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Microcystins are produced by multifaceted organisms called cyanobacteria, which are integral to Africa’s freshwater environments. The excessive proliferation of cyanobacteria caused by rising temperature and eutrophication leads to the production and release of copious amounts of microcystins, requiring critical management and control approaches to prevent the adverse environmental and public health problems associated with these bioactive metabolites. Despite hypotheses reported to explain the phylogeography and mechanisms responsible for cyanobacterial blooms in aquatic water bodies, many aspects are scarcely understood in Africa due to the paucity of investigations and lack of uniformity of experimental methods. Due to a lack of information and large-scale studies, cyanobacteria occurrence and genetic diversity are seldom reported in African aquatic ecosystems. This review covers the diversity and geographical distribution of potential microcystin-producing and non-microcystin-producing cyanobacterial taxa in Africa. Molecular analyses using housekeeping genes (e.g., 16S rRNA, ITS, rpoC1, etc.) revealed significant sequence divergence across several cyanobacterial strains from East, North, West, and South Africa, but the lack of uniformity in molecular markers employed made continent-wise phylogenetic comparisons impossible. Planktothrix agardhii, Microcystis aeruginosa, and Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii (presently known as Raphidiopsis raciborskii) were the most commonly reported genera. Potential microcystin (MCs)-producing cyanobacteria were detected using mcy genes, and several microcystin congeners were recorded. Studying cyanobacteria species from the African continent is urgent to effectively safeguard public and environmental health because more than 80% of the continent has no data on these important microorganisms and their bioactive secondary metabolites.

The article highlights the Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior's (SNEB) position paper on the crucial role of food and nutrition education in disaster recovery and resilience. Topics discussed include the need for safe, culturally appropriate foods during crises, addressing inequities in food access, and advancing research, policy, and education to improve nutrition security before, during, and after disasters.

• A photothermal paper prepared by chemically dyeing filter paper, with an ultralow cost at 0.163 $ m−2. • Photothermal paper exhibits 1.53 kg m−2h−1 of evaporation rate, surpassing the thermodynamic limit of 2D evaporator. • A paper-assembled hopper-type 3D solar evaporator maintains 2.38 kg m−2h−1 in real seawater for 7-day operation. • WHO-compliant drinking water produced from multiple real saline waters. • 2.65 and 7.58 kg m−2 of freshwater collected from outdoor test of seawater in midwinter and late spring, respectively. Interfacial solar evaporation has been regarded as the promising technical option to produce fresh water from seawater and other real brines or contaminated water bodies. However, it still suffers in the high cost, complicated preparation, low-efficiency, and salt accumulation induced poor evaporation stability of solar evaporator. Herein, we propose a simple method to fabricate ultralow cost photothermal paper with high solar evaporation efficacy (1.53 kg m−2h−1 for water) by chemically dyeing a filter paper, which is based on the grafting polymerization of pyrrole-2-aldehyde (P2C) onto the cellulose in paper via hydroxyl-aldehyde acetalization and pyrrole-aldehyde condensation. The manufacturing cost of this photothermal paper was evaluated as low as 0.163 $ m−2. Furtherly, a hopper-type solar evaporator with efficient water supply was assembled by tailoring the above photothermal paper, which maintained evaporation rate at 2.38 kg m−2h−1 without any measurable decay from 7 d seawater evaporation test, reflecting the excellent stability for seawater desalination. It also can produce purified water (>2.10 kg m−2h−1) complying with the sewage discharge standards, even the WHO standard for drinking water from uranium-contaminated nuclear effluent, concentrated seawater of desalination plant, and real dyeing wastewater of textile dyeing plant, maintaining a high evaporation efficacy. Moreover, outdoor experiments in midwinter and late spring yielded a daily freshwater collection at 2.65 kg m−2 and 7.58 kg m−2, respectively, demonstrating its good applicability in all season. This work provides a cost-effective strategy to constructing high-performance solar evaporator for freshwater production from various real waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pulp and paper industry consumes enormous quality of freshwater, leading to wastewater. It must be treated to remove pollutants, particularly residual dyestuffs, before releasing them to water bodies to avoid adverse environmental effects. The traditional wastewater treatment methods used for the pulp and paper industry are less efficient in colour and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal. The current study is aimed at developing a novel catalyst for the catalytic ozonation of pulp and paper wastewater with better colour and COD removal for sustainable resources of clean water. The proposed catalyst is impregnated by iron on natural zeolites. Various parameters such as catalyst dose, pH, ozone dose, initial COD concentration, and reaction time are studied and optimized. The performance was evaluated by comparing the results with the single ozonation process (SOP) and catalytic ozonation process (COP). The highest COD and colour reduction efficiencies have been achieved, i.e., 71%, and 88% at a natural pH of 6.8. The proposed process achieved higher COD and colour efficiencies than the single ozonation process and catalytic ozonation process using raw zeolites. The improvement in efficiencies are 23% and 29% for SOP and 17% and 19% for COP, respectively. Hence, the results proposed the sustainability and applicability of COP to treat paper and pulp sector effluent. [Display omitted] • A novel Fe-zeolite catalyst was developed for catalytic ozonation process. • Performance of single ozonation process and catalytic ozonation process was evaluated. • Under optimized condition the catalyst remains efficient even after 5 cycles. • 71% of COD were eliminated using Fe/NZ as catalyst in catalytic ozonation process. • The optimum ozone dose for COD and color removal was 0.3 mg/ml of wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors of the article "Numerical simulation of a managed aquifer recharge system designed to supply drinking water to the city of Amsterdam, The Netherlands" acknowledge and appreciate a comment that pointed out errors in their calculations of the thermal distribution coefficient and retardation factor. The correction article published by the authors provides the corrected values for these factors, resulting in higher thermal retardation factors and lower groundwater residence times. Despite these corrections, the study's main conclusions regarding groundwater residence times meeting legal environmental impact requirements remain unchanged. The correction article was authored by Pranisha Pokhrel, Yangxiao Zhou, Frank Smits, Pierre Kamps, and Theo Olsthoorn. [Extracted from the article]

Research on the assessment of water resources in agricultural regions is a prominent area of study. These resources are vital for many arid and agricultural areas, including those in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). This paper provides a comprehensive review of research trends, analysing scientific production and published articles on water resources in CIS countries from 2000 to 2023. We collected, reviewed, and analysed 163 publications from the Scopus database meeting our selection criteria. The bibliometric analysis revealed publications in English (149) and Russian (15), annual publication counts, document types, top papers, journals, funding sponsors, subject categories, and affiliations by country and institution. We also examined co-authors and keyword cooccurrence to identify knowledge clusters in the literature. The analysis highlighted the need for international research to enhance scientific exchange on this topic. Long-term, continuous research and sustainable development of water resource concepts are essential for future agricultural, water management integration supplemented with parts of water transport. This study may inspire new trends in agricultural development, focusing on irrigation efficiency, water distribution, and climate change within a sustainable circular economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite regularly being criticized, the Impact Factor (IF) remains a widely used journal analysis metric. In the Water Resources category of the Web of Science, a thorough investigation of the reliability of this metric is lacking. This study analyzed the citation records of the top 10 journals from 2002 through 2021 for the last two decades. Important to note, there are inconsistencies in the Web of Science database. Contradictory to many fields, few papers are uncited. However, the Simpson paradox applies. More specifically, on the one hand, the correlation between citations to papers 7 years post publication and 1 or 2 years post publication (which determine the IF) has increased, which supports this metric. On the other hand, many of the most highly cited papers at the time of the IF calculation are lowly cited 5 years afterward. Additionally, most currently very highly cited papers were relatively uncited when they were used in the IF calculation. This raises doubt about the usefulness of this metric. For a limited number of journals, papers from individual nations strongly influence the IF. Also, for a few journals, the IFs are strongly influenced by review papers, but leaving these out of the IF does change the top 3 and 10 of the rankings. The general conclusion is that IFs do contain some valuable information about the journals' citation impact, but that using them to rank journals is questionable practice. Plain Language Summary: Impact Factors (IFs) continue to be very frequently used to evaluate researchers' publication records. They are calculated in a very simplistic manner, and are essentially an attempt to summarize a very complicated issue (publication quality) into one single metric. This paper shows that care must be taken when applying this practice. Not only does the data set contain errors, there are a number of other reasons why these IFs are not reliable indicators of a journal's quality. Key Points: In many cases the calculation of the Impact Factor (IF) by the Web of Science is contradictory with their own dataAnother number of issues have been identified which raise doubt on the IF as a measure of journal qualityA number of recommendations for a better use of the literature databases have been made [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The document discusses the importance of groundwater in the world's water supply and the challenges in evaluating subsurface water through traditional methods. It highlights the integration of geophysical methods to characterize and monitor hydrogeological parameters in aquifers. The document presents case studies from different countries using various geophysical techniques to improve understanding of hydrogeological processes and manage groundwater resources effectively. The future prospects include further research on geophysical techniques for groundwater studies to enhance modeling, reduce uncertainty, and integrate data with environmental monitoring. [Extracted from the article]

Evaluation of river water quality is one of the most important aspects of water resource assessment. River Umtrew (Digaru), which originated in Meghalaya and runs down to Assam plains before merging with the mighty Brahmaputra, is one of the main drainage systems of this region. Using some physical, chemical and biological indicators of river water, the current study attempted to assesses its environmental integrity. The current study provides a clear image of the health of the river, as well as differences in the river's pollution levels at various locations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microcystins are produced by multifaceted organisms called cyanobacteria, which are integral to Africa's freshwater environments. The excessive proliferation of cyanobacteria caused by rising temperature and eutrophication leads to the production and release of copious amounts of microcystins, requiring critical management and control approaches to prevent the adverse environmental and public health problems associated with these bioactive metabolites. Despite hypotheses reported to explain the phylogeography and mechanisms responsible for cyanobacterial blooms in aquatic water bodies, many aspects are scarcely understood in Africa due to the paucity of investigations and lack of uniformity of experimental methods. Due to a lack of information and large-scale studies, cyanobacteria occurrence and genetic diversity are seldom reported in African aquatic ecosystems. This review covers the diversity and geographical distribution of potential microcystin-producing and non-microcystin-producing cyanobacterial taxa in Africa. Molecular analyses using housekeeping genes (e.g., 16S rRNA, ITS, rpoC1, etc.) revealed significant sequence divergence across several cyanobacterial strains from East, North, West, and South Africa, but the lack of uniformity in molecular markers employed made continent-wise phylogenetic comparisons impossible. Planktothrix agardhii, Microcystis aeruginosa, and Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii (presently known as Raphidiopsis raciborskii) were the most commonly reported genera. Potential microcystin (MCs)-producing cyanobacteria were detected using mcy genes, and several microcystin congeners were recorded. Studying cyanobacteria species from the African continent is urgent to effectively safeguard public and environmental health because more than 80% of the continent has no data on these important microorganisms and their bioactive secondary metabolites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Translational research (TR) represents a promising systematic process for going from scientific discoveries to practical applications. Through conversations with academics, practitioners, decision‐makers and users, there has emerged a broad level of water science community support for including TR in Water Resources Research (WRR) publications. Based on this, we now open a continuing special collection of TR papers in WRR. The aim is to facilitate a community within hydrology and water science that seeks to provide actionable knowledge for societal benefit across disciplines, scales and contexts, with a focus on water as a key societal resource or a risk (e.g., of floods, droughts, or as pollutant carrier). This Editorial discusses what the multi‐faceted nature of TR may include in the context of WRR, why it is important to encourage TR papers in WRR, and how the opening of a continuing special collection of translational water research papers initiates a process to include such articles in the journal. Key Points: Opening a continuing special collection for translational research (TR) papers in the context of Water Resources Research (WRR)Explaining the multi‐faceted nature of TR and Initiating a process to encourage and include such papers in WRRAiming to facilitate a community within hydrology and water science that seeks to provide actionable knowledge for societal benefit [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the paper is to compare the most important physico-chemical parameters of the drinking water supplied by the company ECOAQUA S.A. in Călăraşi municipality, taken from monthly average analysis bulletins carried out within the company in 2023, both at the entrance to the treatment plant and at the exit - to be able to evaluate the degree of water treatment and the quality of drinking water supplied to consumers. The parameters analyzed in the paper are: pH, turbidity, residual free chlorine (only analyzed for drinking water), nitrates, total hardness and aluminum. They were represented graphically, and the values of the parameters at the exit from the station were compared with the maximum limit provided in the Government Ordinance 7/2023 and Government Decision 971/2023, in order to be able to estimate the qualitative level of drinking water. We found exceedances of a maximum of 22% only in the case of free residual chlorine in November 2023, due to the water disinfection process. The other physico-chemical parameters did not exceed the legal limits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water scarcity associated with glacier retreat in mountainous regions is of growing concern worldwide, especially in arid regions, where precipitation is scarce or seasonal. Scientists and decision makers aim to respond to glacier driven water scarcity by improving glacier protection and developing water resource management strategies. Despite the increasingly prominent 'water resource' lens for understanding the changing mountain cryosphere, little research has investigated what this framing means for how different actors value, study, manage, and protect cryospheric water stores. This paper therefore presents a critical analysis of how we conceptualise the importance of glaciers. Specifically, this paper examines how environmental campaigns, scientific research, and policy interact to make glaciers into a water resource, and how this impacts glacier protection. Focusing on a case study of glacier management and protection in the Chilean Andes, the motivations and processes that made glaciers into a water resource in Chile are examined, and the impacts of this for glacier protection in a country where glaciers are exposed to threats from climate change and the mining industry are explored. This paper presents qualitative analysis of interviews conducted with experts in glacier science, policy, and environmental campaigning, and documents associated with managing glaciers as a water resource in Chile. The research shows how, in response to mining threats, glaciers were strategically framed as water resources by environmental campaigners to improve Chilean state protection. This framing was institutionalised within Chile's water resource management system through science and policy, resulting in some successful protection legislation. However, this resource framing has also integrated glaciers into a system which inherently limits their protection, because their protection is conditional on the shifting ways glaciers are valued for storing and releasing water to downstream communities and ecosystems. Here, we highlight processes that make glaciers into a resource, demonstrate that glaciological knowledge is not directly translated into policy, and importantly, show how managing glaciers as a resource may limit, or even undermine glacier protection efforts. As concern globally grows about water scarcity driven by glacial retreat, these findings are vital for the development of glacier protections and effective management of glacial water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the role of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in enhancing urban water infrastructure in three municipalities: Maanshan City in China, Cairo in Egypt, and Tshwane in South Africa. The paper highlights each municipality's specific challenges through case studies, such as inadequate water supply, infrastructure decay, and financial constraints. It examines the successful PPPmodels implemented in Maanshan and Cairo, emphasising the importance of private sector involvement in financing and technology transfer. In contrast, the analysis of Tshwane reveals the need for structured planning and management to achieve effective partnerships. The findings suggest that South African municipalities can learn valuable lessons from these case studies, particularly regarding the necessity of strong governance frameworks, stakeholder engagement, and the alignment of water tariffs with investor interests. Overall, the paper underscores the potential of PPPs to improve urban water services and provides actionable recommendations for enhancing water infrastructure management in similar contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Droughts, characterized by prolonged periods of below-average precipitation, pose a significant threat to environmental stability, human well-being, and economic prosperity. This review paper delves into the complexities of droughts, exploring their multifaceted nature, classification schemes, and methods of assessment. We analyze the cascading effects of droughts on various sectors, including agriculture, water resources, ecosystems, and human populations. The paper then presents existing mitigation and adaptation strategies employed to combat droughts and their adverse effects. Finally, we discuss the potential influence of climate change on future drought patterns and explore promising research directions for improved drought prediction, preparedness, and response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents a novel control algorithm for a standalone Photovoltaic Reverse-Osmosis (PV-RO) system without a battery. It highlights the importance of tracking the maximum power tracking points in the photovoltaic panels. The development of new methods has become more urgent than before. The PV-RO system combines solar energy and reverse osmosis technology to provide reliable and sustainable access to clean drinking water in remote areas. Traditional PV-RO systems often require energy storage solutions such as batteries to maintain a constant water supply during periods of low solar irradiation. However, the integration of batteries adds complexity, cost, and environmental impact to the system. The paper presents the development of different MPPT techniques, which are better than traditional techniques (more accurate and faster). The paper also provides a comparison with the studied methods (P&O and Incremental Conductance) and the proposed one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the paper of [6], maps of suitability predictions for a handful relevant tree species in 30 × 30 m resolution are presented based on ecograms that are linked with interpolated, modeled soil data (subsoil pH, subsoil texture and derived plant available water to 160 cm). We ignore statistical principles if we accept interpolated tree species suitability predictions based on limited sets of soil properties without verifying them with observed, local site and soil data. Commentary to the paper by Roell, Nord-Larsen et al. 'Mapping tree species ecograms based on soil pH and soil water availability across Denmark'. [Extracted from the article]

Since the 21st century, overseas farmland investment has gradually become the focus of research in the field of transnational agricultural investment. Under the background of China's "going out" strategy, exploring the spatial distribution pattern and influencing factors of China's overseas farmland investment activities in different regions of the world and reducing domestic food supply pressure through effective use of overseas farmland resources has become an important path for China to ensure food security. Based on the case data of China's overseas cultivated Land investment in the Land Matrix database, this paper sorted out the utilization status of China's global cultivated land resources, and analyzed the spatial distribution and influencing factors by using spatial analysis method and grey correlation analysis method. The results show that: (1) At present, the host countries of China's overseas cultivated land investment have obvious spatial aggregation, showing the spatial characteristics of "small agglomeration and large dispersion," and have the characteristics of distribution along the border and river; (2) China's overseas farmland investment is affected by geo-economy, resource base, geo-culture and geopolitics, and the degree of impact is weakened in turn. Among them, the average annual import and export value, total water resources and other indicators have a significant impact on the investment choice of Chinese enterprises. Based on this, on the basis of identifying the spatial distribution pattern of China's global overseas farmland investment and development and analyzing its key driving factors, this study proposed the path that overseas farmland investment and development can help improve the resilience of food system with the goal of ensuring the food security of sustainable agricultural system. It provides a theoretical basis for the country to formulate food security strategy based on overseas farmland investment and guide enterprises to invest overseas farmland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides an examination of drought management strategies in three countries: the Netherlands, the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States of America (USA). Additionally, it includes an evaluation of Türkiye's approaches to water management and drought mitigation. Despite differing geographic, economic, and political conditions, these countries face similar challenges in drought management. Their approaches to dealing with drought have been examined from various perspectives, including institutional structures, legal frameworks, and operational strategies, with a focus on water allocation priorities, stakeholder collaboration, and the utilization of monitoring tools and data. The case studies revealed insights and experiences that can be used to evaluate and improve Türkiye's existing water management and drought mitigation strategies. By drawing on the experiences of top-performing nations in drought management, this paper provides insights for creating a strong and sustainable water management for Türkiye, effectively tackling the challenges posed by climate change and ensuring the long-term security of water resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indonesia is one of the countries committed to realising Sustainable Development Goals, but at the implementation level, Indonesia faces challenges in the form of unclear groundwater management regulations. This paper aims to examine the ambiguity of groundwater management from the aspects of regulation and impact on the environment to the formulation of strategic solutions. Through the analysis of various data sources, this paper succeeds in revealing three facts. Firstly, Indonesia still needs to have a special regulation on groundwater management. The current regulation still focuses on the approval of groundwater use. Still, it needs to regulate in detail the mechanisms of planning, implementation, monitoring, conservation, utilisation (except licensing), and control of groundwater damage. Secondly, the high percentage of groundwater use in Indonesia is evidence of the government's inability to fulfil the mandate of Law No.17 of 2019 Jo. Law No. 6 of 2023 recommends prioritising the utilisation of surface water over groundwater. Consequently, excessive use of groundwater has a negative impact on the environment, namely the emergence of a water crisis accompanied by a decrease in groundwater levels and a decrease in groundwater quality. Based on the lessons learnt on participatory groundwater management from Australia, this paper offers a strategic solution: the government needs to reconstruct the specific regulation of groundwater management in Indonesia to guarantee aspects of legal certainty. The reconstruction needs to be followed by ensuring public access to information, public participation in decision-making and public access to justice. These three elements are prerequisites for resolving groundwater governance issues in Indonesia to achieve water security and Sustainable Development Goals. To overcome the fragmentation of groundwater management, a national water information system in the form of a 'One Data Policy' is needed to provide real-time information on the quality and quantity of surface water and groundwater. The government must involve the community in national groundwater management planning to ensure public participation and community access to justice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With increasing urbanization, greywater, generated from domestic activities like bathing and washing, is a marginal water resource that can be valorized to meet irrigation demands and overcome water scarcity. This review paper delves into the characteristics and variability in greywater quality, highlighting the benefits of greywater reuse, such as water conservation, nutrient supply, and potential cost savings, as well as challenges like pathogen contamination and salinity buildup. Various treatment methods, including physical, chemical, and biological processes, are discussed concerning their effective use for irrigation. This paper explores the integration of greywater irrigation with vegetated walls, an innovative urban greening solution that offers numerous environmental and social benefits. The types of vegetated walls, their irrigation requirements, and studies involving greywater application in these systems are discussed. By synthesizing the current knowledge, this review article provides a comprehensive understanding of enhancing urban sustainability through the valorization of an otherwise wasted resource. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Microorganisms in dental unit water (DUW) play a significant role in dental bioaerosols. If the methods used to decontaminate DUW also help improve air quality in dental clinics is worth exploring. In this study, we aim to identify the source of bacteria in dental bioaerosols and investigate the impact of waterline disinfectants on the quantity and composition of bacteria in DUW and bioaerosols. Methods: Two dental chair units in a separate treatment room are installed with two different waterline decontamination systems, a plasma or iodine cartridge. The experiment was performed in two phases, before and after installing the decontamination systems. Aerosol is generated via running airotor in the subject's mouth. Before and after the procedure, the air samples were collected with an active air sampling machine onto agar plate and filter paper for genomic DNA extraction. The subject's saliva and DUW samples were also collected. The samples were analyzed further with bacterial counting and metataxonomics analysis. Results: The bacteria present in the air sample after the aerosol-generating procedure were confirmed to be derived from the air-before, saliva, and DUW in 51.43%, 6.38%, and 18.60%, respectively. The saliva samples demonstrated the highest alpha diversity (within the sample), whereas the air samples had the least. Both waterline disinfectants effectively controlled bacteria in DUW but did not affect the bacterial number and composition in the air. Conclusions: Dental bioaerosols are composed of bacteria from saliva and DUW. Plasma and iodine showed a trend in controlling bacterial contamination in DUW but did not alter the bacterial count and composition in dental bioaerosols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In water-scarce areas, there is a complex interrelationship between water resources and economic development. This paper studies the relationship between water resources and economic development from an ecosystem services perspective. This paper selected the value of river ecosystem service functions and the comprehensive index of economic development in the Yellow River Basin (YRB) from 2007 to 2018 as the research object, tested the synergy of ecosystem service functions in the basin, and introduced a coupling coordination model to evaluate the synergy of developmental factors. The research results showed that (1) the overall river ecosystem service value in YRB was on the rise, and its distribution was characterized by a high value in the lower reaches and a gradual decrease from the middle reaches to the upper reaches; (2) the synergy of river ecosystem service functions in YRB was mainly reflected in the supply and regulation functions, and the synergy of cultural functions should be improved; (3) the overall coupling and coordination degree showed an upward trend. However, judging from the characteristics of coupled and coordinated degrees, backward ecological development is a long-term problem. This article will help to put forward countermeasures and suggestions for the coordinated development of the river ecosystem service value and regional economy in YRB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The CE-QUAL-W2 model is a significant tool extensively used in lentic environments to analyze eutrophication and water quality. This systematic review of the CE-QUAL-W2 hydrodynamic model revealed its widespread application in analyzing reservoir eutrophication. A total of 151 relevant papers were identified, of which 38 were selected after rigorous analysis, showcasing studies in environmental sciences and water resources. In 2021, we saw the highest number of publications, with six papers; 2022 achieved the highest number of citations, with 113. The model has been widely used across countries, with Iran leading in the number of publications, followed by China and Brazil. The standard combination of CE-QUAL-W2 with the SWAT model reflects its effectiveness in complex watershed studies. CE-QUAL-W2 has demonstrated the ability to predict future environmental conditions and diagnose environmental extremes, and it can calculate various hydrodynamic and water quality parameters. Its increasing use in high-impact scientific journals underscores its global relevance and particular promise for Brazilian aquatic environment studies due to its efficiency and accessibility. With its significant potential, this model is poised to enhance the understanding and management of water resources, contributing to environmental sustainability and inspiring optimism for future applications on a global scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Canale Maggiore in Parma, originating in 493 AD in Northern Italy, was initially built for irrigation and powering paper mills. However, it is now in poor condition and faces multiple challenges that hinder its potential in shaping the local landscape. This research paper proposes strategies to rediscover and enhance the canal's cultural and historical value. Key ideas include revitalizing mini-hydro power plants, adding new ones, and creating connections to the nearby city of Parma, well-known for its cycling culture. To make this vision a reality, the water resource and related issues must be thoroughly evaluated, and reliable strategies should be developed to overcome challenges. Preliminary research suggests that combining technical, economic, and cultural strategies could drive regeneration, honoring the local heritage while improving living conditions and fostering sustainability education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To address the issue of regional water resource scarcity, water diversion projects have been constructed worldwide. As an essential lifeline project, the prefabricated aqueduct is prevalently utilized in cross-regional water transfer and diversion projects. This paper was based on the prefabricated aqueduct project, which adopted fabricated technologies including the connection technology among the gravity pier, the prefabricated arch ribs, and the prefabricated bent frame columns. The PHC piles, bearing platforms, bent frame columns, arch ribs, and groove bodies were all prefabricated components that were transported to the site for installation. The connections of the prefabricated aqueduct employed to link different components were of such crucial significance that their safety and stability determined whether the overall structure would be compromised. Therefore, the main objective of this paper was to examine the stress and deformation of this prefabricated aqueduct to prevent the occurrence of security risks throughout the entire construction stage. The finite element model was established in Midas Civil, and the entire construction stage was simulated and analyzed. Coupled with on-site monitoring, the stress and deformation of the prefabricated aqueduct were evaluated. The results indicated that the tensile stress, the compressive stress, the vertical displacement, and the lateral displacement of each part of the prefabricated aqueduct met the requirements of the standard, suggesting that the overall structure with the applied connection technology was in a safe and stable state throughout the entire construction stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water – Global Assessment and Prognosis (WaterGAP) is a modeling approach for quantifying water resources and water use for all land areas of the Earth that has served science and society since 1996. In this paper, the refinements, new algorithms, and new data of the most recent model version v2.2e are described, together with a thorough evaluation of the simulated water use, streamflow, and terrestrial water storage anomaly against observation data. WaterGAP v2.2e improves the handling of inland sinks and now excludes not only large but also small human-made reservoirs when simulating naturalized conditions. The reservoir and non-irrigation water use data were updated. In addition, the model was calibrated against an updated and extended data set of streamflow observations at 1509 gauging stations. The modifications resulted in a small decrease in the estimated global renewable water resources. The model can now be started using prescribed water storages and other conditions, facilitating data assimilation and near-real-time monitoring and forecast simulations. For specific applications, the model can consider the output of a glacier model, approximate the effect of rising CO2 concentrations on evapotranspiration, or calculate the water temperature in rivers. In the paper, the publicly available standard model output is described, and caveats of the model version are provided alongside the description of the model setup in the ISIMIP3 framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Planning and managing water resource systems with multipurpose surface reservoirs demand the careful consideration of several critical factors, including system longevity, multiple uses, phased development, substantial financial investments, complex management requirements, uncertainties in predicting future hydrological inputs, and the estimation of economic parameters. Despite the importance of these factors, recent research and software development efforts for water resource system planning and management have predominantly focused on hydrological models. Economic models that describe the phased growth of such systems are often either absent or not fully integrated into decision-making software. Well-established network-based decision support tools, such as MODSIM, AcquaNet, and SIMYLD-II, provide robust hydrological modeling but lack explicit economic sub-models to address the evolving nature of water resource systems over time. This paper introduces a novel approach that combines optimization and simulation techniques to evaluate the multi-year performance of a growing water resource system. By conducting multiple model runs for each phase of system development—each characterized by unique topologies, demand patterns, hydrological conditions, and water delivery preferences—economic analyses are suggested to complete the global evaluation of the system. This comprehensive approach provides valuable insights into long-term planning horizons. Research in this direction continues to evolve, aiming to bridge the gap between hydrological and economic modeling in decision support frameworks. To illustrate the proposed methodology, a test example is presented, showcasing the implementation of the economic calculations and computer routines described in the paper. This example serves as a foundational step toward more comprehensive tools for sustainable and economically viable water resource system planning and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper advances multidisciplinary research, policy, education and activisms which cohere around the concept of the 'water–energy–food (W–E–F) nexus' via an evidence-led critique of normative forms of nexus-thinking which draws upon research with 3705 diverse young people's (aged 10–24 years) W–E–F experiences in SE Brazil. We consider how the neat, cool, ostensibly authoritative buzzword style of W–E–F nexus-thinking is radically unsettled – and sometimes conceptually-critically overwhelmed – via encounters with social scientific data in practice. In particular, the paper presents two interlinked analyses of data relating to young people's everyday engagements with water resources. First, we present a quantitative analysis of young people's everyday participation with/in water resources, highlighting diversities and inequities in relation to age, gender, ethnicity and social class, among other modes of social–cultural heterogeneity and intersectionality. Second, we present a qualitative narration of young people's water-related anxieties, evidencing their intimate everyday interrelations with watery materialities and insecurities – 'black water', 'muddy water', 'shit water' and all. In so doing, we advance an argument for what we term more-than- nexus-thinking: i.e., forms of research, theory and practice which value the apparent conceptual-ethical clarity and interoperability of nexus-thinking, whilst actively thinking-with complexities and deeply-affecting lived experiences of W–E–F in everyday spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper shows the adequacy of the parameters for correct modelling of a mechanical vapor compression desalination plant, explores the influences of parameters considering an energy efficiency vision of the model, indicating which components affect the most to its final performance and energy consumption. The present work also offers the preliminary results extracted from a real experimental facility powered by RES. The case study, in Cartagena, Spain, as part of the LIFE-Desirows project, aims to address brine disposal, salt crystallization, nitrate elimination, water resource recovery, and carbon neutrality. After providing an overview of the current state of desalination, the focus shifts to brine removal technologies, with a specific emphasis on mechanical vapor compression. The technical aspects of coupling such technologies for enhanced energy efficiency in desalination processes are discussed, along with associated challenges and limitations, as well as the inputs and outputs considered for the analysis. The paper reinforces the importance of improving energy efficiency in thermal desalination processes with its results, fostering a discussion on potential avenues for further research and development in concentrate valorization, as well as its positive effects on the environment and economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores how participatory science helps address water supply challenges in developing countries suffering from water shortages. In the absence of technical capacity to monitor the water supply system, this participation constitutes an excellent alternative to involve citizens in data collection and evaluation of the quality of the water service. The paper presents the design and implementation of a participatory science platform that enables data about the quality of the water supply in the city of Kharas in Palestine to be collected. Thanks to significant citizen participation, the study demonstrates that participatory science enhances the management of the water supply system and public awareness and engagement. Temporal and spatial analysis of collected data helped us to better understand the water supply system and identify the causes of the water service degradation. The study shows that the success of citizen participation requires cooperation between the water staff and citizens, including continuous dialogue and training and the construction of a friendly citizen participation platform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on the importance of groundwater quality in coastal areas, particularly in China. It highlights the impact of geogenic contaminants and human-induced pollutants on groundwater quality, which is crucial for sustaining agriculture, industries, and drinking water services. The research papers in this special issue explore various aspects of groundwater quality, including the occurrence of fluoride and nitrate in agricultural areas, the impact of land use on groundwater quality, the natural background levels of contaminants, and the hydrochemical characteristics of groundwater in different regions. The studies suggest that agricultural contamination and infiltration of domestic sewage and industrial wastewater are significant factors affecting groundwater quality in coastal areas. The findings recommend measures to address nitrate contamination and seawater intrusion, and emphasize the importance of considering organic contaminants in coastal groundwater. [Extracted from the article]

Guinea worm, variously called nwori, akwara, or ehu among the Igbo of Southeastern Nigeria, was particularly endemic in the Abakaliki area of Nigeria during the colonial era. Abakaliki was tagged the 'guinea worm reservoir' in comparison with other parts of Nigeria that equally experienced guinea worm disease. This was attributable to a severe lack of potable water supply in the area and a high rate of cyclops contamination. Scholars have focused attention on the microbiological causes, transmission, and consequences of various guinea worm eradication programmes; much has also been written about how the colonial administration contributed to the rapid spread of the disease, but there is little scholarly research on the post-eradication era. That is, whether those colonial factors have been addressed sustainably. Thus, this paper examines the role of the British colonial government in guinea worm endemicity vis-à-vis the contemporary governance structures. The paper adopts the qualitative method of historical research, relying mainly on data sourced from primary and secondary sources. Findings suggest that the colonial government's lack of commitment to providing a safe and adequate water supply, poor maintenance of public water sources, lack of effective health education, and discriminatory localisation of public water supplies contributed significantly to the spread of guinea worm disease in Abakaliki during the period of this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to transform rural communities' use of water resources. Modern sensor technologies are integrated into an all-inclusive system to enable real-time monitoring and prompt identification of anomalies and contamination. Well water information is more accurate and reliable when entered automatically, providing solid groundwork for informed decision-making. The technology combines user-friendly interfaces with a proactive maintenance schedule to enable communities to maintain the longevity of their wells and the quality of their water. This work not only tackles the difficulties associated with managing well water in rural areas but also improves the general well-being and environmental preservation of these communities by endorsing sustainable water management techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Second Issue of Volume 10 of Water Economics and Policy (WEP) features five research papers that examine various water management challenges at different spatial scales. The papers cover topics such as game theory applied to aquifer sub-basin management in Spain, benefit-cost analysis of river bank erosion investments in Serbia, flood damage assessment models in Turkey, the impact of agricultural production on groundwater depletion in India, and the water footprint and vulnerability of China's provincial energy sector. These studies provide valuable insights into water management challenges and offer potential policy implications for addressing these issues. [Extracted from the article]

The virtual water flow behind product trade provides researchers with ideas to alleviate water problems in China's coastal areas, with accompanying resource and economic implications. This paper adopts a multi-region input–output model to calculate virtual water flows in coastal areas and analyses resource benefits and economic benefits, by combining the water stress index and shadow price, to measure gains and losses of virtual water flow. This study shows that (1) China's coastal areas depends on external water supplies; (2) virtual water flows between coastal and inland areas generated 38.26 billion m3 of net scarce water savings and CNY 31,751 billion of net economic benefits, indicating that coastal areas benefited from virtual water flows from both resource and economic perspectives; (3) virtual water flows among coastal provinces and cities caused 11.10 billion m3 of net scarce water losses, but generated CNY 9784 billion of net economic gains, indicating that a further intensification of water stress in coastal areas, but such a virtual water flow pattern was beneficial from an economic perspective. This paper reveals the resource and economic impacts of virtual water flow at the national scale and among coastal provinces and cities and further proposes suggestions for promoting the beneficial flow of virtual water in coastal areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of World Water Policy is the property of Wiley-Blackwell 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.)

In recognition of the 75th anniversary of the Canadian Water Resources Association (CWRA) in 2022, a Special Issue was proposed to summarize achievements, challenges and future opportunities in themes directly related to Canadian water resources and their management. The solicited papers align with the aim of the CWRA to stimulate public awareness and understanding of Canada's water resources and provide new or increased knowledge on Canada's water. With growing concerns over impacts on water resources from a wide range of stressors, the support of a national conversation, as well as sharing knowledge and perspectives on water resources across Canada, has become increasingly important and urgent. This Special Issue presents seven papers that review and/or provide historical sketches from '75 years' of work conducted in Canada across select sub-disciplines of hydrology and water resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundwater is crucial for Africa's potable water supply, agriculture, and economic development. However, the continent faces challenges with groundwater scarcity due to factors like population growth, climate change, and over-exploitation. Over the past ten years, machine learning has been increasingly and successfully used in groundwater availability studies across the world. This review paper explores the application of machine learning techniques in groundwater availability studies including groundwater level prediction and groundwater potential mapping studies by focusing on some of the studies conducted in Africa. The methodology involved downloading relevant papers, identifying and categorizing the machine learning algorithms employed, and quantifying their use. Geological and climatic variables were also identified, analyzed, and categorized to measure their usage frequency. The different algorithms and input variables extracted from each paper are graphically represented in this document highlighting the most employed ones. The findings suggest that more research needs to be conducted on the use of machine learning algorithms on this topic in Africa. In the reviewed papers Fuzzy-based algorithms are commonly used. The groundwater level prediction studies primarily focus on input variables related to hydrology/hydrogeology, while for potential mapping, geological aspects are the most investigated variables. In terms of climate, precipitation receives the most attention in the reviewed studies. The study highlights the potential of machine learning in improving water resource management and decision-making in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To elucidate the food-energy-water (FEW) nexus, the paper proposes a framework for multifunctional development objectives within the context of CPSs, integrating emergy analysis and the coupled coordination model. The article's primary focus is on the utilization of blue and green water in the cultivation of a variety of food crops and the acquisition of purchased energy. The paper was evaluated according to three key indicators: stability, development, and sustainability. Furthermore, a quantitative evaluation of the trade-offs among the FEW nexus and its constituent sub-nexuses was conducted over the period from 2000 to 2022. The study revealed that China has witnessed an expansion in its total CPS inputs, with renewable inputs accounting for 32.89% and an average annual input-output ratio of 37.98%. The annual emergy values for food, energy, and water resources were 6.85 × 1023 Sej, 1.43 × 1023 Sej, and 7.91 × 1022 Sej, respectively. The annual growth rates were 2.16%, 2.11%, and 0.77%, respectively. The CPS exhibits an average proportion of green and blue water resources of 64.37% and 35.63%, respectively. The coupling coordination of the FEW nexus demonstrates a transition between years from mild dysfunctional recession to quality coordinated development, with the coordinated use of FEW resources increasing for maize, largely maintained for rice, and decreasing for wheat, soybean, and potato. The objective of this study is to provide differentiated strategies for regional food conservation and sustainable development worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extracting water information from remote-sensing images is of great research significance for applications such as water resource protection and flood monitoring. Current water extraction methods aggregated richer multi-level features to enhance the output results. In fact, there is a difference in the requirements for the water body and the water boundary. Indiscriminate multi-feature fusion can lead to perturbation and competition of information between these two types of features during the optimization. Consequently, models cannot accurately locate the internal vacancies within the water body with the external boundary. Therefore, this paper proposes a water feature extraction network with spatial partitioning and feature decoupling. To ensure that the water features are extracted with deep semantic features and stable spatial information before decoupling, we first design a chunked multi-scale feature aggregation module (CMFAM) to construct a context path for obtaining deep semantic information. Then, an information interaction module (IIM) is designed to exchange information between two spatial paths with two fixed resolution intervals and the two paths through. During decoding, a feature decoupling module (FDM) is developed to utilize internal flow prediction to acquire the main body features, and erasing techniques are employed to obtain boundary features. Therefore, the deep features of the water body and the detailed boundary information are supplemented, strengthening the decoupled body and boundary features. Furthermore, the integrated expansion recoupling module (IERM) module is designed for the recoupling stage. The IERM expands the water body and boundary features using expansion and adaptively compensates the transition region between the water body and boundary through information guidance. Finally, multi-level constraints are combined to realize the supervision of the decoupled features. Thus, the water body and boundaries can be extracted more accurately. A comparative validation analysis is conducted on the public datasets, including the gaofen image dataset (GID) and the gaofen2020 challenge dataset (GF2020). By comparing with seven SOTAs, the results show that the proposed method achieves the best results, with IOUs of 91.22 and 78.93, especially in the localization of water bodies and boundaries. By applying the proposed method in different scenarios, the results show the stable capability of the proposed method for extracting water with various shapes and areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing urbanization and growing urban population present significant challenges for urban water resources. Inadequate management has led to a decline in water quality and a mismatch between the availability and usage of city water resources. In this period of significant growth, improving urban water efficiency and reinforcing water resource protection are especially important. Leadership is essential in developing and carrying out urban water resource policies. This research investigates how leadership influences the operational efficiency of water resources protection policies. The study seeks to fill the gap in understanding the relationship between leadership, member trust, and policy effectiveness in water resource management by constructing a theoretical model and conducting empirical analysis through questionnaire surveys. The findings of this study are expected to provide valuable insights into the significance of leadership in driving improvements in water conservation policies. By establishing a link between leadership, member trust, and operational efficiency, the research contributes to both theoretical knowledge and practical implications for enhancing water resource management strategies. Recommendations for Resource Managers: In this big development background, it is particularly important to improve urban water efficiency and strengthen water resources protection.Leadership, as a key factor in the formulation and implementation of urban water resources policy, also plays an important role.Based on this, this paper studies the impact of leadership on the operational efficiency of water resources policies by proposing hypotheses, conducting questionnaire surveys, analyzing data, and verifying construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought, as a natural disaster with wide-ranging impacts and long duration, has an adverse effect on the global economy and ecosystems. In this paper, four remote sensing drought indices, namely the Crop Water Stress Index (CWSI), Vegetation Supply Water Index (VSWI), Temperature Vegetation Dryness Index (TVDI), and Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI), are selected for drought analysis. The correlation analysis is carried out with the self-calibrated Palmer Drought Severity Index (sc-PDSI), and based on the optimal index (CWSI), the spatiotemporal characteristics of drought in Shaanxi Province from 2001 to 2021 were studied by SEN trend analysis, Mann–Kendall test, and a center of gravity migration model. The results show that (1) the CWSI performs best in drought monitoring in Shaanxi Province and is suitable for drought studies in this region. (2) Drought in Shaanxi Province shows a decreasing trend from 2001 to 2021; the main manifestation of this phenomenon is the decrease in the occurrence of severe drought, with severe drought covering less than 10% of the area in 2010 and subsequent years. The most severely affected regions in the province are the northern Loess Plateau region and Guanzhong Plain region. In terms of the overall trend, only 0.21% of the area shows an increase in drought, primarily concentrated in the Guanzhong Plain region and the outskirts of the Qinling–Bashan mountainous region. (3) Drought conditions are generally improving, with the droughts' center of gravity moving northeastward at a rate of 3.31 km per year. The results of this paper can provide a theoretical basis and a practical reference for drought control and decision-making in Shaanxi Province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change impacts on the hydrology and water resources in East Africa require proper planning of regional adaptation measures. Past studies on the subject matter tended to focus on catchment instead of regional scale. To support actionable policy regarding regional planning of water resources management, this paper reviewed studies conducted in East Africa based on CMIP3, CMIP5, and CMIP6. Compared to the historical condition, temperature of East Africa over the mid- to late 21st century will increase by varying extents over the range 0.17-7°C with about 2.6°C on average. Future precipitation over East Africa will increase by 8.5% on average. Changes in discharge based on CMIP3, CMIP5, and CMIP6 will vary from -25.3 to +60.5%, -42.5 to 129%, and -23.4 to 69%, respectively. Ensemble means of the changes in discharge across the study area based on CMIP3, CMIP5, and CMIP6 will be by 25.2, 19.2, and 19.1%, respectively. Future peak river discharge across East Africa will increase by 8% on average. These results are important for planning regional climate change adaptation across East Africa. To support local or catchment adaptation, results of climate change impacts of temperature, precipitation and discharge of about 50 catchments across East Africa can be found summarized in this review paper. It is recommended that both regional and local policies or approaches should be considered for climate change adaptation to ensure a balanced, effective and sustainable framework for climate resilience in support of measures for tackling broad and specific needs cohesively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To enhance the efficiency of solving the optimal operation model for cascade reservoirs, this paper first constructed an optimal operation model of cascade reservoirs. The model comprehensively considered the ecological flow, the guaranteed output of hydroelectric power plants, and the relaxation constraints of the water level at the end of water supply and storage period. The relaxation constraints refer to two relaxation variable constraints, which are used to ensure that the water levels decline in the water supply period and rise in the water storage periods. At the same time, to avoid the challenges of "dimension disaster" and susceptibility to local optima commonly encountered in existing optimization algorithms when resolving the above model, a novel optimization algorithm, M-IWO-ODDDP, derived from the optimization principles of the Invasive Weed Optimization (IWO) and Discrete Differential Dynamic Programming (DDDP) algorithms, was proposed in this paper. The 11 cascade hydropower stations in the Wujiang River basin were used as a case study, and the results showed that the water-level dispatching process exhibited a high degree of conformity with the actual dispatching process during both the water supply and storage periods. Furthermore, the output calculation results based on the M-IWO-ODDDP algorithm were 3.94% and 0.30% higher than the actual output and ODDDP calculation results, respectively, while reducing water abandonment by 21.58% and 4.07%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Egyptian International Journal of Engineering Sciences & Technology (EIJEST) is the property of Egyptian International Journal of Engineering Sciences & Technology 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.)