Water Protection Programs Research Articles

Evaluation of farmers' participatory behavior and compensation policy for agricultural water-saving

Today, with the decreased available water resources and the intensification of the conflicts between users of water resources, the cooperation or non-cooperation of users in water protection programs, especially in the agricultural sector, is of crucial importance. Therefore, the present study is aimed to provide a framework to evaluate the participatory behavior of farmers with optimal patterns of water allocation and to estimate the necessary budget to compensate for the reduction of water consumption in agricultural areas. To achieve this aim, the integration of the economic-environmental programming model with a top-down analytical approach and the agent-based model with a bottom-up analytical approach has been applied in the present study. Thus, the irrigation network of Jiroft Plain was chosen as the study area and a sample of farmers in this irrigation network was extracted for the analysis of the agent-based model using simple random method. It was found that different forms of insistence on the individual behavior of farmers make it difficult to participate in optimal water allocation patterns with simultaneously providing economic and environmental goals. As the degree of participation with the optimal model of water allocation with equal weight to economic and environmental goals, despite the implementation of the policy of giving facilities with a very low interest rate for the installation of new irrigation technologies, is estimated about 20%. Finally, the necessary budget for compensation policy for agricultural water storage was calculated based on the proposed framework, which can be considered a useful tool for policy makers in water resources management.

Developing Indicators of Nutrient Pollution in Streams Using 16S rRNA Gene Metabarcoding of Periphyton-Associated Bacteria.

Indicators based on nutrient-biota relationships in streams can inform water quality restoration and protection programs. Bacterial assemblages could be particularly useful indicators of nutrient effects because they are species-rich, important contributors to ecosystem processes in streams, and responsive to rapidly changing conditions. Here, we sampled 25 streams weekly (12-14 times each) and used 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding of periphyton-associated bacteria to quantify the effects of total phosphorus (TP) and total nitrogen (TN). Threshold indicator taxa analysis identified assemblage-level changes and amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) that increased or decreased with increasing TP and TN concentrations (i.e., low P, high P, low N, and high N ASVs). Boosted regression trees confirmed that relative abundances of gene sequence reads for these four indicator groups were associated with nutrient concentrations. Gradient forest analysis complemented these results by using multiple predictors and random forest models for each ASV to identify portions of TP and TN gradients at which the greatest changes in assemblage structure occurred. Synthesized statistical results showed bacterial assemblage structure began changing at 24 μg TP/L with the greatest changes occurring from 110 to 195 μg/L. Changes in the bacterial assemblages associated with TN gradually occurred from 275 to 855 μg/L. Taxonomic and phylogenetic analyses showed that low nutrient ASVs were commonly Firmicutes, Verrucomicrobiota, Flavobacteriales, and Caulobacterales, Pseudomonadales, and Rhodobacterales of Proteobacteria, whereas other groups, such as Chitinophagales of Bacteroidota, and Burkholderiales, Rhizobiales, Sphingomonadales, and Steroidobacterales of Proteobacteria comprised the high nutrient ASVs. Overall, the responses of bacterial ASV indicators in this study highlight the utility of metabarcoding periphyton-associated bacteria for quantifying biotic responses to nutrient inputs in streams.

Moving towards Effective First Nations’ Source Water Protection: Barriers, Opportunities, and a Framework

It is well known that watershed-based source water protection programs are integral to the provision of clean drinking water. However, the involvement of Indigenous communities in these programs is very limited in Canada, which has contributed to the vulnerability of Indigenous source waters to contamination. Through a partnership with an Anishinaabe community, this research aimed to identify challenges and opportunities for communities and practitioners to improve the protection of Indigenous source waters in the province of Ontario. The methodology followed the Indigenous research principles of relationship, respect, relevance, reciprocity, and responsibility. Interviews and a youth focus group were conducted with Indigenous community members and practitioners from industry, academia, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and government. Analysis was conducted using an iterative process to develop codes and themes in the qualitative data analysis software NVivo. Results indicated that issues with scale, jurisdiction, the concept of source water protection, representation, funding, and capacity impact efforts to protect Indigenous source waters. Hopeful recent developments and upcoming opportunities were identified, and a water protection framework for First Nation communities in Ontario was developed in partnership with an Anishinaabe water protection committee. Recommendations are provided to multiple sectors for moving forward respectfully, and effectively, towards the protection of Indigenous waters.

Ecological status of river networks: stream order-dependent impacts of agricultural and urban pressures across ecoregions

Why have ecological targets for the majority of water bodies in Europe not been met despite decades of water protection programs? We hypothesize that restoration strategies have not adequately accounted for whole-river network perspectives, including interactions between stream orders, spatial patterns of pollutant sources, and ecoregion-dependent susceptibility. We used high-resolution data from Germany to identify relationships between urban wastewater-river discharge fraction (UDF), agricultural land use fraction (ALF), and ecological status by stream order across three ecoregions. Low-flow UDF values were used to reflect the strong vulnerability of low-order streams under these conditions. We found ecological status of good or better in less than 8% of all river sections with the highest proportions in low-order streams and complete disappearance at higher orders. Increasing ALF impaired the ecological status for river reaches across all stream orders. In contrast, relationships between UDF and ecological status impairment were significant only in low-order streams, independent from ecoregion. Concentrating integrative restoration efforts in low-order streams would maximize the potential to mitigate anthropogenic impacts.

The Problem of Reducing the Diffuse Pollution of Water Bodies and Improving the Efficiency of Water Protection Programs

Regularities in the formation of diffuse pollution of water bodies are discussed as their understanding is required for the development of an adequate water-protection strategy. The main scientific, methodological, and managerial problems of the regulation of diffuse pollution are related to the character of pollutant inputs into the environment and the complex character of the relationships between the anthropogenic impact on the drainage area and the response of a water body (changes in water quality and the environmental conditions) to such impact. The major lines and the basic principles for the implementation of the concept of reducing diffuse pollution are outlined; they are of general environmental character, but gain in importance in the context of regulation of diffuse pollution sources either in the Volga basin or in other water bodies suffering considerable effect of economic activity.

Lag Time as an Indicator of the Link between Agricultural Pressure and Drinking Water Quality State

Diffuse nitrogen (N) pollution from agriculture in groundwater and surface water is a major challenge in terms of meeting drinking water targets in many parts of Europe. A bottom-up approach involving local stakeholders may be more effective than national- or European-level approaches for addressing local drinking water issues. Common understanding of the causal relationship between agricultural pressure and water quality state, e.g., nitrate pollution among the stakeholders, is necessary to define realistic goals of drinking water protection plans and to motivate the stakeholders; however, it is often challenging to obtain. Therefore, to link agricultural pressure and water quality state, we analyzed lag times between soil surface N surplus and groundwater chemistry using a cross correlation analysis method of three case study sites with groundwater-based drinking water abstraction: Tunø and Aalborg-Drastrup in Denmark and La Voulzie in France. At these sites, various mitigation measures have been implemented since the 1980s at local to national scales, resulting in a decrease of soil surface N surplus, with long-term monitoring data also being available to reveal the water quality responses. The lag times continuously increased with an increasing distance from the N source in Tunø (from 0 to 20 years between 1.2 and 24 m below the land surface; mbls) and La Voulzie (from 8 to 24 years along downstream), while in Aalborg-Drastrup, the lag times showed a greater variability with depth—for instance, 23-year lag time at 9–17 mbls and 4-year lag time at 21–23 mbls. These spatial patterns were interpreted, finding that in Tunø and La Voulzie, matrix flow is the dominant pathway of nitrate, whereas in Aalborg-Drastrup, both matrix and fracture flows are important pathways. The lag times estimated in this study were comparable to groundwater ages measured by chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs); however, they may provide different information to the stakeholders. The lag time may indicate a wait time for detecting the effects of an implemented protection plan while groundwater age, which is the mean residence time of a water body that is a mixture of significantly different ages, may be useful for planning the time scale of water protection programs. We conclude that the lag time may be a useful indicator to reveal the hydrogeological links between the agricultural pressure and water quality state, which is fundamental for a successful implementation of drinking water protection plans.

USDA Source Water Protection Funding: Successes and Opportunities

Key TakeawaysSource water protection (SWP) programs funded in the 2018 Farm Bill require highly motivated partners for implementation in priority watersheds.Three categories of past and current SWP projects are discussed: conservation partnership projects, conservation programs for farmers and ranchers, and forestry programs.There are several examples of utilities and US Department of Agriculture partnering to implement SWP programs.

An evaluation of temporal and spatial trends of pyrethroid concentrations in California surface waters

Pyrethroid insecticides are frequently detected in urban surface waters at levels that are deleterious to sensitive aquatic species. The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR) Surface Water Protection Program collected 717 water and 191 sediment samples from 2009 to 2018 throughout California, providing a large dataset to conduct spatial and temporal trend analysis of pyrethroid concentrations. The pyrethroid bifenthrin accounted for 72% of average sample concentrations, and a strong relationship between whole water bifenthrin concentrations and the observed toxicity to the test species Hyallela azteca was established. To help mitigate runoff concentrations, CDPR adopted regulations in 2012 intended to limit the mass of pyrethroids applied to structures by professional pest control operators. A statistical analysis of CDPR statewide monitoring data collected at storm drain outfall and receiving water sites was conducted to determine if any significant trends in pyrethroid concentrations exist. Nonparametric statistical analysis of monitoring data revealed significant regional differences. In Northern California, decreasing trends in bifenthrin and cypermethrin concentrations may be counterbalanced by a potential switch to deltamethrin-containing products. Conversely, the few observed trends in concentrations at Southern California monitoring stations could be a result of regional hydrological and pest pressure differences. To evaluate the effects of structural applications on pyrethroid concentrations in urban runoff, CDPR conducted field trials using a tracer pyrethroid that was applied in accordance with the regulations. Detectable levels in runoff were observed, with an estimated 0.004–0.005% mass transport offsite per storm. Using field-derived sediment, the observed half-lives (514 days+) highlight the potential for contaminant laden sediment to serve as a long-term source of pyrethroids within waterways. Both chemistry and observed toxicity data identify storm water runoff as a primary transport mechanism. However, the presence of pyrethroids in dry-weather runoff suggests that significant loading can occur under various hydrologic conditions.

Regional problems of the provision of hygienic reliability of drinking water consumption

Problems of hygienic reliability of the drinking water use in regions of the Russian Federation are observed in the article. The optimization of the water use was shown must be based on the bearing in mind of regional peculiarities of the shaping of water quality of groundwater and surface sources of the water use, taking into account of the effectiveness of regional water protection programs, programs for water treatment, coordination of the activity of economic entities and oversight bodies in the management of water quality on the basis of socio-hygienic monitoring. Regional problems requiring hygienic justification and accounting, include such issues as complex hydrological, hydrogeological, climatic and geographical conditions, pronouncement of the severity of anthropogenic pollution of sources of water supply, natural conditions of the shaping of water quality, efficiency of the water treatment. There is need in the improvement of the problems of the water quality monitoring, including with the use of computer technology, which allows to realize regional hygienic monitoring and spatial-temporal analysis of the water quality, to model the water quality management, to predict conditions of the water use by population in regions taking into account peculiarities of the current health situation. In the article there is shown the practicability of the so-called complex concept of multiple barriers suggesting the combined use of chemical oxidation and physical methods of the preparation of drinking water. It is required the further development of legislation for the protection of water bodies from pollution with the bigging up the status of sanitary protection zones; timely revision of the regulatory framework, establishing sanitary-epidemiological requirements to potable water and drinking water supply. The problem of the provision of the population with safe drinking water requires complex solution within the framework of the implementation of target programs adopted at the Federal and regional levels.

Technical study on national mandatory guideline for deriving water quality criteria for the protection of freshwater aquatic organisms in China

Water quality criteria are the basis for formulating environmental water quality standards, and are also an important part of environmental water protection and environmental management programs. The current study focused on a systematic discussion of the current research progress of water quality criteria theories and methodology for aquatic organisms both in China and internationally. This study also successfully pointed out key scientific issues which should be considered in the determination of water quality criteria guidelines from the following perspectives for a national strategy: the selection of pollutants; data collection and screening; species selection; water quality criteria derivation methods, and so on. For the first time, this study systematically introduced technology for the determination of water quality criteria guidelines for protecting aquatic organisms which was suitable for China's regional characteristics and national conditions. Furthermore, this study pointed out the key research directions which should be considered in the future construction of China's environmental criteria and management systems, in order to provide technical support for environmental protection and management projects.

Economic Value of Florida Water Resources: Valuing the Quality of Water for Household Needs

Florida water-resource professionals deciding whether to implement a costly water protection program or to invest in better tap water treatment technology may wonder: Are such investments justified? What are the benefits of the program or investment decision? Just how highly do Floridians value their water? This 5-page fact sheet written by Tatiana Borisova, Syed Irfan Ali Shah, Tara Wade, Xiang Bi, and Kelly Grogan and published by the UF/IFAS Food and Resource Economics Department reviews studies that help assess the value Floridians assign to maintaining or improving the quality of the water supply. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fe1059

Leveraging Source Water Protection Programs Through Effective Partnerships

Partners in source water protection projects can make a utility's job easier, bringing expertise and sharing program costs and effort.

Integrated Water Resources Management: Facilitating the Implementation of Integrated Planning, Source Water Protection and Other Water Management Programs

Integrated Water Resources Management: Facilitating the Implementation of Integrated Planning, Source Water Protection and Other Water Management Programs

Imputation vs. Substitution

CSA NewsVolume 58, Issue 2 p. 20-20 News & Perspective Imputation vs. Substitution John Troiano Ph.D., John Troiano Ph.D. Research Scientist III Ground Water Protection Program, Department of Pesticide Regulation, California Environmental Protection Agency, Sacramento, CASearch for more papers by this author John Troiano Ph.D., John Troiano Ph.D. Research Scientist III Ground Water Protection Program, Department of Pesticide Regulation, California Environmental Protection Agency, Sacramento, CASearch for more papers by this author First published: 08 March 2013 https://doi.org/10.2134/csa2013-58-2-11Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume58, Issue2February 2013Pages 20-20 RelatedInformation

Clean Water State Revolving Fund Loans and Landowner Investments in Agricultural Best Management Practices in Iowa1

Arbuckle, Jr., J. Gordon, 2012. Clean Water State Revolving Fund Loans and Landowner Investments in Agricultural Best Management Practices in Iowa. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 1‐9. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752‐1688.2012.00688.xAbstract: Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) loan programs for water quality have traditionally funded infrastructure projects at the community, municipality, or state level. They are increasingly being used to support individual landowner adoption of agricultural best management practices (BMPs) for nonpoint source pollution abatement. In 2005, the Iowa CWSRF initiated the Local Water Protection Program (LWPP) to increase the scope, scale, and rate of agricultural BMP establishment. This research examines the effectiveness of that program through a comparison of survey data from LWPP participants and state cost‐share recipients who were eligible for loans, but did not take them. Loan recipients’ assessments of the program were overwhelmingly positive, with near‐universal satisfaction with both the loan product and process. Results of statistical analyses indicate that loan recipients invested substantially more in conservation than nonrecipients. Evidence suggests that by helping program participants to overcome financial constraints, loans are facilitating larger and accelerated investments in conservation. Although findings indicate that conservation loans can play an important role in funding conservation, loan recipients also still depend on cost‐share. Loans are not necessarily a substitute for traditional forms of conservation funding, but rather another tool that landowners and conservation professionals can employ to facilitate investments in BMPs.

Adaptation and evaluation of the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Water Quality Index (CCME WQI) for use as an effective tool to characterize drinking source water quality

Protecting drinking source water quality is a critical step in ensuring a safe supply of drinking water. Increasingly, drinking source water protection programs rely on the active participation of various stakeholders with differing degrees of water science knowledge. A drinking source water quality index presents a potential communication and analysis tool to facilitate cooperation between diverse interest groups as well as represent composite water quality. We tested the effectiveness of the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Water Quality Index (CCME WQI) in capturing expert assessments of drinking water quality. In cooperation with a panel of drinking water quality experts we identified a core set of parameters to reflect common source water concerns. Drinking source water target values were drafted for use in the index corresponding to two basic treatment levels. Index scores calculated using the core parameter set and associated source water target values were strongly correlated with expert assessments of water quality. We recommend a modified index calculation procedure to accommodate parameters measured at different frequencies within any particular study period. The resulting drinking source water CCME WQI provides a valuable means of monitoring, communicating, and understanding surface source water quality.

How Can We Enhance Our Source Water Protection Program?

This month's question asks about improving a source water protection program (SWPP) that has been in place for several years. The article begins by providing general SWPP information, objectives and scope, and jurisdictional issues, and recommends a 7‐step process for improving an established SWPP that starts with a review of the methodology by which the original SWPP was developed and implemented.

Using liquid chromatography–ion trap mass spectrometry to determine pharmaceutical residues in Taiwanese rivers and wastewaters

To establish their environmental concentrations and to support surface water protection programs, we have undertaken a preliminary study of the concentrations of selected acidic and neutral pharmaceutical residues (clofibric acid, ketoprofen, ibuprofen, diclofenac and carbamazepine) in Taiwanese river and wastewater samples. These pharmaceutical residues were extracted from the water samples through the Oasis HLB solid-phase extraction (SPE). The analytes were then identified and quantified using liquid chromatography–ion trap mass spectrometry with dual-polarity electrospray ionization in the product ion scan mode. The limits of quantification (LOQs) ranged between 0.5 and 20 ng l −1 for 250 ml samples of water. We investigated the intra- and interbatch precision and accuracy at two levels of concentration. The selected analytes were detected at concentrations ranging from <0.5 to 960 ng l −1 in wastewater treatment plant effluents and river water samples.

Appeals Court Upholds LT2ESWTR

This article discusses a legal challenge to the Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (LT2ESWTR) mounted by the city of Portland, Oregon, and New York City in the U.S. Court of Appeals on September 25, 2007. Surface water systems typically protect customers from Cryptosporidium by providing filtration treatment. The city of Portland, and New York City, however, do not filter their drinking water before it reaches consumers. Instead, both cities have implemented active source water protection programs to protect public health. Both cities face high costs to comply with the final LT2ESWTR and have a responsibility on behalf of their populace to ensure that expenditures (and rate increases) to meet regulatory requirements are fully justified. Portland challenged the final LT2ESWTR following its promulgation on Jan. 5, 2006 (USEPA, 2006), by filing a petition for judicial review in the Appeals Court. New York City filed a motion to intervene on behalf of the petitioner which was granted by the Appeals Court. This article focuses on the following arguments presented by the two cities: the cost‐benefit analysis for the LT2ESWTR was improper and overstated the benefits of regulation; notice and opportunity for public comment was inadequate; substantive comments on the draft rule were ignored; best available science was not used; and, the final rule was not supported by the rulemaking record. The US District Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit denied the cities’ petition for judicial review, upholding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) rule and thereby clarifying provisions of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).

Forest management by‐West Coast water utilities: Protecting the source?

Since passage of the 1996 Safe Drinking Water Act amendments, emphasis on source water protection for public drinking water supplies has steadily increased, and the effects on water quality from commercial logging and forest road‐building has been at the forefront of concern for many water utility managers. Acquiring forested land is often viewed by water utility managers as one of the most effective ways to control water quality in their watersheds. However, if water utilities seek to buy land or acquire conservation easements in their forested watersheds to protect source water quality, then it is vital for them to consider how they manage this land once it is purchased. This article summarizes the key findings of a research project that analyzed forest management policies and practices of 45 West Coast public water utilities that own forested land in their source watersheds. The research includes three types of quantitative analysis and six case studies, which show that public participation in watershed planning is critical to the success of any source water protection program.