Water Resources (Environment)

The ERA-NET co-financing action of 32 European countries led to the establishment of the European research area on geological surveys to provide a geological service for Europe (GeoERA). GeoERA consisted of 15 projects lasting 3 years and was launched in July 2018. The final online conference was held in January 2022 and the results of all projects were presented and discussed with a large group of stakeholders.
All the complete GIS viewer projects are available at https://geoera.eu and a short video describes the mega project https://youtu.be/zqBpgpDmCQA .
With the Hotlime project, the atlas of the geothermal basins of carbonate rocks throughout Europe was obtained for 11 study areas. For all areas, spatial evaluations were made in 500 x 500m raster cells. The evaluation of the quantity of stored heat, that is the maximum theoretically extractable thermal energy in the reservoir, is one of the main results of the mapping and characterization of the deep carbonate reservoirs of HotLime. For its direct comparison, this map shows the volumetric Heat in Place expressed in GJ/m2 (109 J/m2) calculated for volumes of 500 mx 500 m gross tank thickness [m] and the reference temperature Tref = 18°C. Taking into account national starting conditions, the Heat in Place maps are not intended to offer instructions for project developers to build geothermal wells, but to indicate the overall potential of a region and identify areas for further localized investigations for geothermal exploration with promising values.
With the Mintell4EU project it was possible to obtain data on the production and trade of mineral raw materials for 40 European countries, exploration data for 7 European countries available for research purposes, problem solving for planning, programming and design activities on a regional, national and European scale. The Geological Office of the Umbria Region has prepared a specific addition to the database, in compliance with the INSPIRE legislation, and this integrated database is one of the results of the project. For all the Umbrian mining sites, the integrated database now has a wealth of information ranging from the lithological description to the natural radioactivity content of the raw materials as well as of all the rocks present in Umbria. This information is available to the community and can also be used by all commercial operators.
With the Resource project it was possible to obtain a standardization of the ways of representing groundwater as a resource at pan-European level for the areas under analysis. For the Valle Umbra, information is now available regarding the strategic resource of the underground waters of the Umbrian valley (quantity, depth, transmittivity, etc.).

Unsustainable use of water resources and environmental degradation as related to global food production systems are critical issues of concern. However, reducing food wastage along the supply chain can provide the needed solutions to resources and environmental conservations, while meeting food demand. This study quantified the wastage of common food types at each stage along the supply chain in Korea using top-down mass flow analysis for the period of 2007e2017. The principal component analysis (PCA) was used to rank the food types based on their contribution to the total wastage. The water resources and GHG emissions associated with food wastage were assessed using the production footprint concept, after which prediction models were developed. The estimated food wastage was 14.97 ± 1.2 million tonnes, with production, postharvest, processing, distribution, and consumption representing 14%, 11%, 13%, 15%, and 46%, respectively. Vegetables, maize, and rice were ranked as the highest food types contributing to the total wastage, while mutton and rapeseed were the least. Our results indicated 15.24 ± 1.95 billion m 3 and 20.08 ± 6.14 megatonnes CO 2 eq of water footprint and GHG emissions associated with food wastage, respectively, with substantial variations among the 28 major food commodity types. The prediction models using Bradley-Terry fitted well for the trend analysis of water footprint and GHG emission associated with food wastage. The prediction suggested that the total food supply, total wastage, water footprint, and GHG emission were estimated to reach 54.89 million tonnes, 16.91 million tonnes, 18.63 billion m 3 , and 27.41 megatonnes CO 2 eq by 2030, respectively. This study is of utmost importance considering the strong desire of the Korean government to pursue food self-sufficiency in the face of constraint water resources and GHG emission reduction target.

Problematika zagađivanja površinskh vodotokova predstavlja najaktuelnije pitanje sadašnjice. Naglo se aktuelizira tokom poslednje 2 decenije, međutim, proces sprečavanja zagađivanja i oporavka prirodnih površinskih tekućih voda je spor. Opština Čajetina, (koja je predmet rada) je razvijena opština u kojoj je turizam dominantna privredna delatnost. Opština nema izgrađen sistem upravljanja otpadnim vodama: kanalizacija je izgrađena samo za naselje Zlatibor i naselje Čajetina, uređaj za prečišćavanje ne postoji, dok se u ostalim delovima lokalne zajednice otpadne vode ispuštaju u uglavnom nepropisno građene septičke jame, koje se cisternama prazne u obližnje vodotokove. Istraživanja koja su predmet ovog rada sprovedena su na teritorji opštine Čajetina u okviru studije " Ekološki status opštine Čajetina ". U radu su prikazani rezultati dela istraživanja koja se odnose na stanje površinskih voda i njihovo zagađivanje, kao i predviđene mere od strane lokalne zajednice za unapređenje i zaštitu površinskih voda.

Ključne reči: Zagađivanje površinskih voda, Otpadne vode, Unapređenje ekostatusa vodnih resursa

This research work evaluates the impact of stormwater infiltration on the removal of organics, solids, nitrogen and phosphorus in a LECA-based horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland. Stormwater runoff for the period between January 2008 and June 2010 (30 months) was estimated for the drainage basin of the Vila Fernando wastewater treatment plant (constructed wetland system) and it was observed proportionality between the increase in surface runoff and the infiltration flow rate that reached the plant. The average stormwater infiltration rate that reached the plant was 67.4 m(3) d(-1) (77% of the influent flow rate into the plant). The 30 month monitoring campaign set up at one of the reed beds showed that stormwater infiltration led to a high variation of the hydraulic loading rate (HLR) throughout the bed, which affected its performance in the removal of organic matter, suspended solids and nitrogen. For a HLR below 20 cm d-1 the removal efficiencies for BOD5, COD and TSS doubled. The removal of nitrogen was too low and was associated with the weak development of nitrifying biofilm and the poor growth of reeds. However, it was observed a good relationship between the applied and removed loads for most of the parameters, which seems to indicate that the organic, solid, nitrogen and phosphorus loading rates influenced the respective removal rates. The use of a bed material with high specific surface area, such as LECA, can only improve the treatment capacity of horizontal subsurface flow systems if the organic and solid loading rates, as well as the HLR, can be effectively controlled.

Until around 400 years ago, the Ainu controlled Hokkaido, the northernmost of Japan's four main islands. Today the Ainu are a small minority group in Japan and are primarily a hunting and fishing people whose origins remain in dispute. Yet, for centuries, the Ainu culture developed alongside Japanese culture, but is distinctive from that of the Japanese. However, in recent centuries, particularly since the 1889 Hokkaido Former Aborigines Protection Law, they have been subject to Japanese government policies of modernization and integration. As with indigenous peoples of Canada and the United States, the Ainu have had the majority of their sacred lands taken from them by the Japanese government.

Reclaimed water from small wastewater treatment facilities in the rural areas of the Beira Interior region (Portugal) may constitute an alternative water source for aquifer recharge. A 21-month monitoring period in a constructed wetland treatment system has shown that 21,500 m3 year−1 of treated wastewater
(reclaimed water) could be used for aquifer recharge. A GIS-based multi-criteria analysis was performed, combining ten thematic maps and economic, environmental and technical criteria, in order to produce a suitability map for the location of sites for reclaimed water infiltration. The areas chosen for aquifer
recharge with infiltration basins are mainly composed of anthrosol with more than 1 m deep and fine sand texture, which allows an average infiltration velocity of up to 1 m d−1. These characteristics will provide a final polishing treatment of the reclaimed water after infiltration (soil aquifer treatment (SAT)),
suitable for the removal of the residual load (trace organics, nutrients, heavy metals and pathogens).
The risk of groundwater contamination is low since the water table in the anthrosol areas ranges from 10 m to 50 m. On the other hand, these depths allow a guaranteed unsaturated area suitable for SAT. An area of 13,944 ha was selected for study, but only 1607 ha are suitable for reclaimed water infiltration.
Approximately 1280 m2 were considered enough to set up 4 infiltration basins to work in flooding and
drying cycles.

Iran, once the pioneer of sustainable water management in the arid region of the world, is now experiencing a serious water crisis, reflected by its drying lakes and rivers, declining groundwater resources and deteriorating water quality. Water supply rationing and disruptions are becoming more frequent, agricultural losses are increasing and ecosystem damages are expanding. While decision-makers prefer to blame the current crisis on droughts, climate change and international sanctions, the dramatic water issues of Iran are rooted in decades of shortsighted and disintegrated planning. The public, experts and media continuously warn about the major water crisis symptoms without seriously discussing the causes. But, what are the main drivers of Iran's water crisis? Crisis driver 1: population growth and spatial distribution Iran has experienced a significant population growth in the last century. Its population almost doubled within the last two decades of the 20th century, right after the 1979 Revolution, which promoted different socioeconomic , cultural and ideological changes in Iran. In addition to a sudden population growth, rapid urbanisation and inappropriate spatial population distribution are challenging Iranian water managers. Th e urban population is currently about 70 per cent, compared to 44 per cent in the 1970s. Eight Iranian cities have a population of greater than one million while the population in metropolitan Tehran has surpassed 14 million (18 per cent of the country's population). Despite the consequences of population growth policies, the government of Iran is now showing a strong interest in boosting the current population growth rate of 1.3 per cent. This interest is rooted in concerns about the projections of age distribution in the future. What is clear though is that Iran definitely lacks the required water resources and infrastructure to satisfy increased water demand. Without strong spatial population distribution adjustments and water consumption reduction measures, population growth can have catastrophic effects.

The effectiveness of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) for the purification of
sewage was investigated. The study was carried out in the Department of Agricultural
and Biosystems Engineering. Three treatments of water hyacinth replicated two times
were used in the study. These treatments include no water hyacinth (control), 1kg and
2kg water hyacinth plant density cultures. The system was designed based on Completely
Randomized Design (CRD). Sewage samples were collected during the growth of water
hyacinth. Purification of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) on sewage was rapid
during the first three weeks in the sewage cultured with water hyacinth (especially 2kg
water hyacinth plant density) and there was low absorption in nutrients in the last two
weeks when attaining maturity. Parameters such as Cl-, Fe, Cu, Mn, Pb, K, F-, Nitrate and
Sulphate were drastically reduced from 9mg/l to 3.33mg/l, 1.25mg/l to 0.36mg/l, 0.3mg/l
to 0 mg/l, 0.5mg/l to 0.08mg/l, 0.2mg/l to 0.01mg/l, 1.7mg/l to 0.17mg/l, 0.7 mg/l to
0.08mg/l, 8.6mg/l to 0.03mg/l, 17.5mg/l to 6.20mg/l respectively throughout the course
of the study. The purification by water hyacinth had no effect on the bacteriological
parameters (Agar count, E-coli, Coliform). Also, the 2kg water hyacinth plant density
cultured in the sewage purifies more compared to the 1kg water hyacinth plant density
which is moderate and minimal in the control treatment. One way analysis of variance
was used to compare the means of the parameters tested. It shows that parameters like
CO2, Mn, lead and sodium have significant difference between the control treatment with
both the 1kg and 2kg water hyacinth plant density culture while parameters like pH,
magnesium hardness, calcium hardness and calcium total have no significant difference
between the no water hyacinth culture( control) with the 1kg and 2kg water hyacinth
plant density culture. Finally, sewage parameters like BOD, COD, dissolved oxygen, Cu,
F-, nitrate, phosphate, potassium, dissolved solids, suspended solids, sulphate, iron, Cl-
and magnesium total were not affected.

Este trabajo analiza cómo los cambios urbanísticos y territoriales llevados a cabo en las últimas décadas de los siglos XX y XXI afectaron las dinámicas hídricas de las cuencas serranas de la provincia de Córdoba, condicionando seriamente las posibilidades de desarrollo sustentable de la región. La dramática transformación del
territorio llevada a cabo por las políticas de Estado y las lógicas modernas de urbanización del territorio, alteraron las condiciones naturales que proveen de agua a millones de habitantes, generando tanto una crítica reducción del agua disponible para la población como la recurrencia de eventos catastróficos, lo que ha provocado además un número creciente de conflictos socio ambientales. Para comprender cómo se ha convertido a este sitio geográfico en un territorio hidrosocial en disputa, se pondrá en discusión las consecuencias de reconfiguración del paisaje social y natural en las cuencas serranas cordobesas, así como la generación de las resistencias socio-territoriales a este modelo de desarrollo urbano. Mediante una metodología cuali-cuantitativa fenomenológica, se analizan tanto las lógicas de poder que impulsan el
actual modelo de desarrollo urbano en las sierras de córdoba, como los orígenes de la resistencia a esa modelo y las principales tensiones y zonas de conflicto en relación con la dinámica del agua, y finalmente se reflexiona sobre las alternativas hacia otro modelo de desarrollo urbano que no degrade su principal capital natural.

This book reviews the state-of-the-art in conventional coastal modelling as well as in the increasingly popular integration of various artificial intelligence technologies into coastal modelling. Conventional hydrodynamic and water quality modelling techniques comprise finite difference and finite element methods. The novel algorithms and methods include knowledge-based systems, genetic algorithms, artificial neural networks, and fuzzy inference systems.

Water is both a natural resource and a public good that plays a critical role in a host of environmental processes and economic, social, and political activities. In recent years, watershed management practices that were once praised for their broad benefits to society have become the focus of harsh criticisms for their adverse and unexpected environmental or socioeconomic impacts. Thus, gaining an understanding of how various human activities affect watershed processes, and in turn how the variable nature of the hydrologic cycle affects humans’ well-being, is essential for policy makers and watershed managers. Watershed models provide efficient tools for integrated studies of the major physical, socioeconomic, and political aspects of watersheds. For decades, water resources professionals have been developing and using models to address watershed problems, yet watershed models are still evolving in terms of approach, application, and ability to provide users with a comprehensive and reliable understanding of problems at a reasonable cost and within a specified timeframe. Early watershed modeling efforts were aimed mostly at representing hydrologic processes, but the need for interdisciplinary studies has led to increasing complexity and integration of environmental, social, and economic functions to facilitate a holistic understanding of watersheds and associated
human activities. This chapter provides a chronological synthesis of watershed modeling
approaches and applications. The rationale behind various watershed models is analyzed
to demonstrate the interrelationship between decision making objectives, modeling
approach, and applications. Finally, potential future directions for watershed modeling
are highlighted

Outlines eleven elements of best practice river basin governance using an integrated approach:
Attribute 1: Mission goal clarity, staging and completion
Attribute 2: Clarity in institutional arrangements
Attribute 3: A workable enabling environment
Attribute 4: A functioning legal environment
Attribute 5: An adaptive, coordinated management style
Attribute 6: An emphasis on water security and water use efficiency
Attribute 7: Strengthened procedures for an informal water sector, local organisations and agencies
Attribute 8: Improved capacity in human resources management
Attribute 9: The use of economic tools
Attribute 10: Public involvement in decision-making
Attribute 11: The use of a flexible and adaptive information exchange process

The photocatalytic degradation of Toluidine Blue dye (TB) in aqueous solution was investigated under UV light in the presence of magnesium oxide (MgO) as a photocatalyst at different operating parameters. The operating
conditions were photocatalyst dose, initial dye concentration and the pH of the solution. Increasing of photocatalyst dose from 10 to 70 mg enhanced the degradation rate of TB dye. However, the increasing of TB dye concentration from 2 to 8 mg/L negatively affected the degradation rate. It was found that the percent of dye
removal reached the maximum value at high acidic medium. In dark condition, 15 % of dye was adsorbed by MgO. Furthermore, the kinetics involved in the degradation of TB dye was examined and the degradation was found to follow pseudo first order kinetic model.

THIS IS NATURE SIGNALING THE END OF DUALITY 
THIS IS HUGE - CHANGE THE ENTIRETY OF CREATION - NO DUALITY ANYWHERE.
IT IS VERY CLEARLY A PREDETERMINED ADVANCEMENT OF HUMAN CONSCIOUSNESS - THIS BUBBLE IS TOO WELL DESIGNED - EUPHORIA CANCELS KARMA

Optimasi dan pola operasi waduk/bendungan dapat digunakan dengan beberapa metode diantaranya Program linier, Program Dinamik maupun simulasi.
This writing can inform for you all, how to optimum the reservoir so can fulfill water needs irrigation in Agricultural lands.

Uno de los aspectos centrales del Plan Nacional del Agua (PNA) es generar capacidad de planificación, que permita definir políticas de gestión y uso de los recursos hídricos. La Cuenca del río Desaguadero-Salado-Chadileuvú-Curacó-Colorado, objeto de este trabajo, reviste especial interés dado que el territorio que abarca representa algo
más del 22% de la superficie de nuestro país. En términos institucionales y políticos, la misma involucra -de manera parcial o total- a las provincias de La Rioja, San Juan, Mendoza, San Luis, La Pampa, Neuquén, Río Negro y Buenos Aires. Este vasto territorio presenta una variedad de desafíos junto con oportunidades de crecimiento y desarrollo para los próximos años. A partir de estudios como este, es
posible reunir información objetiva y generar conocimiento para mejorar la comprensión sobre el funcionamiento natural del sistema y sobre los impactos que resultan de decisiones realizadas por el hombre. Este conocimiento es la base necesaria para definir políticas y medidas de gestión de los recursos hídricos, que sean sostenibles y consideren, especialmente, los impactos del cambio climático y posibles usos ulteriores del agua.

Despite having a more advanced water management system than most Middle Eastern countries, similar to the other countries in the region, Iran is experiencing a serious water crisis. The government blames the current crisis on the changing climate, frequent droughts, and international sanctions, believing that water shortages are periodic. However, the dramatic water security issues of Iran are rooted in decades of disintegrated planning and managerial myopia. Iran has suffered from a symptom-based management paradigm, which mainly focuses on curing the problem symptoms rather than addressing the main causes. This paper reviews the current status of water resources in Iran and recognizes three major causes for the current water crisis: (1) rapid population growth and inappropriate spatial population distribution; (2) inefficient agriculture sector; and (3) mismanagement and thirst for development. The country is faced with serious challenges in the water sector, including but not limited to rising water demand and shortage, declining groundwater levels, deteriorating water quality, and increasing ecosystem losses. If immediate actions are not taken to address these issues, the situation could become more tragic in the near future. The paper suggests some crisis exit strategies that need to be immediately adopted to secure sustainable water resources, if Iran does not want to lose its international reputation for significant success in water resources management over thousands of years in an arid area of the world.

Bunot Lake has the worst condition compared to the rest of the seven crater lakes of San Pablo City. It is the most polluted one, oversaturated by fish pens/cages, and has the highest concentration of illegal settlements. These attributes strongly suggest that Bunot Lake takes precedence in the agenda of its two administrative agencies— the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) and the City Government. In practice, however, Bunot Lake is wanting of key development initiatives and programs, and seems to be a lower priority for the LLDA and the City Government. This reality is perplexing since the lake is very near the urban center, closest to the premier lake (i.e. Sampaloc Lake), and the site of the first commercial production of tilapia in floating cages in the city. Under this context, this paper looks into and analyzes the immediate development issues in Bunot Lake. The study contends that Bunot Lake should be given preference by the LLDA and the City Government, specifically by: (1) modifying their model-template approach; and (2) taking steps to tackle a basic need of Bunot Lake— the formulation of a zoning-development plan. Furthermore, the study is also designed to directly address the lacuna in Philippine lake studies, the paucity of research under the social science perspective (being dominated by the natural science perspective) and on small lakes (being highly concentrated on the largest lakes in the country).

The research focused on the management of stormwater and sewage generated in a
developed urban area - Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria. This involved the design of sanitary sewers, stormwater collection networks and a central sewage treatment plant. The total estimate of the wastewater generated from various locations was 5.067 million litres per day based on the population of approximately 26,131. The existing sewage disposal system in use in the institution was the septic tank-soakaway arrangement for individual buildings. The design of the sanitary sewers and stormwater collection networks are based on the principles of hydraulics. The results obtained were used to analyze and design the drains and pipe sizes for the open channels and the closed conduits respectively. The size of the drains for stormwater collection networks was designed with the assumption of 0.75 and 1 meter width. Also, calculations were made for square drain (depth equals width)
to be able to select practicable sizes. For optimum size solution, pipe size of 100 mm was found to be suitable for wastewater conveyance from the office areas. The sizes of pipes calculated for flows from residential quarters are too small, hence available commercial pipe sizes were selected. Wastewater samples were collected at various locations and were determined through laboratory tests to ascertain the concentrations of significant physical, chemical and biological content of the wastewater for proper selection of appropriate treatment processes. A BOD concentration of 350 mg/l and 353 mg/l obtained for residential and office areas respectively translated to high pollution load requires treatment before ultimate discharge into the receiving stream. The proposed sewage treatment plant was sited
at the lowest topographical level, far enough from the office and residential quarters. This would allow flow by gravity from the various points. The sewage treatment plant components selected include screen chamber, grit chamber, skimming tank and rectangular/circular primary settling/sedimentation tank (PST), which are designed to optimal dimensions.

HEC-RAS merupakan program aplikasi yang digunakan untuk memodelkan suatu aliran sungai/saluran sehingga kita bisa mengetahui pola serta karakteristik aliran di sepanjang section sungai. Pada tulisan ini merupakan tinjauan aliran permanen (steady flow) model hidrodinamika. So, Let's check...

In mining operations carried out below the water table, mine area could potentially affect the surrounding. With further deepening of the mine and quarry, the drawdown can impact on water supply wells and base flow. The variation in radius of influence under confined and unconfined aquifer condition is assessed using a hypothetical case study with three operational quarry sites. Average pit-wise radius of influence (R0) for the pit mine, under unconfined and confined aquifer conditions is 963 m and 61 km, respectively, whereas effective radius (Re) for total (cumulative) excavated mine area is 1.7 and 146 km, respectively. It means that the maximum and minimum value of overall impact/influence for the unconfined aquifer lies in-between 963 m and 1.7 km. Similarly that the maximum and minimum value of overall impact/influence for the confined aquifer lies in-between 61 and 146 km. Meanwhile, Re or effective radius for total (cumulative) excavated area seems more appropriate from evaluation viewpoint due to the overlapping (superposition) concentric mining quarries. Thus, assessment of quarry-wise and total radius of influence is of importance to fulfil targeted production, economically with minimum interruptions as part of the mine planning. Moreover, it helps us to assess, monitor and regulate the impact of a mine-dewatering program in the area. Also, the pumping test is often used to estimate radius of influence; it can trigger the inflow or radius of influence. Estimate of the radius of influence using analytical equation mainly independent of discharge/abstraction from the aquifer stands as a preferred choice for the prediction of radius of influence at the quarry/mine pit. There is a strong rationale that policies should be informed by such analytical assessment because it helps us to prevent or minimize negative impacts as part of regulation and pit-mining management and are useful tools for practitioners to design economically efficient and cost-effective in situ groundwater remediation systems, to contain contaminant plumes, to evaluate the surface–subsurface water interaction and to verify numerical models.

The population living in cities is continuously increasing worldwide. In developing countries, this phenomenon is exacerbated by poverty, leading to tremendous problems of employment, immigration from the rural areas, transportation, and food supply and environment protection. Simultaneously with the growth of cities, a new type of agriculture has emerged; namely, urban agriculture. Here, the main functions of urban agriculture are described: its social roles, the economic functions as part of its multi-functionality, the constraints, and the risks for human consumption and the living environment. We highlight the following major points. (1) Agricultural activity will continue to be a strong contributor to urban households. Currently, differences between rural and urban livelihood households appear to be decreasing. (2) Urban agricultural production includes aquaculture, livestock and plants. The commonest crops are perishable leafy vegetables, particularly in South-east Asia and Africa. These vegetable industries have short marketing chains with lower price differentials between farmers and consumers than longer chains. The city food supply function is one of the various roles and objectives of urban agriculture that leads to increasing dialogue between urban dwellers, city authorities and farmers. (3) One of the farmers’ issues is to produce high quality products in highly populated areas and within a polluted environment. Agricultural production in cities faces the following challenges: access to the main agricultural inputs, fertilizers and water; production in a polluted environment; and limitation of its negative impact on the environment. Urban agriculture can reuse city wastes, but this will not be enough to achieve high yields, and there is still a risk of producing unsafe products. These are the main challenges for urban agriculture in keeping its multi-functional activities such as cleansing, opening up the urban space, and producing fresh and nutritious food.

A pesar de que el agua es el recurso más abundante en el planeta Tierra, ya que cubre el 80 por ciento de la superficie terrestre, solamente el 0.26% es agua dulce que se encuentra en lagos, lagunas, embalses o canales fluviales susceptible de ser usada para las actividades humanas. Por ello, el agua dulce es limitada y escasa, su distribución es inequitativa y es un recurso bastante vulnerable.

Al ser el agua un recurso elemental para la vida humana, se ha estipulado que el derecho al agua debe tomarse como un auténtico derecho humano. Por tanto, este derecho depende la responsabilidad de los Estados para eliminar cualquier situación que lo amenace y, ello incluiría la adopción de medidas para incrementar las expectativas de vida lo que implicaría garantizar las condiciones mínimas en materia de abastecimiento de agua potable, así como de los marcos jurídicos y de una eficiente y pertinente administración de los organismos operadores, sobre todo cuando se habla de espacios urbanos, que entre el siglo XX y XXI han prevalecido con una marcada transición poblacional mayoritariamente rural por una eminentemente urbana.

La hiperconcentración poblacional ha traído consigo mayor demanda de agua para consumo doméstico, industrial y comercial en las ciudades y por tanto mayor generación de aguas residuales, que en su mayoría carecen de un adecuado tratamiento.

Así, el fenómeno de concentración poblacional urbana que caracteriza al siglo XXI, plantea la necesidad de formas alternas de gestión administrativa del agua a fin de asegurar su equitativa distribución y con ello, dar respuesta a un derecho humano que es factor imprescindible para el desarrollo personal y social. Situación que conlleva a replantear las instituciones político-administrativas contemporáneas y a modificar los marcos normativos actuales que permitan responder a las demandas contemporáneas.

Ya que hoy en día las condiciones del reparto de ese vital líquido son inequitativas y por esto es necesario modificar las estructuras jurídico-institucionales actuales mediante las que se distribuye y se pretende dar acceso al agua.

Con las ideas anteriores, este trabajo pretende responder desde la trinchera del derecho a ¿cómo se puede garantizar el derecho humano al agua y por tanto el acceso equitativo al agua en las zonas metropolitanas en la actualidad?

The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the sustainability of the use and re-use of traditional groundwater extraction systems called qanats. Qanats are subterranean tunnels that tap the groundwater and lead the water based on gravity to a human settlement and agricultural lands. Qanats played a tremendously important role in the spread of irrigated agriculture and the establishment of sophisticated settlements in dry areas. In modern times, social, technological and economical transformation processes have greatly influenced the traditional use of qanats. The study uses action development research and a livelihood approach to help in the evaluation of the sustainability of use and renovation these ancient irrigation systems in Syria.

"This study is an attempt to seek a relatively optimal data-driven model for rainfall forecasting from three aspects: model inputs, modeling methods, and data preprocessing techniques. Four rain data records from different regions, namely two monthly and two daily series, are examined. A comparison of seven input techniques, either linear or nonlinear, indicates that linear correlation analysis (LCA) is capable of identifying model inputs reasonably. A proposed model, modular artificial neural network (MANN), is compared with three benchmark models, viz. artificial neural network (ANN), K-nearest-neighbors (K-NN), and linear regression (LR). Prediction is performed in the context of two modes including normal mode (viz., without data preprocessing) and data preprocessing mode. Results from the normal mode indicate that MANN performs the best among all four models, but the advantage of MANN over ANN is not significant in monthly rainfall series forecasting. Under the data preprocessing mode, each of LR, K-NN and ANN is respectively coupled with three data preprocessing techniques including moving average (MA), principal component analysis (PCA), and singular spectrum analysis (SSA). Results indicate that the improvement of model performance generated by SSA is considerable whereas those of MA or PCA are slight. Moreover, when MANN is coupled with SSA, results show that advantages of MANN over other models are quite noticeable, particularly for daily rainfall forecasting. Therefore, the proposed optimal rainfall forecasting model can be derived from MANN coupled with SSA.

Keywords: Rainfall prediction; Modular artificial neural network; Moving average; Principal component analysis; Singular spectral analysis; Fuzzy C-means clustering"

We come to know an environment by engaging the landscape. We do this by experiencing its processes, learning about its historical meanings and its geographical characteristics, and appreciating its values. These values emerge when we focus our attention primarily in the present tense of perceptual experience, on the experience of our senses: seeing, hearing, touching; feeling the wind on our faces, the ground beneath our feet and the sound, look, and touch of water as we move in the nature we meet and the nature we have made. Such perceptual experiences of environment as these, by that fact, possess value including, in a primordial sense, aesthetic value.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the phytoremediation potential of three aquatic macrophytes (Commelina cyanea, Phragmites australis and Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)) for treatment of municipal wastewater collected from Federal University of Technology, Akure (Nigeria). Laboratory scale of three constructed wetlands of dimensions 0.43 m x 0.93 m x 0.36 m in width, length and depth respectively, were developed to mimic natural conditions and was operated for a single experimental run with each macrophte at different retention time of 6, 9 and 12 days. These aquatic macrophytes were planted in separate ponds. Domestic wastewater from undergraduate students' hostel was introduced to the ponds. The raw wastewater sample and treated wastewater samples were analysed using standard laboratory methods for physical (Turbidity and Dissolved solids), chemical (pH, Nitrate, Nitrite, Phosphate, Sulphate Chemical Oxygen Demand and Biochemical Oxygen Demand) and bacteriological (Coliform bacteria) parameters. Results showed substantial diminutions in all parameters treated with the phytoremediators during the course of the study. Asides the three plants effectively removing Nitrate, Nitrite, phosphate and Sulphate pollutants, Phragmites australis gave the highest removal efciency for Phosphate (85.8%), Water hyacinth gave the highest removal efciency for pH (11.5%), Biochemical Oxygen Demand and Coliform bacteria and Commelina cyanea gave the highest removal efciency for turbidity (96.9%) and dissolved solids (82.9%) parameters of the domestic wastewater samples. The overall results of the phytoremediation studies indicate that the purication effectiveness of the three aquatic macrophytes were spontaneous, feasible and remarkable.

Approximately 44 million people around the world already have Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. It’s the fastest-growing cause of death in the world.

Alzheimer’s disease is a member of an aggressive family of neurodegenerative diseases known as Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy (TSE). The operative word is “transmissible.” Related diseases are killing wildlife and livestock. The TSE epidemic represents an environmental nightmare that threatens every mammal on Earth.

TSEs include Alzheimer’s disease, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, Huntington’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease. TSEs also include mad cow disease and chronic wasting disease in deer. Few, if any, mammals are immune. There is no cure and there is no species barrier.

TSEs are caused by a deadly protein called a prion (PREE-on). Prion disease is unstoppable and the pathogen spreads through bodily fluids and cell tissue. Prions linger in the environment, homes, hospitals, nursing homes, dental offices, restaurants and many other places infinitely. They migrate, mutate, multiply and kill with unparalleled efficiency. Prions defy all attempts at sterilization and inactivation. Victims of the disease can spread the disease even further via bodily fluids and cell tissue. Victims often are contagious long before they appear sick.

La escasez del agua en México es un problema muy serio. Con el cambio climático el problema se acrecienta y empeora. Los días con agua entubada al año para las grandes poblaciones urbanas tienden a disminuir. La producción agrícola se “estresa”  por la falta de agua o por las grandes cantidades de agua que de repente inundan los campos. El precio de los alimentos se eleva y paulatinamente se convierte en una causa medular de inflación. El problema del agua en México implica no únicamente sequías, sino inundaciones, ambos de carácter épico. Aquí en San Xalostitlán de las Tunas puede que se esté sufriendo una severa sequía, mientras que a 600 kilómetros de distancia se están ahogando y se arruinan las cosechas…
El cambio climático provoca desequilibrios en la distribución y temporalidad de las lluvias. El cambio climático es un problema que afecta a todo el planeta y a estas alturas del partido hay cosas que se pueden hacer y cosas que no se pueden hacer en México a este respecto. Ciertamente, la indiferencia del Estado mexicano ante la magnitud creciente del problema es más o menos espeluznante.  La sociedad no tiene la educación necesaria para lidiar con el problema. El gobierno federal, en los hechos y en el mejor de los casos, se dedica a medir la magnitud y las consecuencias del desequilibrio climático. La indiferencia de los gobiernos estatales es brutal, no obstante como que han tomado el papel del que se queja y protesta conforme el problema les aprieta el pescuezo.

"Flood disaster is one of the most damaging natural disasters in China, with annual average losses more than 200 billion yuan in recent years. After 1995 floods in the Liaohe River and 1998 floods in the Yangtze River, the governments from national to local have realized that the flood control operation of reservoirs can play a major role in alleviating flood losses but there are some problems in flood control management for reservoirs. Most of the existing flood control management systems for reservoir were established for special purposes and are lack of data share and communication with governments, it is very difficult for decision-making departments to get real-time information in short time. Thus, a national programming about flood control management system for reservoirs is presented. The paper is a summary of the outcome of national programming about the flood control management system for reservoirs in China. The background, objectives, main challenges and main contents of the programming are introduced. The main focus is on the issues of the software integration flood control management system for reservoirs. Emphasis is concentrated on the flowchart design of the system and its core components. The current system can be applied to a river control center or a single reservoir because of using the national standard databases and easily integrated into the national flood control system in the future. An application system is briefly introduced in order to understand the system.

Keywords: flood control; integrated management; database; reservoir"