Snyder, professor of civil and environmental engineering and executive director of the Nanyang Environment & Water Research Institute at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, has been named the inaugural editor in chief of . The new journal will focus on water quality and anthropogenic and geogenic contaminants, as well as environmental chemistry and technology for sustainable water management and reuse. Submissions will open this summer. “Today, more than ever, we struggle to maintain safe and sustainable water supplies for human well-being as well as preserving and restoring the natural aquatic environment,” says Snyder. “ES&T Water will publish a breadth of pertinent topics related to ensuring the needed water quality to meet growing urban demands while protecting environmental health.” Snyder’s research focuses on the identification, fate, and health relevance of emerging water pollutants. He earned a BA in chemistry from Thiel College and a PhD in environmental toxicology from Michigan

SWM technology for efficient water management in universities: the case of PUMAGUA, UNAM, Mexico City

ABSTRACT This case study details the establishment of a real-time water quality and quantity monitoring system at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Mexico’s largest university based in Mexico City. It is structured to outline the water challenges facing Mexico City and UNAM, the solutions implemented by PUMAGUA, the Program for the Management, Use and Reuse of Water at UNAM, and the lessons learned in the process which can be extended beyond the university.

Effect of gas diffusion layer thickness on liquid water transport characteristics in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells

Researchers worldwide endeavor to develop the thinner gas diffusion layers (GDLs), which are enabling to achieve high power-density polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). A number of experiments have attempted to understand the underlying mechanisms in the GDL that are responsible for water management and performance improvement. Here, we investigate the effect of GDL thickness on the dynamic behavior of liquid water using a multiphase lattice Boltzmann method. Various GDL configurations are simulated aiming on the fundamental understanding of multiphase flow phenomena. We report results of water saturation, water distribution and relative pressure distribution inside the GDL to elucidate the impact of GDL thickness on the water transport behavior. Water breakthrough and water creeping that determine the water behavior are deeply studied. In addition, we investigate the influence of channel-rib (CR) structure on a thin GDL. Optimum CR width is pursued for the effective water removal from a thin GDL. The results and findings here are expected to lead to more reliable water management and related high-power technologies of PEMFCs.

Water conservation and management technologies for its efficient utilization

Water conservation and management technologies for its efficient utilization

Integrated design and construction approach to hydrotechnical structures in Eritrea

During the process of design and construction of water management facilities and structures, such as reservoirs, dams, spillways, water intakes, etc., it is important to pay attention to the specific conditions of a particular country. Since the rapprochement among Eritrea, Ethiopia and Djibouti in 2018, the geopolitical dynamics of the region has changed to a different level. These regional changes will significantly contribute to the development of extractive and processing industries, agriculture, trade, construction and tourism in Eritrea. However, all these developments unquestionably require sustainable and efficient water use, intensive development of water management and water technologies, among others. Based on the specific conditions of Eritrea, identification of existing main trends in the design and construction of water management facilities and structures followed by formulation of practical recommendations and future directions has been the focus of this study. Reliable and relevant information has been processed and analysed using general scientific research methods, including generalization and analysis, synthesis and analogy, historical and hypothetical methods of cognition. This paper comprehended that the design, construction and operation of water management structures should consider the predominantly hot climatic condition of the country, while observing the main development trends in the field. These activities help in ensuring reliable and trouble-free operation of hydraulic structures, using modern and progressive achievements of hydraulic engineering science and global practice in the field of dam engineering and construction of culverts taking into account environmental requirements and norms, and using modern high-performance mechanisms and methods of production of hydraulic works. Moreover, the hydrological and water management conditions of Eritrea are characterized by limited water resources, poor knowledge of water bodies, and lack of reliable hydrological, meteorological and geological information. Under these circumstances, it would be necessary to use mathematical modelling for understanding and forecasting hydrological processes in river basins.

Development and technology of rural drinking water supply in China*

AbstractAccess to safe drinking water in rural areas is a basic need of the population. Since 2000 China has invested significantly in improving rural drinking water safety nationwide as an important measure to alleviate poverty and promote rural development. In 2009, China achieved the millennium development goal (MDG) of halving the ratio of the population without access to safe drinking water by 2015. Water quality, water quantity, guaranteed probability of water source and convenience of water acquisition are the four major factors in evaluating drinking water safety. Technology and innovative equipment for water purification, disinfection, construction models and management technology and institutions have been developed to support the large‐scale construction and management of rural drinking water supply projects during the last 20 years. This paper presents the technical progress and experience accumulated in the construction and management of the rural drinking water supply in China. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.