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122 results on '"Antizar-Ladislao, Blanca"'

21. Hand pump Failure – Investigating the socio-technical failure modes of hand pumps in post conflict Sierra Leone using case-based reasoning

Author

Barrie, Jack, Byars, P., and Antizar Ladislao, Blanca

Subjects
Sustainability, International Development, Case-based Reasoning
Abstract

The United Nations (UN) set as a target to halve the proportion of the populations without sustainable access to safe drinking water by 2015. While the world is on track to meet the drinking target in urban areas, accelerated and targeted efforts are needed to secure access to drinking water in rural areas. The considerable lack of research methodology and data on the reasonsbehind the decline in access to improved water sources raises critical questions on project sustainability and organisational accountability and ultimately, how should the Millennium Development Goal for access to safe drinking water be measured. Sierra Leone is one example of this challenge. It is one of the most underdeveloped countries in the world and is still recovering from a brutal civil war (1991-2002). Only 1% of the population has access to piped water andaccess to improved water sources has been declining in the rural areas for the past decade, even though there has been a sustained effort to combat the decline through the widespread installation of community level hand pumps and wells. A large community level survey was carried out in Northern Sierra Leone on hand pumps and wells installed after 2004. This study develops an innovative non-biased methodology for quantitatively assessing the socio technical trends in thefailure rates of rural community water projects through the use of case-based reasoning anddiscusses the results with respect to project sustainability and continual monitoring. The study hasthe potential to impact not only how organisations define the failure of a project, but also howprojects are continually monitored and evaluated.

Published
2012

22. Is Bottled Water affordable for the Poorest in Rural Cambodia?

Author

Hutchens, Chris, White, Douglas, and Antizar Ladislao, Blanca

Abstract

The rural population of Cambodia suffers from a widespread lack of access to safe drinking water. To combat this, the government of Cambodia seeks to achieve the global Millennium Development targets by halving the number of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water by 2015. Several international Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and private entrepreneurs have already established bottled water programs in rural communities; however the suitability of this service as a low-cost means of supplying the poorest households has not yet been assessed. This paper investigates whether this solution is within the means of the lowest-wealth rural households. The paper analyses data collected from 240 household surveys, situated in three rural Cambodian communities served by bottled water NGO Teuk Saat 1001 (TS1001). Families were surveyed regarding their income, expenditure on drinking water, and their opinion of how costly the service was. Households that bought bottled water were compared with a control group to establish key financial differences. The survey results were evaluated using an odds ratio analysis, an assessment of weekly expenditure on drinking water, and a comparison of household statements about how expensive they believed their system to be. The results of the survey suggest that TS1001 bottled water is not reaching the poorest families in the community. Current uptake of the system shows sales trending towards the middle- and high-wealth members of the community, with a high proportion of the lower income households stating that the bottled water was ‘too expensive’ in comparison to their existing methods.

Published
2012

24. Identifying barriers to the Sustainable Implementation of the Ceramic Water Purifier for rural Sierra Leone

Author

Hansen, Miriam and Antizar Ladislao, Blanca

Subjects
Point-of-Use, Market Mapping, Community Integration, Ceramic Water Purifier, Education, Sierra Leone
Abstract

With improved water sources failing to meet World Health Organisationstandards due to a lack of user education and supply chain networks not in place the need to develop a market for point of use (POU) water treatment systems is in urgently required in Sierra Leone to achieve safe water for the 73% residing in rural areas of who lack access to even improved water supplies. Through well water analysis and surveys of 5 villages in the surrounding area, this paper asses the market potential of the Ceramic Water Purifier (CWP) as a low cost, low energy POU water treatment solution. From these results thispaper develops a preliminary market map, based on a methodology developed by Practical Action, for the establishment of a CWP enterprise in Bonthe district of Sierra Leone. Potential barriers to implementation have been identified and show that providing capital cost subsidies, integrating POU technology into government policy and offering training to users and producers through government and NGO resources, a CWP enterprise has the potential to effectively reduce mortality as a result of diarrhoea and empower local communities.

Published
2011

32. Role of Phragmites australis (common reed) for heavy metals phytoremediation of estuarine sediments.

Author

Cicero-Fernández, Diego, Peña-Fernández, Manuel, Expósito-Camargo, Jose A., and Antizar-Ladislao, Blanca

Subjects
PHRAGMITES australis, HEAVY metals, PHYTOREMEDIATION, ESTUARINE sediments, BIOACCUMULATION
Abstract

The ability ofPhragmites australisto take up heavy metals (Co, Ni, Mo, Cd, Pb, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, and Hg) and other trace elements (As, Se, Ba), from estuarine sediments was investigated using a pilot plant experimental approach. Bioaccumulation (BCF) and translocation factors (TF) were calculated in vegetative and senescence periods for two populations ofP. australis, from contaminated (MIC) and non-contaminated (GAL) estuarine sediments, respectively, both growing in estuarine contaminated sediment (RIA) from ría del Carmen y Boo, Santander Bay, Spain. The highest BCF values were obtained for Ni (0.43), Ba (0.43) Mo (0.36), Cr (0.35), and Cd (0.31) for plants collected from site GAL following the senescence period. The highest BCF values recorded for plants collected from MIC following the senescence period were for Mo (0.22) and Cu (0.22). Following senescence, plants collected from GAL and MIC presented TF>1 for Ni, Mo, Se, and Zn, and in addition plants collected from MIC presented TF>1 for Ba, Cr, and Mn. A substantial increase of Micedo's rhizosphere, six times higher than Galizano's rhizosphere, suggested adaptation to contaminated sediment. The evaluated communities of P. australis demonstrated their suitability for phytoremediation of heavy metals contaminated estuarine sediments. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Published
2016
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48. Addressing Water Security: An Overview.

Author

Marcal, Juliana, Antizar-Ladislao, Blanca, and Hofman, Jan

Abstract

For the last two decades, water security has been in the spotlight as a key concept for sustainable development. However, due to its wide interpretation range, the understanding of what water security is and what it encompasses can change considerably with different perspectives. By means of a review of both academic and grey literature, this paper presents an in-depth global overview of what water security means and how assessment is being carried out. These aspects are put together in the present work with the aim to facilitate access to this complex concept for academics but also policymakers and other stakeholders involved in water management and governance. Aiming to provide a groundwork for water security understanding, we examine definitions, scales of application, frequent approaches and methodologies used to study water security. We also present indicators and aspects being included in water security frameworks. A summary of important actions towards water security improvement is also presented. As a dynamic and multi-faceted concept, water security requires an equally multi-dimensional and flexible interpretation. Understanding and measuring are key to improving water security levels. Bringing attention to how climate change, environmental needs, demographics, economics and governance are linked to water security can boost impact by prompting science, policies and innovation to come together. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2021
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49. International mobility for young water professionals at different career stages.

Author

Antizar-Ladislao, Blanca and Valdés, Héctor

Abstract

The article offers information and tips to be used by Young Water Professionals (YWP) at different career stages. Entry level professionals normally face a number of international mobility opportunities. These professionals are urged to conduct web based searches and look for the functions of different departments or research groups. Late state YWP can make an impact in the development of new technologies and advance of knowledge. It is important for YWP to determine weak areas in their country that need specialized water professionals.

Published
2008

50. Impact of silver and titanium dioxide nanoparticles on the in-vessel composting of biodegradable municipal solid waste

Author

Stamou, Ioannis, Giannopoulos, Antonios, Antizar-Ladislao, Blanca, and Chatzisymeon, Efthalia

Subjects
620.5, silver nanoparticles, composting, fluorescence spectroscopy, Life Cycle Assessment
Abstract

The extensive use of nanoparticles (NPs) has started receiving increased attention because of the knowledge gaps regarding their fate in the environment and the possible impact on the environment and human health. The production of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2-NPs) is increasing and it is expected that, due to their great number of applications, their concentration in waste streams will increase in the future. The presence of NPs in waste streams may affect the treatment process (e.g., composting) and, if they are not successfully removed from the waste streams, their presence in the treated waste (e.g., compost) may present an environmental risk. Composting of the biodegradable fractions of municipal solid waste (MSW) is a widely used waste management practice, mainly because it is a cost-effective treatment technology and the final product (i.e., compost) presents several benefits to the environment, particularly as a soil conditioner. The overall aim of this thesis is to assess the effect of Ag-TiO2NPs and AgNPs that may be present in the biodegradable fractions of municipal solid waste on composting and subsequent soil application of compost. For that purpose in-vessel composting of artificial municipal solid waste contaminated with commercial nanoparticles was investigated at laboratory scale, simulating a range of relevant concentration levels. Subsequently, the fate of NPs present in mature compost use as a top-layer soil conditioner was investigated using a column approach at laboratory scale. The toxicity effect of NPs present mature compost on plant growth was further investigated. The impact of NPs during composting was assessed by monitoring the temporal dynamics of organic matter (OM) using Excitation Emission Matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy. The fate of NPs following application of contaminated mature compost as a top-soil conditioner and potential release to groundwater was investigated using a column leaching experiment while the phytotoxicity of mature compost contaminated with NPs was assessed using a seed germination bioassay. Finally, to investigate further possible environmental impacts due to the application of mature compost contaminated with NPs to soils, a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was conducted. The impact of commercial Ag-TiO2 NPs and AgNPs on the in-vessel composting of biodegradable municipal solid waste was investigated over 21 days, using initial concentrations of 0, 5, 10, 20 and 50 mg Ag / kg of OM. Microbial activity was inhibited in the biodegradable waste reactors using 2% NaN3 to evaluate abiotic losses. Physicochemical parameters such as pH, ash content, weight loss, and the formation of humic substances (HS) were determined after 0, 4, 7, 14 and 21 days of composting and after a maturation phase. The results indicated that the presence of 2% NaN3 in biodegradable MSW inhibited effectively the microbial activity during the first week of composting. The microbial population was activated during the second week of composting but the decomposition rate was so low that did not result in the formation of humic substances (HS) following 21 days of composting when 2% NaN3 was used. Both treatments, using Ag-TiO2-NPs and AgNPs, did not show any inhibition of the decomposition process for all the tested concentrations and EEM peaks shifted towards the HS region during in-vessel composting. Higher inorganic carbon removal resulted from NP-contaminated compost with higher NP concentrations. This may indicate that the formation of humins was higher for non-contaminated compost and decreased as the NP concentration in waste increased. The shift of the peaks towards the HS region during composting for all the treatments suggested that NPs did not have an effect on humification and therefore on compost stability. The leaching properties of the NP-contaminated compost were investigated using a column leaching test. Five samples of leachate, of 50 mL each, were collected. The highest concentrations of HS were observed in the first two leaching samples. The leaching results suggested that only a low percentage of the total NPs (in weight) in compost, up to ca. 5% for Ag and up to ca. 15% for Ti, leached out from the columns, which was assumed the amount that potentially could leach to the environment. These results suggested that NPs will mainly accumulate in soils’ top layers following application of compost contaminated with NP. The phytotoxicity of NP-contaminated compost was assessed using a seed germination bioassay and the germination index was then calculated. The results indicated that the NP-contaminated compost did not present any toxic effects to cress germination. The possible environmental impacts due to the NP-contaminated compost application to soils were investigated by conducting a comparative LCA study. The LCA study indicated that the effects of NP-contaminated compost to human health and ecosystems endpoint categories increased due to the presence of NPs. The risks are associated with terrestrial ecotoxicity and human toxicity midpoint categories and are mainly attributed to the accumulation of Ag to soils.

Published
2015

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