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Water pollution is a global issue that adversely effects on humans, animals and entire ecosystem. Consumption of contaminated water is a leading cause of mortality worldwide. Availability of clean and safe drinking water is a threatening issue for survival of humans on this planet and is becoming a difficult task for governments especially in developing countries. A comprehensive study of drinking water of coastal areas of the district Badin was carried out including basic physicochemical and bacteriological parameters. Twenty-seven (27) villages of Badin district were assessed for sampling in Sindh, Pakistan. All samples were collected under aseptic conditions in sterilized sampling bags and polystyrene bottles for microbiological and physicochemical analysis and stored in an ice box at temperatures below 4°C. The obtained results ranging from minimum to maximum is as; TDS (374–1319.4 mg L−1), turbidity (1.0–40.1 mg L−1), chlorides (97.0–446 mg L−1), hardness (252–912 mg L−1), F sulfates (65–364 mg L−1), nitrate (0.58–4.67 mg L−1), sodium (35–287 mg L−1), potassium (2.0–11.0 mg L−1), calcium (59.0–264 mg L−1), magnesium (24.0–86.0 mg L−1), iron (0.07–0.16 mg L−1), fluorides (0.75–1.18 mg L−1), arsenic (4.0–8.2 mg L−1) and total coliforms (10–104 colony forming units (CFU). The measured values of the pH, NO3, arsenic, magnesium, potassium, fluoride and iron were found within safe range as per World Health Organization (WHO, 2011) guidelines 2011 whereas rest of the results showed deviance from the acceptable limits. The 72% for physical parameters, 42% for chemical parameters and 54% for total coliforms are found within permissible limit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In much of the American West, water districts dominate water governance. These districts serve vitally important functions in regions challenged by aridity, growing populations, and climate change. These districts also often operate within boundaries developed a century ago, or more, and under governing rules that are undemocratic by design. In many water districts, people who do not own land cannot serve on the governing board. Nor can they vote in water district elections. Not surprisingly, given their composition and power, water districts often thwart efforts to modernize and bring equity to water management. This Article describes these problems. Drawing on original data and mapping, it shows how pervasive these undemocratic governance structures can be and how water districts with these structures are expanding their reach into new policy realms. It also explains continued problems with the geography of water districts. And it shows how some water districts have acted to thwart important state policy interests and why such conflicts are likely to increase. This Article also explains how state governments can respond. It advocates a shift from impact litigation--which earlier generations of lawyers tried to use, largely unsuccessfully--to legislative activity. It explains specific steps state legislatures can take to reform water district governance structures, reset boundaries, and address districts that persistently undermine state policy goals. More generally, it explains how different governance frameworks can replace states' current handsoff approach to water district oversight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The segmented water control technology for bottom water reservoirs can effectively delay the entry of bottom water and adjust the production profile. To clarify the impact of different methods on horizontal well production with different reservoir conditions and to provide theoretical support for the scientific selection of methods for bottom water reservoirs, a numerical simulation method is presented in this study, which is able to deal with wellbore reservoir coupling under screen tube, perforation, and ICD (Inflow Control Device) completion. Assuming the geological characteristics of the bottom-water conglomerate reservoir in the Triassic Formation of the Tahe Block 9 as a test case, the three aforementioned completion methods are tested to predict the transient production characteristics. The impact of completion parameters, reservoir permeability, bottom-water energy, and individual well control on the time to encounter water in horizontal wells (during a water-free production period) is discussed. A boundary chart for the selection of completion methods is introduced accordingly. The results show that the optimized ICD completion development effect for heterogeneous reservoirs is the best, followed by optimized perforation completion. Permeability is the main factor affecting the performances of completion methods, while bottom water energy and single well controlled reserves have a scarce impact. The average permeability of the reservoir is less than 500 mD, and ICD has the best water control effect. If the permeability is greater than 500 mD, the water control effect of perforation completion becomes a better option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-temperature geothermal energy is precious renewable resource for heating. Reducing the return temperature of geothermal water is an important way to maximize geothermal heating potential and expand the heating area. Considering that existing buildings generally use high-temperature radiators and other heating terminals, while newly constructed buildings mostly use low-temperature floor heating terminals, the required supply water temperatures for these two types differ. In response to this, a geothermal energy-driven dual-temperature district heating substation system with a single absorption heat pump and two heat exchangers is proposed. This system aims to produce dual-temperature hot water for both high and low-temperature heating terminals and reduce the return temperature of geothermal water. Simulation results shows that when the geothermal outlet water is 100 ℃, and the secondary network's high- and low-temperature terminal supply water temperatures are 50 ℃ and 35 ℃ respectively, the return temperature of geothermal water in the dual-temperature district heating substation can be reduced to 20. 1 ℃. Compared to a substation using two serial heat exchangers, the proposed can lower the geothermal water return temperature by 14. 9 ℃, reduce the geothermal water flow rate by 18. 6%, and improve COP by 11%, demonstrating significant energy-saving advantages. Variable working condition analysis indicates that promoting the use of low-temperature heating terminals helps further reduce the return temperature of geothermal water, increase the heat supply to users, and improve the COP of the dual-temperature heating substation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wastewater manholes are crucial infrastructure components in sewage systems. They provide necessary access points for inspection and maintenance. However, limited studies were conducted on the life-cycle cost analysis of manholes. The primary objective of this study is to compute and compare the Life-Cycle Unit Cost (LCUC) of cement concrete and polymer concrete manholes to identify a cost-effective alternative for public agencies. To achieve the objective, this study analyzed commonly used 1.83 m diameter manhole data; 343 cement concrete manhole and 88 polymer concrete manhole cost data were collected from the Clark County Water Reclamation District (CCWRD), Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. The results show that the initial costs of polymer concrete are higher than those of traditional cement concrete. Statistical tests were conducted to determine the group differences. The findings show that the LCUCs of polymer concrete manholes are significantly cost-effective when compared to traditional cement concrete manholes. Public agencies can utilize polymer concrete manholes to save costs in future water and wastewater pipeline manhole construction projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radon in water has exposure to the population through ingestion and inhalation. In the present paper, radon levels in fifty-eight samples from different underground water sources (borewell, handpump, tap water, which are used for drinking purposes) and surface water sources (pond, canal) located in district Gurugram, Southern Haryana, India, measured. SMART RnDuo (having ZnS:Ag detector) based on alpha scintillometry technique was used for this purpose. The dissolved radon in water ranged from 1.1 to 15.2 BqL−1 with a mean value of 6.8BqL−1. Radon in drinking water samples was about six times higher than the surface water samples in district Gurugram. A trend of increase in radon level with an increase in source depth was observed. Annual effective doses due to ingestion (AEDing) and inhalation (AEDinh) were calculated for different age groups. Total annual effective doses due to AEDing and AEDinh are varied from 8.6 to 118.7µSv y−1 with a mean value of 53.1µSv y−1 for infants, 4.9 to 67.9µSv y−1 with a mean value of 30.3µSv y−1 for children, and 5.6 to 77.1µSv y−1 with a mean value of 34.5µSv y−1 for adults. Radon in water samples was found to be less than the guideline value of 100 BqL−1 recommended by the World Health Organization, indicating that water sources are suitable for use by the public and have no radiological hazards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With a growing need for efficient use of water in a large metropolitan community, a municipal water district has developed an experiential educational programme to help customers develop acceptance of purified recycled water (PRW). This programme involves touring a small‐scale working purification facility that does not provide consumer drinking water but serves as a demonstration centre. Two empirical studies demonstrated the positive impact of this educational program. In Study 1, a pre‐/post‐research design was used to examine scores on a measure of attitudes about PRW for 70 undergraduate students who were asked to tour the demonstration centre. These participants expressed more favourable attitudes after the tour than they expressed before the tour (t = 8.76, df = 68, p < 0.001, d = 1.06), suggesting that the demonstration centre positively impacted attitudes about PRW. In Study 2, an experimental design allowed for a comparison of attitudes about PRW for undergraduate students who were given an informational tour of the demonstration centre (n = 27), compared to students who did not tour the demonstration centre until after their data were collected (n = 30). Participants who toured the demonstration centre expressed more positive attitudes on a self‐report measure of PRW attitudes than those who had not completed the tour (t = 2.24, df = 50.0, p = 0.03, d = 0.60); however, the two groups did not differ in the amount of water they sampled (t = 0.29, df = 55.65, p = 0.77, d = 0.08) or in facial expressions associated with happiness (t = 1.34, df = 53.89, p = 0.19, d = 0.38) or disgust (t = 0.86, df = 53.14, p = 0.40, d = 0.39) when drinking a sample of water. Together, these studies demonstrate the effectiveness of an experiential demonstration centre in increasing positive attitudes towards purified recycled water. Highlights: A municipal water district developed a demonstration centre to educate the local community about the upcoming inclusion of purified recycled water.In Study 1, attitudes about purified recycled water were more accepting after participating in an experiential tour.In Study 2, attitudes held by those who participated in the tour were more positive than attitudes of the control group.These studies suggest that an experiential educational programme has a positive impact on attitudinal acceptance of purified recycled water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to further promote the reform of regional comprehensive water price and accelerate the completion of the governance task of the Yellow River water resources overload area, in March 2023, Shandong Province selected Dongying Guangrao county and Dezhou plain county to carry out the pilot of regional comprehensive water price reform of the Yellow River water resources overload area. This paper, taking Guangrao County as an example, summarizes the pilot experience of optimizing district water supply structure, setting up multi-source water supply management platform, formulating and issuing comprehensive water price policy, etc. Based on the new water supply model of 'double guarantee' of Yangtze River water with the same quality and same price, the countermeasures and suggestions of establishing the comprehensive water price reform of "equal emphasis on incentives and constraints, fair burden of users, and playing the role of market" are put forward in order to provide reference for the follow-up regional comprehensive water price reform in the overloaded area of Yellow River water resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objective] The key meteorological factors, critical periods, and the influence degree of meteorological conditions on hot peppers yield in the northern Guizhou region were explored, which provided a theoretical basis for hot pepper production decisions, climate impact assessment, and yield forecasting in northern Guizhou. [Method] The yield separation method and mathematical statistics were used to study the key meteorological factors, critical periods, and their relationships affecting hot pepper yield in northern Guizhou region. Taking Bozhou District as the research area, the prediction model of meteorological yield of hot pepper was studied. [Result] Higher average and maximum temperatures in June were unfavorable for the formation of hot pepper yield; The minimum temperature from late August to mid-September was the limiting factor for yield, with higher minimum temperatures correlating with higher yields. When the diurnal temperature range exceeds 8.5 °C, the pepper yield tended to increase slowly as the diurnal temperature range increases. The amount of precipitation in late June was the moisture limiting factor for hot pepper growth, with more precipitation leading to higher yields. The hours of sunlight from mid-April to early May and from mid-June to late June had negative relationships with meteorological yield. The meteorological prediction model for hot pepper yield in Bozhou district was Y40.836Tmid-June to late June +40. 6447early August 106.159. [Conclusion] Meteorological conditions in the northern Guizhou region affect hot pepper yields by approximately 50%. The meteorological conditions of different areas have different influence on hot pepper yield through different critical periods. The key period of climate conditions in Bozhou region is in the middle and late period. The temperature during the middle period of pepper growth is significantly negatively correlated with hot pepper yield. Except the precipitation in late June in Bozhou District limiting hot pepper growth, precipitation in many counties and districts meets the water needs for hot pepper growth. The impact of sunshine hours on hot pepper yield is positive at early stage and negative at later stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the qualitative analysis of groundwater obtained from the Tonk district of Rajasthan to determine its suitability as potable water. Around 321 ground drinking water samples were collected and analysed for various physico-chemical characteristics including pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solid (TDS), HCO3−, F−, Cl−, SO42−, NO3−, Ca2+, Mg2+, total hardness (TH) and total alkalinity (TA) in Tonk district of Rajasthan (India). The groundwater in the region is a little alkaline and hard. The EC during the pre-monsoon period varies from 434 to 7271 µS/cm, while in the post-monsoon period, it ranges from 356 to 8871 µS/cm. TDS of samples ranged between 285 to 5090 mg/L in the pre-monsoon and 247 to 6140 mg/L post-monsoon seasons. Few samples have EC, TDS, and TH levels higher than the permissible limit, restricts its usage as drinking water. The water quality in the study area varies from soft-fresh to hard-brackish in both pre- and post-monsoon seasons. Anion concentrations in analysed samples followed the order: HCO3− > Cl− > SO42− > NO3− > F−. Notably, the Water quality index (WQI) results for all collected samples fall within the range of 4.55–96.83, indicating they are considered safe and suitable for drinking purposes. Water quality data was analysed by correlation study and geochemical processes. A strong correlation between the Water Quality Index (WQI) and fluoride levels is found in both seasons. The geochemical analysis shows that most of the samples are in the rock water interaction zone, with some in the evaporation zone due to the high content of chloride ions. The groundwater chemistry appears to be influenced by rock-water interaction and evaporation sedimentation. The molar ratio of Ca2+/Mg2+ denotes calcite dissolution and silicate weathering revealing enrichment of Ca2+ and HCO3− ions in aquifer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The document titled "Reviewers" is a list of individuals who reviewed manuscripts for the Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023. The list includes reviewers from different institutions and countries, showcasing a diverse range of expertise and perspectives in the field of water resources. This document serves as a recognition of the valuable contributions made by these individuals to the journal's peer-review process. [Extracted from the article]

Efficient water management strategies are of utmost importance in drought-prone regions, given the fundamental role irrigation plays in avoiding yield losses and food shortages. Traditional methodologies for estimating irrigation amounts face limitations in terms of overall precision and operational scalability. This study proposes to estimate irrigation amounts from soil moisture (SM) data by adapting the PrISM (Precipitation Inferred from Soil Moisture) methodology. The PrISM assimilates SM into a simple Antecedent Precipitation Index (API) model using a particle filter approach, which allows the creation and estimation of irrigation events. The methodology is applied in a semi-arid region in the Ebro basin, located in the north-east of Spain (Catalonia), from 2016 to 2023. Multi-year drought, which started in 2020, particularly affected the region starting from the spring of 2023, which led to significant reductions in irrigation district water allocations in some of the areas of the region. This study demonstrates that the PrISM approach can correctly identify areas where water restrictions were adopted in 2023, and monitor the water usage with good performances and reliable results. When compared with in situ data for 8 consecutive years, PrISM showed a significant person's correlation between 0.58 and 0.76 and a cumulative weekly root mean squared error (rmse) between 7 and 11 mm. Additionally, PrISM was applied to three irrigation districts with different levels of modernization, due to the different predominant irrigation systems: flood, sprinkler, and drip. This analysis underlined the strengths and limitations of PrISM depending on the irrigation techniques monitored. PrISM has good performances in areas irrigated by sprinkler and flood systems, while difficulties are present over drip irrigated areas, where the very localized and limited irrigation amounts could not be detected from S M observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main aim of the study is to present an assessment report of radon concentration in the underground water of Bokaro district, Jharkhand, India. Water samples were collected from tube-wells at 100 different locations scattered throughout the district. The radon (222Rn) concentration level varies widely between 3.5 and 598.9 Bq/l with an average value of 145.8 Bq/l. In this paper, total annual effective dose of the samples and associated excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) were estimated also to assess the health risk due to the consumption of the radon rich water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a new methodology is proposed with the aim of quantifying the energy benefits resulting from different operation strategies. A new set of performance indices is obtained to discern among the multiple effects on the energy use of each single intervention on the network operation. The new methodology is applied to two different cases: a pressure reducing strategy in a water district and a variable pumping strategy in the water supply of a network. The two presented case studies demonstrated the applicability of the proposed methodology. The new performance indices were found to be a reliable measure for the choice of the best technical solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the Model Cities program, a federal anti-poverty initiative that was implemented in the United States in the 1960s. The program aimed to address urban unrest and inequality by investing in the physical and social environments of urban neighborhoods. However, the program faced challenges and was ultimately dismantled, leading to a shift towards indirect incentives and private-sector involvement in urban development. The article explores the complex legacy of the Model Cities program and its impact on various aspects of urban life, while acknowledging the ongoing issues of poverty and racial segregation in the country. The authors of the article emphasize the need to understand the program's history and its afterlives in order to learn from its successes and failures. [Extracted from the article]

Groundwater carries radioactive elements like 226Ra, 222Rn, and 210Po during its flow beneath and above the land. When this water is used for drinking, cooking and other household purposes, the radioactive substances in the water may enter the human body and cause adverse health effects. This study was conducted to determine the distribution of 226Ra, 222Rn, and 210Po in the groundwater samples of Chamarajanagar District, Karnataka, India. The activity of 222Rn in 66 places was studied using the smart radon monitor. The activity of 226Ra, and 210Po was studied at 12 places using emanometry technique and radiochemical analysis, respectively. The activity of 222Rn in groundwater samples varied from 0.94 ± 0.13 to 26.90 ± 3.53 Bq L−1 with an average of 4.44 ± 0.56 Bq L−1. The activity of 226Ra, and 210Po varied from 2.18 ± 0.31 to 96.42 ± 16.55 mBq L−1 with an average of 31.38 ± 9.93 mBq L−1 and 0.72 ± 0.24 to 6.33 ± 0.88 mBq L−1 with an average of 2.86 ± 0.52 mBq L−1, respectively. A good correlation between 226Ra, 222Rn, and 210Po was observed, indicating that they might be of the same origin. The average ingestion dose due to 226Ra, 222Rn, and 210Po were 6.41, 11.58, and 2.51 µSv y−1 respectively, which is less than the recommended effective dose of 100 µSv y−1 associated with the intake of radionuclide from drinking water by WHO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Statement of the problem. The article discusses the manifestations and consequences of such conflicts, in particular their impact on the Pechenihy Reservoir. The study of the problem of water clashes and its exhaustive justification is an important step in the development of effective strategies for managing water resources and preventing the negative consequences of conflicts. Despite the generally defined interpretation of water conflicts, the term should be considered more thoroughly as a phenomenon, based on its duality, because such conflicts can be provoked by different reasons, and therefore their course and consequences may differ. The study of the problem of water clashes and its exhaustive justification is an important step in the development of effective strategies for managing water resources and preventing the negative consequences of conflicts. The study of the problems of water conflicts with the example of the Pechenihy reservoir is due to the novelty of the problem faced by this reservoir. For the first time, the Pechenihy reservoir witnessed large-scale hostilities and, accordingly, for the first time in the history of its existence, faced the devastating consequences of the war. A comprehensive characterization of the reservoir as a center of local water skirmish is necessary, especially in the context of determining the manifestations and classifications of water conflicts. The aim of the work is to set out the causes, classifications and consequences of water conflicts that arise in the context of the use of water resources based on the example of the Pechenihy reservoir. The article aims at a comprehensive analysis of the impact of these conflicts on the geo-ecological and social spheres. Methods. In addition to general scientific methods of analysis, synthesis and generalization, geographical methods of research were used. A special place was occupied by the methods of space hydrology (deciphering aerospace images of the reservoir). The applied method of system analysis helped to identify and clearly classify the situation around the studied reservoir as a local water conflict with the identification of the problem and the way of its course. Results. The study substantiates the phenomenon of water conflicts, highlighting their dual nature as both geo-ecological and social issues, exacerbated by military operations. The hydrological and technical characteristics of the Pechenihy reservoir were examined, revealing significant geo- and hydroecological problems due to nearby combat activities. The study provides a first-time analysis of local water conflict events from the onset of the Russian invasion to the Kharkiv counteroffensive, classifying the conflict around the Pechenihy reservoir as armed, with water serving as both a victim and weapon. The novelty of this article is manifested in an in-depth study of the specifics of hydroecological conflicts in the conditions of long-term hostilities around the Pechenihy reservoir, followed by a comprehensive analysis of the geoecological and social aspects of this problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) has awarded $9.6 million in grants to support the restoration and conservation of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. These grants will leverage additional funding to generate a total conservation impact of over $19 million. The grants will be used to implement various restoration practices that improve water quality, enhance habitat, and promote climate resilience. In addition, the City of Pomona in California has won a lawsuit against SQM North America Corp., receiving over $30.62 million to cover the costs of groundwater contamination caused by defective fertilizer products. The payment comes after years of litigation and a jury verdict in favor of the city. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has also announced over $3.5 million in funding for environmental justice projects in Colorado, aimed at providing clean air, water, and climate resilience solutions to disadvantaged communities. These projects align with the Biden-Harris administration's Justice40 Initiative. The article also includes other industry news, such as the development of a lake level optimization tool, the renaming of a water district headquarters, and various company updates and achievements. [Extracted from the article]

In this investigation, radon activity concentration, inhalation and ingestion doses due to intake of radon in drinking water have been estimated in the Chitradurga district drinking water by using radon Emanometry technique. The average radon concentrations vary from 1.81 ± 0.11 to 300.33 ± 4.56 Bql−1 with a mean value of 56.01 ± 2.44 Bql−1. Most of the radon concentration levels are within the World Health Organization (WHO) and European Union (EU) commission recommended level of 100 Bql−1. About 70% of the drinking water had radon concentration level higher than the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) recommended Maximum Contamination Limit (MCL) of 11.1 Bql−1. The annual ingestion dose varies from 0.38 to 63.03 μSvy−1 with an average value of 11.75 μSvy−1. The estimated annual ingestion dose is well within the WHO recommended reference level of 100 μSvy−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developments in data mining techniques have significantly influenced the progress of Intelligent Water Systems (IWSs). Learning about the hydraulic conditions enables the development of increasingly reliable predictive models of water consumption. The non-stationary, non-linear, and inherent stochasticity of water consumption data at the level of a single water meter means that the characteristics of its determinism remain impossible to observe and their burden of randomness creates interpretive difficulties. A deterministic model of water consumption was developed based on data from high temporal resolution water meters. Seven machine learning algorithms were used and compared to build predictive models. In addition, an attempt was made to estimate how many water meters data are needed for the model to bear the hallmarks of determinism. The most accurate model was obtained using Support Vector Regression (8.9%) and the determinism of the model was achieved using time series from eleven water meters of multi-family buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Vibrio species are among the autochthonous bacterial populations found in surface waters and associated with various life-threatening extraintestinal diseases, especially in human populations with underlying illnesses and wound infections. Presently, very diminutive information exists regarding these species' mutational diversity of virulence and resistance genes. This study evaluated variations in endonucleases and mutational diversity of the virulence and resistance genes of Vibrio isolates, harboring virulence-correlated gene (vcgCPI), dihydropteroate synthase type 1 and type II genes (Sul 1 and 11), (aadA) aminoglycoside (3'') (9) adenylyltransferase gene, (aac(3)-IIa, (aacC2)a, aminoglycoside N(3)-acetyltransferase III, and (strA) aminoglycoside 3'-phosphotransferase resistance genes. Methods Using combinations of molecular biology techniques, bioinformatics tools, and sequence analysis. Results Our result revealed various nucleotide variations in virulence determinants of V. vulnificus (vcgCPI) at nucleotide positions (codon) 73-75 (A → G) and 300--302 (N → S). The aminoglycosides resistance gene (aadA) of Vibrio species depicts a nucleotide difference at position 482 (A → G), while the aminoglycosides resistance gene (sul 1 and 11) showed two variable regions of nucleotide polymorphism (102 and 140). The amino acid differences exist with the nucleotide polymorphism at position 140 (A → E). The banding patterns produced by the restriction enzymes HinP1I, MwoI, and StyD4I showed significant variations. Also, the restriction enzyme digestion of protein dihydropteroate synthase type 1 and type II genes (Sul 1 and 11) differed significantly, while enzymes DpnI and Hinf1 indicate no significant differences. The restriction enzyme NlaIV showed no band compared to reference isolates from the GenBank. However, the resistant determinants show significant point nucleotide mutation, which does not produce any amino acid change with diverse polymorphic regions, as revealed in the restriction digest profile. Conclusion The described virulence and resistance determinants possess specific polymorphic locus relevant to pathogenomics studies, pharmacogenomic, and control of such water-associated strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water supply system is an important infrastructure that needs improvement in water distribution networks efficiency, along with energy consumption and water losses. DMA Kalipuro 5 is formed to improve the management of water distribution system by monitoring the water flows into the district. This program is supported by pressure management, repairs, active leakage control, and asset management. Water balance is the first step to reduce the water losses. From the water balance of DMA Kalipuro 5 calculated in January and September 2022, the percentage of water losses decreases 7,02%, from 62,55% to 55,53%. The percentage of physical water losses also decreases 7,06%, from 62,32% to 55,26%. Pressure management is conducted in order to reduce the physical water losses by installing pressure reducing valve (PRV). From the simulation of existing water distribution network, installing PRV can reduce the highest pressure from 108,82 meters to 58,42 meters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Irrigation water quality impacts plant growth, crop production, and public health. Thus, understanding the trends in irrigation water quality is important to manage public health, and optimize crop production. The Koga region in Ethiopia is a developing area where crops are an important food source for a growing population, and irrigation is critical to supply additional food crops and secure food insecurity issues. This study measures physiochemical and biological parameters to assess the suitability of Koga irrigation water for crops intended for human consumption. In March 2022, irrigation water samples were collected and analyzed for physicochemical and biological qualities. Kelley's ratio, magnesium danger, and sodium absorption ratio were calculated from the data obtained. Results showed that the turbidity (174.33–259.00 NTU), total suspended solids (80.33–175.00 mg/L), total alkalinity (143.33–195.33 mg/L), total hardness (150.67–224.6 mg/L), SO42−(43.96–73.00 mg/L), PO43−(56.27–87.43 mg/L), and BOD5 (63.23–95.40 mg/L) levels surpassed the recommended limit of FAO(35 NTU,50 mg/L,100 mg/L,100–150 mg/L,20 mg/L,3 mg/L and 30 mg/L, respectively). BOD5 levels of the tested water samples exceeded the permissible limit set by the EU (10 mg/L). The coliform and fecal coliform levels in all sampled waters were higher than the zero/100 mL limits of the EU and WHO set for irrigation water. The studied water samples were found to be unsuitable for the cultivation of crops and vegetables since TA, PO4−3, and NO3− levels exceeded the tolerance limit of the crops and vegetables cultivated in the site, while the coliform and BOD5 levels surpassed their tolerable limits. Consequently, it is not recommended to eat crops and vegetables without first properly preparing them. The results showed improper ratio of Mg2+:Ca2+ and Na+:Ca+2, and a magnesium hazard was foreseen. This study showed that the turbidity, total suspended solids, total alkalinity, total hardness, SO42−, PO43−, BOD5, and the coliform levels of the studied irrigation water samples of the Koga irrigation project were not found within the safe limits of FAO, WHO, EU, and irrigation water quality limits of different nations, even though additional samples evaluating seasonal fluctuations are needed to fully assess the water quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates a covering time minimisation problem of the maritime rescue missions that arise in practical rescue operations in the context of Hong Kong waters. In this problem, a fleet of heterogeneous vessels is deployed at marine police bases to deal with emergencies. Once an emergency rescue request is received, the marine police should send sufficient vessels to arrive at the incident site as soon as possible to provide critical medical service to the injured or the sick. A basic question to the rescue missions is that what is the minimal covering time that marine police could promise to arrive at any incident site. The shorter time the water district can be covered, the more likely lives and properties can be saved and the better the rescue service is. To address this problem, this paper formulates a mixed-integer programming model. Considering the expensive computational cost, a two-stage method is proposed. Extensive numerical experiments and a case study are performed to demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed algorithm and illustrate how our model can be applied to solve practical problems. Our study contributes to the stream of research on maritime rescue problem that is gaining increasing concern in recent years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author discusses the Senate Bill 712, also known as the Clean Waterways Act, passed by the legislature in Florida in 2020. It tackles the requirements of the Act to the U.S. Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and water management districts, the initiation of rule development by the DEP, the establishment of a Technical Advisory Committee by the DEP, and the statement of estimated regulatory costs to be prepared by agencies.

India is the world's second largest producer of wheat, with more than 40% increase in production since 2000. Increasing temperatures raise concerns about wheat's sensitivity to heat. Traditionally-grown sorghum is an alternative rabi (winter season) cereal, but area under sorghum production has declined more than 20% since 2000. We examine sensitivity of wheat and sorghum yields to historical temperature and compare water requirements in districts where both cereals are cultivated. Wheat yields are sensitive to increases in maximum daily temperature in multiple stages of the growing season, while sorghum does not display the same sensitivity. Crop water requirements (mm) are 1.4 times greater for wheat than sorghum, mainly due to extension of its growing season into summer. However, water footprints (m3 per ton) are approximately 15% less for wheat due to its higher yields. Sensitivity to future climate projections, without changes in management, suggests 5% decline in wheat yields and 12% increase in water footprints by 2040, compared with 4% increase in water footprint for sorghum. On balance, sorghum provides a climate-resilient alternative to wheat for expansion in rabi cereals. However, yields need to increase to make sorghum competitive for farmer profits and efficient use of land to provide nutrients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Key Takeaways: In 2012, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California combined its commercial and residential water conservation rebate programs into SoCal Water$mart, still in use today. Member agencies and their retail agency customers can add funding to Metropolitan's base‐level incentives for what are referred to as "stacked incentives." Metropolitan has processes in place to allow for co‐funding flexibility, ensure rebate accuracy, and maintain agency and consumer satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 5‐day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) and carbonaceous BOD5 (CBOD5) tests are widely used parameters for monitoring wastewater. Total organic carbon (TOC) has many advantages over these tests. Wastewater utilities have conducted studies to modify National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits to allow TOC analysis; however, statistical methods vary across studies. This study examined parametric and nonparametric correlation and parametric, nonparametric, and nonlinear regression methods for analysing BOD5, CBOD5, and TOC concentrations collected for 1 year from seven wastewater treatment plants from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago. Spearman ρ correlation and Theil–Sen regression on log‐transformed concentrations were the most appropriate methods. Correlation coefficients were 0.83 or greater and regression residuals were as small as or smaller than the other two methods. This study demonstrated that nonparametric methods performed best for analysing non‐normal data in seeking to incorporate TOC analysis into NPDES reporting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to predict the corrosion depth of a district heating pipeline, it is necessary to analyze various corrosion factors. In this study, the relationship between corrosion factors such as pH, dissolved oxygen, and operating time and corrosion depth was investigated using the Box–Behnken method within the response surface methodology. To accelerate the corrosion process, galvanostatic tests were conducted in synthetic district heating water. Subsequently, a multiple regression analysis was performed using the measured corrosion depth to derive a formula for predicting the corrosion depth as a function of the corrosion factors. As a result, the following regression formula was derived for predicting the corrosion depth: "corrosion depth (μm) = −133 + 17.1 pH + 0.00072 DO + 125.2 Time − 7.95 pH × Time + 0.002921 DO × Time". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seagrasses in Tampa Bay are a fundamental habitat that is central to the research and management efforts of the Tampa Bay Estuary Program and the Tampa Bay community in general. Improving and sustaining good water quality (as measured by reduced chlorophyll concentrations and nutrient inputs over time) is an important goal to enable a continued increase in areal cover and density of seagrasses in the bay. In order to track success, assessments of seagrass areal cover are conducted by aerial mapping every two years during months of high-water clarity, typically in January-May. Satellite imagery is an available tool that allows for continuous seagrass monitoring, but which has not been used routinely due to uncertainties and complications of understanding the optics of the water column. Imaging of estuarine waters for benthic cover assessments is challenging due to changes in water clarity, sunglint effects, and depth. We developed algorithms for selecting and processing large imagery collections from the Landsat and Sentinel missions for detecting and quantifying seagrass areal cover change over time. The ability to process large amounts of data was facilitated by using Google Earth Engine and the Python programming language. We used Landsat 5, 7 and 8 from 1990 to 2015, and Sentinel-from 2016 to 2021. Sentinel-2 provided a higher number of images per year. We detected decreases in seagrass areal cover in 1990-2000 and increases in 20002021. Overall, seagrass area increased from 70.6 km2 to 96.9 km2 in the three decades since 1990 to 2021. These trends match the aerial mapping done by the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD). The long-term trends in seagrass areal cover match the trend toward improving water quality in Tampa Bay. Further development of tools in the cloud can help managers and scientists understand dynamics of seagrasses and other coastal ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water affordability is determined by the percentage of income households that must allocate to municipal water services, while factoring in essential or basic needs water use. With the rise in water prices reported in most areas of the country along with somewhat stagnant income growth—a combination that suggests ceteris paribus—more of a household's disposable income is being spent on water services. This paper adds to the discussion in three ways. First, given the lack of a consistent definition for "affordability" and the subjective connotation associated with such a term, we develop and compare five different water expenditure ratios, including two different measures of water for essential needs, as well as measures for indoor, efficient, and actual water use. Second, because of the granularity of our data, we illustrate how such "affordability" measures can vary significantly within a water district and thus highlight how using district‐ or county‐level income measures can mask the degree to which affordability is an issue for households living in low‐income block groups. Our results indicate that the choice of income measure and type of water service use can influence affordability measures substantially. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Floods are lethal and destructive natural hazards. The Mediterranean, including Greece, has recently experienced many flood events (e.g., Medicanes Zorbas and Ianos), while climate change results in more frequent and intense flood events. Accurate flood mapping in river areas is crucial for flood risk assessment, planning mitigation measures, protecting existing infrastructure, and sustainable planning. The accuracy of results is affected by all simplifying assumptions concerning the conceptual and numerical model implemented and the quality of geospatial data used (Digital Terrain Models—DTMs). The current research investigates flood modelling sensitivity against geospatial data accuracy using the following DTM resolutions in a mountainous river sub-basin of Thessaly's Water District (Greece): (a) open 5 m and (b) 2 m data from Hellenic Cadastre (HC) and (c) 0.05 m data from an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) topographical mission. RAS-Mapper and HEC-RAS are used for 1D (steady state) hydraulic simulation regarding a 1000-year return period. Results include flood maps and cross section-specific flow characteristics. They are analysed in a graphical flood map-based empirical fashion, whereas a statistical analysis based on the correlation matrix and a more sophisticated Machine Learning analysis based on the interpretation of nonlinear relationships between input–output variables support and particularise the conclusions in a quantifiable manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to investigate the contamination level of Abzana water in Asano district. Five water samples were collected from different point of Abzana water. Some physicochemical parameters and four heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Cr and Mn) concentration were analyzed using standard procedures, and the results were compared with World Health Organization guideline values. The results of the present study have shown the temperatures of all sampling station range between 18.9 and 19.2 °C. The pH was found to be of range from 6.54 to 7.11, whereas the electrical conductance was 1.745 × 102 to 2.06 × 102 (µS/cm). In addition, the lowest value of total dissolved solids was 1.314 × 102 mg/L and the highest was 1.401 × 102 mg/L. In contrast, four heavy metals were analyzed and compared with standards of drinking water. The results indicate that the mean concentration of Cd (6.64 × 10−3 mg/L) exceeded the standards, but the mean concentration of Mn, Pb and Cr was founds within the standard limit at 7.608 × 10–2, 8.10 × 10–3 and 3.5442 × 10–2 mg/L, respectively. The concentrations of the investigated metal (Cr, Pb and Mn) and all physicochemical result of Abzana water from Asano kebele were found below the guidelines for drinking water. However, the concentration of Cd in Abzana water sample was found above the permissible limit of World Health Organization standards. Therefore, it was not safe for drinking and health effect according metals what we have studied here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought is one of the most challenging disasters that impact the natural and cultural ecosystems across the world, especially in the climate dependent sectors of arid and semi-arid areas. The aim of this article is to share the experiences gained and enhance the readers' awareness on the status of drought and process of the early warning systems (EWS) in south India. Drought status of three agroecologically different states is included in this article, such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana. As far as Tamil Nadu is concerned, Karur, Thuthukudi, Krishnagiri, Namakkal, Trichy and Thirunelveli districts are water scarce compared to other districts in the state. The districts such as Wayanad, Thiruvananthapuram, Idukki and Palakkad in Kerala have received lesser rainfall compared to the other parts of the state during the period 1981 to 2019. In Telangana, the mandals such as Nagarkurnool, Jogulamba-Gadwal, Wanaparthy, Mahabubnagar Nalgonda and Yedadri are frequently hit by dry spells and droughts. As a case study, weather early warning dissemination, carried out at Parambikulam Aliyar basin, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, during Khariff and Rabi seasons, using IMDs medium and extended range forecast is also elaborated in particular in the article. As far as the accuracy of forecast is concerned, probability of false detection (false alarm rate) was found to be 0.81 for Khariff and 0.30 for Rabi season, indicating the need for better performance in the accuracy of dry spell early warning, disaster preparedness and response. In-spite of this, access to early warning has supported the farmers during harvest and land preparation with a utility score of 72% and 59%, respectively. In Parambikulam Aliyar basin, remote sensing products such as MODIS-NDVI, NDWI and TWI was also used to identify the real-time progression of monthly vegetative condition for Kharif and Rabi seasons. NDVI values were used to monitor the district level vegetation condition and compared it with the drought year 2016, the difference in area under barren land was 76% less during Khariff, 2021 and 44% during Rabi, 2021.This study is a compilation of lessons learned from different states and the existing knowledge and practice in early warnings, and recommends the need for a holistic approach in drought and dry spell monitoring along with better accuracy and dissemination to minimize climate-related shocks in agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]