Water-scarce Regions Research Articles

Managing Potable Water in Southeastern Spain, Los Angeles, and Sydney: Transcontinental Approaches to Overcome Water Scarcity

AbstractClimate change and the increase of population pose challenges to ensuring suitable water supply in water-scarce regions. This work presents a comparative analysis of the water-supply approaches adopted in Los Angeles, Southeastern Spain, and Sydney. Results show a decrease in per-capita water use in the period 2000–2020, which reflects an improvement in water conservation. Social factors in the domain of hydropolitics and economic efficiency explain the divergence of water policies adopted. The adaptation to water scarcity and growing population in three regions of developed countries located in different continents sheds light on challenges facing the achievement of water security worldwide.

Blueing green water from forests as strategy to cope with climate change in water scarce regions: The case of the Catalan river basin District

Water scarcity in Mediterranean basins is a critical concern exacerbated by climate change and afforestation of abandoned lands. This study addresses the impact of forest management on water availability, specifically blue water, at a regional scale. Utilizing the SWAT + model, we assess water yield increases resulting from various forest thinning scenarios (light, moderate, heavy) and compare benefits to costs. Our approach incorporates site-specific marginal values of water yield, accounting for urban water supply abstractions. The findings reveal the efficacy of hydrological-oriented forest management in alleviating water scarcity. Thinning intensity positively correlates with water yield, with coniferous forests exhibiting the greatest response and deciduous forests the least. Emphasizing blue water enhancement as a significant co-benefit in forest management planning, our study underscores the economic advantages. Particularly valuable in certain areas, this approach can offset a substantial portion of associated costs. Spatially explicit results enable optimal resource allocation, facilitating efficient planning and prioritization of intervention areas for successful hydrological-oriented strategies. In conclusion, our study not only highlights the economic benefits of forest management in enhancing water availability but also offers actionable insights for sustainable and effective hydrological-oriented planning amid escalating water scarcity.

Understanding Links Between Water Scarcity and Violent Conflicts in the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin Using the Water Footprint Concept

AbstractWhilst there are several empirical studies linking water scarcity and violent conflicts, existing quantitative studies use mostly climate and environmental variables even though such variables have been shown to not be strong predictors of water conflicts by some studies. The aim of this study was to use the water footprint concept and the Falkenmark index to identify water scarcity hotspots at the sub‐national scale and to understand the links between water scarcity and violent conflicts in the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin over a period of two decades (2000–2021). We achieve this by developing five water scarcity metrics at a monthly timescale using runoff, soil moisture, potential evapotranspiration, water consumption and demographic data. The developed metrics show high levels of water scarcity across the study area during the dry, pre‐monsoon and post‐monsoon seasons. Analyses further reveal high green water scarcity (GWS) (soil moisture deficit) and low Falkenmark index scores (water stress) during the dry, pre‐monsoon and post‐monsoon seasons, across all reported water conflict locations. This suggest that there is an indirect link between GWS, the Falkenmark index scores and water conflicts. Results from this study may be used to enhance water management, mitigate, and prevent water conflicts in the study area and likewise the methodology adopted may be used to address water scarcity and conflicts in other regions.

Physical and virtual water transfers in China and their implication for water planetary boundary.

China is an extremely water-scarce country with an uneven distribution of regional water resources. We define two absolute sustainability indicators, using the multi-regional input‒output (MRIO) model to outline the contribution of China's physical and virtual water transfers in mitigating the problem of regional water boundary-exceeding. Although the overall use of freshwater resources is within the safe operation space, 55% of province's water resource development transgresses the local water planetary boundary. Physical and virtual water transfers effectively mitigate the stress of water supply to the water planetary boundary in China's water-scarce regions. Among them, the role of virtual water transfers occupies the main part. The cost of using physical water in water-receiving regions and the situation of virtual water flowing from water-scarce regions to developed water-rich regions cannot be ignored, and a small number of provinces are responsible for most of the virtual water net imports and exports. The obtained results are helpful for the redistribution of water planetary boundary transgressing responsibilities among provinces and the formulation of absolute sustainable water resources management policies.

Reclaimed Water Use Regulations in the U.S.: Evaluating Changes and Regional Patterns in Patchwork State Policies from 2004–2023

Water reuse, the beneficial use of highly treated municipal wastewater (reclaimed water), is expanding throughout the United States (U.S.); however, there are currently no federal reclaimed water use regulations, only guidelines. As a result, state policies on reclaimed water vary widely, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive understanding to facilitate coordinated national planning. Our systematic literature review, utilizing an online legal research database, presents an updated overview of U.S. reclaimed water policies from 2004 to 2023. A novel categorization scheme tracks policy changes, highlighting a 38% increase in states regulating reclaimed water between 2004 and 2023. We also created maps of current reclaimed water use regulations across the U.S. including: (1) a national overview of the reclaimed water policy landscape; and (2) documentation of non-food crop and food crop irrigation policies. As of November 2023, 74% of states (37/50) intentionally regulated reclaimed water use. Regions with historically low water scarcity, such as the Midwest, exhibited lower participation rates in reclaimed water regulation than water-scarce regions in the West. Of the 37 states regulating direct reclaimed water use in 2023, all allowed for at least some agricultural uses; 23 permitted non-food and food crop production use, while 14 states have statutory allowances for direct reclaimed water use on non-food crop production. As climate change stresses freshwater resources, our work provides up-to-date information for policymakers to navigate existing reclaimed water use policies.

Editorial: Enabling technologies and business models for energy communities

This Research Topic on “Enabling Technologies and Business Models for Energy Communities” presents a comprehensive exploration of critical facets in the realm of sustainable energy transitions. The Research Topic encompasses diverse topics, ranging from smart energy frameworks for urban communities and off-grid renewable energy deployment in Mexico to the impact of institutional support on the coalbed methane industry. It further investigates complex grid investment decisions, solar-based irrigation adoption in water-scarce regions, and risk management in power supply projects. Additionally, the Research Topic delves into financial aspects, exploring the pricing of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project Asset-backed Securities (ABS) products, the impact of managerial competence on corporate carbon performance, and equity-based predictions for the energy industry. The influence of innovation on fossil fuel abandonment in low and middle-income countries and the significance of climate risk for green innovation in heavy-polluting industries are also examined. A regional perspective is provided on the technological convergence of hydrogen energy, and the interplay between renewable energy, Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and CO2 emissions in highly-globalized countries is scrutinized. Lastly, the effects of green credit policy on the risk of stocks prices crash are investigated. Together, these contributions offer a holistic understanding of the challenges and opportunities in enabling technologies and business models for energy communities, contributing valuable insights for researchers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders striving for a sustainable energy future.

Progressing from Science Communication to Engagement: Community Voices on Water Quality and Access in Makhanda

The EU’s Responsible Research and Innovation framework advocates for engagement between communities and scientists, creating opportunities for scientific research and processes to be informed and shaped by community voices. To date, few examples in the literature explore this in practice. Hence, key questions remain as to the role that communities play in this framework and the nature of and extent to which community voices and localised perspectives inform research and innovation. This paper explores how a collaborative community engagement process, facilitated at the outset, could meaningfully inform the establishment of a water quality testing facility. In Makhanda, a water-scarce region of South Africa, focus group discussions as well as site visits/observations integrated community and researcher knowledges to shape the community-engaged water testing facility. This study details how the daily assessment of water by the community provided valuable insights to the researchers on the nature and extent of factors affecting water quality and informed the sites and timing of water testing in subsequent scientific measurements of the same. Furthermore, it opened pathways to sustained, longer-term engagement between scientists and communities around water quality, highlighting the need for a multi-stakeholder focus to support community agency around access to safe water.

Assessment of Heavy Metal Concentrations in Condensate from Selected Air Conditioners at Ofrima, Senate Building and Library, University of Port Harcourt

The heavy metal content of condensate from air conditioners in Ofrima, the Senate Building, and the University of Port Harcourt Library was evaluated. The primary objective was to determine the concentrations of Lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn) in condensate samples and compare these with WHO permissible limits. AC water samples were collected using amber bottles to prevent contamination and analyzed with a flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer (Model: S4=71096) following a wet digestion method using sulfuric acid, nitric acid, and perchloric acid. Results indicated that the levels of Lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), and iron (Fe) in all samples exceeded the guidelines established by the World Health Organization (WHO): Pb ranged from 0.016 mg/L to 0.085 mg/L, Cd from 0.002 mg/L to 0.357 mg/L, Cr from 1.345 mg/L to 4.677 mg/L, and Fe from 2.310 mg/L to 4.677 mg/L. Zn concentrations were below permissible limits except in the Ofrima sample, which was 3.142 mg/L. These heavy metals, particularly Pb and Cr, indicate that the condensate water is unsuitable for drinking. However, it may be used for non-potable purposes such as cleaning laboratory glassware, cleaning laboratories, and watering plants, especially during peak dry seasons with water shortages. The study concludes that while AC condensate water poses health risks if consumed, it has potential uses in specific non-drinking applications, particularly in water-scarce regions. Further research is recommended to assess the microbial content and variability across air conditioning units.

Optimal operation of a combined cooling system

The effectiveness of Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plants is significantly influenced by the temperatures at which steam condensation occurs. The existing cooling systems, whether wet (water-cooled) or dry (air-cooled), involve trade-offs. Wet cooling enhances performance but raises concerns due to substantial water usage, particularly in water-scarce regions where CSP plants are often located. On the other hand, dry cooling conserves water but at the cost of reduced efficiency, especially during high ambient temperatures that coincide with peak electricity demand. A possible compromise solution involves a combined cooling system that integrates both wet and dry methods, providing flexibility for overall reduced water consumption and enhanced efficiency.The incorporation of such systems into CSP plants is thus of great interest, owed to the potential adaptability of its operation to changing conditions. In order to make this optimally and feasible, a suitable control system needs to be developed. In this work we present the first implementation, in a real pilot plant, of a two-layer hierarchical control strategy, where the upper layer solves a multi-objective optimization problem for conflicting water and electricity consumptions, and a regulatory PID-based control layer adapts the system operation to the generated optimal references.

Ecotechnologies for Aquaculture Wastewater Treatment in a Water-Scarce Region

Ecotechnologies for Aquaculture Wastewater Treatment in a Water-Scarce Region

Morphological and physiological adaptation of a desert shrub, Encelia farinosa, under drought stress

Water scarcity in arid and semi-arid regions affects ecosystem development. Therefore, elucidation of the mechanisms by which plant species in a given region respond to drought conditions may allow us to improve global vegetation. Encelia species are drought-tolerant and an important component of shrub communities in the arid and semi-arid regions of southern California, U.S.A.; these species are widely used for vegetation restoration in the region. This study aimed to investigate the morphological, and physiological responses in E. farinosa in relation to changes in soil properties under drought conditions. Plants were subjected to two levels of soil water regimes, drought and well-watered conditions (5% and 12% of gravimetric water content, respectively). After 3 months, above-ground biomass, basal diameter, leaf area, leaf and root relative water content, and root length were measured. The shoot:root ratio in dry mass and specific leaf area (SLA) were calculated. We also analyzed leaf and soil nutrients, including total C, N, and available P. In the drought treatment, E. farinosa showed significantly lower above-ground biomass, stem diameter, and shoot and root relative water content. Also, the drought treatment resulted in significantly lower leaf areas, while the SLA and root length were significantly higher. Leaf total C and N were higher in the drought treatment while leaf P was not affected by soil water content. The reduction in plant leaf area, root elongation and the increase in SLA under drought are known as drought avoidance strategies of plants, suggesting that E. farinosa hampers water loss by morphological regulations. Additionally, higher leaf content of C and N seems to be important for metabolic drought adaptation. Further research on osmotic adjustment and antioxidant defense systems will clarify the detailed drought tolerance mechanisms of E. farinosa in relation to C and N accumulation under drought conditions.

Addressing water scarcity challenges through rainwater harvesting: A comprehensive analysis of potential zones and model performance in arid and semi-arid regions–A case study on Purulia, India

Water scarcity in arid and semi-arid regions is a critical global concern, necessitating innovative solutions to address increasing water demands in these vulnerable areas. This study focuses on tackling this challenge by identifying and classifying rainwater harvesting zones based on their potentiality and comparing the performance of two machine learning models, Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Random Forest (RF), for optimizing rainwater harvesting strategies. The study area is Purulia, a district in India. Extensive literature review was conducted to identify key factors influencing rainwater harvesting. Open-source remotely sensed data were employed to pinpoint rainwater harvesting potential zones. A multi-criteria decision-making technique was applied to assess the importance of various factors. Results indicated that rainfall, slope, runoff potential, soil, land cover, and drainage density are the six crucial factors for selecting suitable rainwater harvesting locations. Approximately 2% of the area is unsuitable, 8% is poorly suitable, 33% is moderately suitable, 45% is highly suitable, and the remaining 12% is extremely suitable in Purulia. Two predictive models were developed, with the RF algorithm demonstrating nearly 99% accuracy. Finally, remedial techniques for mitigating water scarcity through rainwater harvesting are discussed separately for urban and rural areas. This research article embraces a comprehensive approach to address water-related concerns, offering a replicable framework applicable globally, with a specific focus on arid and semi-arid regions.

Desalination performance evaluation of a solar still enhanced by thermoelectric modules

Water scarcity is a pressing global issue, as a significant portion of the world's water resources remain salty and unsuitable for human consumption. Solar desalination has emerged as a sustainable solution to address this challenge, utilizing solar energy for water decontamination and purification. This study explores the enhancement of solar stills through the integration of thermoelectric (TE) modules, focusing on their impact on desalination performance. The optimal saltwater levels, TE module performance, and the efficiency of the system are identified in this investigation. The results of this study reveal that the integration of TE unit into solar still systems leads to a substantial increase in water production, achieving an impressive 35% improvement in productivity compared to conventional solar stills. The TE modules act as efficient cooling agents, accelerating the condensation process within the system. This improvement has substantial implications for addressing water scarcity in arid regions and providing an eco-friendly solution for freshwater production. By harnessing solar energy and advanced TE technology, the findings of this study underscore the potential of TE-enhanced solar desalination systems in providing sustainable and reliable sources of fresh water, even in areas with limited access to traditional water resources. The successful integration of TE modules into solar stills suggests a promising avenue for future research and development. Further exploration of these systems, optimization of TE module parameters, and increased utilization of renewable energy sources are all steps that can be taken to improve water production efficiency and contribute to water resource sustainability.

Activated Carbon Electrodes Obtained from Crude Glycerol for Capacitive Deionization Desalination

The freshwater demand increases over the years to attend agriculture, industry, and human consumption demand. Water desalination by capacitive deionization (CDI) would be an interesting strategy to provide freshwater for populations suffering of water scarcity in arid and semi-arid regions in which brackish groundwater is available. CDI is an electrochemical technique based on the removal of ions using carbon electrodes. Besides low-cost, activated carbons (AC) produced from renewable sources are also desired due to sustainability demands. In parallel, appropriate routes for disposal or reuse of crude glycerol from biodiesel plants are also a major current concern (10 kg of biodiesel generates ~1.0 kg of glycerol). So, considering the water-waste nexus concept, in this work we proposed the use of crude glycerol as precursor to obtain a new sustainable activated carbon (PGAC), which was employed as an electrode for CDI desalination of brackish water. The crude glycerol is firstly converted to polyglycerol, which is carbonized and then chemically activated. The best desalination performance using the PGAC electrodes was achieved using membrane CDI configuration, applying 1.6 V, providing a stable salt adsorption capacity (SAC) of 27.1 mg of NaCl removed per g of PGAC over 50 desalination cycles. At this condition, co-ion repulsion is minimized and the charging efficiency (QE ) remained close to 100%. The high values of SAC and QE , along with the low cost of PGAC electrode, led to a very low specific energy consumption (2.6 J per mg of NaCl removed), compared to other values reported in literature, making it a potential candidate for use in CDI desalination. In order to further improve the desalination performance, a new cell architecture was proposed, named percolation flow cell (PFC). The PFC cell combines the fast mass transfer rates of the flow-through cell (FTC) configuration and longer residence time of flow-by cells (FBC), in which the flow velocity and electric current fields are perpendicular. Taking advantage of the beneficial aspects of the FBC and FTC designs, the desalination carried out using the PFC was enhanced by 170 %, providing a remarkable water desalination rate of 1661 mg g-1 day-1 at 1.0 mA cm-2 and single pass operation (7.0 mL min-1). Despite these advantages, the high pressure drop (0.12 bar cm-1) imposes a challenging issue for the effective application of PFE cells.

Improving the Physical Properties and Water Retention of Sandy Soils by the Synergistic Utilization of Natural Clay Deposits and Wheat Straw

Improving the physical properties and water retention of sandy soils is of critical importance in arid and water-scarce regions such as Saudi Arabia. The impacts of organic amendments of different particle sizes coupled with natural clay deposits on improving the soil physio-chemical characteristics, nutrient availability, and growth of Sudan grass were investigated in this study. A loamy sand soil was amended with natural clay deposits at 2.5%, 5.0%, and 10% (w/w) application rates, and in combination with 1.0% (w/w) wheat straw of different particle sizes. The water infiltration, evaporation, and retention characteristics of the amended soil were studied for 9 weeks, and then Sudan grass was grown for 7 weeks. The impacts of the particle size of wheat straw on soil properties and nutrient availability were significant (p < 0.05) when combined with clay deposits. The highest application rate of clay (10%) demonstrated the highest water content (20.63–21.73%), and increased P and K availability to 35.54 and 6980 mg kg−1, respectively, in soil, which were 33% and 88% higher, respectively, compared to the control. Plant N, P, and K concentrations were increased to 0.95%, 0.26%, and 4.33%, respectively, which were 2–3.5-fold higher than the control. Therefore, the integrated application of natural clay deposits and wheat straw of fine particle size could be an effective strategy in improving plant production in water-scarce regions.

Aquaponics: A Sustainable Path to Food Sovereignty and Enhanced Water Use Efficiency

This comprehensive review explores aquaponics as an environmentally friendly solution aligned with SDGs and food sovereignty, assessing various aspects from system design to automation, and weighing social, economic, and environmental benefits through literature and case studies. However, challenges persist in obtaining organic certification and legislative recognition, hindering its growth. Achieving remarkable water use efficiency, up to 90%, relies on adaptable fish species like Nile tilapia and carp. Nutrient-rich fish feeds notably benefit low-nutrient-demanding greens. Ensuring water quality and efficient nitrification are pivotal, supported by IoT systems. Despite its efficiency, integrating Industry 4.0 involves complexity and cost barriers, necessitating ongoing innovation. Economies of scale and supportive horticultural policies can bolster its viability. Aquaponics, known for its efficiency in enhancing crop yields while minimizing water use and waste, is expanding globally, especially in water-scarce regions. Aquaponics, pioneered by the University of the Virgin Islands, is expanding in Europe, notably in Spain, Denmark, Italy, and Germany. Asia and Africa also recognize its potential for sustainable food production, especially in water-limited areas. While it offers fresh produce and cost savings, challenges arise in scaling up, managing water quality, and meeting energy demands, particularly for indoor systems. Egypt’s interest in desert and coastal regions highlights aquaponics’ eco-friendly food production potential. Despite the associated high costs, there is a quest for practical and affordable designs for everyday integration. Research in arid regions and industry advancements are crucial for aquaponics’ global food production potential. Deeper exploration of intelligent systems and automation, particularly in large-scale setups, is essential, highlighting the industry’s promise. Practical application, driven by ongoing research and local adaptations, is a key to fully harnessing aquaponics for sustainable food production worldwide.

Investigating machine learning and ensemble learning models in groundwater potential mapping in arid region: case study from Tan-Tan water-scarce region, Morocco

Groundwater resource management in arid regions has a critical importance for sustaining human activities and ecological systems. Accurate mapping of groundwater potential plays a vital role in effective water resource planning. This study investigates the effectiveness of machine learning models, including Random Forest (RF), Adaboost, K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), and Gaussian Process in groundwater potential mapping (GWPM) in the Tan-Tan arid region, Morocco. Fourteen groundwater conditional factors were considered following multicollinearity test, including topographical, hydrological, climatic, and geological factors. Additionally, point data with 174 sites indicative of groundwater occurrences were incorporated. The groundwater inventory data underwent random partitioning into training and testing datasets at three different ratios: 55/45%, 65/35%, and 75/25%. Ultimately, a comprehensive ranking of the 13 models, encompassing both individual and ensemble models, was determined using the prioritization rank technique. The results revealed that ensemble learning (EL) models, particularly RF and Adaboost (RF-Adaboost), outperformed individual models in groundwater potential mapping. Based on accuracy assessment using the validation dataset, the RF-Adaboost EL results yielded an Area Under the Receiver Operating characteristic Curve (AUROC) and Overall Accuracy (OA) of 94.02 and 94%, respectively. Ensemble models have been effectively applied to integrate 14 factors, capturing their intricate interrelationships, and thereby enhancing the accuracy and robustness of groundwater prediction in the Tan-Tan water-scarce region. Among the natural factors, the current study identified lithology, structural elements (such as faults and tectonic lineaments), and land use as significant contributors to groundwater potential. However, the critical characteristics of the study area showing a coastal position as well as a low background in groundwater prospectivity (low borehole points) are challenging in GWPM. The findings highlight the importance of the significant factors in assessing and managing groundwater resources in arid regions. Moreover, this study makes a contribution to the management of groundwater resources by demonstrating the effectiveness of ensemble learning algorithms in the groundwater potential mapping (GWPM) in arid regions.

Transition metal sulfide and nickel-iron layered double hydroxide nanohybrids for promising alkaline seawater oxidations

Direct seawater electrolysis is of great significance to produce green hydrogen using sustainable resources which can be applicable for water-scarce regions. Herein, a nanohybrid consisted of transition metal sulfide and layered double hydroxide is designed with aims to modify unfavorable surface electronic state of nickel–iron LDH (NF-LDH) for seawater oxidation. Specifically, Mo-doped NiS2 is deposited onto the self-standing two dimentional NF-LDH nanosheets, (Ni,Mo)S2//NF-LDH 300, using an e-beam evaporator. Physical deposition technique. The designed (Ni, Mo)S2//NF-LDH 300 catalyst proves a superior catalytic activity and stability for seawater oxidation under alkaline electrolyte. The deposited transition sulfide layer induces an improved charge transfer as well as reaction kinetics for the (Ni, Mo)S2//NF-LDH 300. Further, adsorptions of chloride anions at the surface is substantially suppressed due to the deposited transition metal sulfide effectively preventing chloride corrosions. The (Ni, Mo)S2//NF-LDH 300 demonstrates practical level of performance for alkaline seawater oxidation, shedding lights on our catalyst design strategy for direct seawater electrolysis.

Improving Access to Safe Water in Rural Schools of Kenya: Qualitative Multisectoral Insights.

Comprehensive strategies in water, sanitation, and appropriate hygiene behaviors can improve school enrolment and improve gender parity disparities. Lack of safe drinking water negatively impacts the social capital of people, especially school-going children in rural areas. In this study, we systematically evaluated and documented evidence on the barriers and facilitators in the access and adoption of safe water practices in rural schools in Laikipia County, Kenya. An ethnographic formative, collaborative implementation research design was used in an iterative and participatory process to evaluate community, socio-economic, and health system-related factors affecting water, hygiene, and sanitation strategies. Qualitative data was collected using key informant interviews (n=5) and focus groups (n=3) from various multisectoral participants. Directed content analysis was used to develop codes, categories, and themes from textual data. Data was organized according to the Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services framework. The findings were classified and described under three key elements: context, evidence, and facilitation. Contextual elements showed an association of diarrhea outbreaks with unsafe hygiene practices compounded by water scarcity. The evidence elements were indicative of the applicability of water backpacks in strengthening handwashing, storage, and transport of water. Facilitation elements indicated evidence of gaps in synergy between the school health and public health systems, necessitating multisectoral collaboration and social capital capacity building. The national and county governments play an imperative role in ensuring access and continuous supply of safe drinking water in schools. This is fundamental in efforts towards reducing social inequalities of health among school-going children and building their social capital. Participatory, collaborative, multisectoral interventions and decision-making are crucial, leveraging on creating local ownership, in meeting the water consumption needs of children and communities in water-scarce regions.

Desert Water Saving and Transportation for Enhanced Oil Recovery: Bridging the Gap for Sustainable Oil Recovery

With concerns about water scarcity in arid regions, innovative solutions are imperative to meet the increasing water demand for Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) processes. This article presents a study on the preparation of superhydrophobic sand for water-saving and storage, with a focus on potential applications in EOR. The results of the research indicate that the maximum water contact angle after sand hydrophobization was 158°. The water storage capacity of the sand was assessed by growing plants in soil layered with superhydrophobic sand. When superhydrophobic sand was used both above and below the soil, the soil remained moist for more than 10 days. In contrast, without the use of superhydrophobic sand, soil moisture lasted for only 3 days. This research demonstrates the potential of superhydrophobic sand in prolonging soil moisture, making it a valuable asset for water-saving applications in EOR and arid regions.