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Freshwater systems are adversely affected disproportionately by the ongoing, global environmental crisis. The effective and efficient water resource conservation and management necessary to mitigate the crisis requires monitoring data especially on water quality. This is recognized by Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6, particularly indicator 6.3.2., which requires all United Nations (UN) member states to measure and report the 'proportion of water bodies with good ambient water quality'. However, gathering sufficient data on water quality is reliant on data collection at spatial and temporal scales that are generally outside the capacity of institutions using conventional methods. Digital technologies, such as wireless sensor networks and remote sensing, have come to the fore as promising avenues to increase the scope of data collection and reporting. Citizen science (which goes by many names, e.g., participatory science or community-based monitoring) has also been earmarked as a powerful mechanism to improve monitoring. However, both modern digital technologies and citizen science approaches have drawbacks and limitations. The synergy between the power of automated, verifiable data collection using modern technologies, and the power of citizen science to improve the spatial and temporal resolution of data collection while engaging and empowering communities, presents an opportunity to use the best features of each mechanism to mitigate the shortcomings of the other. Smartphones, sometimes in conjunction with other sensors, present such a nexus point, providing a method for citizen scientists to engage with and use sophisticated modern technology for water quality monitoring. Smartphones are widely accessible and equipped for objective, comprehensive and accurate data collection. The data can also be uploaded (via internet connections) to large cloud-based databases with cloud-based computing for data management and reporting. This paper presents a research synthesis of technological upgrades or innovations in citizen science water quality monitoring in developing countries, with a particular focus on exploring the current status of modern, smartphone-based, or smartphone-assisted citizen science tools, and how those tools can be validated or expanded for SDG reporting in developing countries. Essentially, the paper aims to briefly summarize the current standing, reiterate the urgent need for research and action in water resource monitoring and management, and urge further engagement with citizen science water quality monitoring using digital innovations; digital innovations for smartphones are being rapidly developed, but the scientific validation for their use in specific circumstances or regions, as well as their uptake and upscaling, are still widely lacking. Globally, there are many options and developments relevant to citizen science smartphone-based or smartphone-assisted water quality monitoring. However, not all modern developments are suitable for deployment or testing across all socio-ecological environments. Innovations in smartphone water quality monitoring in low and middle-income country contexts need to be low-cost (requiring minimal input costs beyond having a smartphone), easy-to-use, easily scalable, commercially available, suited to use by minimally skilled people in rural and developing areas. Moreover, monitoring all the parameters (physical, chemical and biological) that contribute to water quality is highly complex and outside the scope of what is achievable by most people, organizations, or even governments. As a result, it is sensible that water resource monitoring and management efforts are primarily directed toward addressing the SDG indicators to align with global goals. The SDG water quality indicators were chosen as a result of extensive consultation and research. They are designed to provide a snapshot of water quality suitable for most regions and socioeconomic situations worldwide. The SDG 6.3.2. indicator method employs a water quality index that integrates basic core water quality parameters; oxygen, salinity, nitrogen, phosphorus and acidification. Monitoring algae, temperature and clarity also presents useful options since they are highly relevant to ambient water quality and can be monitored cheaply and easily by citizen scientists. This paper summarizes a non-exhaustive list of examples of smartphone-based or smartphone-assisted applications (mobile apps) that are suggested or recommended for research and implementation in developing countries. Research and development regarding these options should aim to validate the accuracy of data collection, accessibility, ease of use, cost, and the feasibility of contributing to pathways from data collection to citizen mobilization and decision-making. Ultimately, once these options are validated, they can be used to design and implement monitoring networks around the globe. Welldesigned citizen science water quality monitoring apps on smartphones can increase community engagement regarding environmental issues and policy, build awareness and scientific literacy, and generate large amounts of data, all at a greatly reduced cost compared to conventional and modern technological methods. It is suggested that smartphone-based or smartphoneassisted citizen science water quality monitoring has the potential to address critical data and knowledge gaps that contribute towards reporting on at least SDG 6.3.2 while fulfilling SDG 6b 'procedures for participation of local communities in water and sanitation management' - a potential which is still often not realized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the U.S. Congressional Research Service's reports on the management of the Colorado River, focusing on water allocations, drought management, and the federal government's role. It mentions that the Bureau of Reclamation manages the basin's water supplies, with Congress playing a key role in funding and overseeing management through legislative acts like the Inflation Reduction Act. It highlights that future considerations may include amendments or funding.

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The article presents an overview of the Water and Wastewater Management in India in 2023. Topics discussed include challenges such as high cost of wastewater treatment and supply chain disruptions; and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) directed sewage water treatment plants to ensure that all covid-19 precautions are taken for their employees and competition within the companies of the industry such as Siemens Ltd., Voltas Ltd. and Thermax Ltd.

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture's Irrigation Yield Contest was conducted between 2018 and 2022. The contest was designed to promote better use of irrigation water and to record data on water use and water use efficiency. Unlike yield contests, where winners are decided by yield alone, the irrigation contest results are decided by the highest total Water Use Efficiency (WUE) achieved. Irrigation water was recorded by using 6-, 8-, 10-, and 12-in. portable mechanical flow meters. Rainfall totals were calculated using FarmlogsTM. The average WUE measured in the contest between 2018-2022 for rice was 4.99 bu./in. The winning WUE was 7.84 bu./in. for 2022, 9.77 bu./in. for 2021, 8.72 bu./in. for 2020, 7.24 bu./in. for 2019, and 7.8 bu./in. for 2018. Adoption of irrigation water management (IWM) practices such as computerized hole selection (CHS), surge irrigation, and soil moisture sensors, have increased since the first year of the contest. Fifty-six percent of entries have used the furrow irrigation production system in 2020, 2021, and 2022. On average, rice growers in the contest across the 5 years averaged 197 bu./ac, 28.8 ac-in./ac of irrigation, and a total water use of 43.5 in. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was conducted to evaluate the potential of applying 32% Urea Ammonium nitrate (UAN) through fertigation on a furrow-irrigated rice field at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture's Rice Research and Extension Center, near Stuttgart, Ark. The 40-acre field has been no-till since 2018 and utilizes 30-in. raised beds. The UAN was applied 12 times between green ring and boot through the tailwater return from a novel patented pitless pump system. Nitrogen (N) was applied in water through a chemigation valve installed at the pitless pump. Replicated continuously fertigation yields were 181 bu./ac using 124 lb N/ac compared to 169 bu./ac fertilized pre-irrigation with 175 lb N/ac irrigated every 3 days. Tissue N and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) were used to track adequate N in the fertigated treatment and the study demonstrates that fertigation can be used successfully in a pitless tailwater return system and has potential to optimize in-season N with weekly NDVI measurement. Such an approach is useful as the continuous irrigation system is believed to achieve higher yields, while the continuous irrigation system and fertigation approach may provide for both maximum yield potential from water management, while reducing N fertilizer costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Irrigation Yield Contest was conducted between 2018 and 2022. The contest was designed to promote better use of irrigation water as well as to record data on water use and water use efficiency for various crops. Unlike yield contests where winners are decided by yield alone, the irrigation contest results are decided by the highest calculated total water use efficiency (WUE) achieved by a producer. The contest consists of three categories: corn, rice, and soybeans. All fields entered were required to show a history of irrigation and production on the field. Irrigation water usage was recorded by using 6-, 8-, 10, and 12-in. portable mechanical flow meters. Rainfall totals were calculated using FarmlogsTM. The contest average water use efficiency of 2018-2022 for corn was 8.57 bu./in. The winning WUE was 7.47 bu./in. for 2022, 12.53 bu./in. for 2021, 11.59 bu./in. for 2020, 11.36 bu./in. for 2019, and 10.55 bu./in. for 2018. Adoption of irrigation water management practices such as computerized hole selection, surge irrigation, and soil moisture sensors are increasing. Corn contest participants report using on average 9.7 ac-in./ac of irrigation water over the last five years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Freshwater in both natural stores (i.e., glaciers, permafrost, groundwater, lakes, wetlands, and soils) and man-made stores (i.e., small and large reservoirs, and paddy fields) is critical for coping with spatial and temporal variations in water supply and demand. Its importance has grown as human populations have risen and socioeconomic development advanced. As a major component of many national adaptation strategies, the importance of water storage will continue to increase as the impacts of climate change become more pronounced. However, in large part because of the complex distribution over large spatial scales, and difficulties in monitoring, the aggregate volumes of water in terrestrial stores and the rates at which they are changing have, until recently, remained largely unknown. Recent advances in Earth observation and computer modeling enable greater disaggregation and better quantification of different storage elements. Based on literature and extrapolation, this paper provides a summary of estimates of different components and trends in terrestrial water storage. Such estimates are a useful starting point for more strategic thinking about how to manage and protect the Earth's freshwater sources in the future. Results indicate that, at the global level, direct human impacts on water storage remain very small compared to the total volumes stored, but are now approximately the same order of magnitude as climate-induced changes. Cumulative reduction in terrestrial water storage from 1971 to 2020 is estimated to be of the order of 27,079 Bm3 (more than annual total global freshwater use by humans). Excluding ice caps, the greatest depletion is in mountain glaciers (8,666 Bm3), groundwater (7,041 Bm3) and wetlands (3,920 Bm3). Although these changes are insignificant at the global scale, human impacts on 'operational' freshwater storage (i.e., the proportion of water storage that is sustainably utilizable by people) are much more significant. A conservative estimate is that there has been a decrease of more than 3% in operational freshwater storage since 1971. Declining water storage is a major contributor to local/regional water crises that ultimately threaten billions of people and many ecosystems worldwide. In many places, both natural and man-made water storage are declining simultaneously and exacerbating water stress. Decades of degradation of lakes, wetlands and soil, and sedimentation of reservoirs, as well as overabstraction of groundwater complicate future water resources management, reduce adaptive capacity, and undermine the resilience of 'thirsty' societies that are increasingly under threat from the impacts of climate change and increasing variability in freshwater availability. Actions to stop and reverse the loss of water from both natural and man-made water storage would help enhance water security, and buffer the negative impacts of multiple pressures, not only climate change, on ecosystems and society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on management of the Colorado River and water is used primarily for agricultural irrigation and municipal and industrial (M&I) uses. It mentions Colorado River water is widely acknowledged to be in excess of the river's natural flows, and consumptive use of these waters typically exceeds natural flows. It also mentions Reclamation and basin stakeholders closely track the status of two large reservoirs and specific water storage levels.

The article focuses on the Bureau of Reclamation's WaterSMART Program, which combines funding for various water conservation programs into one. It discussed the topics include the WaterSMART Grants, Title XVI Program for water recycling and reuse projects, and the Drought Response Program for assisting water managers during droughts.

This paper assesses how the Huruluwewa tank (HWT) irrigation system in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka adapts to climate variability. Irrigation systems contribute to more than 90% of the staple food production in Sri Lanka. It is a country that bears one of the highest climate risks in the world. Further, in the North Central Province, recurrent droughts are the bane of agriculture. In the HWT, the fifteenth largest canal irrigation system in the country, adaptation to climate variability happens on two fronts: changes made by the irrigation management to the water release regime; and changes in the cropping patterns practiced by farmers in the command area. Such adaptation measures ensure that the available water supply in the reservoir is adequate for 100% cropping intensity in each of the two cropping seasons, which, when combined with diversification of cropping patterns, enhances economic water productivity in terms of value per unit of consumptive water use. Such cropping patterns also increase farmers’ incomes and resilience in low rainfall years. With proper conjunctive water management practices, the available tank storage can lead to high water-use efficiency and provide considerable socioeconomic benefits in the command area. The adaptation patterns implemented in HWT demonstrate how water-scarce irrigation systems in Sri Lanka can achieve higher economic water productivity, i.e., generate ‘more income per drop’. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cross-cluster analysis identifies common and contradictory patterns between different irrigation interventions such as (i) support for farmer-led irrigation, (ii) small-scale irrigation development, and (iii) large-scale irrigation development. The policy cluster analysis looks for: overall objective of the cluster; policy changes; gaps, overlap and conflicts in cluster policy and implementation mechanisms; and relation to irrigation technologies/solutions/scaling. The cross-cluster analysis identifies common and contradictory patterns between different policy documents and policy clusters, namely gaps, complementarities and conflicts between clusters in relation to irrigation technology and scaling approach. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the U.S. Congressional Research Service report which focuses on the management of the Colorado River. It examines water allocations, drought, and the federal role in the management of the Colorado River. It also mentions that the federal government has led multiple efforts attempting to improve the basin's water supply outlook enacting laws such as Colorado River Drought Contingency Plan Authorization Act.

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture's Irrigation Yield Contest was conducted in 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021. The contest was designed to promote better use of irrigation water as well as to record data on water use and water use efficiency (WUE) for various crops. Unlike yield contests where winners are decided by yield alone, the irrigation contest results are decided by the highest calculated total WUE achieved by a producer. The contest consists of three categories: corn, rice, and soybeans. All fields entered were required to show a history of irrigation and production on the field. Irrigation water was recorded by using 8-in., 10-in., and 12-in. portable mechanical flow meters. Rainfall totals were calculated using FarmlogsTM. The average water use efficiency of 2018-2021 for corn was 8.76 bu./in. The winning WUE was 12.53 bu./in. for 2021, 11.59 bu./in. for 2020, 11.36 bu./in. for 2019, and 10.55 bu./in. for 2018. The adoption of irrigation water management practices such as computerized hole selection, surge irrigation, and soil moisture sensors is increasing. Corn contest participants report using on average 8.9 ac-in./ac of irrigation for the four years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Keywords: Environmental Sustainability; Fresh produce; Features EN Environmental Sustainability Fresh produce Features N.PAG N.PAG 1 10/06/23 20231004 NES 231004 A record-breaking drought across the Mediterranean has been adding to Europe's ever-increasing food security woes, as parched Spanish soils inflict knock-on effects across the continent. Earlier this year, COAG, Spain's principal farmers association, warned that recent droughts had already inflicted "irreversible losses" on over 3.5m hectares of rain-fed wheat and barley. Spain's hotter and more arid future Spain's water problem isn't new, nor is it likely to disappear anytime soon: in 2019, the Spanish association La Unión de Uniones de Agricultores y Ganaderos (the Union of Farmers and Ranchers) reported drought-related losses of €1.5bn, while research by TU Graz University of Technology found that the European continent has been suffering froma severe drought since 2018 with chronically low groundwater levels. [Extracted from the article]

The article presents an overview of Streamgaging Network of U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) which record water levels or streamflow for at least a portion of the year. It mentions USGS also deploys temporary rapid deployment gages to measure water levels during storm events, and select streamgages measure water quality. It also mentions streamgages inform real-time decision making and long-term planning on issues such as water management, ecosystem management and flood mapping.

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Irrigation Yield Contest was conducted in 2018, 2019, and 2020. The contest was designed to promote better use of irrigation water as well as to record data on water use and water use efficiency for various crops. Unlike yield contests where winners are decided by yield alone, the irrigation contest results are decided by the highest calculated total water use efficiency (WUE) achieved by a producer. The contest consists of 3 categories: corn, rice, and soybeans. All fields entered were required to show a history of irrigation and production on the field. Irrigation water was recorded by using 8-in. and 10-in. portable mechanical flow meters. Rainfall totals were calculated using Farmlogs™. The contest average water use efficiency of 2018–2020 for soybean was 3.2 bu./in. The winning WUEs were 4.37 bu./in. for 2020, 4.31 bu./in. for 2019, and 3.92 bu./in. for 2018. Adoption of Irrigation Water Management (IWM) practices such as Computerized Hole Selection (CHS), surge irrigation, soil moisture sensors are increasing. Soybean contest participants from 2018–2020 reported using on average 8.9 ac-in./ac of irrigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eastern Arkansas contributes around 98% of Arkansas' rice production. However, increasing production costs, diminishing net returns, and declining groundwater availability induced by large groundwater withdrawals and climatic variation have imposed some threats to the sustainability of rice farming. This study estimates eastern Arkansas rice acreage response with price change, climatic variation, and groundwater status by employing a fixed-effects model of panel data. The estimated results show a significant positive effect of own price (rice price), a negative impact of soybean and corn price, a positive impact of groundwater increase, and a positive effect of drought index to rice acreage allocation. The own price, soybean price, and corn price elasticities of rice acreage are +1.12, -1.02, and -0.31, respectively. With all other things remaining the same, a one-unit increase in drought index and a one-foot increase in groundwater level induce producers to increase rice acreage by 5.3% and 2.6%, respectively. Likewise, precipitation has a significant positive effect on rice acreage, but at a decreasing rate. The findings of this study could be useful in policy formulation concerning sustainable rice farming, water resource management, and climatic risk mitigation. A balanced policy that ensures sustainable profit margins, encourages water conservation, and mitigates climatic risk would be desirable for sustainable rice farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water management regimes influence greenhouse gas emissions in rice (Oryza sativa L.) production. The objective of this study was to quantify methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and carbon dioxide (CO2) under direct-seeded conditions in the greenhouse to evaluate the effects of water regime on fluxes and growing-season-long emissions. Research was conducted during 2019 using a hybrid rice cultivar (RT 7311 CL) grown in a DeWitt silt loam (Albaqualf). Six plastic tubs, filled with soil and manually seeded, were arranged in a completely random design in the greenhouse with two replications of three water regime treatments: i) flooded, ii) saturated, but not flooded, and iii) moist soil (i.e., slightly below saturation). On 13 different dates, gas sampling occurred. Methane, N2O, and CO2 fluxes differed among water regimes over time (P < 0.05). End-of-season aboveground rice dry matter differed among water regimes (P < 0.05). Aboveground dry matter was more than two times greater from the flooded-soil than from the non-flooded treatments. Root dry matter was unaffected by water regime due to large measured variability. Season-long CH4 and CO2 emissions differed among water regimes (P < 0.05) and were larger from the flooded-soil condition than from the moist-soil and nearly saturated conditions, while season-long N2O emissions were unaffected by water regime. Characterizing the effects of soil moisture content could improve the understanding of the dynamics that regulate production of greenhouse gases in rice production systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seven Regional Circulation Models (RCMs), simulating two Representative Concentration Pathways (i.e., RCPs 4.5 and 8.5), were used as input to the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model to determine the possible impacts of climate change on the hydrology of the Tana River Basin in Kenya. Four hydrological characteristics - water yield, groundwater recharge, baseflow and flow regulation - were determined and mapped throughout the basin for three 30-year time periods: 2020-2049, 2040-2069 and 2070-2099. Results show a spatial heterogeneity with clear differences between the upper, middle and lower basins. Simulation of both RCPs indicate an increase in mean annual rainfall for all three time periods, with an earlier onset of rainfall in some model simulations. The majority of models indicate an increase in extreme climate events under both RCPs. The response of the basin to the increase in rainfall is not linear, and the simulated increases in water yield, groundwater recharge and baseflow are much higher (in percentage terms) than the changes in rainfall. The impacts of climate change will be superimposed onto a basin with complex land use, built infrastructure and an intricate sociopolitical history. The results have important implications for the management of both built and natural infrastructure in the basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Irrigation Yield Contest was conducted between 2018 and 2020. The contest was designed to promote better use of irrigation water as well as to record data on water use and water use efficiency for various crops. Unlike yield contests where winners are decided by yield alone, the irrigation contest results are ranked by the highest calculated total water use efficiency (WUE) achieved. The contest consists of three categories: corn, rice, and soybeans. All fields entered were required to show a history of irrigation and production on the field. Irrigation water was recorded by using 8- or 10-in. portable propeller mechanical flow meters. Rainfall totals were calculated using FarmlogsTM. The contest average water use efficiency of 2018-2020 for corn was 8.34 bu./in. The winning WUE was 11.53 bu./in. for 2020, 11.36 bu./in. for 2019, and 10.55 bu./in. for 2018. The adoption of irrigation water management (IWM) practices such as computerized hole selection (CHS), Surge irrigation, and soil moisture sensors is increasing. Corn contest participants report using on average 9.0 ac-in./ac of irrigation per year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of OECD Environment Working Papers is the property of Organisation for Economic Cooperation & Development and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)