Water Quality Considerations Research Articles

Role of Lake Morphometric and Environmental Drivers of Ice Cover Formation and Occurrence on Temperate Lakes: A Case Study from the Eastern Baltic Lakeland, Poland

The presence of ice cover on temperate lakes is a crucial factor in determining the functioning of these ecosystems. The isolation of water from atmospheric influences significantly alters physical, chemical, and biological processes, and the intensity of this impact depends on the duration of the ice cover. This study analyzed the basic parameters of ice cover on several dozen lakes in Northeastern Poland. The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of morphometric parameters, alongside environmental factors, on the variation of ice cover characteristics in lakes located within the Eastern Baltic Lakeland. Characterization of ice conditions in the analyzed lakes was based on basic statistics such as minimum and maximum values, mean, standard deviation, coefficients of variation, skewness, and kurtosis. Given that the dataset contains variables describing ice phenomena in the studied lakes and data describing location, morphometric parameters, and land cover directly adjacent to the lake (treated as independent variables), a method of Spearman’s rank correlations and constrained ordination method were decided upon. Despite the relatively small study area, significant variability was observed, with average differences as follows: 26 days for the onset of ice cover, 17 days for the end date, 15 cm for ice thickness, and a 30-day difference in the average duration of ice cover. Key factors included parameters such as lake volume, average depth, and land use (urbanized and agricultural areas). Understanding parameters such as the onset and end of ice cover is essential for lake ecosystems, both from an ecological and economic perspective. This knowledge is crucial for interpreting the behavior of living organisms, water quality, and economic considerations.

Development of a sustainable optimization model for planning regional wastewater systems with consideration of water quality

Development of a sustainable optimization model for planning regional wastewater systems with consideration of water quality

WASH and drinking water quality considerations in schools in reflection of the sustainable development goals – a review

Abstract Poor drinking water quality has been linked to negative health outcomes across the world. Drinking water quality is an essential part of safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). Safe WASH in schools is linked with the achievement of sustainable development goals (SGDs), specifically, SDG 6. It is unclear whether water quality is always assessed as part of WASH in schools. This study focused on determining the consideration of water quality aspects during WASH assessment in schools by examining published studies. A systematic online review of the literature was conducted to identify studies that reported on the assessment of WASH facilities in schools. Titles, abstracts, and full text of retrieved articles were screened. Seventy-five studies were identified. Thirty-two studies considered drinking water quality analysis as part of WASH in schools. Chemical (66%), microbial (59%), and physical (38%) parameters were included in drinking water quality analysis, with lead (Pb), and Escherichia coli being mostly included. This study reveals that some studies did not include an evaluation of drinking water quality, though it reflects an important exposure pathway between WASH services and health outcomes. It is, therefore, recommended that routine water quality monitoring be included in school WASH to ensure learner's health is protected.

Uncovering the risk spillover of agricultural water scarcity by simultaneously considering water quality and quantity

Not only insufficient water quantity but also inadequate water quality can pose constraints on agricultural production and result in potential economic losses. Such economic losses in agriculture may adversely impact downstream producers through reduced input supplies. In this study, we developed an index assessing potential economic losses in agriculture under both quantity- and quality-induced water scarcity, termed integrated Agricultural Water Scarcity Risk (AWSR). Combining integrated AWSR with a multi-regional input-output model, we estimated the spillovers of integrated AWSR along supply chains. Our results showed that the intersectoral transmission of virtual integrated AWSR (sectoral spillovers in terms of integrated AWSR) were 5 times the virtual quantity-based AWSR. Pollution significantly intensifies the indirect supply-chain repercussions of agricultural water scarcity. Moreover, we identified some primary virtual integrated AWSR exporters (e.g., Jiangsu-vegetables and Shandong-swine, of which the integrated AWSR had considerable spillover effects on downstream sectors) and importers (e.g., Henan-chemical industry and Henan-textiles, which were vulnerable to upstream integrated AWSR), that could not be detected in quantity-based AWSR results. This study underscores the importance of water quality in the assessments of AWSR. Strategies to mitigate the spillovers of AWSR might be inefficient without the consideration of water quality.

Incorporating water quality into land use scenario analysis with random forest models

Emerging research has begun to document the nuanced ways that urban form can influence water quality in urban areas. To facilitate the greater consideration of water quality by planning practitioners, this paper illustrates a two-step method to predict the water quality performance of land use scenarios through the presentation of a case study in the Huron River watershed in Michigan, USA. First, random forest models are used to relate 38 urban form variables to three water quality outcomes within the watershed: total suspended solids (TSS), total phosphorus (TP), and Escherichia coli ( E. coli) concentrations. Second, the calibrated random forest models are used to predict the water quality performance for three land use scenarios for a local jurisdiction. The case study illustrates how even scenarios describing additional urbanization can result in predicted improvements to water quality. The methods contribute to the greater consideration of water issues in urban planning practice.

Connecting Water Access with Multidimensional Poverty: The Case of Tupiza River Basin in Bolivia

In developing countries, where economic expansion depends on extractive activities such as agriculture and mining, water quantity and quality considerations need to be examined in tandem with GDP growth and poverty reduction efforts. Poorest households in the Tupiza watershed in Bolivia are located in rural areas where water access for irrigation and safe drinking water is becoming increasingly scarce. Small-scale unregulated mining offers an alternative for revenue making in rural households, although wastewater from industry threatens water quality and new technologies to reduce water pollution are not implemented in this region yet. This study analyses water access and poverty linkages using the Multidimensional Poverty Analysis (MDPA) framework from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) to guide a survey and to develop indicators using the Shapley-Owen decomposition method and multivariate regressions. A set of household-level policies were included to predict the influence of these policies on poverty reduction estimates. Results have shown that remote communities in rural areas have the lowest value of multidimensional poverty and for some of these communities mining activities represent an alternative that could be considered if their water access conditions worsen over time. While mining can bring better monetary benefits, it can cause the degradation of ecological flows from the produced wastewater. Under the current technologies and processes, it can pose negative impacts on water quality and threatens the public health of these communities.

Pollution exacerbates interregional flows of virtual scarce water driven by energy demand in China

Existing studies on the virtual scarce water flows within the water-energy context focus on water quantity while largely ignoring water quality. This study improves the quantification method of scarce water uses by considering both blue water (representing water quantity) and grey water (indicating water quality). Based on a scarce-water extended multi-regional input–output model, we investigate the virtual scarce water flows driven by energy demand across 31 Chinese regions in 2012 and 2017. The results show that considering water quality provides new insights into the patterns of interregional flows of virtual scarce water driven by energy demand. The virtual integrated scarce water (VISW) flows, which consider both water quantity and quality, are 5 times the volume of virtual quantity-based scarce water (VQSW) flows. Moreover, certain regions (e.g., Hebei) are recognized as net VISW exporters, but are net importers in terms of VQSW. There are significant differences in the critical interregional pairs identified based on net VISW flows (e.g., Shandong–Zhejiang, and Shandong-Guangdong) and net VQSW flows (e.g., Heilongjiang-Guangdong, and Liaoning–Shaanxi). To reduce water scarcity based on the combined effect of both quantity and quality, the critical VISW interregional pairs should enhance cooperation through compensation payments and interregional technology transfer. This study highlights the importance of water quality in the assessment of virtual scarce water uses. Employing virtual scarce water as a policy tool to mitigate water scarcity might fail without the consideration of water quality.

To what extent should we ensure the explicit inclusion of water quality within the WEF nexus? Discussion of “Water quality: the missing dimension of water in the water–energy–food nexus”

ABSTRACT We congratulate Heal et al. for initiating an important discussion on how to broaden the scope of the water–energy–food nexus. We agree that more explicit inclusion of water quality into the nexus is an important step forward. At the same time, water quality is itself an indicator of e.g. ecosystem services and biodiversity, and improvement of water quality comes with a cost in terms of resource consumption that is typically not included in models studying the water–energy–food nexus. We already see hesitation in using the nexus for policy development, and further complexity may be an additional barrier to its practical implementation. So, while the consideration of water quality is indeed important for the nexus, it also suggests that perhaps it is necessary to consider more local contexts than striving for one global framing for analysis of the water–energy–food nexus.

​​Hydroponics Checking and Control Framework: An IoT based Methodology: A Review

Web of Things (IoT) is the quickly creating fields for giving social and monetary focal points for rising and making an economy of the country. IoT field is prospering in regions like clinical, horticulture, transportation, preparing and So forth This is of maximum importance because hydroponics is a retrogressive locale of carried out science. Diverged from different zones like agribusiness, thus, it’s fundamental to decide the issues that are around here with the help of innovation. Water quality may be an essential issue, it fundamentally relies on various boundaries like broke up oxygen, carbonates, turbidity, alkali, nitrates, salt, pH, temperature and so forth. The proposed framework consistently screens the water superb boundary the usage of sensors, the incredible information is exceeded immediately to the water rancher bendy via the cloud. Among the issues, the sluggish dormant period inside the consideration of water quality and along these lines the wastage of assets like water, in development are the important issues that must be tended to. It is used to utilizations the wastewater from the aquarium to develop the plants, thus, the pH and alkali killed water from hydrogen dust pellets in broaden mattress is looked after lower back to the aquarium.

Irrigation with Coal Mining Effluents: Sustainability and Water Quality Considerations (São Pedro da Cova, North Portugal)

Two water effluents that drain from the abandoned coal mine of São Pedro da Cova (NW Portugal) were characterized in terms of their physic-chemical properties and suitability for irrigation purposes. Samples were also collected in a local surface stream, upstream and downstream from the mine drainage points, also used for irrigation by local farmers. Water samples were analyzed for major and minor ions and for trace element concentrations. Sampling campaigns started in 2017 and ended in 2019 and there were 46 water quality parameters tested. There were also proposed all-inclusive indices (the Water Quality Index and the Contamination Index, and also the Trace Element Toxicity Index) based on specific groups of 18 and 17 physic-chemical parameters, respectively, to achieve adequate monitoring requirements for mine effluents and surface water from coalfield. From the physical and chemical aspects of mine water it is inferred that the mine is not producing acid mine drainage. The coal mine water is of medium to high salinity, having almost neutral pH and a high thermal stability during the year, which is a distinguishing feature of the effluents. When compared to international irrigation water quality standards, as Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations admissible concentrations, the impacted waters are unsuitable for irrigation. The major outliers to the guidelines were iron, manganese, potassium, magnesium and bicarbonates, being also detected carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Cost-effective ways of monitoring water quality parameters are needed to help control and manage the impact of coal mine effluents that should be treated before releasing into a ditch system that could be then used by local farmers to irrigate their crops.

System-wide joint-dynamic-response approach to water quality evaluation in distribution networks with multiple service reservoirs and pumps

Rigorous system-wide aggregated water quality performance indices for water distribution networks are lacking in the literature due to complexities associated with high dimensional spatial and temporal water quality data. Water quality considerations unavoidably increase performance evaluation difficulties considerably. The formulation developed in this article addresses the post-extended period simulation high-dimensional data challenges. A system-wide joint-dynamic-response approach to water quality evaluation is introduced that accounts for spatial and temporal variations in nodal demands and the respective time-varying hydraulic and water quality properties of multiple service reservoirs. Effective comparisons of the water quality response of service reservoirs and their effects were achieved. This includes individual reservoirs and the combined effects of multiple reservoirs. Service reservoirs and the nodes they supply were particularly vulnerable from the standpoint of water quality. The role of the network’s topology considering water quality risks was revealed also. The correlation between the medians and flow-weighted daily means of the water quality parameters was very strong (R2 ≥ 0.994) for the service reservoirs considered. Thus, the median could be useful as a practical performance surrogate in design optimization procedures. Finally, there seems to be an association between the flow-weighted daily means and overall hydraulic effectiveness of service reservoirs.

Penentuan Kondisi Kualitas Perairan Muara Sungai Somber, Balikpapan, Kalimantan Timur dengan Metode Indeks Pencemaran (Pollution Index)

Balikpapan bay has an important and strategic role, such as a buffer for sustainability of the estuary function as the Balikpapan seaport. In Balikpapan esuary watershed there are large and small rivers, including Somber River. Settlements and industries around the river banks have caused a decrease of river water quality, especially activities that place pollutant loads (waste) on the river bodies. This research is focused on physical and chemical parameters, including Total Dissolved Solid (TDS), temperature, pH, and DO (Dissolved Oxygen).Water quality research was conducted by dividing the river into 7 measurment points. The distribution of measurement points was based on water quality considerations that represent upstream, middle, and downstream water quality, as well as considering easy access. Water samples at each mesurment point ware collected at three different depths (vertically). Concentrations of several parameters that have been obtained were then analyzed using the Pollution Index method (Pollution Index) which is used to determine relative pollutant levels to the allowed water quality parameters. The testing procedure by pollution index refers to procedure poured in the Decree of the State Minister for the Environment No. 115 in 2003 concerning of Determining Guidelines of Water Quality Status. Based on the field measurments, an average value for temperatures obtained ranging from 30.0 - 32.1 ° C, TDS values ​​4270 mg / L - 10000 mg / L, DO ranges between 1.8 mg / L - 3.1 mg / L, and pH values ​​between 6.6 - 7.1. From the calculation and data analisys of physical and chemical parameters, the research can be concluded that the location of measurement point 1 shows water quality status being lightly polluted, while point 2,3,4,5,6, and 7 shows water quality status being moderately polluted.
 
 Keywords: Water quality, estuary, Somber river, pollution index

An Analytical Method for Designing of Municipal Water Supply and Distribution Systems

The clean Water Supply provision is one of the major factors greatly contributing to the socioeconomic transformation of a country. However, many countries have problems in fulfilling the water demand of the continuously growing population and populated areas due to the high level of water losses in distribution networks. Optimization of water distribution system design is one of critical research fields, which has been extremely productive. Its primary focus is to minimize the cost of a proposed pipe network infrastructure. The paper presents the results of research on the development of a new analytical design method that allows creating new water distribution systems or strengthening, expanding and rehabilitating existing water distribution systems, inclusive of design timing, parameter uncertainty, water quality, and other operational considerations. The method is based on the solution of hydraulic problem of a linear pipeline and the use of the newly developed software set for studying hydraulic processes. The solution is determined in the Mixed Integer Programming - MIP and Discontinuous Nonlinear Programming - DNLP connection modes. As research results show it is possible to expand and solve the problems of finding the locations of branching optimal lines connecting the sources (main distribution systems) and consumers. The task set and its solution opens a whole range of opportunities for its successful application in the most diverse branches of science and production.

Evaluating watershed-based optimized decision support framework for conservation practice placement in Plum Creek Minnesota

Targeting field-scale implementation of conservation practices (CPs) in agricultural watersheds is critical to meeting sustainable resource management goals. This not only needs accurate and extensive field-scale assessment, but also incorporation of willingness of the farmers to adopt the suite of practices. Many useful watershed models have not only lacked in accurate siting of field-scale practices based on rigorous physiographic/terrain criteria and hydro-conditioned digital elevation models (DEMs), but also limited in mathematically incorporating farmer’s uncertain, diverse and conflicting viewpoints into the model, which is pivotal to TMDL scenario assessment. This study develops an integrated decision support framework (DSF) to site CP opportunities at the field-scale using high-resolution Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR)-hydro-conditioned DEM and other secondary data. Using python coding, DSF integrates three robust models namely Prioritize, Target and Measure Application (PTMApp), Agricultural Conservation Planning Framework (ACPF) and Hydrological Simulation Program FORTRAN-Scenario Application Manager (HSPF-SAM). The novel nature of this framework is its ability to facilitate precision planning at field-scale by siting the optimized conservation practices to achieve TMDL’s based on (i) rigorous terrain derivatives and siting criteria; (ii) simulation of accurate stream flow network (extensive hydro-conditioning and D infinity approach for flow accumulation); and (iii) incorporating diverse, conflicting and uncertain preferences of farmers using fuzzy logic. The framework offers a simplified interface to the locals to simultaneously address agronomical (siting practices to improve soil health and crop productivity), hydrological (improving water quality, TMDL’s), ecological (delineation of sites for riparian buffers) and socio-economic (farmer preferences and cost-analysis) objectives with moderate technical expertise. Besides field-scale practice siting, one of the superior features of the model is its flexibility to filter out even technically feasible cost-effective practices if they are not preferred by farmers, and thus giving a realistic assessment of TMDL’s. The model is applicable to any Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC-12) sub-watershed and has been demonstrated for Plum Creek watershed in Minnesota. Results showed 537 cost-effective practices including bioreactors, grassed waterways, nutrient removal wetlands, water and sediment control basins and riparian buffers yielded an 8.5% reduction in total nitrogen constrained with a budget of $250,000. Field-scale maps generated through this DSF empowers practitioners and farmers to work together to make implementation decisions based on sound agronomic, water quality, and economic considerations.

Taylor Dispersion of Contaminants by Dual-peak Spectral Random Waves

Recent extensive and important studies have provided detailed information and compelling evidence on how the presence of waves influences the vertical diffusivity/dispersivity in the coastal environment, which can affect various water quality considerations such as the distribution of suspended sediments in the water column as well as the potential of eutrophication. Comparatively, how the presence of waves influences the horizontal diffusivity/dispersivity has received only scant attention in the literature. Our previous works investigated the role played by the Taylor mechanism due to the wave-induced drift profile which leads to the longitudinal dispersion of contaminants in the horizontal direction, under regular sinusoidal waves and random waves with single-peak spectra. Natural waves in the coastal environment, however, often possess dual-peak spectra, comprising both higher frequency wind waves and lower frequency swells. In this study, the Taylor dispersion of contaminants under random waves with dual-peak spectra is examined through analytical derivation and numerical calculations. The effects of various dual-peak spectral parameters on the horizontal dispersion, including the proportion of lower frequency energy, peak frequency ratio and spectral shape parameter, are investigated. The results show that the relative energy distribution between the dual peaks has the most significant effect. Compared with single-peak spectra with equivalent energy, the Taylor dispersion with dual-peak spectra is stronger when the lower frequency is close to the peak frequency of the single-peak spectrum, and weaker with the higher frequency instead. Thus, it can be concluded that with a dual-peak wave spectrum, wind-dominated seas with higher frequency lead to stronger dispersion in the horizontal direction than swell-dominated seas with lower frequency.

Open Water Swimming: Medical and Water Quality Considerations: ERRATUM.

Open Water Swimming: Medical and Water Quality Considerations: ERRATUM.

Open Water Swimming: Medical and Water Quality Considerations.

The sport of open water swimming (OWS) has been popularized on a global scale. This population of athletes may experience several unique medical conditions, necessitating a review of medical issues and environmental considerations. Clinicians providing care for OWS athletes should be educated and trained to recognize and manage illnesses and conditions that often occur in an effort to ensure athlete safety. This article focuses on the major medical challenges faced in OWS, including a review of cardiorespiratory conditions and infections, competitor factors, water quality concerns, and risk minimization strategies.

Water Availability Footprint Addressing Water Quality

The increasing issue of water quality degradation has affected the availability of water. The consideration of water quality is becoming more important for water minimisation. There is a need to integrate water quality into the current water assessment framework. This study tries to involve the water quality into the widely used water footprint assessment framework in order to quantify the water usability changes during the water use process. Based on water footprint concepts from international standard ISO 14046, water availability is further interpreted to emphasize the impact of water quality on the usability. An effective water availability footprint is defined as the quantitative and qualitative extent of a certain body of water which meets the needs of a certain purpose of water use. A water quality index is proposed to quantify the contribution of water quality on water availability, and two approaches of calculating water quality index are discussed, in order to explore the possibility of involving water quality into the water availability footprint assessment. Based on the definitions and framework, a case study is conducted to illustrate the features of this framework, and 3 outflows with different water quality are set to discuss the impact of different water quality profiles on the calculation of water availability footprint. It shows that water quality profiles can have a remarkable influence on the calculation. For the case with an outflow of F 2-1 , the water availability footprints with minimum water quality index, average water quality index and the volumetric water footprints as 1,600 m 3 , 1,277 m 3 , and 1,000 m 3 . This indicator can determine the consumptive water use and also quantify the exploitation of water quality. The involvement of water quality regarding multiple contaminants in water footprint assessment should be further investigated in future studies.

Growth of the Decision Tree: Advances in Bottom‐Up Climate Change Risk Management

AbstractThere has recently been a return in climate change risk management practice to bottom‐up, robustness‐based planning paradigms introduced 40 years ago. The World Bank's decision tree framework (DTF) for “confronting climate uncertainty” is one incarnation of those paradigms. In order to better represent the state of the art in climate change risk assessment and evaluation techniques, this paper proposes: (1) an update to the DTF, replacing its “climate change stress test” with a multidimensional stress test; and (2) the addition of a Bayesian network framework that represents joint probabilistic behavior of uncertain parameters as sensitivity factors to aid in the weighting of scenarios of concern (the combination of conditions under which a water system fails to meet its performance targets). Using the updated DTF, water system planners and project managers would be better able to understand the relative magnitudes of the varied risks they face, and target investments in adaptation measures to best reduce their vulnerabilities to change. Next steps for the DTF include enhancements in: modeling of extreme event risks; coupling of human‐hydrologic systems; integration of surface water and groundwater systems; the generation of tradeoffs between economic, social, and ecological factors; incorporation of water quality considerations; and interactive data visualization.

Water quality and greenhouse gas fluxes for stormwater detained in a constructed wetland

Constructed wetlands (CWs) have been extensively used to deal with stormwater runoff and prevent flooding, as well as to improve water quality. However, some studies indicate that runoff from CWs can be a source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to the atmosphere, as well as have increased levels of organic matter and nitrogen that may affect the environment and water quality of receiving waterways. We collected water samples at five different locations within a constructed stormwater detention wetland and determined dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and nitrate (NO3−), as well as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) concentrations and fluxes. Results showed that the water had high levels of DOC and NO3−. Analysis of DOC quality showed that the organic matter is mainly derived from soil and plant litter, but it has some contribution from microbial sources as well. Additionally, the water was supersaturated with CO2 and CH4 with respect to the atmosphere, which resulted in high evasion fluxes of 4.1 g CO2-C m−2 d−1 and 45 mg CH4-C m−2 d−1. N2O flux was low, 36.6 μg N2O-N m−2 d−1, and varied between uptake and emission throughout the study period. Consideration of water quality and GHG emissions is key to evaluate the environmental performance of stormwater management systems.