Water Resources Development Research Articles

Unlocking interfacial electron transfer in biophotoelectrochemical processes: Role of extracellular polymeric substances in aquatic environments.

Unlocking interfacial electron transfer in biophotoelectrochemical processes: Role of extracellular polymeric substances in aquatic environments.

Assessment of Water Resource Management and Development Programs in Virac, Catanduanes

This paper focuses on the management of water resources in Virac, Catanduanes, Philippines. More specifically, through the analysis of existing policies, programs, and practices concerning the environmental, social, and economic dimensions of water resource management. The research methodology involved the collection of primary data primarily through in-depth interviews with key informants, supplemented by secondary data review. This qualitative approach was vital to gain a deep, contextual understanding of the water resource program within Virac, Catanduanes. The study's design was specifically tailored to tackle complex research questions, seeking detailed insights into the program's status, its implications for the community, the challenges faced, and stakeholder-informed recommendations for future management. Findings indicate that the integrated water resources management in Virac, Catanduanes is practiced in different forms. Major strategies employed included devising ways of protecting and developing water sources, ensuring people’s access to water supply and fair distribution, safeguarding public health and the environment, promotion of climate change responsiveness, and adopting an integrated water resources management approach. However, insufficient resources, aging infrastructure and climate change continue to serve as development challenges. In order to maximize the effective management of water resources, the paper offers different approaches that can be employed. These include increased investment in finance and technology, improvement of the infrastructure, climate change adaptation planning, policy compliance improvement, stakeholder active participatory approaches and water resource safeguarding. By adopting these suggestions, water services in Virac, Catanduanes will be more sustainable and effective in the future.

Hydrochemical Characteristics and Evolution Laws of Groundwater in Huangshui River Basin, Qinghai

Groundwater plays a leading role in ecological environment protection in semi-arid regions. The Huangshui River Basin is located in the Tibetan Plateau and Loess Plateau transition zone of semi-arid areas. Its ecological environment is relatively fragile, and there is an urgent need for systematic study of the basin to develop a groundwater environment and realize the rational and efficient development of water resources. In this study, methodologically, we combined the following: 1. Field sampling (271 groundwater samples across the basin’s hydrogeological units); 2. Comprehensive laboratory analysis of major ions and physicochemical parameters; 3. Multivariate statistical analysis (Pearson correlation, descriptive statistics); 4. Geospatial techniques (ArcGIS kriging interpolation); 5. Hydrochemical modeling (Piper diagrams, Gibbs plots, PHREEQC simulations). Key findings reveal the following: 1. Groundwater is generally weakly alkaline (pH 6.94–8.91) with TDS ranging 155–10,387 mg/L; 2. Clear spatial trends: TDS and major ions (Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Cl−, SO42−) increase along flow paths; 3. Water types evolve from Ca-HCO3-dominant (upper reaches) to complex Ca-SO4/Ca-Cl mixtures (lower reaches); 4. Water–rock interactions dominate hydrochemical evolution, with secondary cation exchange effects; 5. PHREEQC modeling identifies dominant carbonate dissolution (mean SIcalcite = −0.32) with localized evaporite influences (SIgypsum up to 0.12). By combining theoretical calculations and experimental results, this study reveals distinct hydrochemical patterns and evolution mechanisms. The groundwater transitions from Ca-HCO3-type in upstream areas to complex Ca-SO4/Cl mixtures downstream, driven primarily by dissolution of gypsum and carbonate minerals. Total dissolved solids increase dramatically along flow paths (155–10,387 mg/L), with Na+ and SO42− showing the strongest correlation to mineralization (r > 0.9). Cation exchange processes and anthropogenic inputs further modify water chemistry in midstream regions. These findings establish a baseline for sustainable groundwater management in this ecologically vulnerable basin.

Perspectives on Sustainable Development of Water Resources in Kansas

Perspectives on Sustainable Development of Water Resources in Kansas

Leveraging multi-source data and teleconnection indices for enhanced runoff prediction using coupled deep learning models

Accurate medium- to long-term runoff forecasting is crucial for flood control, drought resilience, water resources development, and ecological improvement. Traditional statistical methods struggle to utilize multifaceted variable information, leading to lower prediction accuracy. This study introduces two innovative coupled models—SRA-SVR and SRA-MLPR—to enhance runoff prediction by leveraging the strengths of statistical and deep learning approaches. Stepwise Regression Analysis (SRA) was employed to effectively handle high-dimensional data and multicollinearity, ensuring that only the most influential predictive variables were retained. Support Vector Regression (SVR) and Multi-Layer Perceptron Regression (MLPR) were chosen due to their strong adaptability in capturing nonlinear relationships and extracting latent hydrological patterns. The integration of these methods significantly improves prediction accuracy and model stability. By integrating 80 atmospheric circulation indices as teleconnection variables, the models tackle critical challenges such as high-dimensional data, multicollinearity, and nonlinear hydrological dynamics. The Yalong River Basin, characterized by complex hydrological processes and diverse climatic influences, serves as the case study for model validation. The results show that: (1) Compared to baseline single models, the SRA-MLPR model reduced RMSE (from 798.47 to 594.45) by 26% and MAPE (from 34.79 to 22.90%) by 34%, while achieving an NSE (from 0.67 to 0.76) improvement of 13%, particularly excelling in extreme runoff scenarios. (2) The inclusion of teleconnection indices not only enriched the predictive feature set but also improved model stability, with the SRA-MLPR demonstrating enhanced capability in capturing latent nonlinear relationships. (3) A one-month lag in atmospheric circulation indices was identified as the optimal predictor for basin-scale runoff, providing actionable insights into temporal runoff dynamics. (4) To enhance model interpretability, SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations) analysis was employed to quantify the contribution of atmospheric circulation indices to runoff predictions, revealing the dominant climate drivers and their nonlinear interactions. The results indicate that the Northern Hemisphere Polar Vortex and the East Asian Trough exert significant control over runoff dynamics, with their influence modulated by large-scale climate oscillations such as the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO). (5) The models’ scalability is validated through their modular design, allowing seamless adaptation to diverse hydrological contexts. Applications include improved flood forecasting, optimized reservoir operations, and adaptive water resource planning. Furthermore, the study demonstrates the potential of coupled models as generalizable tools for hydrological forecasting in basins with varying climatic and geographic conditions. This study highlights the potential of coupled models as robust and generalizable tools for hydrological forecasting across diverse climatic and geographic conditions. By integrating atmospheric circulation indices, the proposed models enhance runoff prediction accuracy and stability while offering valuable insights for flood prevention, drought mitigation, and adaptive water resource management. These methodological advancements bridge the gap between statistical and deep learning approaches, providing a scalable framework for accurate and interpretable hydrological, climatological, and environmental predictions. Given the escalating challenges brought about by climate change, the findings of this study make contributions to sustainable water management, interpretable decision-making support, and disaster preparedness at a global level.

Estimation of Cloud Water Resources in China

With the increasing scarcity of global water resources, the exploitation of atmospheric water resources has emerged as a crucial strategy for mitigating water shortages. However, the development of regional atmospheric water resources remains constrained by the lack of precise atmospheric water resource assessments. Existing studies primarily focus on historical evaluations of atmospheric water resources in China, while future changes in cloud water resources across target regions have yet to be comprehensively investigated. In this study, projections of cloud water resources over China for the next 30 years are conducted based on CMIP6 global climate model simulations, in conjunction with observationally diagnosed cloud water resources datasets from 2000 to 2019. A random forest model, coupled with a fuzzy logic approach, is employed to estimate future cloud water resources, as well as their spatial distribution and temporal trends. The results indicate that the random forest model effectively captures the relationship between atmospheric physical variables and cloud water resources, demonstrating strong agreement with historical data. Over the next three decades, cloud water resources in China are projected to exhibit an overall increasing trend, with the most pronounced enhancement occurring under the high-emission scenario (Shared Socioeconomic Pathway 5–8.5). The spatial distribution pattern of cloud water resources is expected to remain largely consistent with that of the past two decades, while inter-model differences are primarily observed in southeastern China and the southern Tibetan Plateau. Further analysis using fuzzy logic inference reveals that the most significant increases in cloud water resources are anticipated in northwestern China, with the potential for an expansion of these increases toward the north under the high-emission scenario. This study provides a scientific framework for predicting future variations in cloud water resources across China, offering critical theoretical and data-driven support for the sustainable development and utilization of atmospheric water resources.

ANALYSIS OF THE BATANG LANGKUP RIVER DISCHARGE USING FLOATING METHOD FOR MICRO-HYDRO POWER PLANT NEEDS (PLTMH)

Water resources are renewable natural resources that have a volume with constant conditions in the hydrological cycle. The constant presence of water in the hydrological cycle can make water a source of energy. Water potential is also influenced by the presence of high rainfall in an area. The higher the rainfall, the higher the potential of water as a source of renewable energy, one of which is a micro-hydro power plant. The use of energy sources from hydropower has great potential in hilly complexes that have large river networks. To meet the need for electrical energy in the Rantau Kermas Village area, Jangkat District, Merangin Regency, Jambi Province, a water discharge calculation is needed to determine the estimated availability of energy. The calculation of water discharge in the Rantau Kermas Village Area, Jangkat District, Merangin Regency, Jambi Province was carried out using the floating method with the results obtained being 4,644 m3/s. and can increase or decrease depending on the rainy season or dry season. Water discharge value data can be used as information for the purposes of developing water resources as a Micro Hydro Power Plant (PLTMH) in the discharge

Economic Evaluation of Water Resources in Industrial Development in India

Economic Evaluation of Water Resources in Industrial Development in India

A Review of Morphometric Studies of Drainage Basins in Nigeria

The review chronicles morphometric studies of drainage basins across the regions of Nigeria. This is done against the backdrop of the importance of the drainage basin in terms of its morphometric characteristics, water resources exploration, planning and development, and its associated environmental problems of flooding, erosion and drought. Both conventional and non-conventional methods are classified into pre- and Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) era, where they were used. The results of analysis showed that the linear, areal and relief attributes of the basin varied across the country. The Nigeria drainage basins range: Basin Area(Ab ) 40.75km2 to 9,926km2, Stream Order(Nu) 3rd to 7th, Stream Number(N) 13 to 9205, Stream Length (Lu) 9.6km to 30,232.80km, Bifurcation Ratio (Rb) 0.9 to 6.0, Drainage Density(Dd)0.03 to 1.27, Drainage Frequency(Nf) 0.01 to 1.35km-1/ km-1, Drainage Texture( Dt) 0.005 to 4.99, Form Factor(Ff) 0.02 to 0.85, Circularity ratio (CR) 0.10 to 0.81, Elongation ratio (ER) 0.14 to 1.40, Length of overland flow(Lg) 0.08-1.95, Infiltration number (IF) 0.02-1.71, Ruggedness number(Rn) 3.68 to 112.59, Hypsometric Integral (HI) 0.22 to 0.99. The basins were found to be predominantly a dendritic system pattern, suggesting that there were no structural controls. Basins with bifurcation ratio below the threshold of 3 to 5 were less susceptible to flooding and erosion while those above are more prone with a strong structural control on the drainage pattern. Catchments with low values of infiltration number were noted to experience higher infiltration and lower surface runoff. Where form factor values are small, the basins are elongated and have low peak flow of longer duration. Whereas basins with high values have high flows of shorter duration.

Analysis of water resources carrying capacity and obstacle factors in Gansu section of the Wei River basin using combined weighting TOPSIS model

Water resource carrying capacity is an important indicator for measuring sustainable development. Given the rapid economic and social development in China today, coordinating the sustainable development of water resources, socio-economy, and eco-environment has become an urgent problem to be solved. This study takes the Gansu section of Wei River mainstream basin (GWRB) as a case study and constructs a three-dimensional WRCC evaluation system and status standards. Based on this research framework, we analyzed the trends in WRCC changes of GWRB from 2008 to 2022. Additionally, we conducted an in-depth study of the internal relationships and influencing factors within the WRCC system. The results show that the combination weighting method of multi-weight models avoids the one-sidedness of single weighting, leading to a more realistic distribution of weights. The result status standard derived from the indicator status standard prevents a disconnect between the result and the status, making the evaluation more rational and accurate. The WRCC of the GWRB increased from 0.098 (overloaded) in 2008 to 0.621 (weakly bearable) in 2022. During this period, the eco-environmental system improved from critical to bearable, while the socio-economic system improved from overloaded to weakly bearable. Due to geographical and climatic limitations, the water resource system continued to bear significant pressure and remained in overloaded state for most of the time. The key factors limiting the further improvement of WRCC in the GWRB are per capita water resources, utilization rate of water resources, COD emission per 10,000 yuan of GDP, ecological water use rate, water consumption per 10,000 GDP and agricultural water use rate. To improve the WRCC, we propose a series of targeted recommendations based on the research findings. The proposed research framework can also serve as a reference for related studies in arid and semi-arid regions.

The Water Resources Development and Utilization and Evaluation of Water Ecological Environment in the Agro-Pastoral Ecotone

The Water Resources Development and Utilization and Evaluation of Water Ecological Environment in the Agro-Pastoral Ecotone

From resource matching to economic sustainability: A multi-stage analysis of water-land-economy interactions in the lower Yellow River Basin.

From resource matching to economic sustainability: A multi-stage analysis of water-land-economy interactions in the lower Yellow River Basin.

Analysis of the water balance in a river catchment using the soil and water assessment tool (SWAT) model: A case study in Southern Africa

Abstract The study was conducted in a transboundary river catchment that includes Lesotho and South Africa with the aim of critically analysing the water balance components (WBCs) as well as understanding the rainfall-runoff behaviour of the catchment which are important for sustainable water resources development and management. This study presents results of an application of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool Model (SWAT) in the mountainous-agricultural Caledon catchment that spreads in Lesotho and some parts of South Africa, draining an area of 13, 370 km2. The catchment area was divided into 31 sub-catchments and the SWAT model was set up using observed rainfall and temperature data from the Lesotho Meteorological Services (LMS) and was calibrated and validated manually by adjusting the curve number (CN2) for the period 2010 to 2018. The model gave satisfactory results after calibration and a good fit for validation with NSE, R2 and RSR, showing that the model has a high capability in the estimation of runoff in the Caledon catchment if coupled with observed rainfall. Furthermore, the SWAT model was used to analyse the water balance components of importance. The study found that, on average, the Caledon catchment losses about 80% of the total rainfall to evapotranspiration. It was also found that the water yield represented 9.15 % of the total rainfall and that the direct runoff presents 9.54 %. The result also showed that the groundwater flow represented 6.25 % of the total rainfall. The results are expected to contribute towards better planning and allocation of water resources in the catchment.

ҚАЗАҚСТАНДАҒЫ СУ РЕСУРСТАРЫН ЭКОЖҮЙЕЛІК ТӘСІЛ АРҚЫЛЫ МЕМЛЕКЕТТІК БАСҚАРУДЫ ДАМЫТУ ПРОБЛЕМАЛАРЫ

The article analyzes the problems and prospects of introducing the ecosystem approach to water resources management in Kazakhstan. The significance of water resources for sustainable economic, social and ecological development is substantiated, as well as the necessity of applying the ecosystem approach under conditions of water resources scarcity. The research methods used, including the analysis of official reports, statistical data and scientific literature, are described. The results of the study identify key problems of the existing water resources management system, such as the lack of standardized methodologies and insufficient integration of local knowledge and experience. Recommendations for adapting successful international experience and developing effective legal and institutional mechanisms in Kazakhstan are presented. It is concluded that it is necessary to apply the ecosystem approach to ensure water security and improve the condition of aquatic ecosystems, which contributes to achieving sustainable development in the region.

Multivariate Statistics and Hydrochemistry Combined to Reveal the Factors Affecting Shallow Groundwater Evolution in a Typical Area of the Huaibei Plain, China

Understanding the characteristics of groundwater chemistry is essential for water resource development and utilization. However, few studies have focused on the chemical evolution processes of shallow groundwater in typical areas of the Huaibei Plain. We analyzed 28 water samples from the study area using hydrogeochemical mapping, multivariate statistical analysis, and other approaches. The study found that the hydrogeochemical facies of groundwater are mainly HCO3-Ca·Mg (64.3%), mixed SO4·Cl-Ca·Mg, and SO4·Cl-Na. The hydrochemical composition is primarily controlled by natural water–rock interactions, including carbonate weathering and cation exchange processes. Correlation analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that mineral dissolution was the predominant source of Na+, Mg2+, Cl−, and SO42− in shallow groundwater, significantly contributing to total dissolved solids (TDS) accumulation. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) identified three characteristic zones: (1) agricultural/urban-influenced areas, (2) high-F−/low-hardness zones, and (3) nitrate-contaminated regions. These findings provide critical insights for assessing the geochemical status of groundwater in the Huaibei Plain and formulating targeted resource management strategies.

Comparability of NARX model to SWAT model in simulating future water resources scenarios using CMIP6 climate model outputs over UASB, Ethiopia

Abstract Quantifying water resource potential is crucial for making well-informed decisions in planning, managing, and developing water resources within a given study area. This study utilizes an ensemble of climate variables derived from five CMIP6 climate models (EC-EARTH3, GFDL-ESM4, MPI-ESM1-2-HR, MRI-ESM2, and INM-CM5-0) to simulate future monthly streamflow conditions over the Upper-Awash Sub-Basin (UASB) for three Shared Socioeconomic Pathway (SSP) scenarios (SSP1.26, SSP2.45, and SSP5.85) until the end of the twenty-first century. Streamflow simulations are conducted using both a non-linear data-driven model, NARX, and a physically based model, SWAT. These models are trained and validated using observed streamflow data from a gauging station at the outlet of the sub-basin. During training, the NARX model exhibits a Nash–Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE) of 94%, while the SWAT model achieves 88%. In validation, NARX maintains a high NSE of 92%, compared to SWAT's 82%. Overall, the NARX model demonstrated superior performance and applicability for quick streamflow simulation with fewer input variables. However, it struggles with peak flow simulations due to its sensitivity to outliers in the training phase. Despite differences in their capabilities, both models project an increase in future monthly streamflow across all scenarios and time periods. Seasonal projections indicate a rise in streamflow during the rainy seasons of spring and summer, while dry periods (Dec–Jan–Feb) experience a decrease. The anticipated increase in streamflow during rainy seasons may exacerbate flood incidences, especially when combined with escalating industrialization and population growth within the sub-basin.

The Importance of Water Resources in Central Asian Countries: Case Study of the Kyrgyz Republic

The article examines the situation in the field of water resources in the Central Asian region. Due to the uneven distribution of water resources and unilateral steps taken by some countries to use them from transboundary watercourses, interstate relations have been exacerbated. The article reveals the level of water resource management by the Central Asian states. Using the example of the Kyrgyz Republic, efforts to regulate transboundary water resources are considered. An assessment is being made of the ability of state governments in the region to resolve water issues without conflict. International water projects in the states of the region are considered to ease tensions. A number of features of the water policy in Central Asian countries which have not been resolved as problematic issues since the collapse of the Soviet Union are highlighted. The article reveals the importance of water resources for development of the Central Asian states.

Vegetation influence level on the water resources effectiveness over China

Abstract Water resources play an extremely important role in sustainable development. The hydrological processes from evapotranspiration to precipitation reshape the distribution of surface water resources, and a thorough understanding of these processes can contribute to water resources management. China has experienced vegetation greening in recent years. How China’s evapotranspiration, particularly vegetation-related evapotranspiration (transpiration and interception loss), regulates its own water resources effectiveness and the precipitation in surrounding countries remains unclear. Using a high-quality global atmospheric moisture connectivity, evapotranspiration, and precipitation dataset, we find that the regulatory effect of evapotranspiration on precipitation is most pronounced in summer. Annually in China, 57% of the moisture generated by evapotranspiration stays within China, accounting for 39.54% of precipitation sources. The remaining moisture is transported abroad, providing an important source of precipitation for the neighboring countries, especially North Korea and Mongolia. Although grasslands and bare areas contribute much less moisture than croplands and forests, they serve as critical moisture sources for the arid interior of China and Mongolia. Vegetation in China has a negative net hydrological effect domestically, which tends to increase across most parts of the country from 2000 to 2020. This research highlights the critical role of vegetation in the transboundary distribution of water resources through moisture transport and provides new insights for sustainable development of water resources.

Climate Change Impacts and Atmospheric Teleconnections on Runoff Dynamics in the Upper-Middle Amu Darya River of Central Asia

In arid regions, water scarcity necessitates reliance on surface runoff as a vital water source. Studying the impact of climate change on surface runoff can provide a scientific basis for optimizing water use and ensuring water security. This study investigated runoff patterns in the upper-middle Amu Darya River (UADR) from 1960 to 2015. Special emphasis was placed on the effects of climatic factors and the role of major atmospheric circulation indices, such as the Eurasian Zonal Circulation Index (EZI), Niño 3.4, and the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD). The results show a significant linear decreasing annual trend in runoff at a rate of 2.5 × 108 m3/year, with an abrupt change in 1972. Runoff exhibited periodic characteristics at 8–16 and 32–64 months. At the 8–16-month scale, runoff was primarily influenced by precipitation (PRE), actual evapotranspiration (AET), and snow water equivalent (SWE), and, at the 32–64-month scale, Niño 3.4 guided changes in runoff. In addition, El Niño 3.4 interacted with the EZI and IOD, which, together, influence runoff at the UADR. This study highlights the importance of considering multiple factors and their interactions when predicting runoff variations and developing water resource management strategies in the UADR Basin. The analysis of nonlinear runoff dynamics in conjunction with multiscale climate factors provides a theoretical basis for the management of water, land, and ecosystems in the Amu Darya Basin.

Hydrochemical Characteristics and Genetic Analysis of Groundwater in Zhanjiang City, Guangdong Province, South China

Groundwater serves as a vital water source in Zhanjiang City. This study analyzed the chemical components of 35 samples to understand the hydrochemical characteristics and evolution mechanism of groundwater in Zhanjiang City. A comprehensive analysis was conducted using statistical methods, including the use of Piper trilinear diagrams, the Gibbs method, ion ratios, and other techniques, to investigate the sources and control factors of the main ions in groundwater in the area. The findings reveal that all the groundwater is freshwater, with the main cations and anions being Na+ and HCO3−, respectively. Shallow water is mainly of the Cl•SO4 mixed cation type, followed by the HCO3•ClNa•Ca type. Middle and deep pore water is mainly of the HCO3Na type, followed by the HCO3Na•Mg type and HCO3Na•Ca type. The hydrochemical classifications of pore and fissure water are Cl•HCO3Mg•Na type and Cl•HCO3Na type water. The primary hydrogeochemical process is water–rock interaction, particularly the dissolution of silicate minerals. Additionally, evaporation and concentration contribute significantly to the chemical composition of shallow water, and ion exchange is also an important hydrogeochemical process affecting middle and deep pore water. Shallow water commonly contains nitrates, with 37.5% of shallow water showing contamination with NO3−. This study aims to provide insights into the development and utilization of local water resources.