Sustainable water systems for agriculture and 21st century challenges

Tunnel Systems: The Green Solution for 21st Century Water Systems

ICSDC 2011 ◽

10.1061/41204(426)79 ◽

2012 ◽

Author(s):

Brian Gettinger ◽

David Egger ◽

Robert Goodfellow

Keyword(s):

21St Century ◽

Water Systems ◽

Green Solution

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Model of an aquaponic system for minimised water, energy and nitrogen requirements

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.2016.127 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 74 (1) ◽

pp. 30-37 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

D. Reyes Lastiri ◽

T. Slinkert ◽

H. J. Cappon ◽

D. Baganz ◽

G. Staaks ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Standard Deviation ◽

21St Century ◽

Water Systems ◽

Fish Feed ◽

Complex Task ◽

Hydroponic System ◽

Production Processes ◽

Coupling Strategy ◽

Fish Tanks

Water and nutrient savings can be established by coupling water streams between interacting processes. Wastewater from production processes contains nutrients like nitrogen (N), which can and should be recycled in order to meet future regulatory discharge demands. Optimisation of interacting water systems is a complex task. An effective way of understanding, analysing and optimising such systems is by applying mathematical models. The present modelling work aims at supporting the design of a nearly emission-free aquaculture and hydroponic system (aquaponics), thus contributing to sustainable production and to food security for the 21st century. Based on the model, a system that couples 40 m3 fish tanks and a hydroponic system of 1,000 m2 can produce 5 tons of tilapia and 75 tons of tomato yearly. The system requires energy to condense and recover evaporated water, for lighting and heating, adding up to 1.3 GJ/m2 every year. In the suggested configuration, the fish can provide about 26% of the N required in a plant cycle. A coupling strategy that sends water from the fish to the plants in amounts proportional to the fish feed input, reduces the standard deviation of the NO3− level in the fish cycle by 35%.

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Disinfection in the 21st Century

10.1093/med/9780190490911.003.0009 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Patricia A. Hunt ◽

Terry C. Hrubec ◽

Vanessa E. Melin

Keyword(s):

21St Century ◽

Environmental Contamination ◽

Human Exposure ◽

Environmental Contaminants ◽

Water Systems ◽

Consumer Products ◽

Environmental Chemicals ◽

Potential Health ◽

Biologic Effects ◽

Ammonium Compounds

Use of personal care products and household and commercial cleaners with antibacterial capabilities has increased human exposure to an array of chemicals. Because these products are washed down the drain, they are discharged with wastewater into fields, lakes, streams, oceans, and municipal water systems. This chapter focuses on the uses, persistence, routes of human exposure, and potential health effects of four common environmental chemicals or chemical classes—parabens, triclosan, triclocarban, and quaternary ammonium compounds—because exposure to them is ubiquitous, environmental contamination is significant, and evidence of harm has emerged. These man-made environmental contaminants illustrate how the rapid introduction of new chemicals into consumer products must be weighed against the unavoidable environmental contamination and potential biologic effects that may ensue.

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