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BACKGROUND: Yam is a major staple food that provides both energy (starch) and bioactive compounds. However, there is a lack of knowledge on its cooking quality. We have determined the cooking quality of five varieties of water yam (among those most appreciated by consumers), when they were steamed or boiled. The yams were grown in two contrasting locations with regard to pedoclimatic conditions. RESULTS: Ratio of length to mean circumference of the tuber, difficulty to peel, cooking time, color attributes, hardness of steamed pulp, and dry matter (DM) and starch contents significantly varied among varieties. Cooking time and hardness of the cooked pulp, either steamed or boiled, were higher for tubers grown at the drier location, with vertisols, than at the rainy one, with a ferralitic soil. The raw pulp was richer in starch at the rainy location. We found no correlation between either textural properties or DM and the cooking time. A slight (r = 0.44) but significant correlation was recorded between the DM of the raw pulp and the hardness of the steamed product. CONCLUSION: We propose a comprehensive multicriteria approach for determination of yam cooking quality, textural properties, color attributes and chemical composition, along with varietal and environmental influences. This approach takes into consideration the complexity of food quality, allows a better understanding of its determinants and provides a basis for useful guidelines for breeders. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focused on assessing the effectiveness of vertical subsurface constructed wetlands (VSFCW) in purifying integrated poultry and aquaculture wastewater (PAW) in a tropical region. This evaluation encompassed the treatment of physico-chemical, heavy metal, and microbiological pollutants across three distinct climatic seasons and hydraulic retention time (HRT: 21 days). Parameters such as BOD (29.50 mg/L), COD (56.67 mg/L), Zn (2.97 mg/L), Cr (0.24 mg/L), Cu (1.78 mg/L), Pb (0.21 mg/L), total fecal coliform (866.67 cfu/mL), total coliform (1666.67 cfu/mL), E. coli (1133.33 cfu/mL), and Salmonella/Shigella (700 cfu/mL) exceeded the discharge limits for wastewater into nearby surface water bodies. Significant removal efficiencies were observed for all parameters tested in the CW planted with both Phragmites karka and Typha latifolia. The macrophytes showed similar removal efficiencies for all tested parameters, and there was no significant difference in the initial concentrations of the parameters based on the experimental season, except for microbial properties. This suggests that weather conditions did not significantly impact the concentration of physical and chemical properties in the wastewater. Consequently, this study successfully demonstrates the potential of using a VSFCW for effective treatment of PAW. Leveraging the power of nature's green allies, Phragmites karka and Typha latifolia, a Sub-surface Constructed Wetland becomes a dynamic and efficient solution. This innovative strategy not only effectively addresses the wastewater challenge but also promotes sustainability and ecological balance. By harnessing the extraordinary capabilities of these wetland plants, the integrated system showcases its potential to transform waste into a valuable resource while minimizing the environmental footprint. In a world that demands sustainable solutions, this pioneering approach paves the way for a greener future in wastewater treatment for Integrated Poultry and Aquaculture industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are unique reef patches in the Biosphere Reserve Banco Chinchorro reef lagoon that have an unusual formation. They appear to be miniature atolls. These formations are at a depth of 2–6 m, and present flourishing coral growth, whereas a few meters away others are strongly decayed. To define the cause of this phenomenon, an analysis of three of these formations was carried out to try to relate the structure of the corals that make up these formations to environmental factors. We recorded in tidal cycles, 12 environmental parameters, and micronutrients. Despite their closeness, two patches show high biodiversity, whereas the third shows low diversity. These results show notable differences between the three patches resulting from position on the reef (leeward and windward), in addition, these patterns relate to the undercurrent of possible relict water that drains from the lagoon microsystem of the main island of the reef, Cayo Centro, toward the miniature atolls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

First-order streams serve as a nursery of macroinvertebrates which act as secondary producers in the aquatic food chain and indicators of water quality. The present investigation conducted on three first-order streams of Badiyar Gad revealed Trichoptera to be the most diverse order followed by Ephemeroptera, Diptera, Coleoptera, Odonata, Lepidoptera, Plecoptera, Hemiptera, Arhynchobdellida, and Decapoda, indicating good water quality for these streams. High density, diversity, and even distribution of benthic macroinvertebrates during the winter season indicated stable ecosystems and healthy water quality. The presence of 35 families and 52 genera indicates a good habitat with numerous ecological niches for the macroinvertebrates. Two genera Maruina and Neophylax were identified as unique in these streams. They have not been previously reported from the Garhwal Himalayan streams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aims to evaluate the potential effects of cyanobacteria on water quality parameters and Oreochromis niloticus in the fish ponds at Al-Abbassa Fish Hatchery, Sharkia Governorate, Egypt. The study identified five cyanobacterial genera: namely, Anabaena, Gleotrichia, Lyngbya, Oscillatoria and Phormidium. Oscillatoria sp. was the dominant genus in the selected fish ponds. Physico-chemical parameters of water samples showed significant variations during the four seasons. Anabaena sp. extract had the most toxic effect on the survival rate of O. niloticus after 72 h of exposure. Biochemical parameters of collected O. niloticus fish significantly increased compared to the control group. We concluded that the detected cyanobacterial genera in the fish ponds affected water quality and O. niloticus fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water quality trends in streams and rivers are impacted by several factors including land use of the watershed; however, it is unclear what influence changes in the land use of a watershed subsequently have on changes in discharge and water quality in streams and rivers. This study seeks to fill this gap by evaluating the relationship between changes in land use and changes in discharge and water quality at United States Geological Survey (USGS) stream gages over the period of 2008–2016. Using land cover data and discharge and water quality data from 60 USGS gages, regression methods were applied to determine the strength of relationship between land use changes and changes in water quality and quantity. Trends in discharge and water quality were mixed, with a majority of watersheds demonstrating a decrease in dissolved oxygen and turbidity, no overall trend for discharge, and increases in specific conductance. A regression analysis revealed that discharge, turbidity, and specific conductance were correlated with changes in individual land use types with an R2 between 0.12 and 0.25. Combining the influences of multiple land uses in multivariate regression improved the predictions for discharge (R2 0.58) and specific conductance (R2 0.47), highlighting the magnitude for which land cover changes influence trends in water quality. Overall, this study demonstrates the impact that large‐scale land use changes have on surface water quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores age-dependent ingestion doses arising from uranium accumulation in drinking water sources (both groundwater and surface water) in Rupnagar, Punjab, and Una, Himachal Pradesh. Physicochemical parameters such as pH, electrical conductivity, and total dissolved solids were assessed in collected water samples to calculate the water quality index, indicating good water quality in both regions. The study also analyzed uranium concentration in groundwater at varying depths, revealing no significantly high values. The average radiological risk was found to be consistent with reported values, and chemical risk hazard quotient data indicated no adverse health effects from uranium ingestion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction With increasing the world's population, the demand for supply water resources is also increasing. Nevertheless, climate change has severely impacted the accessibility of fresh water resources. Consequently, researchers have been focusing on producing drinkable water from seas and oceans. Iran, with its significant levels of solar radiation and access to open water from the north and south, is an ideal country for fresh water production. Using solar water desalination systems is a reliable and cost-effective solution for producing drinking water from salt water sources. The purpose of this research is to enhance the performance of the solar water desalination system by using the latent heat storage system and a solar tracking system. In this experimental setup for fresh water production, water was used as the working fluid, while a parabolic collector functioned as the source of thermal energy. Materials and Methods The solar water desalination system was designed and built on a laboratory scale at the University of Kurdistan, and then the necessary experiments were carried out. The flowing fluid (water) inside the spiral tube in the tank is pumped into the absorber tube of the parabolic collector. Inside the receiver tube, there is a spiral copper tube with a 7 cm pitch, which contains paraffin. The parabolic mirror reflects the sunlight onto the receiver tube, causing the working fluid, water, to heat up. The cooling process is achieved using a specific source located in the upper section of the distillation tank. In this case, the steam droplets in the tank hit the bottom surface of this cooling tank, which has the shape of an inverted funnel, leading to condensation. The study was conducted over four consecutive days, from 10:00 to 14:00, under identical conditions from August 24th to August 27th, 2022. It took place at the Renewable Energy Laboratory, University of Kurdistan in Sanandaj, Iran, and was conducted for three different volume flow rates of fluid: 1.9, 3.1, and 4.2 l.min-1 with phase change materials (PCM) and 4.2 l.min-1 without phase change materials (WOPCM); the pump's maximum flow rate was 4.2 l.min-1. Variations of outlet temperature, thermal efficiency, desalination efficiency, and produced water were investigated under different conditions. Results and Discussion The results reveal that by decreasing the pitch of the spiral tube, there is an increase in the amount of heat captured, due to the increase in the Nusselt number. At the beginning of data collection, a significant amount of the energy that enters the receiver tube is absorbed by both the phase change material and the spiral tube inside the receiver and as a result, the initial air temperature is lowered. The highest temperature of salt water occurs when the fluid is flowing at a rate of 4.2 l.min-1, while the lowest temperature is observed at a flow rate of 1.9 l.min-1. With a flow rate of 4.2 l.min-1, the absorbent tube rapidly transfers the absorbed heat to the salt water chamber through the fluid. The input energy to the tank has increased from 1.53 to 2.83, 1.14 to 2.18, and 0.73 to 1.48 MJ for fluid flow rates of 4.2, 3.1, and 1.9 l.min-1, respectively. At a flow rate of 4.2 l.min-1, the thermal efficiency of the system without phase change materials (3.51%) is lower compared to the case with phase change materials (5.02%). Moreover, using a solar tracking mechanism increased the thermal efficiency of the collector by 9.86% compared to the system using a photocell sensor. Based on the water quality values, it can be stated that the level of dissolved solids in the water sample has been significantly decreased. This indicates that the water can be used for drinking. Conclusion In this research, the process of thermal changes in a solar water desalination system using PCM was investigated. The obtained results demonstrate that the use of PCM improved the thermal efficiency of the collector and the water obtained from the current system is safe for consumption. Furthermore, by implementing a solar panel tracking system, the efficiency of the solar collector is improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tourism is one of the most important activities for the economy of Nor Patagonia Argentina. In Bariloche City, located on the shores of Lake Nahuel Huapi, both the permanent and the temporary populations have increased significantly in recent decades, and this has not necessarily been accompanied by an improvement in sewage networks. Emerging micropollutants such as pharmaceutical compounds reach aquatic systems directly, in the absence of a domestic sewage network, or through effluents from wastewater treatment plants (WWTP), which do not efficiently remove these substances and represent a major threat to the environment. Therefore, the objective of our study was to monitor the presence of pharmaceutical compounds discharged both through wastewater effluents and diffusely from housing developments into Lake Nahuel Huapi. The results obtained demonstrate the presence of pharmaceuticals in Lake Nahuel Huapi with concentrations ranging from not detectable (ND) to 110.6 ng L–1 (caffeine). The highest pharmaceutical concentration recorded in WWTP influent corresponded to caffeine (41728 ng L–1), and the lowest concentration was paracetamol (18.8 ng L–1). The removal efficiency of pharmaceuticals in the WWTP was calculated, and ranged from 0% for carbamazepine to 66% for ciprofloxacin. This antibiotic showed the lowest % of attenuation (73%) in Lake Nahuel Huapi. These results on the occurrence of a wide variety of pharmaceuticals are the first generated in Patagonia, representing a regional baseline for this type of micropollutant and valuable information for the subsequent design of removal strategies for emerging pharmaceutical pollutants in surface water. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:1274–1284. © 2024 SETAC [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Notwithstanding the continuing advancement of our understanding of the broader ecosystem functioning in Lake Ontario, emerging evidence suggests that there are fundamental knowledge gaps to accurately describe the relationship between exogenous phosphorus (P) loading and in-lake total phosphorus (TP) concentrations. The whole-lake load appears to frequently exceed the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA) interim target of 7000 metric tonnes·year−1, although the offshore-water P concentrations are consistently below the GLWQA interim substance concentration objective of 10 µg TP·L–1. Contrasting ecological conditions prevail in different locations of Lake Ontario, owing to the significant urban footprint along the shoreline but also the capacity of dreissenid mussels to sequester P in the littoral zone. Specifically, low ambient P levels threaten fisheries productivity in offshore waters, while nuisance benthic algae (predominantly Cladophora) and toxin-producing cyanobacteria blooms affect the water quality in the nearshore zone. The present study offers a technical analysis of the recent and ongoing modelling work that has been conducted in Lake Ontario and can be potentially used to address the multitude of ecosystem management challenges. Our aim is to provide an overview of all the major models developed by identifying their fundamental assumptions, structural attributes, and general consistency against empirical knowledge derived from the system. The existing modelling work has opted for parsimonious representations of the lower food web coupled with granular grid configurations to effectively link hydrodynamic processes and mass transport between nearshore and offshore waters. The establishment of comprehensive ecophysiological modules that will recreate the mechanisms underlying the interplay among bioavailable phosphorus, planktonic dynamics, dreissenid mussels, and Cladophora is a critical undertaking to reproduce the water quality conditions in the nearshore zone of Lake Ontario. Striving to integrate the lower food web with fisheries and ecosystem-service modelling, we also offer a technical analysis of knowledge gaps and monitoring-assessment objectives that should be addressed to ensure that ecosystem processes of management interest are adequately measured and the local modelling enterprise is focused on suitable performance indicators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Yalvaç Stream is one of the important sources feeding Lake Eğirdir, the second largest freshwater lake in Turkey. Determining the pollution of the stream used for drinking water and agricultural irrigation is important not only for the continuation of the usability of water, but also for determining the pollution load it carries to Lake Eğirdir. In addition, the macrozoobenthic invertebrate fauna of the stream was revealed in the study. The study was carried out between April 2022 and January 2023, and water and macrozoobenthic invertebrate samples were taken from six stations seasonally. Belgian Biotic Index, BMWP (original and Spanish versions), and species diversity indices were applied for determining the water quality by using the ASTERICS software program. Physicochemical water quality assessment made according to the Türkiye Surface Water Quality Regulation. As a result, a total of 49 taxa were detected: three taxa from Gastropoda, two taxa from Hirudinea, one taxon from Malacostraca, and 43 taxa from Insecta. Stations were clustered by using UPGMA based on organisms. Station 6 was the most different one for the macrozoobenthic invertebrates. The lowest species diversity values were also found at this station. Physicochemical parameters and biotic indices showed that while the first three stations were in water quality class I, there was a decrease in the water quality of the other stations. The reasons for the decrease in water quality are due to domestic and agricultural wastes and livestock activities. Additionally, all of the identified taxa were reported as new records for this stream. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was carried out to determine water quality of the Kum Stream and to compare the performance of the Saprobe Index (SI), several modifications of Biological Monitoring Working Party (BMWP), several modifications of Average Score Per Taxon (ASPT), Belgian Biotic Index (BBI), Family Biotic Index (FBI), EPT-Taxa [%], Simpson's (SDI), Shannon-Wiener (SWDI) and Margalef (MDI) diversity indices. Six sampling stations were determined and the samplings were carried out seasonally. Biotic and diversity indices based on benthic macroinvertebrates have been applied using Asterics software. Pearson's based correlations were applied to the indices in order to determine the proper biotic indices. A total of 37 taxa which belong to Gastropoda, Oligochaeta, Crustacea and Insecta were detected. The dominant group of the benthic macroinvertebrates was Insecta with 26 taxa. According to the result of ANOSIM (Analysis of Similarity); no statistically significant difference was found between the seasonal distributions of the species (p = 0.267; R: 0.038). According to the MANOVA (Multivariate Analysis of Variance) result, the seasons didn't show a significant difference on the linear combination with environmental variables (p = 0.138 > 0.05). According to the results of CCA (Canonical Correlation Analysis), it was determined that the groups known for their sensitivity to pollution showed a positive correlation with the DO and pH variables, while the groups with high tolerance levels and containing many species as pollution indicators showed a positive correlation with the temperature, TU and EC variables. As a result of this research, the water quality of the Kum Stream was determined as polluted. BBI, ASPT and BMWP indices were more proper than SI and FBI indices to determine the water quality of the Kum Stream. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This research was the first to investigate the effects of Haematococcus pluvialis microalgal biomass and colour pigment astaxanthin for the enhancement of the functional characteristics of water kefir. Kefir was evaluated for physicochemical, biochemical, and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) content after fermentation using biomass (0.25%; 0.50% with and without sugar) and astaxanthin (0.50%, no sugar) for 30 h. The addition of 0.25% biomass (W1) and astaxanthin (W4) to water kefir increased the C16:0 content almost three times and the protein content increased by 58% in W2 sample. Nanopore sequencing provided thorough insights into LAB content, revealing that in kefir containing 0.50% biomass replacing sugar (W3), Liquorilactobacillus nagelii proliferated from 8.05% to 46.57% and Lactobacillus hordei increased 15 times, while 0.25% biomass addition (W2) increased Lactococcus lactis abundance 13 times. H. pluvialis biomass was found to be an alternative prebiotic source, and it increased LAB content of water kefir. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the significant momentum of developing water quality models to simulate water quality variables and support decision-making, the literature recognizes the importance of addressing uncertainties embedded in the water quality models, such as inherent, parametric, and hydrological uncertainties. However, previous studies have not extensively examined the magnitude of hydrological events in terms of their intensity. Therefore, this paper aims to propose an adjusted Monte Carlo event-based scenarios framework that considers four scenarios (1- 35 years of flow rate records, 2- events with ARI ≤ 10 years, 3- events with ARI ≤ 5 years, 4- events with ARI ≤ 1) to evaluate hydrological variabilities and quantify embedded uncertainties. The study employs a Qual2k model that simulates five water quality variables in the Zaroub River, Iran, as a case study. The model's uncertainty boundaries are quantified using five statistical metrics: Plevel, ARIL, SU, CU, and EU. The study's findings reveal that when considering the flow rate time histories during extreme hydrological events, there is a significant increase in uncertainty in the water quality model, highlighting the challenge of incorporating various scenarios within the framework such as high computational demand, integrating different scenarios, sparse data, and its temporal resolution. On the other hand, reducing the ARI values of hydrological events not only minimizes the uncertainty boundaries but also improves the accuracy of the model simulations. These results underscore the critical importance of selecting hydrological scenarios based on the water quality variable under investigation. Furthermore, the proposed framework can be applied to any water quality model and water body. The study's outcomes suggest that the presented methodology reduces uncertainty and provides more reliable simulations for decision-making in water resources conundrums. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Though groundwater is one of the most significant natural water sources, its quality is deteriorating due to the anthropogenic pressures that poses health risks for people. In this study, potential health risk assessment for nitrate pollution in groundwater of Mersin Province was determined by commonly using health indices. Study findings indicated that the calculated Hazard Index (HI) values varied between 0.001 and 17.89 for the adults whilst the HI values ranging from 0.001 to 29.87 for the children. The HI values in the groundwater of Erdemli, Göksu and Anamur regions showed low chronic health risk for the adults and children (HI=1). However, the calculated health risk indices indicated significant health hazards for the children inhabited between Tarsus and Çeşmeli regions (HI=4.00) due to severe nitrate contamination originated from terrestrial sources. The findings of this study performed in the Mersin Province showed the sustainable management of groundwater policies is needed to reduce nitrate contamination and potential health hazards of the groundwater of studied and other regions in Türkiye. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sources of the pollution in lakes might be quite complex and difficult to control. This study analyzed and evaluated the pollution control effects of a typical lake (Nansi Lake) located in northern China through judicial means. The water quality at 52 sampling sites was investigated to assess results from individual cases located in heavily polluted areas. The water quality of the entire lake and stream was further assessed using data from the National Automatic Water Quality Monitoring System. Finally, 70 kinds of pesticides from 21 sites in the lake were analyzed to assess the reduction of the agricultural diffused pollution. The results show that the water quality of the lake in 2021 has been significantly improved compared to 2020. From April 2021, China has initiated a series of procuratorial environmental public interest litigation to protect this lake, with 205 cases closed including 185 administrative cases and 20 civil cases. The results show that procuratorial environmental public interest litigation has made great contributions to solving the long-standing pollution problem in Nansi Lake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A selective, facile, and highly efficient spectrophotometric approach was established for the determination of 1,4-dioxane in drinking water quantitatively. This approach depends on the reaction selectively of 1,4-dioxane with 1-Amino-2-naphthol-4-sulphonic acid (AHSA) to give an instantly complex measured at 340 nm. The maximum spectra development with high intensity of dioxane-AHSA complex was obtained at 15 min. Variable parameters that affecting the dioxane-AHSA efficacy were estimated and optimised. Under optimal conditions, the dioxane-AHSA complex obeyed Beer's law within the range of 0.5–15 mg/L of 1,4-dioxane with a regression factor of 0.996 (n = 5) and a detection limit of 16 µg/L. The results of precision and accuracy within-day were ≤2.0% in terms of relative standard deviation (RSD%), which confirmed the reproducibility of the analytical performance. The proposed method was applied successfully in the simultaneous assessment of 1,4-dioxane in an aqueous solution. The accuracy and reliability of the developed approach recommended being applied in all quality control of water companies without the use of sophisticated instrumentation and procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Spatial assessments of Ecosystem Services (ES) are increasingly used in environmental management, but rarely provide information on the prediction accuracy. Uncertainty estimates are essential to provide confidence in the quality and credibility of ES assessments for informed decision making. In marine environments, the need for uncertainty assessments for ES is unparalleled as they are data scarce, poorly (spatially) defined, with complex interconnectivity of seascapes. This study illustrates the uncertainty associated with a principle‐based method for ES modelling by accounting for model variability, data coverage and uncertainty in thresholds and parameters. Location: Tauranga, New Zealand. Methods: A sensitivity analysis was applied on ES models for marine bivalves (Austrovenus stutchburyi and Paphies australis) and their contribution to Food provision, Water quality regulation, Nitrogen removal and Sediment stabilisation. ES estimates from the sensitivity analysis were compared against baseline ES predictions. Spatial uncertainty patterns were analysed for individual ES through bi‐plots and multiple ES through spatial prioritisation using Zonation. Results: Our study showed spatially explicit differences in uncertainty patterns for ES and between species. Food provision had highest maximum uncertainty (>5 points) but also the largest area of high ES and high certainty conditions. Zonation analysis conducted on baseline and conservative ES values showed overall robust outcomes of top 30% area, but important nuances through shifts in top 5% and 10% areas that allowed for a consistently better representation of ES when accounting for uncertainty. Main Conclusions: The spatial prioritisation in combination with the ES uncertainty biplots provide tools for spatial planning of individual and multiple ES to focus on area of highest value with highest certainty and can thereby help reduce risk and aid decision‐making at acceptable confidence levels. This type of information is urgently needed in marine ES assessments and their management, but likewise extends to other environments to improve transparency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal cities in the Amazon lack basic infrastructure to treat and finally discharge urban domestic sewage. Implementing sub-river outfalls and waste-treatment pre-conditioning that significantly reduce pollution impact would be a sustainable alternative to cope with such an issue. The aim of the present research is to analyze the technical, economic and environmental feasibility of alternative projects applied to domestic waste's proper destination in the coastal zone of Amapá State (ZCEA), Brazil. Infrastructure basic sizing and the current treatment provided to domestic waste discharged in Amazonas River, in natura, were taken into consideration for study conduction. Research methodology was applied as follows: (a) pre-sizing the main infrastructure elements of sub-river outfalls (EM); (b) assessing the reduction of impacts on quality of water in the metropolitan seashore of Macapá and Santana cities; (c) economic assessment based on the alternative implementation of underwater outfalls in Macapá's Northern and Central zones, where one finds Amazonas River's high self-depuration ability and regular bathymetry. Technical feasibility, mainly in Fazendinha and Santana cities, was not satisfactory due to topobathymetric unevenness and traffic jam in Santana Channel's waterway. We have concluded that the self-depuration and sanitary features in Amazonas River's assessed stretches are a sustainable, effective and competitive technology extremely favorable for the implementation of sub-river outfalls, given its simplicity and, most of all, adjustment to the regional socioeconomic reality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accounting for ecosystem service values in wildfire risk mitigation remains a challenge. In this study we utilize public participatory GIS methods to measure ecosystem service values and overlay those values with maps of wildfire hazard. Our first objective is to understand sociocultural demand for ecosystem services, and our second objective is to show how non-monetary ecosystem service valuation methods can be used to inform wildfire risk mitigation decisions. Regulating ecosystem services, such as water quality, biodiversity/habitat, and air quality, along with recreation and aesthetics, were the most highly valued ecosystem services in our study. These ecosystem service values were clustered around roads, towns, and water features and correlated with accessibility, education, and income. These values also had significant overlap with wildfire hazard, suggesting that this non-monetary mapping approach could provide a more participatory method of incorporating people's preferences into decisions about where to target wildfire mitigation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Particulate organic carbon (POC) plays a crucial role in the carbon cycle of inland lake ecosystems. The utilization of remote sensing satellite data provides an effective approach for monitoring the temporal and spatial variations in POC concentration within inland water. However, Erhai Lake, situated in the unique natural environment of the Yunnan-Kweichow Plateau, poses distinct challenges due to the complex and diverse origin of its water quality elements. Existing methods face difficulties in accurately detecting POC concentration in Erhai Lake. In this study, 112 water samples and 574 in-situ remote sensing reflectance curves were collected from Erhai Lake during April, May, and June 2023. The analysis of the optical characteristics of the water in Erhai Lake revealed the closest relationship between the concentration of total particulate matter and POC. Consequently, a POC concentration inversion algorithm was developed, utilizing bands 8, 12, and 16 of Sentinel-3 Ocean and Land Colour Instrument (OLCI). Various POC concentration inversion algorithms were evaluated utilizing a separate dataset. The results indicate that the three-band method offers superior accuracy in POC concentration inversion for Erhai Lake, with a root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.13 mg/L and a mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 28.80%. The three-band method was effectively applied to OLCI images from April, May, and June 2023, enabling the analysis of the spatiotemporal distribution of POC in Erhai Lake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water purity plays a key role in medical applications such as clinical diagnosis, drug delivery, sterilization, and patient management. One of the most important medical treatments in which the quality of water is very important is hydrotherapy. Most of the patients have weakened immune systems due to existing infections, making them highly vulnerable to new infections from contaminated water in hydrotherapy pools. Therefore, the hydrotherapy water should be tested to ensure the safety of the patients' lives. In this research, a fiber optic bilayer sensor consisting of silver, copper, platinum, nickel, and gold as the metal layer, and scandium oxide as the second layer, has been numerically simulated to test water purity for hydrotherapy applications. The proposed configuration gives water purity detection with a maximum sensitivity of 4594.0°/RIU for Ni/Sc2O3 while the contacting length is considered as 10 mm, which is much higher than the conventional sensor. It is a topic of interest to researchers in related areas. Ag/Sc2O3 exhibits the highest figure of merit value compared to other materials. At the second part of the study, the effect of a silver-aluminum alloy has been investigated to enhance the quality factor of the winner structure (Ag/Sc2O3). The most efficient silver-aluminum combination ratio is found to be 0.1:0.9, which enhances the sensor quality factor from 40.50 to 60.45 (RIU−1) in aqueous media, while the refractive index of water changes from 1.33 to 1.34. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined socially influential residents' beliefs about pro-environmental outreach in a Midwestern city, identifying factors influencing willingness to participate in an urban water quality outreach campaign. The sample included self-identified leaders (opinion leaders) residing in neighborhoods surrounding a small urban lake. Participants answered questions about using less salt on sidewalks and driveways, removing leaves from the street before it rains, allowing rainwater to soak into the ground on their property, and encouraging neighbors to do these behaviors. Favorable beliefs about outreach and experience with outreach were associated with greater willingness to do pro-environmental outreach. Favorable beliefs about pro-environmental behaviors and experience with pro-environmental behaviors were not associated with willingness to do pro-environmental outreach. We discuss how understanding opinion leaders' beliefs about pro-environmental outreach and navigating their misgivings about reaching out to their neighbors can inform campaigns fostering neighborhood water advocacy and outreach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydrological patterns of all natural water bodies pulse in variable rhythms of high and low water. The biodiversity of these ecosystems is driven by the changing nature of the environment, allowing different life strategies to coexist, e.g., by the fast reuse of nutrients when aquatic biota flourish in the recently wetted zones and vice versa. Much of the human culture in hydroscapes has developed as an adaptation to this rhythm, e.g., by using the flood‐fertilised floodplains for agriculture or fisheries, or by seasonal migration into or out of the floodplain (transhumance). Technological advances have allowed humans to control, change, or even eliminate this natural water rhythm by building dams, dikes, and canals. Consequently, important ecosystem functions fail, often resulting in failure of human life‐support systems but also in the failure and decline of cultural activities. I argue that the loss of socio‐cultural connectivity to the rhythms of rivers and other hydrosystems occurs in four phases: (i) loss of direct relationships (e.g., uses of waterborne resources), (ii) loss of indirect relationships (cultural activities that are connected to theses uses), (iii) turning away from the river/hydrosystem (often caused by decreased water quality), and (iv) total oblivion (caused by removal or burial of the hydrosystem). Reintegrating more riverine rhythms into human life would not mean to step back in time but rather to find a combination of revised traditional ecological knowledge, learning from nature, changing values in the context of use of natural resources, and innovations. This paper draws on social‐environmental aspects of the River Culture Concept – which attempts to reintegrate respect for the pulsing nature of hydrosystems into modern, sustainable management – and on diverse case studies. Examples are presented on how River Culture Concept approaches may contribute to revitalising socio‐ecological linkages to the rhythm of the waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The release of industrial effluents into fresh water is a major contributor of water contamination. Therefore, it is highly desirable to develop a viable solution to this alarming issue to improve the quality of clean water. To enhance the photocatalytic efficiency and hence utilization ratio of CuO, a series of CuO–FeSe2 composites with different varying contents of FeSe2 were prepared through facile synthetic methods. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy-dispersive X-rays (EDX) analysis verified that the samples were successfully prepared without any contaminating phases. The average crystallite sizes of CuO and FeSe2 were computed to be 29 and 21 nm respectively. For the CuO–FeSe2 composites, the crystallite sizes varied between 25 and 27 nm. The morphology of CuO was comprised of needle-shaped structures, whereas that of FeSe2 was observed to be flower-shaped structures comprising of irregular crystals. A red shift in the bandgap of CuO–FeSe2 composites was observed with the increase in FeSe2 concentration. The prepared photocatalysts were utilized to evaluate their efficiency under visible light against Rhodamine B (RhB). Among all the prepared composites, CuO–75% FeSe2 revealed a remarkable performance and degraded 96% RhB in 180 min. Rate constants for the degradation of the dye were determined by applying the Langmuir–Hinshelwood model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted to evaluate the bioflocculant chitosan and its nano-conjugated form in biofloc production and to evaluate the growth performance of genetically improved farmed tilapia (GIFT) in an insitu biofloc system. A completely randomised design (CRD) was used to evaluate the growth performance of GIFT in insitu biofloc over a 75-day period. The trial was conducted with biofloc control (T1), 30 ppm chitosan (T2) and 30 ppm nano-chitosan (T3) in triplicate. The water quality parameters were maintained in the optimum range for biofloc production. The highest value for flocculation activity, total suspended solids, total dissolved solids and total solids other than floc volume was observed in T3 followed by T2 and T1. The result of this study showed that there was a significant difference (p < 0.05) between treatments in terms of specific growth rate (SGR), weight gain (%WG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), feed efficiency ratio (FER) and daily increment (DI). Good growth performance of fish was observed in biofloc produced with nano-chitosan in terms of average body weight (g) (24.74 ± 2.58), SGR (%/day) (3.56 ± 0.094), PWG (%) (1546.27 ± 143.42), lowest FCR (1.421 ± 0.029), FER (0.62 ± 0.011), PER (1.68 ± 0.03) and DI (g day−1) (0.21 ± 0.014). The highest levels of amylase, lipase and protease activity and increased activity of antioxidant enzymes (SOD and CAT) were found in the T3 treatment compared to T2 and T1 treatments. This study demonstrated that biofloc developed with 30 ppm nano-chitosan could shorten the production time of biofloc, maintain the water quality of the biofloc system and improve the growth of GIFT tilapia reared in an insitu biofloc system with inland saline groundwater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The key to efficient operation of RAS is maintaining good water quality in the aquaculture tank. To improve the hydrodynamics and self-cleaning property in the tank, a reduced physical experimental model was constructed according to the geometric scale of 1:8 of the actual square arc angle aquaculture tank in RAS. The influence of the variation of different parameters including inlet layout mode, inflow angle (α), and diameter to depth ratio (L/H) on the hydrodynamics and sewage collection characteristics was systematically evaluated and analyzed through physical model experiments. The results indicate that the velocity distribution influences greatly the distribution and discharge efficiency of sewage and the sewage sedimentation area highly overlaps with the low-velocity area in the tank. The inlet layout mode of single inlet set at arc wall and inflow angle of 45° which are the preferred design parameters improve significantly the velocity distribution and sewage discharge efficiency in the tank. In addition, the discharge efficiency of solid particles in the aquaculture tank increases with the decrease of the diameter to depth ratio. When L/H = 2:1 ~ 3:1, the sewage discharge effect is the best; when L/H = 3.5:1 ~ 4.5:1, the sewage discharge effect is relatively good; when L/H = 5:1 ~ 7:1, the sewage discharge effect is greatly weakened. The present study provides a basis for further improving the design of the inlet mode, inflow angle, and diameter to depth ratio of aquaculture tanks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water temperature responses to climate change may vary across Earth's estuaries. To understand how climate change influences estuarine surface water temperature, we need global, long‐term records of estuarine temperature. Here, we generated surface water temperature data over 1060 estuaries globally using Landsat 5, 7, and 8 from 1985 to 2022 and compared water warming rates with local air temperature warming rates. Forty‐seven percent of Earth's estuaries are warming, with a global average warming rate of 0.070 ± 0.004°C yr−1 (median = 0.060°C yr−1). Estuaries at higher latitudes showed rapid warming. A 1°C increase in air temperature could lead to a 0.81°C increase in estuarine surface water warming and 1.3°C increase in estuaries above 60.5°N. We inferred the potential influences over estuarine warming based on distinct global spatial patterns in water and air warming and discussed the effects of warming water temperature on estuarine metabolism and water quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluvial silicon (Si) plays a critical role in controlling primary production, water quality, and carbon sequestration through supporting freshwater and marine diatom communities. Geological, biogeochemical, and hydrological processes, as well as climate and land use, dictate the amount of Si exported by streams. Understanding Si regimes—the seasonal patterns of Si concentrations—can help identify processes driving Si export. We analyzed Si concentrations from over 200 stream sites across the Northern Hemisphere to establish distinct Si regimes and evaluated how often sites moved among regimes over their period of record. We observed five distinct regimes across diverse stream sites, with nearly 60% of sites exhibiting multiple regime types over time. Our results indicate greater spatial and interannual variability in Si seasonality than previously recognized and highlight the need to characterize the watershed and climate variables that affect Si cycling across diverse ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current monitoring strategies for inland water quality are valuable but lack the spatiotemporal resolution to conduct detailed scientific investigations of inland water dynamics. This work examines the design of a satellite constellation that offers spatiotemporal resolution exceeding current capabilities, while maintaining sufficient spectral and radiometric resolution to provide useful scientific data. Previous constellation design work has focused primarily on revisit metrics, which provide only limited insight to the utility of the final design. A novel evaluation function for constellation designs is introduced, which uses an imaging spectrometer model, an observation planner, and a Science and Applications Traceability Matrix (SATM) to score the scientific utility of a constellation. A multi-objective optimization is conducted using this scientific utility and cost to produce a set of optimal designs ranging from a pair of CubeSats to a constellation of small satellites. Sensitivity analysis is performed to ensure that the evaluation function used is representative of realistic constellation performance. Results suggest that a constellation of agile small satellites has the potential to compete with large satellites in scientific utility. • Existing systems for inland water quality are limited in spatiotemporal coverage. • We evaluate the design of a satellite constellation using agile small satellites. • Sensitivity analysis shows the evaluation is indicative of realistic performance. • Improved spatiotemporal resolution designs still meet spectral/radiometric needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluating the fracture resistance and drainage difficulty of a coal reservoir is essential in the coalbed methane (CBM) industry. In this study, the coal body structure and brittleness indices, as well as the difference coefficient of coal stress, were calculated for coal reservoirs in the Hancheng Gas Field in the Ordos Basin using log data, coal core testing analysis, and dynamic testing data, and a prediction model of the completion quality index was constructed on the basis of the results. In addition, a CBM drainage model was established after analyzing the intrinsic relationships between CBM drainage and the influencing factors. The evaluation criteria of the fracture resistance and drainage difficulty were determined using the indices of the coal reservoir completion quality and water yield. The results showed that the technology fully considers the influences of the completion quality and water yield during CBM production. The evaluated data are in good agreement with those reported in the actual production of CBM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food production plays a central role in the health of humanity and our environment. New Zealand produces a large amount of food, but it is unknown if it can produce enough of the right crops in the places to better the health of New Zealanders, profitably, while maintaining New Zealand's primary production exports and meeting ambitions to lower greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions and nutrient losses to water. We tested two scenarios that aimed at delivering a healthy diet while maximising profit and minimising GHGs (climate-focused scenario) or losses of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) to water (freshwater-focused scenario). Land use change was targeted to areas not currently meeting bottom lines for N or P loss but needed to spill over to other areas to meet dietary targets in both scenarios. The maximum cost of the required land use change was about 1% of the primary sector's export revenues, and orders of magnitude less than the estimated savings for the health system from an optimised diet. We conclude that shifting productive land uses can help meet environmental targets for GHGs, N and P while saving money and improving the health of its people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unknown causes behind the loss of freshwater mussel populations have prompted population restoration as a tool to recover these imperiled species. However, water quality conditions that support mussel species within natural environments and potential causes of water quality impairment in systems with declining populations are typically unknown and may be critical knowledge needed before reintroducing mussels. Our objective was to relate the growth and survival of declining freshwater mussel populations of the Brook Floater Alasmidonta varicosa (Lamarck, 1819) to water quality parameters within 4 Massachusetts, USA, rivers containing extant populations. We deployed propagated age-1 and age-2 Brook Floater in contained systems (silos) for 1 growing season (June–October). Through biweekly sampling, we tracked the growth and survival of mussels then modeled their relationships with water quality variables. Mussels had a higher growth rate at a higher chlorophyll a (Chl a) value (2.82 µg/L) over the temperature range measured (biweekly mean = 16–26°C) when compared with lower Chl a values (0.61 and 1.17 µg/L). Age-1 mussel growth rate was negatively affected by low Chl a concentration (0.61 µg/L) across the temperature range, but age-2 mussel growth rate was not negatively affected until temperatures were above ~22°C. Na+ limited the growth rate of mussels, with the rate of change in growth rate for age-1 mussels greater than for age-2 mussels. Other cations (Mg2+, K+, and Ca2+)—potentially linked to road deicers—also negatively affected growth rate in all 4 rivers but may have had a greater impact on mussels in rivers with reduced growth rates from lower temperatures and Chl a. However, survival was uniformly high across all rivers, indicating water quality parameters may have sublethal but not lethal effects. Additional assessments for chronic water quality stressors along with changing land cover, land management, and climates are important considerations for restoration potential and the long-term persistence of populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Büyük Akgöl, one of the most important lakes of Sakarya province in the Marmara region of Turkey, water and benthic sampling was carried out from five stations representing the lake seasonally between 2009 and 2010. As a result of the study, a total of 8736 individuals were collected from lake and that was a total of 24 species belonging to 36 taxa were identified. The benthic fauna community structure of the lake was classified with Turkish Biological Monitoring Working Party, Average Score Per-Taxon and Pielou's Evenness, Shannon–Wiener. According to the TR-BMWP scores were in the IV and the III class while the ASPT analysis was classified as moderate, and was as very poor. J' values ranged between 0.62 and 0.73, and H' values ranged from 1.74 to 2.14. The water quality parameters of the lake were classified as "unsuitable" by WQI and as "very polluted" according to HEI whereas the SAR, Na, and NPI were classified as 'excellent, good and no pollution.' According to the classification of water pollution control regulation it was showed 1st, 2nd and 3rd quality water characteristic. Pb, Hg, Al, Se, Cd concentrations and turbidity were exceeded the limit values set by WHO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urbanisation and demographic growth are putting pressure on surface water quality in many large cities. Microbial water quality, as determined by the presence of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) was investigated in 15 urban lakes in the inner city of Hanoi, Vietnam from 2021 to 2023. FIB (total coliforms, TC and Escherichia coli, EC) numbers exceeded the allowed values of the Vietnam technical regulation for surface freshwater QCVN 08-MT:2015/BTNMT in most studied lakes. High domestic sewage discharge from residential areas and surface runoff from surrounding areas were the major sources of lake water pollution. High FIB numbers in these lakes mean that the use of water for market gardening or leisure activities or the consummation of fish and other aquatic products from these lakes may pose a risk to the population. These results provide the base of a dataset on water quality, which is a necessary precursor for any scientifically based management plan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A hydro-geochemical study for water-quality assessment was conducted in the Tuticorin region of Tamil Nadu in southern India during the pre- and post-monsoon seasons of 2022 and the water samples are examined to comply with BIS and WHO guidelines. In the present study, the values of TDS (75%), Mg (37.5%), and TH (25%) have exceeded the permissible limits namely 500, 100, and 600 mg/L, respectively. The WQI proposed by CCME is used to analyze water suitability. The Pearson correlation and principal component analysis are used to study the relationship between various physicochemical parameters and principal components of water quality, respectively. Piper & Gibbs diagrams are plotted to identify the water types and the main water type predicted by the piper plot is Ca-Mg-Cl-SO4 which makes up 74.3% of the the samples studied. WQI suggests that 22.5% and 50.0% specimens have excellent water quality during pre and post-monsoon seasons, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we investigated the plankton, water, and macroinvertebrates in Nanwan Reservoir, a subtropical eutrophic reservoir with thermal stratification. We evaluated the status of macroinvertebrate communities and explored the relationships between macroinvertebrate community status and both abiotic and biotic factors. This reservoir exhibited the worst water quality and a high risk of algal blooms in the autumn, whereas it had the best water quality in the spring. The presence of thermal stratification adversely affected macroinvertebrate communities, leading to decreases in species richness, abundance, and diversity. The water characteristics and dominant macroinvertebrate species confirmed that the reservoir was experiencing progressive eutrophication. During the thermal stratification period, the reservoir exhibited a worse status of macroinvertebrate communities, accompanied by an abundance of plankton. The results of PLSR and the Spearman rank test revealed that several abiotic factors, such as water temperature, chlorophyll-a, soluble phosphate, pH, and transparency, as well as biotic factors including the abundance of protozoans, Cyanobacteria, phytoplankton, Bacillariophyta, and Euglenophyta, were the most important factors affecting macroinvertebrate communities. The results of PLS-SEM revealed that both abiotic factors and biotic factors had non-negligible effects on the status of macroinvertebrate communities, with higher effect from abiotic factors compared to biotic factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytoplankton production as indicated by chlorophyll a concentrations in Lake Karāpiro, the last hydro power station lake on the Waikato River, shows high seasonal variability but a long term trend of decrease, despite an abundance of nutrients (N and P) in the river. Early studies pre-2005 of the river system's eight hydro dams identified that only Lakes Ohakuri and Arapuni thermally stratified in summer, and it was hypothesised that thermal stratification could enhance phytoplankton productivity through increased retention time. During. a more recent study (2013–2014), Lake Karāpiro was also found to be thermally stratified with the thermocline around the depth of the power station intake. In this study we found that thermal stratification enhanced phytoplankton growth by confining them to the well-lit epilimnion. However, growth was limited as the nutrient supply became depleted and zooplankton grazing was found to adversely impact phytoplankton biomass, with highest grazing pressure in spring and lowest in late summer to autumn, consistent with an increase in chlorophyll a concentration. We found that wind stress along the lake axis can induce an internal seiche, which causes a substantial stepwise change in water quality downstream as the thermocline sweeps up and down across the power station intake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quantification of ecosystem services (ES) remains challenging and can result in biases towards data-rich ES in management. For infaunal bivalves, little quantitative in situ data are available on the ES they provide, and differences between functionally similar species in different habitats are rarely considered. Here, we aimed to measure and compare the ecosystem functions (primary production, nutrient processing, water clearance rates) underpinning water quality regulation in an estuarine intertidal and subtidal bivalve habitat (dominated by Austrovenus stutchburyi and Paphies australis respectively). In situ benthic chambers were used to measure sediment–water column solute fluxes (NH4+, N2, O2) and clearance rates which were scaled up (accounting for habitat differences; e.g. inundation period) to daily estimates of ES potential. Higher hourly microphytobenthic productivity, nitrogen recycling and water filtration were observed for the intertidal bivalve habitat. These differences were attributed to environmental differences rather than differences in bivalve biomass. However, scaling these rates to daily ES estimates showed that inundation period will restrict water quality regulating services in the intertidal. Measuring multiple ecosystem functions in situ provides an important step forward in ES quantification and accounts for ecological complexity, feedbacks and highlights habitat-specific differences in how functionally similar species contribute to ES. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]