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The UnCommons Project, as the name implies, introduces an alternative building model to traditional inefficient and environmentally destructive building stock, making it a beacon of sustainability. This state-of-the-art structure is a localized, bio-based structure reflecting concentric rings of impact from the site level, to regional, and to liberating materials from global supply chain constraints. This project’s approach integrates restorative renewable resources, water harvesting, recycling, and conservation measures to minimize its footprints. This 1,000 square foot structure, serving as a student common area at UCI, showcases high-tech, low-impact sustainable solutions through the seamless integration of AI for temperature regulation, structural wall-adjustments, and predictive maintenance systems. Given its proximity to the UCI Ecological Preserve, this structure aims to augment local biodiversity, cultivate ecological resilience, and enable students to blend with and foster an enhanced coexistence with nature. The UnCommons Project envisions buildings as living structures that harmonize with their environment.Industry Advisors: James Bucknam, Brett Kaufmann

Flooding rice (Oryza sativa) agricultural fields during winter to facilitate rice straw decomposition has mitigated the loss of some of the natural wetlands in California’s Central Valley. We conducted bird surveys in 253 rice checks (2,158 ha) within 177 rice fields in the Sacramento Valley during the fall and winter of 2021–2022 and 2022–2023 to evaluate factors that influence bird use of winter-flooded, post-harvest rice fields enrolled in the California Winter Rice Habitat Incentive Program. We counted 143,932 birds from 57 species, including dabbling ducks (86.4%), geese (8.0%), shorebirds (0.9%), wading birds (0.7%), and other birds (4.0%). Extrapolating from the lowest densities observed in rice fields during the 70-day mandatory flooding period, we estimated that properties enrolled in this public–private partnership provided habitat for at least 271,312 birds day-1 (16,248 ha; 2021–2022) and 147,315 birds day-1 (8,448 ha; 2022–2023), totaling >10 million bird-use-days each winter. Water depth had the greatest influence on bird abundance and diversity. Relatively shallow water depths (≤13 cm) had greater abundance of shorebirds, wading birds, and geese, and higher diversity, whereas intermediate depths (~23 cm) resulted in the greatest dabbling duck abundance. Duck, goose, and wading bird abundances were greatest—and species richness and family diversity were highest—8 days after the onset of flooding in rice fields (typically late October), followed by a decline in bird use until 65 to 87 days post-flooding, after which bird use increased slightly. Bird abundance and species diversity were lowest in rice fields with the greatest hunting intensity (≥3 days week-1). We identified several habitat variables that could be managed and prioritized by land-owner incentive programs to increase bird use of winter-flooded rice, including water depth, variation in emergent vegetation height, mudflat habitat availability, rice check shape, hunting intensity, and post-harvest treatment of residual rice straw.

Understanding the hydrological impacts of climate change is essential for robust and sustainable water management. This study assessed the hydrologic conditions under changing climate in the Jinshajiang River basin, the source region of the Yangtze River, using the hydrological model SWAT with the historical observations and the future climate simulations under two Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP2‐4.5 and SSP5‐8.5). For the historical period, with an increasing trend of precipitation, evapotranspiration, and snowmelt, streamflow increases in upstream region but keeps decreasing in the downstream catchment. For future scenarios, a warmer and wetter climate is projected for the basin throughout the 21st century, leading to an overall increase in mean and extreme streamflow. The streamflow magnitude increases more significantly in the far future than in the near future, and more significant under SSP5‐8.5 than SSP2‐4.5. The projected remarkable increase in precipitation causes the transition in changing trend of streamflow compared with the historical period. The projected warming leads to a continuing decline in snowfall and snow water equivalent, followed by an earlier snowmelt and higher peak streamflow, especially at the upstream catchment. Ultimately, reservoirs in the basin are expected to gain more inflows, however, with greater variability including higher likelihoods of flood and drought events, which impose potential challenges on reservoir operations. These outcomes indicate the importance of adaptive water resources management in the melting water contributed basin to sustain and enhance its services under global warming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's Losses Plateau (LP) is one of the ecologically vulnerable and the most severe soil erosion regions. Thus, knowing spatiotemporal changes in evapotranspiration (ET) and its components (soil evaporation, E; transpiration, T; and vegetation interception evaporation, EI) and revealing the underlying mechanisms are vital for ecosystem and water resources sustainability for this region. Here, we investigate the spatiotemporal changes in ET and its components and then quantify the impacts of climate variables (i.e., precipitation, radiation, temperature, and relative humidity) and vegetation dynamics (e.g., land use/cover changes [LUCC] and changes in leaf area index [LAI]) on their annual trends, by using a process‐based terrestrial ecosystem model and a joint‐solution method with multiple sensitivity numerical experiments. Results show that over 67% of the study region experienced significant (p < 0.05) increases in annual ET, T, and EI, with regional average rises of 4.05, 3.67, and 0.74 mm·year−1, respectively. However, there are significant (p < 0.05) decreases in regional mean E of 0.38 mm·year−1, and the negative trend covers 35.8% of the study area. E, T, and EI changes dominate the annual ET trends over 11.8%, 87.3%, and 0.9% of the study area, respectively. Attribution analyses highlight the increased LAI as the critical factor governing these trends across most of the LP (>58%). At the same time, precipitation and LUCC play a more dominant role in the remaining areas. This study emphasizes the spatial heterogeneity in the drivers of changes in ET and its components and highlights the critical role of vegetation dynamics. These findings provide valuable insights for understanding the ET processes and guiding sustainable water resource management in the LP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rational design of the microporous layer (MPL) is very important for the water management of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC). The uncertainty of pore structure distribution of MPL originated from the random stacking of particles. To facilitate the water transfer at high current density, it is necessary to improve the capillary force of the gas diffusion layer (GDL). The hierarchical porous structure MPL was designed by coating carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with different length-diameter ratios. In the process of constructing the network structure of CNTs, the polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)/N-methylpyrrolidone binder/solvent system alleviates the structural and performance defects caused by the agglomeration via an integrated method of dispersion and binding. The optimal current density of PEMFC at 0.2 V can reach 1913.8 mA/cm2 under the optimal MPL structure. The peak power density of GDL-G PVDF prepared with PVDF is 831.8 W/cm2 which is 8.85% and 15.74% higher than that of GDL-1 PVDF and GDL-2 PVDF with single pore structure, respectively. The lowest mass transfer resistance of GDL-G PVDF is 23.71 mΩ, indicating that it can discharge excess water at the catalyst layer/MPL interface to avoid flooding. This design provided a novel strategy for the stable operation of PEMFC at high current density. [Display omitted] • Two types of carbon nanotubes were used to construct MPL with hierarchical network structure. • Enhanced performance of PEMFC was achieved through enhancing capillary pressure. • The optimized properties of MPL ensure ultra-low mass transport resistance. • The MPLs with PVDF/NMP binder/solvent system facilitate the water and gas transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of global economy and industrialization, the management and protection of water resources have become increasingly important. In this paper, a novel three-dimensional Chitosan/Fe 3 O 4 /TiO 2 @MXene photocatalyst with excellent degradation and bacterial inhibition properties was prepared by a simple one-step hydrothermal method using FeCl 3 ·6H 2 O, Chitosan (CS) and MXene (Ti 3 C 2) as main raw materials. TiO 2 was generated in-situ on the surface of Ti 3 C 2 nanosheets and modified by loading Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles and CS films. The conformations and band gaps of the composites were modified, and then photocatalytic mechanisms, phase compositions, morphological structures, magnetic properties and photoelectrochemical properties of the photocatalysts were systematically analyzed. The degradation efficiency of the CS/Fe 3 O 4 /TiO 2 @Ti 3 C 2 composite photocatalyst can reach 95.9 % when the ration of CS to FeCl 3 ·6H 2 O is 1:3 and the hydrothermal temperature is 180 °C, which showing excellent photocatalytic performance. Meanwhile, the inhibition rate of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is close to 98.91 % under the light condition. This study further reveals that visible light is a cost-effective way to treat pollution in terms of degradation and bacteriostatic inhibition, and the composite photocatalysts can be efficiently recycled and reused under the action of a magnetic field. [Display omitted] • CS/Fe 3 O 4 /TiO 2 @MXene with excellent degradation and bacteriostatic properties was synthesized by one-step hydrothermal method. • Fe 3 O 4 formed Schottky heterojunction with TiO 2 generated in situ, CS formed a double-layer film regulation system with Ti 3 C 2. • Bacteriostatic system was built: Nanoparticles brought ROS, loaded on sharp sheets, wrapped by CS with positive charges. • The material also has outstanding cyclic degradation performance, can be easily recycled and reused due to its magnetism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monsoon precipitation variability over the Indo‐China Peninsula (ICP) has become more complicated affected by global warming. In this study, the modulation of Pacific decadal oscillation (PDO) on the relationship between El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the rainy season onset over the ICP were investigated. The results showed that the ICP rainy season onset were predominantly correlated with winter sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTAs) in the East Pacific Ocean, with late and early onsets following El Niño and La Niña events, respectively. During the warm and cold PDO phase, the correlations tended to be substantially strengthened and weakened, respectively. Further analysis indicates that PDO significantly influenced the effects of ENSO on the ICP rainy season onset by modulating SSTAs and low‐level wind fields. During the El Niño events, abnormal easterlies over the Bay of Bengal (BoB) and southern ICP suppressed water vapour transporting to the ICP, which may be related to the zonal SST anomaly gradient between the Indian Ocean and the Northwest Pacific Ocean. When the El Niño occurred during the warm PDO phase, the rainy season onsets were later. The anomalous easterlies became stronger corresponds to the increasing zonal sea surface temperature anomaly (SSTA) gradient between the Indian Ocean and the Northwest Pacific Ocean. There was no significant anomaly on the rainy season onset during the cold PDO phase. During the La Niña events, the abnormal westerlies in BOB accelerated water vapour transport, and the rainy season onset were earlier during the warm and cold PDO phase. The modulating effects of PDO on La Niña were less than those on El Niño. These results suggest that the predictability of rainy season onset over the ICP can be improved through PDO and thus help agricultural planning and water resources management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The impact of extreme events in risk analysis depends on factors such as magnitude, duration, timing and whether the system recovers fully before the next event occurs. While previous studies have primarily examined the drivers and characteristics of individual extremes, less focus has been given to the concurrent or compounding nature of extremes across adjacent seasons. Thus, understanding the dynamics of such compound extremes, particularly dryness and wetness, is crucial. To address these concerns, a Multi Scalar Drought Index (MSDI) is formulated using precipitation and temperature data from three river basins (Brahmani, Baitarani and Cauvery) of eastern and southern India. The combinations of dryness and wetness, such as Dry‐Dry, Dry‐Wet, Wet‐Dry and Wet‐Wet, between consecutive seasons are analysed across four seasons (summer, rainy, autumn and winter). The prolonged dryness/wetness along with dry/wet year are evaluated from baseline (1979–2018) to projected COrdinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment (CORDEX) future period (2020–2099). The spatio‐temporal variations in intra‐annual dry‐wet extremes are identified using the Mann–Kendall test. The results suggest that the eastern Indian river basins, particularly the Brahmani and Baitarani basins, experience more frequent occurrences of compounding dryness‐wetness compared to Cauvery river which is a southern Indian basin. Future scenarios indicate a trend towards dryness during the monsoon season in Brahmani and Baitarani basins, with frequent wet extremes in late autumn and winter. Abrupt transitions between dryness and wetness are prevalent during the Rainy‐Autumn and Autumn‐Winter seasons in Brahmani and Baitarani basins. The increased frequency of compound dry‐wet extremes poses significant socio‐economic risks, including reduced agricultural productivity, water management challenges and heightened vulnerability of local livelihoods dependent on consistent water availability. The results of this study provide a scientific reference for sustainable agriculture and water resource management to predict future seasonal dry and wet alternations and develop effective mitigation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extreme precipitation and flooding events are rising globally, necessitating a thorough understanding and sustainable management of water resources. One such setting is the Nile River's source areas, where high precipitation has led to the filling of Lake Nasser (LN) twice (1998–2003; 2019–2022) in the last two decades and the diversion of overflow to depressions west of the Nile, where it is lost mainly to evaporation. Using temporal satellite-based data, climate models, and continuous rainfall-runoff models, we identified the primary contributor to increased runoff that reached LN in the past two decades and assessed the impact of climate change on the LN's runoff throughout the twenty-first century. Findings include: (1) the Blue Nile subbasin (BNS) is the primary contributor to increased downstream runoff, (2) the BNS runoff was simulated in the twenty-first century using a calibrated (1965–1992) rainfall-runoff model with global circulation models (GCMs), CCSM4, HadGEM3, and GFDL-CM4.0, projections as model inputs, (3) the extreme value analysis for projected runoff driven by GCMs' output indicates extreme floods are more severe in the twenty-first century, (4) one adaptation for the projected twenty-first century increase in precipitation (25–39%) and flood (2%-20%) extremes is to recharge Egypt's fossil aquifers during high flood years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The reliability of seasonal snow cover information is constrained by limitation of in situ observations and uncertainties in remote sensing data and model simulations in alpine region, thus posing important challenges to understanding the climate system and water resource management in alpine region. Here, the assimilation of daily cloud‐free Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) normalised difference snow index (NDSI) product into an intermediate complexity snow mass and energy balance model—Flexible Snow Model (version FSM2_MO)—was implemented. The aim is to improve the model simulations of seasonal snow cover (snow‐covered extent; SCE, snow depth; SD, snow water equivalent; SWE, and snowmelt runoff; SMR) in the alpine region (a case of the upper‐middle reaches of the Heihe River basin, Northwest China). The results indicate comprehensive improvement in the simulation of SCE, SD, and SMR in the study area through data assimilation, with the ability to significantly reduce prior biases of the FSM2_MO. Based on the independent daily cloud‐free Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) SCE product, the updated SCE simulation (i.e., data assimilation) showed a reduction in mean absolute error (MAE) from 10.46% to 7.16%, root mean square error (RMSE) from 16.14% to 12.26%, and an increase in Pearson's correlation coefficient (CC) from 0.18 to 0.67 compared with the open loop simulation (i.e., without assimilation). The evaluation results of SD observation data showed that data assimilation improved SD simulation compared with the open loop run (OL). And utilising the monthly discharge observations at the Yingluoxia hydrological station, data assimilation slightly improved the SMR simulation. The updated SMR simulation achieved a CC of 0.91, Nash‐Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient (NSE) of 0.73, and Kling‐Gupta efficiency coefficient (KGE) of 0.76. Moreover, the Landsat 8‐derived snow cover map and Sentinel‐1‐derived SD also indicated that the updated simulation effectively filled in the missing snow cover and removed the superfluous snow cover predicted by the OL simulation in terms of spatial distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The implement of water resources spatial equilibrium (WRSE) schemes is fundamental task of integrated water resources management in China, in which, the evaluation and simulation analysis of WRSE system is of great concern for understanding the overall variation and feedback characteristics of WRSE system. Therefore, we utilized the ordered degree, entropy and connection number coupling model to evaluate the variation of WRSE system, and also employed system dynamics (SD) and scenario simulation integrated method to reveal the feedback characteristics between different equilibrium variables and subsystems, and thus the set pair analysis‐SD based approach for structure simulation and variation trend evaluation of WRSE system was constructed. The application results in Anhui province, China demonstrated that, the overall variation of provincial spatial equilibrium situation of WRSE system presented obvious improving trend, 2009–2019, the index of ordered degree and connection number entropy in Hefei, increased from the minimum of 0.6434 (Grade 3, unequilibrium) to maximum of 0.9985 (Grade 1, equilibrium). Moreover, the future variation of WRSE system will display stable improving trend during 2020 to 2029, in which, annual water resources availability and water resources utilization efficiency will have significant influence on WRSE system. And the research findings can be favorable to formulate water resources development and utilization strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The freshwater ecological characteristics in terms of the daily inventory of thermal stratification, spatial variation of O2 distribution, and the mobility of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) at the water sediment interface (WSI) are prudent freshwater assessment indices for water quality management protocol. The study conducted daily observations within a monsoon-influenced region, utilizing high-resolution techniques such as HR Peeper, Yellow Spring Instrument (YSI), and ZrO-Chelex diffusive gradient technology (DGT) to analyze PTEs, specifically phosphorus (P) and iron (Fe),within the water–sediment interface (WSI) under different temperatures and oxygen conditions. The 66-day field study showed that high thermal structure contributed significantly to production Fe ions and P from sediment under reductive dissolution of FeOOH. The study also revealed that P and Fe exhibited comparable spatial distribution patterns at the WSI, indicating a linked relationship between these PTEs. This correlation was reinforced by high Pearson correlation coefficients ranging from 0.7 to 0.9 (bilateral, p < 0.05) indicating that the concentrations of labile P were predominantly influenced by the release of phosphorus bound to iron. The fluxes of the PTEs were positive with a range of Fe, 3.3–81.5 mg/m2 day and P, 0.03–0.5 mg/m2 day showing the sediments liberated the PTEs into the benthic water. Again, high positive fluxes (Fe≈60 mg/m2 day, P≈0.5 mg/m2 day) for PTEs were obtained when stratification was high (anoxic conditions) and low (Fe≈5 mg/m2 day, P≈0.08 mg/m2 day) when stratification did not exist. This depicts that Fe/P dynamics were hinged mainly on hypoxic conditions in the benthic water under the reductive dissolution of FeOOH. The findings showed that organic materials (both solid and dissolved) correlated (> 0.7) significantly with (positive high values) Fe. This indicates that their interaction contributed to the reservoir water deterioration. However, Ca2⁺ and Mg2⁺ had little impact on the liberation of Fe-DOC-P from sediments due to their inability to compete with Fe for binding to DOC and P, as shown by their low correlation values. The research provides in-depth insights into the dynamics of PTEs on a daily timescale and offers valuable information for water management practices in inland reservoirs, particularly concerning the cycling of phosphorus (P) and its effects on ecosystem health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the hydrogeochemical characteristics and water quality of the Puebla Valley aquifer, a volcano-sedimentary system predominantly influenced by water-rock interactions and ion exchange processes. The research assesses the suitability of groundwater for agricultural irrigation by applying various water quality indices, including salinity and sodicity indices and Wilcox diagrams and USSL. Seventy-one water samples were analyzed to determine key physicochemical parameters and dominant ion concentrations, revealing that the primary hydrogeochemical facies are HCO 3 -Mg and HCO 3 -Ca. The results indicate a heightened risk of salinization, particularly in agricultural and urban areas, underscoring the need for ongoing monitoring. Natural processes such as water-rock interaction and ion exchange are the main factors influencing groundwater quality. However, anthropogenic activities, particularly the use of fertilizers and irrigation return flows from the Atoyac River, exacerbate groundwater quality degradation. This study emphasizes the necessity of sustainable water resource management to ensure the long-term viability of the aquifer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Terrestrial crabs (brachyurans and anomurans) have invaded land following a variety of pathways from marine and/or via freshwater environments. This transition from water to land requires physiological, ecological, and behavioral adaptations to allow the exploitation of these new environmental conditions. Arguably, the management of salt and water balance (e.g., osmoregulation) is integral for their survival and success in an environment where predominantly low-salinity aquatic (e.g., freshwater) water sources are found, sometimes in only minimal amounts. This requires a suite of morphological and biochemical modifications, especially at the branchial chamber of semi-terrestrial and terrestrial crabs to allow reprocessing of urine to maximize ion uptake. Using knowledge gained from electrophysiology, biochemistry, and more recent molecular biology techniques, we present summarized updated models for ion transport for all major taxonomic groups of terrestrial crabs. This is an exciting and fast-moving field of research, and we hope that this review will stimulate further study. Terrestrial crabs retain their crown as the ideal model group for studying the evolutionary pathways that facilitated terrestrial invasion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent satellite maps have reported that India is experiencing extreme heat waves, surpassing even Middle Eastern countries. This study addresses a critical gap in understanding how land use land cover (LULC) changes impact land surface temperature (LST), urban heat intensity (UHI), and water spread area (WSA) in rapidly growing cities such as Vellore and Katpadi over three decades (1997–2024). We used Landsat thermal bands and the support vector machine (SVM) algorithm to investigate LULC and LST patterns, examining the effects of urbanization and water body reduction on local climate dynamics. The LULC results showed an increase in built-up lands from 5.89 to 25.89%, while zooming water areas shrank from 3.15 to 1.02%. LST showed a significant increasing trend, with temperatures for water bodies and vegetation ranging from 17.4°C to 26°C, and for barren and built-up areas from 28°C to 42.6°C. The results of the multivariate analysis revealed a positive correlation between LST and the Normalized Difference Built-up Index (NDBI) and negative correlations between LST and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), the Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI), and the Modified Normalized Difference Water Index (MNDWI). Moreover, spatial and time series analyses of WSAs indicated a significant increase in LST. Furthermore, a strong negative correlation was found between WSA and LST, with a 10% decrease in WSA potentially increasing LST by 0.12°C to 0.55°C in surrounding regions. This study offers important contributions to improving land use policy and water resource management in urban areas, while addressing environmental concerns related to rising temperatures. The findings underscore the urgency of mitigating heat impacts and managing water resources in rapidly expanding cities. Our results provide valuable insights for policymakers and practitioners aiming to develop more sustainable, resilient, and livable urban environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human activities continuously alter the delivery of ecosystem services (ESs), which play a crucial role in human well-being. There is a pressing need for effective ecological management strategies that consider the spatial heterogeneity of ESs to support the transition from trade-offs to synergies. This study focuses on the Haba River Basin and examines characteristics of land-use change and the shift from trade-offs to synergies. The results indicate that from 1990 to 2000, the initial phase of land development, 10.65% of the land experienced change. Subsequently, during the intensive period of land development from 2000 to 2010, 30.29% of the land underwent significant transformation, with approximately 78% of grassland, sparse grassland, forested land, and desert converted into arable land. However, between 2010 and 2020, as the focus shifted towards the establishment of native vegetation. The intensity of land development decreased, and only a small percentage (3.65%) of the total area underwent changes. Based on an in-depth analysis of spatial heterogeneity from 1990 to 2020, it is believed there has been a shift from trade-offs to co-benefits between 2000–2010 and 2010–2020. The years 2010 and 2020 were pivotal time nodes for the transition from trade-offs to synergies and for reducing trade-offs, with NPP identified as a critical driving factor for comprehensive ES (CES) functions. By considering the trade-off–synergy relationship and hotspots of ecological service functions, combined with unified water resource management policies, comprehensive ecological management measures tailored to different regions are proposed. These measures have facilitated the implementation of robust ecological protection policies to shift ES development from trade-offs to synergies in arid areas, thereby enhancing overall ecosystem service functions in the Haba River Basin. The research findings offer crucial scientific support and guidance for ecosystem management in arid areas, particularly within Central Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective management of agricultural water resources in arid regions relies on precise estimation of irrigation-water demand. Most previous studies have adopted pixel-level mapping methods to estimate irrigation-water demand, often leading to inaccuracies when applied in arid areas where land salinization is severe and where poorly growing crops cause the growing area to be smaller than the sown area. To address this issue and improve the accuracy of irrigation-water demand estimation, this study utilizes parcel-aggregated cropping structure mapping. We conducted a case study in the Weigan River Basin, Xinjiang, China. Deep learning techniques, the Richer Convolutional Features model, and the bilayer Long Short-Term Memory model were applied to extract parcel-aggregated cropping structures. By analyzing the cropping patterns, we estimated the irrigation-water demand and calculated the supply using statistical data and the water balance approach. The results indicated that in 2020, the cultivated area in the Weigan River Basin was 5.29 × 105 hectares, distributed over 853,404 parcels with an average size of 6202 m2. Based on the parcel-aggregated cropping structure, the estimated irrigation-water demand ranges from 25.1 × 108 m3 to 30.0 × 108 m3, representing a 5.57% increase compared to the pixel-level estimates. This increase highlights the effectiveness of the parcel-aggregated cropping structure in capturing the actual irrigation-water requirements, particularly in areas with severe soil salinization and patchy crop growth. The supply was calculated at 24.4 × 108 m3 according to the water balance approach, resulting in a minimal water deficit of 0.64 × 108 m3, underscoring the challenges in managing agricultural water resources in arid regions. Overall, the use of parcel-aggregated cropping structure mapping addresses the issue of irrigation-water demand underestimation associated with pixel-level mapping in arid regions. This study provides a methodological framework for efficient agricultural water resource management and sustainable development in arid regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The monitoring of coastal waters using satellite data, from sensors such as Sentinel-3 OLCI, has become a vital tool in the management of these water environments, especially when it comes to improving our understanding of the effects of climate change on these regions. In this study, the latest Level-2 water products derived from different OLCI Sentinel-3 processors were validated against a comprehensive in situ dataset from the NW Baltic Sea proper region through a matchup analysis. The products validated were those of the regionally adapted Case-2 Regional Coast Colour (C2RCC) OLCI processor (v1.0 and v2.1), as well as the latest standard Level-2 OLCI Case-2 (neural network) products from Sentinel-3's processing baseline, listed as follows: Baseline Collection 003 (BC003), including "CHL_NN", "TSM_NN", and "ADG443_NN". These products have not yet been validated to such an extent in the region. Furthermore, the effect of the current EUMETSAT system vicarious calibration (SVC) on the Level-2 water products was also validated. The results showed that the system vicarious calibration (SVC) reduces the reliability of the Level-2 OLCI products. For example, the application of these SVC gains to the OLCI data for the regionally adapted v2.1 C2RCC products resulted in RMSD increases of 36% for "conc_tsm"; 118% for "conc_chl"; 33% for "iop_agelb"; 50% for "iop_adg"; and 10% for "kd_z90max" using a ±3 h validation window. This is the first time the effects of these SVC gains on the Level-2 OLCI water products has been isolated and quantified in the study region. The findings indicate that the current EUMETSAT SVC gains should be applied and interpreted with caution in the region of study at present. A key outcome of the paper recommends the development of a regionally specific SVC against AERONET-OC data in order to improve the Level-2 water product retrieval in the region. The results of this study are important for end users and the water authorities making use of the satellite water products in the Baltic Sea region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This opinion article presents arguments to sustain the inclusion of local actors in the governance and management of water resource restoration projects. There is a lack of knowledge regarding this issue, and we propose that governance and management must be adaptive because of the complexity and constant modification of the local systems. Our proposal has theoretical, methodological, and management impacts on the network governance of local projects. We present a matrix of variables to facilitate research and management plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Operational water management is a critical global challenge, and decision making can be improved by using mathematical optimization. This paper provides an overview of optimization techniques, both exact and heuristic, used in water management. It focuses on the use of optimization techniques in the short term: operational planning in reservoir management, control of open channels, hydropower scheduling, and operation of polder drainage pumps. Principles of model predictive control, methods for optimization under forecast uncertainty, and approaches for conflict resolution are explained with the help of educational examples and practical cases. Challenges and research questions to be addressed in the future are presented as an outlook. This article is categorized under:Engineering Water > MethodsScience of Water > Water and Environmental ChangeWater and Life > Conservation, Management, and Awareness [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After Tunisia's independence from France in 1956, the country was engaged in what has been termed the "supply management policy", that is, a maximum mobilization of water resources through large‐scale modern hydraulic infrastructure. Towards the beginning of the 1980s, the country entered a crisis and had to adopt in 1986, under pressure from the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, a "Structural Adjustment Program" (SAP) that prioritized measures to improve economic efficiency and liberalize the economy. Since then, Tunisian water policy has progressively shifted towards "Integrated Water Resources Management" (IWRM). This review critically analyzes the water governance discourses that have framed these policy interventions. I will draw on academic research and official and civil society reports to suggest that these discourses have been "rendered technical", stripping issues of any political (and therefore conflicting) character. When rendered technical discourses raise development projects and policies above the terrain of political contestation, the possibilities of action available to those opposed to them become limited. This depoliticization of development interventions through technical discourses narrows the public space of democratic debate. I will also argue that the "technification" (rendering technical) process is reversible. Opposition groups can challenge technical discourses with a critical approach that can reconfigure and alter the trajectory of governmental programs. However, critical discourses can, in turn, be rendered technical. This article is categorized under:Human Water > Water GovernanceHuman Water > Rights to Water [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An urban water demand with high accuracy and reliability plays fundamental role in creating a predictive water supply system. This is necessary to implement mechanisms and systems that can be used to estimate water demands. The paper aims to forecast the amounts of clean water given to metropolis with single multiplicative neuron model artificial neural network. For this purpose, a regular data set of Istanbul metropolis was selected as a model and utilised in the application process. Single multiplicative neuron model artificial neural network is a neural network that does not have the hidden layer unit number problem that many shallow and deep artificial neural networks have. In this study, the black hole optimization algorithm is used for the first time in the literature for the training of the single multiplicative neuron model artificial neural network. In line with the analysis results, it is concluded that the proposed new approach achieved better prediction results than the other compared methods for the time series of amounts of clean water given to metropolis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A major data gap in tropical river ecology is the limited documentation of natural water purification of upstream rivers. This study documented the improvement of water quality of downstream Balili River as affected by environmental factors and macrophyte diversity using a mixed-method approach (water quality assessment, plant inventory, field observation, canonical correspondence analysis, community interview). Results showed that the distance from pollution plays a significant role in the self-purification of the river while the floral diversity maintains the riparian from further contaminating the water and at the same time absorbing air pollutants. Generally, the pollution reduction and %change is exponential at 2 and 3 km from point source then taper at 4 and 5 km. At 3 km from the point source, 30% improvement in TDS, BOD and salinity, 25% for EC, 20% in TSS, 35% in WQI, 36% in CPI, and 50% for DO were noted. Key factors that influence the self-purification process in the river were distance from pollution source, elevation, human disturbance (as indicated by %tree canopy) and temperature. These findings highlight the importance of distance from pollution sources and floral diversity in driving water quality improvements, with implications for sustainable water resource management in tropical regions. NOVELTY STATEMENT: This study documented the improvement of water quality of downstream Balili River as affected by environmental factors and macrophyte diversity – as contribution to the major data gap in tropical river ecology which currently has limited documentation on natural water purification of upstream rivers. The study also shows the mosaic interplay of water quality, plant diversity, distance from pollution, human disturbance, and air quality in understudied tropical river. Further, this study is unique in documenting the downstream of Balili River since majority of the previous studies were concentrated in the upstream portion of the river. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate streamflow prediction is crucial for effective water resource management and planning. This study aims to enhance streamflow simulation accuracy in the data-scarce Upper Narmada River Basin (UNB) by proposing a novel hybrid approach, ANNHybrid, which combines a physically-based model (WEAP) with a data-driven model (ANN). The WEAP model was calibrated and validated using observed streamflow data, while the ANN model was trained and tested using meteorological variables and simulated streamflow. The ANNHybrid model integrates simulated flow from both WEAP and ANN to improve prediction accuracy. The results demonstrate that the ANNHybrid model outperforms the standalone WEAP and ANN models, with higher NSE values of 95.5% and 92.3% during training and testing periods, respectively, along with an impressive R2 value of 0.96. The improved streamflow predictions can support better decision-making related to water allocation, reservoir operations, and flood and drought risk assessment. The novelty of this research lies in the development of the ANNHybrid model, which leverages the strengths of both physically-based and data-driven approaches to enhance streamflow simulation accuracy in data-limited regions. The proposed methodology offers a promising tool for sustainable water management strategies in the UNB and other similar catchments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores hydrological and meteorological drought in the Coastal Constantine basin, the Cheffia and Mexa dams in northeast Algeria in particular, using a time series of monthly rainfall and dam inflow data over 54 years (1965–2018). Recently, these dams have experienced recurring droughts, significantly reducing water storage and severely impacting the population's drinking water supply. To better assess the severity and trends of these droughts, we applied a range of methods (Mann-Kendall test, Sen's slope estimator, Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), Standardized Streamflow Index (SSI), and Innovative Trend Analysis (ITA) method). SPI and SSI were chosen because they can be applied across various timescales, easy to calculate, and have demonstrated accuracy. Additionally, the trend analysis techniques were preferred because they have few assumptions, are resistant to incomplete data, offer the advantage of visual interpretation, and have the ability to capture changes within data subgroups. The findings analysis shows an autumn rainfall increase (1.18 mm/year) and a significant spring decrease (-2.23 mm/year). In addition, an annual rainfall trend magnitude ranging from − 5.26 mm/year to 1.71 mm/year. The Cheffia Dam experiences a summer inflow decrease (-0.05 hm³/year) and an overall annual decline (-0.35 hm³/year), while the Mexa Dam shows a significant spring inflow decrease (-0.17 hm³/year) with a slight annual decline (-0.07 hm³/year). The ITA method revealed severe and prolonged droughts with increasing severity over time, as shown by the SPI and SSI drought trend analysis. These trends affirm the growing impact of reduced precipitation on water resources and emphasize the urgent need for proactive water management strategies in the region. The results highlight the extremely difficult conditions and the severe drought, particularly in central parts of the basin, over the past 54 years, and underscore ongoing challenges in managing water resources amid changing climatic conditions. This situation negatively impacts the Boulatane dam project and the under-construction Boukhroufa dam. Thus, it is necessary to implement necessary measures to mitigate the effects of prolonged droughts on water availability and infrastructure development. The study's findings provide a foundation for spatial and temporal analysis and management of droughts in water-stressed regions globally, in the context of climate change with innovative techniques. The results emphasize the need for policymakers to prepare for droughts and adopt early warning systems. It is recommended that water conservation efforts be strengthened, new water structures be built, and climate change policies be adapted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) on India's intraseasonal and interannual variability of rainfall has been investigated in this study. Anomalous MJO amplitude points from 1979 to 2021 are classified into post-, pre- and normal onset years of the Indian Summer Monsoon (ISM). High MJO amplitudes, particularly those exceeding three standard deviations from the mean, correlate with significant rainfall anomalies, affecting both the timing and intensity of the monsoon. Specific MJO phases contribute differently to rainfall patterns, with phases 3, 4, and 5 generally suppressing rainfall, while phases 1 and 8 enhance it. Pre-onset years show significant rainfall anomalies driven by strong MJO activity, particularly during phases 3, 4, and 5. Normal onset years exhibit notable suppression and enhancement patterns, with significant fluctuations observed in 1996 and 2020. Post-onset years have the highest frequency of anomalies, with phases 3 and 4 prominently influencing rainfall variability. Overall, this research underscores the critical role of MJO dynamics in modulating rainfall variability in India. The findings suggest that understanding MJO phases can improve rainfall predictability and monsoon onset forecasting, aiding in better climate prediction and water resource management. This study contributes to the broader climatological discourse by elucidating the interplay between MJO activity and regional precipitation patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extreme precipitation events have substantial implications for water resources, ecosystems, and human populations in Central Africa (CA). Consequently, understanding the spatial variability of these events is crucial for effective climate change adaptation and water management strategies. In this study, we assess the performance of the state-of-the-art global climate models from Phase 6 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6) in simulating extreme precipitation events over CA. By considering three observational datasets, we evaluated the ability of sixteen CMIP6 models as well their multi-model ensemble (MME), to capture the patterns of extreme precipitation events. We then focus on key metrics such as duration and intensity, based on a total of ten indices of extreme precipitation events, defined by the Expert Team on Climate Change Detection and Indices (ETCCDI). The results showed that the individual models as well as the MME exhibited acceptable performance in reproducing the patterns of extreme precipitation events, especially when dealing with wet-day amount, frequency, dry spell duration and persistence of extreme precipitation over the two northern CA subregions (i.e., Sudano-Sahelian and Northern Equatorial). Moreover, the analyses revealed that CMIP6 models generally lack the ability of in simulating not only the wet spell duration, but also heavy precipitation indices, particularly over the central and southeastern CA subregions (i.e., Equatorial East and Southern Equatorial, respectively). These results highlight the remaining challenges in reproducing local-scale processes governing precipitation variability and extreme precipitation events over the region. The results of this study provide an understanding of both the strengths and limitations of the CMIP6 models over CA, which would help to improve regional climate projections and strengthen the ability of decision makers to assess the future risks associated with extreme precipitation events in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural water consumption security is crucial for maintaining food production stability. Aiming to investigate water consumption efficiency and objectives in agricultural and non-agricultural sectors, we adopted a Budyko-analogous framework to establish an optimal water allocation model based on the maximum water utilization benefits principle. The proposed Budyko framework was verified through its application in Anhui Province, China, and the difference in water utilization efficiencies among different regions was discussed. The research findings can be concluded as follows: (1) during 2011–2020, the provincial agricultural productive loss caused by per-unit water shortage was lower compared to non-agricultural sectors, and this trend was adaptive in the south but totally opposite in the north; (2) the guaranteed level of agricultural water consumption was higher compared to non-agricultural sectors in the north due to the predominance of agricultural production but totally contrary in the south. Overall, the above findings are consistent with the actual industrial structure of Anhui Province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prediction of tap water quality serves as a pivotal component in enhancing water resource management. The intricate nonlinearity and inherent instability in water quality data make this task challenging. In this paper, we present a Tap-Water Quality Temporal Prediction Network (TWQ-TPN) to accurately predict tap-water quality by focusing on the impact of temporal nonlinear patterns and long-term seasonal fluctuations. To achieve this, we design two modules, namely the Temporal Feature Extraction Module (TFEM) and the Feature Transformation and Prediction Module (FTPM). The TFEM learns complex dynamic nonlinear features in the temporal domain. The FTPM is to realize feature transformation in the high-dimensional features for long-term seasonal fluctuations. Thus, our TWQ-TPN can accurately predict tap water quality trends to help improve water management. We validate TWQ-TPN's superiority using 5 years' data from 33 major water facilities in South Korea, demonstrating excellence in pH, turbidity, and residual chlorine. Ablation experiments support TWQ-TPN's rationale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to cost-effectively identify inundation due to combined rainfall with tidal surges by evaluating the existing urban drainage system. The Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) applied two scenarios based on different Digital Elevation Model (DEM) sources. These are scenario A, i.e. Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER), and scenario B, i.e. Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM). Then, catchment delineation and SWMM parameterization in the low-lying urban region of Chattogram City were executed. In contrast to scenario A, i.e. ASTER DEM, identified inundated nodes in the northwest part of the city, scenario B, i.e. SRTM DEM, showed more inundated nodes. In both scenarios, drainage capacity was observed in the field at two outlet points of Ispahani Khal (R2 = 0.91 and 0.85) and Chaktai Khal (R2 = 0.90 and 0.92), which reasonably mimics the model outcome. With an intensive field dataset, this model could provide relevant information for betterment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impacts of environmental change on Lake Biwa have been explored for decades, with water monitoring and palaeolimnological studies revealing how environmental forcing, including climate warming, eutrophication, water level manipulation and human manipulation of fish populations, has influenced the food web of Lake Biwa. However, these studies have rarely accounted for microbial food‐web components. This knowledge gap is mostly due to the lack of time series spanning more than a couple of decades, coupled with the high taxonomical expertise required to identify organisms belonging to very diverse groups.The use of a sedimentary DNA approach allows for the reconstruction of past changes in the diversity, composition and structure of the microbial eukaryotic community of aquatic systems. The application of 18S metabarcoding has been proven successful to describe the response of unicellular eukaryotes (protists) and aquatic fungi in lake ecosystems, encompassing a large taxonomic and functional diversity such as phototrophs, heterotrophs and mixotrophs.We applied 18S metabarcoding to 31 sediment core samples from Lake Biwa, spanning the past 100 years and explored the response of microbial eukaryotic communities to changes in multiple environmental stressors, including nutrient levels, lake water level, climate, as well as fish and zooplankton biomass for the period 1973–2010.We found that the manipulation of the water level and changes in fish community composition were the primary factors impacting (indirectly) the structure of the lake microbial eukaryotic community with minor, but significant, effects of climate warming and phosphorus levels. Co‐occurrence network analysis highlighted the potential food web impacts on the microbial eukaryotic community, suggesting that organisms from this compartment were impacted by both bottom‐up and top‐down processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Population models can be a useful tool for ecological risk assessment to increase ecological realism. In the present study, population models were used to extrapolate toxicity test results of four metals (Ag, Cu, Ni, Zn) to the population level. In total, three primary producers, five invertebrate species, and five fish species were covered. The ecological modeling–based laboratory to population effect extrapolation factor (ECOPEX factor), defined as the ratio of the predicted 10% effect concentration (EC10) at the population level and the observed EC10 for the laboratory toxicity test, ranged from 0.7 to 78.6, with a median of 2.8 (n = 27). Population modeling indicated clearly higher effect concentrations in most of the cases (ECOPEX factor >2 in 14 out of 27 cases), but in some cases the opposite was observed (in three out of 27 cases). We identified five main contributors to the variability in ECOPEX factors: (1) uncertainty about the toxicity model, (2) uncertainty about the toxicity mechanism of the metal, (3) uncertainty caused by test design, (4) impact of environmental factors, and (5) impact of population endpoint chosen. Part of the uncertainty results from a lack of proper calibration data. Nonetheless, extrapolation with population models typically reduced the variability in EC10 values between tests. To explore the applicability of population models in a regulatory context, we included population extrapolations in a species sensitivity distribution for Cu, which increased the hazardous concentration for 5% of species by a factor 1.5 to 2. Furthermore, we applied a fish population model in a hypothetical Water Framework Directive case using monitored Zn concentrations. This article includes recommendations for further use of population models in (metal) risk assessment. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:2308–2328. © 2024 SETAC [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Timely pipe break and burst detection and localization are important for proactive management of water distribution systems (WDSs). This paper presents a novel timing-based method for fast localization of hydraulic transient waves that may occur from a pipe break or burst event. The proposed technique deals with the arrival time difference from sensor pairs coupled with a new graph-based transient wave propagation mapping strategy to identify potential link (pipe) candidates for the transient event. The fusion of the wave arrival differences from all combinations of sensor pairs in the network is then used to more comprehensively locate the transient event source among the candidates. This novel integration of topological information avoids missing the correct candidate by identifying all possible solutions, and thus improves the reliability of the localization. Applications to numerical case studies and laboratory experiments show that the method can accurately locate the transient source even with uncertainties from measurement devices and address issues with previous conventional methods concerning detection reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The success of water system operation, maintenance, and management (OMM) critically depends on the local workforce. Extreme environmental conditions, limited financial resources, challenging supply chains, and increased technological requirements especially challenge the workforce to equitably and reliably deliver such OMM services in Alaska. To better understand these challenges, this paper presents a metasynthesis of the gray literature regarding water system management in Alaska, with a particular focus on workforce development and OMM regulation. This synthesis was conducted based on qualitatively coding 49 documents that were representative of the full corpus of 183 documents identified on this topic. While prior work tends to focus on a single regulatory level (national or state), this metasynthesis reveals important differences that occur between regulatory levels of government. More specifically, we find federal and state governments focus more on standardization (one size fits all), while regional and local governments focus more on situatedness (tailoring for every circumstance). This may have equity implications for water utilities in Alaska and other Arctic regions where national and state standards drastically differ and overlook local needs. We find that this theme of standardization versus situatedness may generalize to other state water systems, especially those with similar conditions as Alaska (such as Wyoming and Montana), as well as in other sectors in Alaska beyond water (such as environmental management, nursing, and aviation). Given the multilevel governance of water system OMM, these findings suggest that training materials and programs, certification processes, financial support, and policy decisions could be more effective if they consider the local context in which these water systems are situated more, especially when local conditions markedly differ from national norms. Such an approach may help better ensure more reliable and equitable access to safe drinking water in extreme settings such as those in Alaska and in the Arctic, more generally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) 2030 rely on healthy ecosystems providing a multitude of benefits and services for a sustainable society. Many SDG goals are cross-cutting and attaining these is highly reliant on policy coherence. Coherent policy settings enhance the synergies between goals and minimise disproportionate trade-offs. However, research indicates policy coherence and its implications for achieving SDGs is a neglected topic in the global south, particularly the least developed countries (LDCs). Using the hydropower development policy in Nepal as a case, this article employs a refined coherence analysis framework to assess how coherently the concept of ecosystem services (ES) is considered in 20 policy documents. The findings reveal a lack of coherent consideration of the ES concept and implementation gaps. This improves knowledge about an understudied topic in the global south and provides a tool to evaluate policy coherence that can be applied across sectors and scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Tecnología y Ciencias del Agua is the property of Instituto Mexicano de Tecnologia del Agua (IMTA) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Tecnología y Ciencias del Agua is the property of Instituto Mexicano de Tecnologia del Agua (IMTA) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Tecnología y Ciencias del Agua is the property of Instituto Mexicano de Tecnologia del Agua (IMTA) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

As competition for limited water resources in the western United States and other arid and semiarid regions intensifies, there is a need to provide alfalfa (Medicago sativa) growers with knowledge of how water‐optimizing practices impact alfalfa nutrient use. The objective of this research was to evaluate how three water management strategies, and their interactions, influence alfalfa K and P concentration, uptake, uptake efficiency, and internal use efficiency. Alfalfa cultivars, deficit irrigation, and irrigation technologies were tested at two sites in Utah during 2020–2021. A single drought‐tolerant (DT) cultivar ('Ladak II') was compared to a conventional alfalfa cultivar specific to each location. Four irrigation rates (100%, uniform reductions of 25% and 50%, and a targeted reduction of ∼50%) were nested within five pivot irrigation technologies. Few alfalfa K and P nutrient dynamics responded to the interactions of cultivar and rate or technology. Nutrient responses to the irrigation technologies were strongly associated with the technology effect on alfalfa yield such that uptake efficiency was sometimes greater with low‐elevation sprinkler technologies. The K and P responses to deficit irrigation were most pronounced at the uniform or targeted 50% irrigation rate. Alfalfa cultivar had the least impact on alfalfa K and P dynamics, and the DT cultivar never improved uptake or efficiencies. These results indicate that few adjustments in K and P management may be needed with the three water optimization approaches evaluated in this study. The most notable is that K and P fertilizer input can likely be reduced with severe deficit irrigation. Core Ideas: There is a need to identify how combinations of water optimization practices influence alfalfa nutrient management.Irrigation technology and alfalfa cultivar had minor effects on alfalfa K and P dynamics.Irrigation rate had the largest impact on K and P efficiency and use with less irrigation increasing efficiency.K and P fertilizer applications can likely be reduced under deficit irrigation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sustainable management of domestic water use is essential for China's ongoing development. Despite its significance, public service water use, especially within the hotel industry, is frequently neglected. This industry not only accounts for substantial water usage, but it has also witnessed exponential growth over the past decade. In light of this, this study developed a survey on the water demand and behavior of hotel consumers and built a water consumption model to analyze the different characteristics of the total volume of water used by various water appliances. Furthermore, by dividing the hierarchical intervals of each water-use behavior, it identified the main water-saving target of each water appliance. The results showed that the daily water demand of each consumer in hotels ranged from 45 to 141 L/(person·d). Among the various water-use appliances, faucets had the highest proportion of excessive water use, reaching nearly 40%, which implies a relatively large potential for saving water. Additionally, showers were the next major contributors to water consumption, whereas the proportion of excessive water use for water closets was relatively small. Owing to different habits, there is also variability in the main groups of people targeted for water conservation across water appliances, with females having the largest potential for water consumption in hotels. The results of this study can provide greatvaluable insights for enhancing water-use efficiency in hotels and standardizing water management practices within the industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to develop an energy‐efficient process for treating highly saline textile wastewater (TWW) in a 10 m3/day pilot plant and evaluate forage sorghum irrigation with treated wastewater in terms of crop production and soil and irrigation device performance. The TWW treatment pilot plant, consisting of a coagulation/flocculation unit followed by a sand filter and an anion exchange resin column, produced treated effluent that complied with the permissible limits specified in the ISO 16075‐2:2020 standard for Category C irrigation water. The corresponding average energy consumption was 1.77 kWh/m3. Reusing treated TWW for forage sorghum irrigation over a 13‐week cycle yielded crop performances comparable with freshwater irrigation, with no negative impact on the irrigation system. Although soil profiles were similar between treated TWW and freshwater irrigation, both soils featured an increase in electrical conductivity, which may reversibly or irreversibly affect soil quality and damage salt‐sensitive crops. These findings demonstrate the effective treatment and reuse of saline TWW for irrigating salt‐tolerant crops, offering significant implications for industrial wastewater management and cropping patterns in arid and semi‐arid regions. Highlights: A 10‐m3/day pilot plant was developed for the treatment of highly saline textile wastewater.The pilot plant demonstrated average removal efficiencies of 63% for COD, 97% for colour, 96% for TSS and 21% for EC.Treated effluent met ISO 16075‐2:2020 standards for Category C irrigation water, with an average energy consumption of 1.77 kWh/m3.The use of treated wastewater showed sorghum crop production comparable with freshwater irrigation.The use of treated wastewater had no adverse effects on the irrigation system; however, it led to an increase in soil electrical conductivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface soil moisture plays a crucial role in various fields such as climate change, agronomy, water resources, and many other scientific and engineering domains. Accurately measuring soil moisture at both regional and global scales, with high spatial and temporal resolution, is essential for predicting and managing floods, droughts, and agricultural productivity to ensure food security. The launch of Sentinel operational satellites has significantly advanced remote sensing observations, enabling scientists to estimate soil moisture more accurately at improved spatial and temporal resolutions. This study aims to assess the potential of utilizing Sentinel-1A satellite images for soil moisture estimation in a semi-arid region using the Modified Dubois Model (MDM) semi-empirical model with Topp's model. The soil moisture estimated is validated by comparing it with field measurements, which helps in understanding the spatial variability of soil moisture across various land use classes. Results concluded that the Sentinel 1 derived soil moisture on 3rd and 15th January 2022 in comparison with the soil moisture measured using soil moisture probe (R2 = 0.68 and 0.63) and laboratory measurement (R2 = 0.72 and 0.72) are found to be well correlated and can be adapted for monitoring drought and managing water resources. The study offers a robust accuracy assessment of Sentinel 1 derived soil moisture using soil moisture probe and laboratory analysis and suggests that the framework has the potential for operational monitoring of drought conditions and water resource management in semi-arid regions at a higher spatial and temporal resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Occurrence of frequent dryspell is affecting agriculture; productivity in the semi-arid areas of West Africa such as northern Ghana. The objective of this study was to analyze the effects of dryspells on rainfed maize (early and late maturing), millet, and sorghum yields in a savanna agro-ecosystem in northern Ghana, and suggest management options for reducing their impacts. Long-term dryspell analyses were carried out using INSTAT + v3.37 on climatic data collected over a 30- to 50-year period. The probabilities of dryspells exceeding 7, 10, 14 and 21 days were calculated for crop types during different physiological growth stages and growing seasons of varying lengths. CROPWAT 8.0 was used to determine effective rainfall, crop water requirement, crop water deficit, and changes in yield. The results showed that 80% of the rains begin between the second week of May and the third week of June in the Upper East Region of Ghana. The result also revealed that more dryspells occurred after the initial growth stage of crops. During mid and late stages of crop growth there was a 50% probability of dryspells greater than seven days for early maturing maize and millet and of > 70% for sorghum. Late maturing maize experienced higher crop water deficit than early maturing maize. The result also showed that significant yield reduction (36% reduction in late maturing maize at both Navrongo and Zuarungu) occurs if planting is done before May 21. Similarly, 25 and 23% yield losses, were observed in sorghum at Navrongo and Zuarungu, respectively. We therefore recommend (i) early maturing crop varieties, (ii) adjusting sowing dates based on seasonal climate information, and (iii) improving water management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents a spatial and temporal distribution of tributyltin (TBT) and TBT pollution assessment of the Croatian Adriatic coast in the period 2016 - 2023. The monitoring of TBT pollution was carried out within the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008/56/EC). TBT concentrations were measured at 63 sites in coastal and transitional waters in three compartments - water, sediments and mussels. The ranges of TBT concentrations were <0.06 - 6.40 ng(TBT)/L in the water column, <1 - 2546 ng (TBT)/g(d.w.) in sediments, and <1 - 655 ng(TBT)/g(d.w.) in mussels, while transitional waters were in general more polluted than coastal waters. Monitoring of TBT concentrations in water showed that 30% of monitored sites were continuously polluted with TBT with average annual concentrations exceeding AA-EQS [0.2 ng (TBT)/L], while 20% of the sites had concentrations in sediments above the proposed EQS for sediments [1.6 ng(TBT)/g(d.w.)]. In mussels, TBT was detected at 70% of the sites with more than 60% of the sites exceeding the OSPAR criteria [12.6 ng(TBT)/g (d.w.)], indicating that the occurrence of imposex in gastropods at these sites is very likely. Only a slight decrease in TBT levels was observed over the investigated period, but concentrations at most contaminated sites did not fall below the EQS. This study shows that, despite the ban of TBT-based antifouling paints more than 15 years ago (except for public and military vessels), contamination of the Croatian Adriatic coast with TBT still exists and regular monitoring is essential. The TBT distribution was primarily determined by the vicinity of the pollution source, i.e. shipping traffic, but the role of physicochemical parameters, such as dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and transparency of the water column, should not be disregarded as well as the influence of hydrodynamics in the transitional waters. Although monitoring of TBT concentrations in water is an established approach to assess recent pollution, this long-term study has shown that mussels can be the most reliable indicator of pollution in a given area over the last several months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]