On the Road to Sustainable Water Supply: Reducing Public Health Risks and Preserving Surface Water Resources in the Milluni Micro-Basin, Bolivia

Bolivia is among the countries with the highest availability of freshwater globally. However, many of its natural sources are impacted by anthropogenic activities, such as mining. Water is intimately linked to public health and is essential to achieving sustainable development. It is necessary to preserve water resources by designing and validating monitoring programs that help control the quality of the sources that supply important population centers. The study area in this research is the upper part of the Milluni micro-basin, whose lagoon system supplies water for two large cities. Milluni is close to illegal and abandoned mining areas, making the region highly vulnerable to heavy metal contamination. This study aimed to optimize the resources available for monitoring Milluni. The frequency of monitoring was statistically determined, and the correlation between parameters measured in situ (pH and conductivity) and metal ion concentrations to determine low-cost indicators to monitor the presence of heavy metals. A multivariate analysis of friction of the results of the pilot year of the monitoring program designed for Milluni, considering the characteristics and economic limitations, is presented. An approximation of the quality of the surface water resources of Milluni is presented as a result of the monitoring operations.

Effects of Biochar in Soil and Water Remediation: A Review

In the last decades increased global environmental concerns to water and soils pollution. The main concerns are related to the contamination of the ecosystem, food security, and human health since many of the contaminants present in soil and water (residues of pesticides and antibiotics, genes of resistance to antibiotics, and heavy metals) are absorbed by plants and enter the food chain. Remediation of the contaminated water and soil to ensure sustainable water supply and food production is urgently needed. The use of biochar can have a positive effect on this remediation process. There are several studies that demonstrate the biochar’s ability to block/reduce the contaminating effect of pesticides, antibiotic residues, antibiotic resistance genes, and heavy metals. The objective of this chapter is to carry out a comprehensive review of the effect of using biochar on the availability/transmission of these contaminants to the soil and food supply chain.

Environmental flows in integrated sustainable water resource management in Tuyamuyin water reservoir, Uzbekistan

Climate change is causing extreme recession of the mountain glaciers in Central Asia. Also increased evapotranspiration from higher temperatures in arid and semi-arid zones in Uzbekistan. Additionally, climate change has an effect increased exceptional water deficits. In such scenarios Environmental despite for a more sustainable water supply system, available reservoir capacity. Central Asia unlock watershed region, its main rivers are the Amu Darya and the Syr Darya, and its key problems of the region the efficient use of water from these rivers. Supplying water to the Khorezm oasis and Karakalpakstan, Tuyamuyin reservoir is the main water resource. With an increasing population of the region and Aral Sea ecological problems, mounting demand exists for a more sustainable water supply system. Water reservoirs of Central Asian river contribute to the improvement of water resources management in the lower part of the region and thus, play a strategic role in regional water supplication. 70% of Central Asia is arid and semi-arid regions and therefore, water supply for irrigation and population purposes is the main water sector of all Central Asian countries.

Usefulness of Compiled Geophysical Prospecting Surveys in Groundwater Research in the Metropolitan District of Quito in Northern Ecuador

As in other large Andean cities, the population in the Metropolitan District of Quito (MDQ) in northern Ecuador is growing, and groundwater is becoming essential to meet the increasing urban water demand. Quito’s Public Water Supply Company (EPMAPS) is promoting groundwater research for sustainable water supply, and geophysical prospecting surveys are used to define aquifer geometry and certain transient groundwater features. This paper examines the usefulness of existing geophysical prospecting surveys in groundwater research in the MDQ. A database was built using 23 representative geophysical prospecting surveys compiled from EPMAPS’ public repository, official geotechnical research reports, and the scientific literature. Fifteen EPMAPS-promoted surveys used near-surface electrical techniques (seven used electrical resistivity tomography and eight used vertical electrical sounding) to explore Holocene and Pleistocene sedimentary and volcano-sedimentary formations in the 25–500-m prospecting depth range, some of which form shallow aquifers used for water supply. Four other surveys used near-surface seismic techniques (refraction microtremor) for geotechnical research in civil works. These surveys have been reinterpreted to define shallow aquifer geometry. Finally, four surveys compiled from the scientific literature used electromagnetic techniques (magnetotelluric sounding and other very low-frequency methods) to explore Holocene to late Pliocene formations, some of which form thick regional aquifers catalogued as the larger freshwater reservoirs in the MDQ. However, no geophysical prospecting surveys exploring the complete saturated thickness of the Pliocene aquifers could be compiled. Geophysical prospecting surveys with greater penetration depth are proposed to bridge this research gap, which prevents the accurate assessment of the renewable groundwater fraction of the regional aquifers in the MDQ that can be exploited sustainably.

Investigating the potential of water supply system for environmental sustainability

The Royal Belum State Park (RBSP) is gazette as a reserve area in Malaysia is covered by 90% of forest and inhabited by mostly the Jahai tribes. One of the hardships of these indigenous Jahai is to retrieve drinkable water from clean water resource. Due to the constraint of development in the rural area of forest reserve RBSP, a sustainable water supply system project needs to ease the tribe. Hence, this study investigates the potential for a water supply system towards environmental sustainability as a starting point for an environmentally sustainable water supply project at RBSP. The investigation is conducted using the Systematic Literature Review (SLR) on the existing literature with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). The statement review method from Scopus and Web of Science databases have recognized 12 out of 84 related research articles searched worldwide on a topic related to the rural sustainable water supply. Findings from the 12 sustainable water supply research articles reveal two main considerations in determining the water supply which are the local context and water sources availability. Hence, a site visit to RBSP is recommended to further investigate the potential water supply system towards environmental sustainability at the research location.

STAGE-STORAGE AND FLOOD RISK ASSESSMENTS OF UPGRADED BATU KITANG SUBMERSIBLE WEIR

Batu Kitang Submersible Weir (BKSW) was constructed to secure reliable water yield from the Sarawak Kiri River until 2010. However, ever-increasing water demand had outstretched the weir capacity. Upgrading work has been done to extend the weir height from 1.5 m to 2.5 m using interlocking concrete blocks to increase water storage capacity. However, the storage capacity and flood extend are unknown after the upgrading work. This study aimed to determine the effect of upgrading works on water storage capacity and floodplain coverage in the upper catchment using InfoWorks River Simulation (RS). Results revealed that weir height extension from 1.5 m to 2.5 m at BKSW had increased the water storage capacity from 1012 ML to 1499.62 ML, securing approximately 48% more water. Besides, maximum storage depth was also increased from 6.53 m to 7.53 m, and the distance of storage reservoir coverage from BKSW also increased from 8 Km to 16 Km. However, these increments would not lead to any significant impact on floodplain coverage upstream. It is novel to discover that a 1m weir height increase has extended BKSW service from 2010 to 2030 under a 1:50-year drought scenario. After 2030, various measures such as inter-basin raw water transfer should be implemented to increase the raw water supply and reduce water usage to ensure a sustainable water supply for Kuching City and its surrounding areas.

Transboundary Freshwater Ecosystems in International Law

A global water crisis with far-reaching and interconnected environmental, social, health and economic impacts threatens the world. Healthy ecosystems and ecosystem services are degrading, and access to a sustainable water supply is increasingly inequitable both within and between States. This book demonstrates how to overcome the global freshwater ecosystem crisis by matching the scientific recommendations with an international legal framework fit for the task, which re-orientates international water law towards a stronger ecosystem approach that also protects vulnerable societies. It illustrates how to understand the fragmented legally binding and non-binding instruments of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe environmental treaties as one coherent legal regime, which contributes to strengthening general rules and principles of the law concerning transboundary freshwater ecosystems. With the recent global opening of the UNECE regime, this book explores its potential role within the European region, Central Asia, Caucasus, Africa, the Middle East and beyond.

Promoter Analysis of Public Water Supply Facilities in Southwest Nigeria

Sustainable water supply system is a necessity in growing communities. This study identified Governments, NGO’s (Donor and Joint Partnership), and Private Sector (Communities) as the three major promoters of public water supply facilities in a developing country like Nigeria. Secondary data retrieved from the National Water Supply and Sanitation database in the six States of South-West Nigeria was used for the study. The Kruskal-Wallis Test was adopted for the data analysis and description which showed an indication of performance mean rank of promoters. The results indicated that the promoters with highest percentages of operational facilities in the six States are: Communities (ranging between 89% and 100%); and NGO’s which comprises of both Joint Partnership between two or more promoters and Donor (ranging between 75% and 100%, and 56%) respectively. The federal government has the highest percentage of non-operational facilities in five of the six States ranging between 46% and 73%. In the other remaining State (Osun), LGA (Local Government Authority) had the highest percentage of non-operational facilities of 34.1%. There were more operational facilities in 50% of the States compared to the non-operational. The non-operational facilities are grounded due to broken down machines, poor construction or lack of maintenance and supervision.

Further Discussion on the Influence Radius of a Pumping Well: A Parameter with Little Scientific and Practical Significance That Can Easily Be Misleading

To facilitate understanding and calculation, hydrogeologists have introduced the influence radius. This parameter is now widely used, not only in the theoretical calculation and reasoning of well flow mechanics, but also in guiding production practice, and it has become an essential parameter in hydrogeology. However, the reasonableness of this parameter has always been disputed. This paper discusses the nature of the influence radius and the problems of its practical application based on mathematical reasoning and analogy starting from the Dupuit formula and Thiem formula. It is found that the influence radius is essentially the distance in the time–distance problem in physics; therefore, it is a function of time and velocity and is influenced by hydrogeological conditions and pumping conditions. Additionally, the influence radius is a variable and is essentially different from the hydrogeological parameters reflecting the natural properties of aquifers such as the porosity, specific yield, and hydraulic conductivity. Furthermore, the parameterized influence radius violates the continuity principle of fluids. In reality, there are no infinite horizontal aquifers, and most aquifers are replenished from external sources, which is very different from theory. The stable or seemingly stable groundwater level observed in practice is simply a coincidence that occurs under the influence of various practical factors, which cannot be considered to explain the rationality of applying this parameter in production calculations. Therefore, the influence radius cannot be used to evaluate the sustainable water supply capacity of aquifers, nor can it be used to guide the design of groundwater pollution remediation projects, the division of water source protection areas, and the scheme of riverbank filtration wells. Various ecological and environmental problems caused by groundwater exploitation are related to misleading information from the influence radius theory. Generally, the influence radius does not have scientific or practical significance, but it can easily be misleading, particularly for non-professionals. The influence radius should not be used in the sustainable development and protection of groundwater resources, let alone in theoretical models. From the perspective of regional overall planning, the calculation and evaluation of sustainable development and the utilization of groundwater resources should be investigated in a systematic manner.

Willingness to Pay for Improved Water Supply Services Based on Asset Management: A Contingent Valuation Study in South Korea

The pressure on water infrastructure has increased due to an increase in the number of aging water pipes. Aging pipes are prone to failure, causing significant financial losses and service disruptions. The increasing number of aged pipes and limited budget for pipe rehabilitation or replacement necessitates water infrastructure asset management to ensure sustainable water supply services. In this study, contingent valuation was used to estimate the willingness to pay (WTP) and value improved water supply services through the implementation of asset management. To estimate the WTP at the individual and county levels, we performed a nationwide survey including eight provinces and 24 counties/cities with distinct water supply service performances. At the individual level, the median WTP estimated using the double-bounded dichotomous choice model was 249.50 KRW/month (0.22 USD/month). The results showed that high-level satisfaction of customers with water supply services and positive price perception of water bills resulted in a high WTP. At the county level, decreasing water supply service performances were associated with a low WTP, indicating that proper interventions by local utilities are required to achieve sustainable water supply services. Our results provide a quantitative basis for decision-making in implementation of water infrastructure asset management.