Water Source Management Research Articles

Longtime behavior of cesium (Cs) in natural spring drinking water

Abstract Large amounts of radioactive cesium (CsA) have been introduced into the underground environments, through a natural process, as a result of nuclear power plant accidents. It is known that the active Cs sorption onto colloidal-size clay minerals in groundwater is observed and the active Cs can be transported with the colloidal fraction of groundwater by water flows. However, the longtime behavior of radioactive Cs, contained in the flowing groundwater in the aquifers of groundwater source areas, is unknown in terms of the natural water cycle. Herein, we investigate the Cs concentration in natural spring drinking water with the residence time in a groundwater source area of a mountainside composed of volcanic rock, compared with those of other trace elements. This investigation demonstrates that the observed Cs concentration in natural spring drinking water exponentially decreases slowly with the groundwater residence time (∼45 yr), while several trace elements, namely, P, V, Ga, and Ge, increase in concentration with the groundwater residence time through chemical weathering. The findings suggest that CsA, contained in flowing groundwater in mountain water source areas, may decrease exponentially at the rate of one-tenth in twenty-two years, by sorption onto the aquifer through rock–water interaction excluding radioactive decay. For the sustainable management of water sources and ecosystems, the long-term (∼50 yr) monitoring of the active Cs in groundwater is needed in mountain water source areas where radioactive cesium has been dispersed at times of nuclear power plant accidents.

Hydro-environmental runoff projection under GCM scenario downscaled by Artificial Neural Network in the Namgang Dam watershed, Korea

Until recently, hydrological impacts and prediction caused by climate change have been popular issues. However, a basin-scale hydro-environmental study has begun to attract attention recently due to the difficulties in watershed model calibration and uncertainty propagation in the data relaying procedure from the GCM (General Circulation Model) process to watershed modeling process, which leads to unrealistic projections. In addition, reliable downscaling scheme is essential in utilizing the GCM model output for hydrological applications. The main objective of this study is to suggest a reliable ANN (Artificial Neural Network)-based GCM scenario and its application for hydro-environmental projection using a watershed model. In this report, the Namgang Dam watershed in the Nakdong river basin was selected as the case study. To examine the vulnerability of the Namgang dam watershed caused by climate change, the change in streamflow and pollutant material runoff due to climate change were predicted using the watershed model, SWAT (Soil Water Assessment Tool), based on the IPCC’s A1B GCM scenario, which is downscaled using the ANN and Nonstationary Quantile Mapping. The results of this study will be used for suggesting an effective counterplan from an engineering point of view, and developing an integrated water sources management system.

Mathematical model as a standard procedure to analyze small and large water distribution networks

Currently, more research to implement and monitor cleaner production practices for distribution and sustainable management of natural and alternative water sources to comply with the demands of the different users while preserving water levels are needed. In this paper, a periodic hourly-based model with meaningful parameters has been developed to analyze and forecast water demand as a function of time, thus enabling a better understanding of the consumption pattern and the condition of the pipe network. The model was tested by investigating the daily water consumption from selected categories of users which were isolated from different distribution networks in Sligo, Ireland. The flow data used was obtained in 15-min intervals and averaged in different time periods for analysis. In all cases, the model fittings obtained were highly consistent and all the parameters showed satisfactory confidence intervals (α = 0.05), thus demonstrating the reliability of this approach. The model provides a quick analysis revealing the regularities of water demand that could benefit water utility managers and researchers: to obtain optimal regulation and pumping schemes; for planning and design purposes; to control unexpected scenarios that can take place during the distribution of water; the performance of water distribution systems; and to locate possible network failures. In addition, the model parameters can be used as standard criteria for water utilities to compare precisely the water demand between different areas, identify complex trends and analyze the pipe network for managing, auditing and monitoring purposes.

Spatio-temporal variability of surface water quality of fresh water resources in Ranchi Urban Agglomeration, India using geospatial techniques

Study was conducted in Ranchi Urban Agglomeration (RUA) to assess the surface water quality of major rivers and reservoirs during pre- and post-monsoon periods. Study indicated increase in chemical contaminants and decrease in biological contaminants during monsoon periods and a positive correlation with built-up land within the catchment of surface water sources. The remote sensing-based approach indicated Swarnrekha river and tributaries as more encroached by built-up land (0.73 km2 within 50 m buffer) than Jumar river and its tributaries (0.21 km2). For the proper management of the surface water sources in RUA, government attention and interventions are required to minimize the contamination and safeguard the health of local residents.

Research and Development of Water Resources Management System Based on GIS

Water is the basic material for human to survive. How to allocate the limited water sources is a big problem. This study designed a set of water source management system by using Geographic Information System (GIS). Experiments results showed that this system could provide functions for the users, such as local water sources prediction analysis, water sources dispatch analysis, information index and search, simulation and decision, etc. The development of this system will provide a new way in water sources management.

Participatory water sources management model for schools: Case of Buhera district, Zimbabwe.

The purpose of this study was to find ways of sustaining water points in Buhera district schools. It was motivated by the observation that (40%) of boreholes in the district broke down in 2010 and were not repaired. The situation forced school children to resort to unprotected water sources exposing themselves to water bone diseases. The study contributes to millennium development goal 2, (achieve universal primary education) and goal 7, (ensure environmental sustainability). The study was guided by a descriptive survey. Data was collected from a purposive sample of 198 (teachers, pupils, DDF and NGO officials in Buhera district) who .responded to a self reporting questionnaire. Observations of school children at water points, focus group discussions and analysis of DDF reports complemented the findings. The study revealed that, the main water source for schools and the community is the borehole. These are maintained by DDF. Water users role is confined to reporting borehole breakdown. They do not own the water sources that they use. The water points are overused promoting their rate of breakdown. There is no supervision of school children at water points contrary to literature recommendations. Use of plastic spare parts for metal casings contribute to borehole breakdown. The study recommends supervision and education of school children on the proper use of boreholes. The community and schools are encouraged to implement the suggested, “Participatory water sources management model” It promotes community ownership of the water point, its maintenance and sustainability. Skills transfer from experts to the locals is promoted in the process, there by developing the local skills base for water sources repair. Studies on the effectiveness of the model are encouraged.

Participatory water sources management model for schools: Case of Buhera district, Zimbabwe.

Participatory water sources management model for schools: Case of Buhera district, Zimbabwe.

Utility Optimizes Treatment, Controls THM Formation with Online Analyzer

Local source water management and monitoring, plus optimizing coagulation, allow a Southern California utility to optimize operations and minimize imported water use.

Use of coliphages to evaluate water treatment processes and determine faecal contamination origin of source waters

Viral indicators were used to evaluate the effectiveness of water treatment processes and to determine the source of faecal pollution with a view to promote water source management. Water samples were collected from three critical points of the Temba, Klipdrift and Wallmansthal water treatment plants (raw water, settled water and filtered water). The viral indicator concentrations and selected physicochemical parameters were measured using standard methods. Random water samples were subjected to real-time polymerase chain reaction analyses. Subsequent to filtration, the removal efficiency of the three Waterworks was recorded as follows: 93.2, 96.1 and 95.7 % for somatic coliphages, respectively; and 69.4 and 68.4 % FRNA coliphages for Temba and Klipdrift. There was a notable 50 % reappearance of FRNA coliphages in filtered water samples from Wallmansthal. Positive correlations were observed between the physicochemical parameters and somatic coliphages, with the exception of the pH and the temperature in Wallmansthal. Both turbidity and temperature indicated positive correlations with FRNA counts from Temba and Klipdrift. Negative correlations were observed between all the physicochemical parameters and FRNA counts from Wallmansthal. The real-time polymerase chain reaction analyses revealed the persistence of GA genotype FRNA (Group II, which is of human faecal origin) in all the water samples. The MS2 genotype (Group I) and Qβ genotype (Group III) FRNA, which are of animal origin, were detected only in the raw water from Temba. Efforts should be focused on the protection of water sources and the optimisation of treatment processes in order to prevent viral persistence during water treatment.

Overview on Management Patterns in Community, Private and Hybrid Management in Rural Water Supply

Rural water supply sector is urging for sustainability for long time. Till now sustainability is a dream. Enormous efforts for obtaining sustainability become fading due to improper selection of management model for delivery of water in rural areas. Demand driven approach, community participation, community management of services are well known and widely applied in the sector. Community management has proved itself as a good tool for short term and simple point water source management in rural areas. With the advent of technology and due to desire of rural community for more improved services, water supply sector seeks for new models like private or other form of hybrid management. This article attempts to review the merits and demerits of both community management models and private management models in line with sustainability concept. This paper further conceptually provides ground of selection of appropriate management model for sustainability based on the reviewed literatures.

Community-based quality management of non-piped drinking water sources in Koboko and Yumbe

Rapid population growth and negative impacts of human activities result in heightened risks to the safety of urban water supplies. The local councils of Koboko and Yumbe, in cooperation with the Reform of the Urban Water and Sanitation Sector Programme, recognised this risk and decided to establish a quality management system for non-piped drinking water sources. This approach is based on community participation, cost-efficient and reliable monitoring measures as well as on joint capacity development. In this paper, the functioning of the system will be presented in detail and experiences gained thus far will be illustrated.

台湾地区智能型水资源综合经营管理

人工智能俨然为现今热门科技研究项目及发展迅速的应用技术，能处理大量的水文信息，具有从输入的环境讯息中获取并累积经验、储存知识，进而能像人具有智慧的作出判断及推论的智能型演算程序。将人工智能应用于水资源经营管理，在台湾地区有许多成功的案例，本文旨在介绍吾等以人工智能相关理论于解决台湾地区各式水资源经营管理议题及开发水文信息系统的案例与经验。期望未来能有更多的同好参与持续整合水文水资源、生态环境及资讯工程等领域之科技，并开发更先进好用的人工智能相关理论技术于水文水资源系统，维护永续发展之生态环境，创造人工智能用于水资源经营管理的新世纪。 Artificial intelligence (AI) is a state-of-the-art technology and has nowadays become highly popular in scientific and technological fields. AI possesses great capability in handling mass information and formulating intelligent algorithms with human-like logical inference through learning messages and storing knowledge from input information. AI has been applied with great success to water resources management in Taiwan. This study aims to systematically present the development and achievements of AI techniques on integrated water sources management and hydro-informatics with respect to diversified domains including hydrology, engineering, environment, eco-hydrology and hydro-meteorology in Taiwan. The continual integration of AI techniques (neural networks, fuzzy inference, genetic algorithms) with domain-driven technologies from hydrological, water resources, eco-environmental and informatics engineering fields will be our future mission, which is dedicated to the development of advanced intelligent techniques on hydro-related systems/ platforms. The creation of a new era on water resources management and sustainable eco-environment with AI is an everlasting goal for us all to pursue.

Occurrence of selected aliphatic amines in source water of major cities in China

The formation of toxic nitrogenous disinfection byproducts (N-DBPs), such as nitrosamines, halonitromethanes and haloacetonitriles, from reactions between chlorine/chloramine and dissolved organic nitrogen in drinking water has caused great concern with regarding public health. This study revealed the occurrence of 17 aliphatic amines, some of which have been confirmed to be the precursors of N-DBPs, in source water across China. A sensitive method based on benzenesulfonyl chloride derivatization and liquid-liquid extraction followed by GC-MS analysis was established for the simultaneous analysis of the selected amines in aqueous samples. In total, 37 source water samples from the capital cities of 20 provinces were collected for the survey. Among the 17 amines, 14 were detected with an average frequency of detection of 36%. The most relevant amines in terms of frequency and maximum concentrations detected were dimethylamine (100%, 24.82 μg/L), methylamine (78%, 0.92 μg/L), N-methylethylamine (70%, 8.84 μg/L), propylamine (59%, 10.69 μg/L), diethylamine (54%, 3.76 μg/L), N-methylbutylamine (35%, 3.07 μg/L), N-ethylpropylamine (35%, 0.52 μg/L), and piperidine (32%, 2.35 μg/L). This is the first large scale survey of the aliphatic amines occurrence in source water in the world. The wide presence of nitrosamine precursors like dimethylamine, N-methylethylamine and diethylamine, and the precursors of haloacetonitriles and halonitromethanes like methylamine and propylamine suggests that better source water management is required to ensure the safety of drinking water.

Persistence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Major Leafy Green Producing Soils

Persistence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in 32 (16 organically managed and 16 conventionally managed) soils from California (CA) and Arizona (AZ) was investigated. Results showed that the longest survival (ttd, time needed to reach detection limit, 100 CFU g(-1) dry soil) of E. coli O157:H7 was observed in the soils from Salinas Valley, CA and in organically managed soils from AZ. Detrended correspondence analysis revealed that the survival profiles in organically managed soils in Yuma, AZ were different from the ones in conventionally managed soils from the same site. Principal component analysis and stepwise regression analysis showed that E. coli O157:H7 survival in soils was negatively correlated with salinity (EC) (P < 0.001), while positively correlated with assimilable organic carbon (AOC) and total nitrogen (TN) (P < 0.01). Pearson correlation analysis revealed that a greater ttd was associated with a larger δ (time needed for first decimal reduction in E. coli population). EC was negatively correlated and TN was positively correlated (P < 0.05) with δ, suggesting that EC and TN likely have a direct impact on ttd. On the other hand, AOC showed a close correlation with p (the shape parameter) that was not directly related to ttd, indicating that AOC might have an indirect effect in the overall survival of E. coli O157:H7 in soils. Our data showed that AOC and EC significantly affected the survival of E. coli O157:H7 in leafy green producing soils and the development of good agricultural practices (manure/composting/irrigation water source management) in the preharvest environment must be followed to minimize foodborne bacterial contamination on fresh produce.

International Guidance Manual for the Management of Toxic Cyanobacteria

Cyanobacteria are a concern for water authorities worldwide as their persistence in water supplies causes numerous problems for water treatment plants. However, the major concern associated with the presence of cyanobacteria is the metabolites they produce, taste and odour compounds, particularly 2-methyl isoborneol and geosmin, and a range of toxic compounds known collectively as algal toxins, or cyanotoxins. The management of cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins is one of the priority issues and this international guidance manual aims to consolidate the available knowledge and information: This manual is a user-friendly document that can be accessed on several levels, from basic information for the water quality manager who knows very little about cyanobacteria, to those requiring more detailed guidance on, for example, source water management methods, or doses of activated carbon required to reduce toxin concentration to below the WHO guideline. It is hoped this manual is accessed by water utilities world-wide, and feedback on its application will be used to update and implement revisions to maintain and enhance its usefulness to the international water industry. This title belongs to GWRC Report Series . ISBN: 9781780401355 (eBook)

Environmental and economic costs and benefits from sustainable certification of coffee in Nicaragua

Sustainable certifications have been promoted as a means of recognizing environmental benefits and generating economic benefits from sustainable coffee production. A case study is presented from one region of Nicaragua where these benefits were evaluated and two producer organizations were supported to improve their access to sustainable certification. Biodiversity and carbon stocks were found to be more associated with smallholder vs. large-scale farms than with certification per se, but reduced use of agrochemicals and good management of water sources was strongly associated with certification. Economic performance of farmers with different certifications varied, C.A.F.E. Practice and Rainforest Alliance certified farmers had higher incomes but also higher levels of investment than conventional farmers, while organic farmers had a similar level of income to conventional producers but achieved this with a lower level of investment. Producer organizations require substantial external financial and technical support to access these certifications, which may place limitations on the spread of the benefits from sustainable certification to a majority of producers.

Analysis of agricultural pollution by flood flow impact on water quality in a reservoir using a three-dimensional water quality model

This study presents the Yuqiao Reservoir Water Quality Model (YRWQM), a three-dimensional hydrodynamic and water quality model of the Yuqiao reservoir, China. The YRWQM was developed under the environmental fluid dynamics code (EFDC) model and was calibrated and verified to hydrodynamic and water quality data, using two sets of observed data from January 1 to December 31, 2006 and from May 1 to October 31, 2007, respectively. The primary hydrodynamic and transport driving forces are inflows/outflows and surface wind stresses. Considering effects of water transfer and wind on the advection-dispersion processes, the model results showed better agreements with observed data in the reservoir. The YRWQM predicted the variations of water quality resulting from agricultural pollution which flowed into the reservoir with floods lasting for 12 days in 2009. The results indicated that the concentrations of chemical oxygen demand and total nitrogen were increased 225 and 314%, respectively. Considering the interactions between chlorophyll-a and nitrogen in the model, the results indicated the reservoir was not a nitrogen-limited environment. We suggest the management should focus on agricultural pollution strategies for the reservoir during the flood period. The YRWQM could be a useful tool for water sources management in the reservoir.

Impact of water source management practices in residential areas on sewer networks – a review

Prolonged drought which has occurred everywhere around the world has caused water shortages, leading many countries to consider more sustainable practices, which are called source management practices (SMPs) to ensure water availability for the future. SMPs include the practices of water use reduction, potable water substitution and wastewater volume reduction such as water demand management, rainwater harvesting, greywater recycling and sewer mining. Besides the well known advantages from SMPs, they also contribute to the alteration of wastewater characteristics which finally affect the process in downstream infrastructure such as sewerage networks. Several studies have shown that the implementation of SMPs decreases the wastewater flow, whilst increasing its strength. High-strength wastewater can cause sewer problems such as sewer blockage, odour and corrosion. Yet, not all SMPs and their impact on existing sewer networks have been investigated. Therefore, this study reviews some examples of four common SMPs, the wastewater characteristics and the physical and biochemical transformation processes in sewers and the problems that might caused by them, and finally the potential impacts of those SMPs on wastewater characteristics and sewer networks are discussed. This paper provides sewer system managers with an overview of potential impacts on the sewer network due to the implementation of some SMPs. Potential research opportunities for the impact of SMPs on existing sewers are also identified.

EDUCACIÓN AMBIENTAL: ESTRATEGIA EN LA ENSEÑANZA DE CONTAMINACIÓN EN FUENTES HÍDRICAS

The participation of teachers and students in relation to the problem of water sources contamination near their school could be established in this work. . The research was carried out with 10 and 11 grade students in the specialty of water source management at the technical education high school level in the Educational Institution (EI) Valle de Tenza Technical in the Guateque Municipality, from 2007 to 2010. Action Research (AR) was the strategy taken into consideration as the pedagogical strategy. To apply it , some didactic activities in the Ecology and Hidrology subjects included in the yearly plan for technical high school education. Each of the participant academic generations, provided conceptual and methodological advance contributions to those continuing the project. Reports from the work carried put are currently available which have served another group of students and teachers to continue working on it.

Study on capillary rise from shallow groundwater and critical water table depth of a saline-sodic soil in western Songnen plain of China

The objective of this study was to develop an empirical equation for estimating the capillary rise in the saline-sodic soil area of Songnen Plain in China based on the Averianov formula. The capillary rise was observed under five controlled groundwater levels by lysimeters. Field experiment results indicated that capillary rise had close relationship with the groundwater table depth, soil moisture of 10–40 cm soil layer and leaf area index. These factors have been taken into account to develop the empirical equation for capillary rise simulation. The model parameters for Songnen Plain were derived by Levenberg–Marquardt and global optimization calculating method. The modeled capillary rise has a good agreement with the observed data (r 2 = 0.875). With the simulation model, the critical water table depth was identified as 2.5 m, indicating that soil secondary salinization will not occur when the water table depth is deeper than 2.5 m. Therefore, in the irrigation areas, groundwater table depth should be controlled to be higher than 2.5 m to prevent the occurrence of soil secondary salinization. The results from this research will provide useful information for the water sources management and soil secondary salinization control in Songnen Plain of China, one of the most serious saline-affected areas in the world.