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21 pages, 5581 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of the Citrus Industry on the Water Quality of the Filobobos River in Veracruz, Mexico

by Luis Carlos Sandoval Herazo, Humberto Raymundo González-Moreno, Luis Guillermo Carreto-Hernandez, Florentina Zurita, Graciela Nani, Sergio Zamora, Mayerlin Sandoval-Herazo and Georgina Martínez-Reséndiz

Sustainability 2024, 16(4), 1536; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16041536 - 11 Feb 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1565

Abstract

Veracruz, Mexico, boasts abundant water resources. However, the region is facing challenges stemming from population growth and industrial expansion, leading to a notable increase in wastewater discharge into surface water bodies. This discharge has resulted in significant alterations to water quality. In this [...] Read more.

Veracruz, Mexico, boasts abundant water resources. However, the region is facing challenges stemming from population growth and industrial expansion, leading to a notable increase in wastewater discharge into surface water bodies. This discharge has resulted in significant alterations to water quality. In this study, we analyzed the water quality in the Bobos River, Veracruz, with a focus on sustainability. A total of 12 samples were collected from various points along the reservoir. Parameters including temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), conductivity, total nitrogen (TN), nitrate, chemical oxygen demand (COD), total phosphorus (TP), phosphate, dissolved solids (DSs), and fecal coliforms (FCs) were measured and analyzed. The pH levels ranged from slightly acidic (6.40 ± 0.71) to slightly alkaline (8.65 ± 0.07), with the lowest dissolved oxygen concentration recorded at 0.15 ± 0.07 mg L⁻¹. Conductivity varied between 0.26 and 3.81 mS. Total nitrogen concentrations ranged from 0.21 ± 3.8 to 0.491 ± 1.3 mg L⁻¹. Dissolved solid concentrations were measured at 0.39 ± 0.05 mg L⁻¹, while the final sampling point exhibited elevated values for temperature, nitrate, chemical oxygen demand, total phosphorus, and coliforms (30.35 ± 0.21 °C, 0.35, 389.00 ± 11.31, 13.20 ± 0.85 mg L⁻¹, and 3.2 × 105 ± 3.707107 × 10⁴, respectively). To address these concerning trends and safeguard public health and environmental integrity, the implementation of continuous monitoring and stringent control measures is imperative. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances and Challenges in the Sustainable Water Management)

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16 pages, 1968 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of the Water Resource Carrying Capacity in Guyuan City

by Wenfa Peng, Chaochao Li, Haohan Yu, Yadong Zhang and Mingyang Li

Sustainability 2023, 15(23), 16159; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152316159 - 21 Nov 2023

Viewed by 950

Abstract

To assess the water resource carrying capacity of Guyuan City, an analysis was conducted using the load index method, principal component analysis, and ecological water footprint method. A comprehensive analysis was carried out using these three methods to evaluate the current state of [...] Read more.

To assess the water resource carrying capacity of Guyuan City, an analysis was conducted using the load index method, principal component analysis, and ecological water footprint method. A comprehensive analysis was carried out using these three methods to evaluate the current state of water resource carrying capacity in Guyuan City. The results indicate that the water resource carrying capacity in Guyuan City is mainly influenced by economic development factors, water supply–demand balance factors, and natural factors. During the period from 2002 to 2016, the water resource carrying capacity fluctuated in response to changes in the total water resources. However, from 2016 to 2021, it exhibited an increasing trend due to improvements in water resource utilization efficiency and effective water conservation measures. However, the water resource carrying capacity remains at a relatively low level, and it has consistently been in an overloaded state, with the development and utilization of water resources approaching their limits. Water scarcity in Guyuan City is a pressing concern, characterized by severe limitations on its potential for development and utilization. The persistent supply–demand imbalance is anticipated to impede the region’s pursuit of high-quality economic development in the foreseeable future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances and Challenges in the Sustainable Water Management)

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18 pages, 2796 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Extracting Evaluation Factors of Social Resilience in Water Resource Protection Areas Using the Fuzzy Delphi Method

by Ming-Feng Huang and Li-Pei Peng

Sustainability 2023, 15(18), 13764; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151813764 - 15 Sep 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1264

Abstract

Development in water resource protection areas frequently grapples with balancing environmental sustainability and local economic growth. Consequently, a nuanced assessment of social resilience becomes imperative. This research presented a case study of the Water Resource Protection Area in Taipei, gauging its social resilience [...] Read more.

Development in water resource protection areas frequently grapples with balancing environmental sustainability and local economic growth. Consequently, a nuanced assessment of social resilience becomes imperative. This research presented a case study of the Water Resource Protection Area in Taipei, gauging its social resilience across five dimensions: “social support function”, “inclusive governance”, “economic allocation”, “built environment”, and “resources for sustainability”. From these, 49 influential factors that could impact the social resilience of the water resource protection area were discerned. Through the engagement of 21 experts via questionnaires and subsequent analysis using the Fuzzy Delphi method, this study identified 23 core factors. Notably, influential factors pertaining to the “social support function” significantly impacted the water resource protection area. The findings aim to streamline the evaluation of social resilience in water resource protection areas, potentially guiding future research utilizing the multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) method and steering industrial developments in these areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances and Challenges in the Sustainable Water Management)

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23 pages, 700 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Factors Affecting Water Quality and Sustainability in Dental Practices in Greece

by Maria Antoniadou, Anestis Intzes, Christos Kladouchas, Iliana Christou, Stavroula Chatzigeorgiou, Martha Plexida, Valantis Stefanidakis and Ioannis Tzoutzas

Sustainability 2023, 15(11), 9115; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15119115 - 5 Jun 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3253

Abstract

Good water quality, achieved with environmentally friendly means, is essential in ensuring the safe operation of a dental practice. Our aim was to evaluate procedures and protocols used by dentists for water quality and sustainability. Greek dentists (n = 206) participated in [...] Read more.

Good water quality, achieved with environmentally friendly means, is essential in ensuring the safe operation of a dental practice. Our aim was to evaluate procedures and protocols used by dentists for water quality and sustainability. Greek dentists (n = 206) participated in this questionnaire-based study. Statistically significant results (p < 0.05) have shown that (a) female dentists were more interested in additional information about water quality (87.5% vs. 71.8%), had water supply directly from the public network to the dental unit (68.8% vs. 73.8%), were more likely to disinfect surfaces between two appointments (97.7% vs. 88.0%) and were more likely to perform annual maintenance to the dental unit (66.3% vs. 57.9%). (b) More experienced dentists were also more likely to clean the waterline network of the unit with a large amount of fluid once a day (39.3–48.3%), had newer equipment, had more handpieces, and spent more time cleaning and disinfecting the unit (χ² = 26.21). (c) Dentists who have studied abroad were more likely to perform less strict antiseptic protocols while believing that their practices are environmentally friendly (χ² = 10.93). Dentists with some postgraduate education were more likely to have an assistant, know the active substance of the antiseptic, supply antiseptic to the handpieces automatically and maintain the dental unit annually (χ² = 7.24). (d) Dentists who practiced general dentistry were less likely to have an assistant and performed less strict protocols while they cleaned suctions with a large amount of fluid less often (χ² = 11.64). Dentists who practiced in a clinic (with employees) were more likely to have newer equipment, have an assistant and perform stricter water sustainability protocols. (e) Dentists with a higher annual income were also more likely to have an assistant, perform microbiological tests for the quality of the water of the unit, have a continuous water supply system and perform stricter protocols for water quality of the unit. Overall, less experienced (and younger) dentists are more informed about water quality legislation (27.6%) compared to more experienced and older dentists (13.2–17.5%). Gender, work experience, level of education and dental office characteristics are important factors determining water sustainability, waterlines, and equipment maintenance in dental practice. Dental associations should raise awareness regarding water quality and sustainability, investing in lifelong learning, while implementing protocols and green strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances and Challenges in the Sustainable Water Management)

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17 pages, 8769 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Toward an Integrated and Sustainable Water Resources Management in Structurally-Controlled Watersheds in Desert Environments Using Geophysical and Remote Sensing Methods

by Mohamed Attwa, Mohammed El Bastawesy, Dina Ragab, Abdullah Othman, Hamza M. Assaggaf and Abotalib Z. Abotalib

Sustainability 2021, 13(7), 4004; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13074004 - 3 Apr 2021

Cited by 34 | Viewed by 3677

Abstract

Sustainable water resources management in desert environment has yet to be reached due to the limited hydrological datasets under such extreme arid conditions. In the Eastern Sahara, the tectonic activity associated with the opening of the Red Sea adds more complexity to developing [...] Read more.

Sustainable water resources management in desert environment has yet to be reached due to the limited hydrological datasets under such extreme arid conditions. In the Eastern Sahara, the tectonic activity associated with the opening of the Red Sea adds more complexity to developing sustainable water management by creating multiple aquifers within subsided half-grabens along the Red Sea extension. To overcome these difficulties, a two-fold approach is adopted including integrated remote sensing and geoelectrical methods using Wadi Al-Ambagi watershed in the Eastern Desert of Egypt as a test site. First, the total discharge is estimated as 15.7 × 10⁶ m³ following the application of a uniform storm of 10 mm effective precipitation, which exceeds the storage capacity of existing mitigation measures (5.5 × 106 m³), and thus additional dams are required. Second, the subsurface geometry of alluvium and sedimentary aquifers, within subsided blocks in the Arabian–Nubian shield (ANS), is delineated using 1D direct current and 2D electrical-resistivity tomography (ERT). Findings indicate that significant thicknesses of more than 80 m of permeable sedimentary units occur within the subsided blocks. Therefore, the scarce water resources can be managed by controlling the flash floods and suggesting proper dam sites at the location of thick alluvium and sedimentary rocks, where aquifers can be recharged representing a sustainable source for freshwater. The proposed approach is transferable and can be applied in similar arid rift-related watersheds in Saudi Arabia and worldwide. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances and Challenges in the Sustainable Water Management)

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18 pages, 1199 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Determination of Changes in the Quality of Surface Water in the River—Reservoir System

by Łukasz Gruss, Mirosław Wiatkowski, Krzysztof Pulikowski and Andrzej Kłos

Sustainability 2021, 13(6), 3457; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13063457 - 20 Mar 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3265

Abstract

Assessing the changing parameters of water quality at different points in the river–reservoir system can help prevent river pollution and implement remedial policies. It is also crucial in modeling water resources. Multivariate statistical analysis is useful for the analysis of changes in surface [...] Read more.

Assessing the changing parameters of water quality at different points in the river–reservoir system can help prevent river pollution and implement remedial policies. It is also crucial in modeling water resources. Multivariate statistical analysis is useful for the analysis of changes in surface water quality. It helps to identify indicators that may be responsible for the eutrophication process of a reservoir. Additionally, the analysis of the water quality profile and the water quality index (WQI) is useful in assessing water pollution. These tools can support and verify the results of a multivariate statistical analysis. In this study, changes in water quality parameters of the Turawa reservoir (TR), and the Mała Panew river at the point below the Turawa reservoir (bTR) and above the Turawa reservoir (aTR), were analyzed. The analyzed period was from 2019 to 2020 (360 samples were analyzed). It was found that TN, NO₂-N, and NO₃-N decreased after passing through the Turawa reservoir. Nevertheless, principal component analysis (PCA) and redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that NO₂-N and NO₃-N contribute to the observed variability of the water quality in the river-reservoir system. PCA showed that pH and PO₄-P had a lower impact on the water quality in the reservoir than nitrogen compounds. Additionally, RDA proved that the values of the NO₃-N and NO₂-N indicators obtained the highest values at the aTR point, PO₄-P at the bTR, and pH at the TR. This allows the conclusion that the Turawa reservoir reduced the concentration of NO₂-N and NO₃-N in comparison with the concentration of these compounds flowing into the reservoir. PCA and RDA showed that both parameters (NO₂-N and NO₃-N) may be responsible for the eutrophication process of the Turawa reservoir. The analysis of short-term changes in water quality data may reveal additional sources of water pollution. High temperatures and alkaline reaction may cause the release of nitrogen and phosphorus compounds from sediments, which indicates an increased concentration of TP, PO4-P, and N_org in the waters at the TR point, and TP, PO₄-P, and NH₄-N concentrations at the bTR point. The water quality profile combined with PCA and RDA allows more effective monitoring for the needs of water management in the reservoir catchment area. The analyzed WQI for water below the reservoir (bTR) was lower than that of the reservoir water (TR), which indicates an improvement in water after passing through the reservoir. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances and Challenges in the Sustainable Water Management)

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10 pages, 3350 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Numerical Analysis of the Effect of Ground Dampness on Heat Transfer between Greenhouse and Ground

by Grzegorz Nawalany and Paweł Sokołowski

Sustainability 2021, 13(6), 3084; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13063084 - 11 Mar 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1907

Abstract

This paper deals with the problem of the influence of ground dampness on heat exchange between greenhouse and ground. The effect of humidity on the distribution of ground temperature fields was analyzed. The analysis was performed based on the analytical numerical method in [...] Read more.

This paper deals with the problem of the influence of ground dampness on heat exchange between greenhouse and ground. The effect of humidity on the distribution of ground temperature fields was analyzed. The analysis was performed based on the analytical numerical method in the WUFI^®plus software. The computational tool was used after a validation process. Research and simulations were conducted on the example of a real single-span greenhouse located in Southern Poland. The results of indoor and outdoor air temperature measurements were used to determine the boundary conditions, while the measured ground temperatures were used to compare with the results of theoretical calculations. Three variants were used for calculation analysis, assuming different levels of ground dampness. Analysis of the test results showed that during the summer period, dry ground provides 8% more thermal energy to the interior of the greenhouse than the damp ground, and provides 30% more thermal energy than wet ground. In the transition period (autumn/spring), the ground temperature fields are arranged parallel to the floor level, while the heat flux is directed from the ground to the interior of the greenhouse, regardless of the ground dampness level. During this period, the ground temperature ranges from 4.0 °C to 13.0 °C. Beneficial effect of dry ground, which contributes to maintaining an almost constant temperature under the greenhouse floor, was found in winter. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances and Challenges in the Sustainable Water Management)

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26 pages, 4157 KiB

Open AccessArticle

AHP as a Useful Tool in the Assessment of the Technical Condition of Hydrotechnical Constructions

by Mateusz Hämmerling, Joanna Kocięcka and Stanisław Zaborowski

Sustainability 2021, 13(3), 1304; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13031304 - 27 Jan 2021

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2750

Abstract

The key challenge for sustainable water management is to carry out a proper assessment of the technical condition of hydrotechnical constructions. Maintaining them in a good state is a prerequisite for ensuring the safety of objects, as well as adjacent areas. This paper [...] Read more.

The key challenge for sustainable water management is to carry out a proper assessment of the technical condition of hydrotechnical constructions. Maintaining them in a good state is a prerequisite for ensuring the safety of objects, as well as adjacent areas. This paper compares the results of field research obtained by three methods to assess the technical condition of structures located on the Wełna River. The main objective is to determine the differences between the methods and to indicate the most important assessment elements and criteria. Moreover, it was checked if the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) can be used to carry out the correct assessment of hydrotechnical construction. An assessment that will be based on the hierarchy of factors, which is not often used in other methods. The AHP was applied for the first time to assess the technical condition of hydrotechnical constructions. Based on AHP, three variants of different weights for factors, including exploitation problems and damage to construction elements, were selected. The new variants developed by the authors allow for a more accurate, multifactor assessment. The use of scales to determine the importance of individual elements contributes to the actual representation of the technical condition of the object, which is often over- or underestimated by other assessment methods. The analysis shows that the AHP method is a useful tool to support the assessment of the technical condition of hydrotechnical construction. The use of AHP as a universal assessment method will compare the technical condition of hydrotechnical constructions located all over the world. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances and Challenges in the Sustainable Water Management)

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29 pages, 4521 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Superiority of Hybrid Soft Computing Models in Daily Suspended Sediment Estimation in Highly Dynamic Rivers

by Tarate Suryakant Bajirao, Pravendra Kumar, Manish Kumar, Ahmed Elbeltagi and Alban Kuriqi

Sustainability 2021, 13(2), 542; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13020542 - 8 Jan 2021

Cited by 31 | Viewed by 2876

Abstract

Estimating sediment flow rate from a drainage area plays an essential role in better watershed planning and management. In this study, the validity of simple and wavelet-coupled Artificial Intelligence (AI) models was analyzed for daily Suspended Sediment (SSC) estimation of highly dynamic Koyna [...] Read more.

Estimating sediment flow rate from a drainage area plays an essential role in better watershed planning and management. In this study, the validity of simple and wavelet-coupled Artificial Intelligence (AI) models was analyzed for daily Suspended Sediment (SSC) estimation of highly dynamic Koyna River basin of India. Simple AI models such as the Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) were developed by supplying the original time series data as an input without pre-processing through a Wavelet (W) transform. The hybrid wavelet-coupled W-ANN and W-ANFIS models were developed by supplying the decomposed time series sub-signals using Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT). In total, three mother wavelets, namely Haar, Daubechies, and Coiflets were employed to decompose original time series data into different multi-frequency sub-signals at an appropriate decomposition level. Quantitative and qualitative performance evaluation criteria were used to select the best model for daily SSC estimation. The reliability of the developed models was also assessed using uncertainty analysis. Finally, it was revealed that the data pre-processing using wavelet transform improves the model’s predictive efficiency and reliability significantly. In this study, it was observed that the performance of the Coiflet wavelet-coupled ANFIS model is superior to other models and can be applied for daily SSC estimation of the highly dynamic rivers. As per sensitivity analysis, previous one-day SSC (S_t-1) is the most crucial input variable for daily SSC estimation of the Koyna River basin. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances and Challenges in the Sustainable Water Management)

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14 pages, 2998 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Conceptual Model of Drainage-Sub Irrigation System Functioning-First Results from a Case Study of a Lowland Valley Area in Central Poland

by Andrzej Brandyk, Edmund Kaca, Ryszard Oleszczuk, Janusz Urbański and Jan Jadczyszyn

Sustainability 2021, 13(1), 107; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13010107 - 24 Dec 2020

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2027

Abstract

The search for simple models of drainage–irrigation systems functioning and management has still been an important research objective. Therefore, we presented a conceptual model based on groundwater dynamics equation along with proper assumptions on water equivalent of transient porosity-i.e., storage in the soil [...] Read more.

The search for simple models of drainage–irrigation systems functioning and management has still been an important research objective. Therefore, we presented a conceptual model based on groundwater dynamics equation along with proper assumptions on water equivalent of transient porosity-i.e., storage in the soil profile based on the long-term experience of the research on drainage-sub-irrigation systems. Several parameters have been incorporated in the model to effectively and comprehensively describe drainage/irrigation time, leakage from the soil profile, the soil moisture content in the root zone, and the shape of the groundwater table on the drainage–sub-irrigation plot. The model was successfully validated on groundwater level data in ditch midspacing on an experimental site located within a valley sub-irrigation system with the advantage of a relatively simple representation of flows through the soil profile. The robust character of the conceptual equation of groundwater dynamics, as well as the approach to its’ parameters, were proved through a close match between the model and observations. This promotes the capacities of the proposed modeling procedure to conceptualize drainage-irrigation development with the impact of external and internal sources of water. The potential was offered for the evaluation of water management practices in a valley system influenced by horizontal inflows from surrounding areas as indicated by calibration results. Future challenges were revealed in terms of water exchange between the plots and validation of soil moisture content modeling. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances and Challenges in the Sustainable Water Management)

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17 pages, 3148 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Identification of the Relationship between Rainfall and the CN Parameter in Western Carpathian Mountain Catchments in Poland

by Dariusz Młyński and Andrzej Wałęga

Sustainability 2020, 12(22), 9317; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12229317 - 10 Nov 2020

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1953

Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify the form of the dependence describing the relationship between rainfall (P) and the curve number (CN) parameter using the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS-CN) method in the mountain catchments [...] Read more.

The aim of this study was to identify the form of the dependence describing the relationship between rainfall (P) and the curve number (CN) parameter using the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS-CN) method in the mountain catchments of the Western Carpathians. The study was carried out in 28 catchments areas in the Western Carpathians in the Upper Vistula Basin, Poland. The study was conducted in the following stages: determination of the volume of the direct runoff using the NRCS-CN method, determination of the P–CN relationship using asymptotic functions, kinetic equation and complementary error function; determination of the volume of the direct runoff from the catchment area, accounting for the correction of the decline; determination of the value of the efficiency coefficient of the analysed models. On the basis of the conducted study, a strong relationship was found between the direct runoff and the rainfall that caused it. The study showed that the empirical values of the CN parameter differed from the values determined on the basis of the volume of rainfall and runoff. The vast majority of study catchments were characterised by a standard P–CN relationship. The kinetic model was found to be the best model to describe the P–CN relationship. The asymptotic model showed the greatest stability for high rainfall episodes. It was shown that the application of the catchment slope correction improved the quality of the NRCS-CN model. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances and Challenges in the Sustainable Water Management)

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27 pages, 4825 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Efficiency of Polder Modernization for Flood Protection. Case Study of Golina Polder (Poland)

by Ireneusz Laks and Zbigniew Walczak

Sustainability 2020, 12(19), 8056; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12198056 - 29 Sep 2020

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3048

Abstract

This paper presents an analysis of the effectiveness of variants of the reconstruction of a polder, which is part of the flood protection system of a large urban agglomeration. The Golina polder, located in the floodplain of the Warta River, was selected as [...] Read more.

This paper presents an analysis of the effectiveness of variants of the reconstruction of a polder, which is part of the flood protection system of a large urban agglomeration. The Golina polder, located in the floodplain of the Warta River, was selected as the case study. The multi-criteria decision support methods AHP and Fuzzy AHP were used to assess the effectiveness of individual variants. Information on the floods from 1997 and 2010, data on land cover, land development, nature and historical objects were used to estimate the value of the coefficients for the multi-criteria decision methods. It was shown that the planned deep modernization of the hydrotechnical infrastructure and the purchase of land in the polder area is less effective than maintaining the current state of development of the polder. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances and Challenges in the Sustainable Water Management)

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18 pages, 1363 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ameliorating the Drought Stress for Wheat Growth through Application of ACC-Deaminase Containing Rhizobacteria along with Biogas Slurry

by Rizwan Yaseen, Omar Aziz, Muhammad Hamzah Saleem, Muhammad Riaz, Muhammad Zafar-ul-Hye, Muzammal Rehman, Shafaqat Ali, Muhammad Rizwan, Mohammed Nasser Alyemeni, Hamed A. El-Serehy, Fahad A. Al-Misned and Parvaiz Ahmad

Sustainability 2020, 12(15), 6022; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12156022 - 27 Jul 2020

Cited by 59 | Viewed by 3878

Abstract

The temperature increase around the world is leading to generation of drought, which is a big threat to the productivity of crops. Abiotic stresses like drought increase the ethylene level in plants. In higher plants, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) is considered as the immediate precursor [...] Read more.

The temperature increase around the world is leading to generation of drought, which is a big threat to the productivity of crops. Abiotic stresses like drought increase the ethylene level in plants. In higher plants, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) is considered as the immediate precursor of ethylene biosynthesis. The application of ACC-deaminase (ACCD) possessing rhizobacteria could ameliorate the harmful results of drought stress by transforming ACC into non-harmful products. Biogas slurry (BGS) improves the water-holding capacity and structure of the soil. Thus, we speculated that the integrated application of ACCD possessing rhizobacteria and BGS might be an efficient approach to mitigate the drought stress for better wheat productivity. A field experiment was conducted under skipped irrigation situations. On the tillering stage (SIT) and flowering stage (SIF), the irrigations were skipped, whereas the recommended four irrigations were maintained in the control treatment. The results of this field experiment exposed that the ACCD possessing rhizobacterial inoculations with BGS considerably improved the stomatal and sub-stomatal conductance, transpiration and photosynthetic rates up to 98%, 46%, 38%, and 73%, respectively, compared to the respective uninoculated controls. The Pseudomonas moraviensis with BGS application improved the grain yield and plant height up to 30.3% and 24.3%, respectively, where irrigation was skipped at the tillering stage, as compared to the uninoculated controls. The data obtained revealed that the P. moraviensis inoculation + BGS treatment significantly increased the relative water content (RWC), catalase (CAT) activity, ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activity, as well as grain and shoot phosphorus contents, up to 37%, 40%, 75%, 19%, and 84%, respectively, at SIF situation. The results depicted that the P. moraviensis with BGS application under drought stress could be applied for enhancing the physiological, yield, and growth attributes of wheat. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances and Challenges in the Sustainable Water Management)

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28 pages, 10855 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Improvement of Credal Decision Trees Using Ensemble Frameworks for Groundwater Potential Modeling

by Phong Tung Nguyen, Duong Hai Ha, Huu Duy Nguyen, Tran Van Phong, Phan Trong Trinh, Nadhir Al-Ansari, Hiep Van Le, Binh Thai Pham, Lanh Si Ho and Indra Prakash

Sustainability 2020, 12(7), 2622; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12072622 - 26 Mar 2020

Cited by 45 | Viewed by 4110

Abstract

Groundwater is one of the most important sources of fresh water all over the world, especially in those countries where rainfall is erratic, such as Vietnam. Nowadays, machine learning (ML) models are being used for the assessment of groundwater potential of the region. [...] Read more.

Groundwater is one of the most important sources of fresh water all over the world, especially in those countries where rainfall is erratic, such as Vietnam. Nowadays, machine learning (ML) models are being used for the assessment of groundwater potential of the region. Credal decision trees (CDT) is one of the ML models which has been used in such studies. In the present study, the performance of the CDT has been improved using various ensemble frameworks such as Bagging, Dagging, Decorate, Multiboost, and Random SubSpace. Based on these methods, five hybrid models, namely BCDT, Dagging-CDT, Decorate-CDT, MBCDT, and RSSCDT, were developed and applied for groundwater potential mapping of DakLak province of Vietnam. Data of 227 groundwater wells of the study area were utilized for the construction and validation of the models. Twelve groundwater potential conditioning factors, namely rainfall, slope, elevation, river density, Sediment Transport Index (STI), curvature, flow direction, aspect, soil, land use, Topographic Wetness Index (TWI), and geology, were considered for the model studies. Various statistical measures, including area under receiver operating characteristic (AUC) curve, were applied to validate and compare the performance of the models. The results show that performance of the hybrid CDT ensemble models MBCDT (AUC = 0.770), BCDT (AUC = 0.731), Dagging-CDT (AUC = 0.763), Decorate-CDT (AUC = 0.750), and RSSCDT (AUC = 0.766) improved significantly in comparison to the single CDT (AUC = 0.722) model. Therefore, these developed hybrid models can be applied for better ground water potential mapping and groundwater resources management of the study area as well as other regions of the world. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances and Challenges in the Sustainable Water Management)

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20 pages, 28292 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Possibilities of Controlling the River Outlets by Weirs on the Example of Noteć Bystra River

by Joanna Wicher-Dysarz, Ewelina Szałkiewicz, Joanna Jaskuła, Tomasz Dysarz and Maksymilian Rybacki

Sustainability 2020, 12(6), 2369; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12062369 - 18 Mar 2020

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3160

Abstract

The possibility of effective control of selected dams in the Noteć Bystra river is analyzed. Such a control is expected to permit inundation of selected arable areas, e.g., peat grasslands, to avoid flooding of the city of Czarnków and the terrains located downstream. [...] Read more.

The possibility of effective control of selected dams in the Noteć Bystra river is analyzed. Such a control is expected to permit inundation of selected arable areas, e.g., peat grasslands, to avoid flooding of the city of Czarnków and the terrains located downstream. The chosen case study is the reach of the Noteć River between the dams Pianowka–Mikolajewo–Rosko. The analysis was made on the basis of simulations of the flow and regulation of dams in flood conditions. The flow peaks of hypothetical flood waves were designed according to the directions of the ISOK project (Informatyczny System Osłony Kraju przed nadzwyczajnymi zagrożeniami—IT System of the Country’s Protection Against Extreme Hazards) as the maximum flows over 10-years (p = 10%), 100-years (p = 1%), and 500-years (p = 0.2%). The obtained results are presented as longitudinal profiles of the water surface, maps of inundated areas and maps of inundated soils. The main conclusion is that the robust control of dams reduces the peak of flow during flood wave propagation and forces inundation of the a priori selected areas. It helps to decrease the spatial range of the flood hazard and significantly reduces risk related to floods. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances and Challenges in the Sustainable Water Management)

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19 pages, 538 KiB

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A Comprehensive Review of Performance Augmentation of Solar Stills Using Common Non-Metallic Nanofluids

by Anwur Alenezi and Yousef Alabaiadly

Sustainability 2023, 15(13), 10122; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151310122 - 26 Jun 2023

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2219

Abstract

All living organisms depend on water for their survival. Therefore, sufficient water availability is necessary for health. During the last few years, considerable progress has been made in the production of clean drinking water—particularly in the desalination industry. Various methods have been explored [...] Read more.

All living organisms depend on water for their survival. Therefore, sufficient water availability is necessary for health. During the last few years, considerable progress has been made in the production of clean drinking water—particularly in the desalination industry. Various methods have been explored to boost the productivity of solar stills. The present review focuses on recent enhancement techniques aimed at boosting their performance—particularly those incorporating non-metallic nanofluids into the base fluid. The nanomaterials examined in this review include Al₂O₃, CuO, ZnO, and TiO₂. Several studies adding Al₂O₃ in a solar-still desalination system resulted in an increase in distillate yield, better efficiency, reduced energy consumption, reduced thermal loss, and better productivity. The incorporation of CuO in a solar-still desalination system led to major improvements in performance. These included enhanced daily efficiency, better productivity, improved production of freshwater, and higher energy and exergy efficiency. The incorporation of TiO₂ in a solar-still desalination system resulted in increased productivity, better thermal conductivity, better thermal efficiency, higher daily distillate output, and high levels of water temperature. It was also evident that the incorporation of ZnO in a solar-still desalination system resulted in a substantial increase in the output of clean water and occasioned improvements in productivity and overall efficiency. Together, these findings demonstrate the potential of these nanomaterials to significantly enhance the performance of solar-still desalination systems. Other nanomaterials that are yet to gain increased use, such as SiO₂ and SnO₂, have also been discussed. The collective results in this paper demonstrate the potential of nanofluids to enhance the performance and effectiveness of solar-still desalination systems. This review provides conclusive evidence of the positive effects of different nanofluids on the yield, productivity, energy, and efficiency of diverse types of solar stills, offering promising advancements in the sustainable production of water. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances and Challenges in the Sustainable Water Management)

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19 pages, 908 KiB

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The Role of Antitranspirants in Mitigating Drought Stress in Plants of the Grass Family (Poaceae)—A Review

by Joanna Kocięcka, Daniel Liberacki and Marcin Stróżecki

Sustainability 2023, 15(12), 9165; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15129165 - 6 Jun 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 5375

Abstract

One of the biggest problems facing agriculture is the occurrence of droughts. Due to ongoing climate change, many regions of the world are exposed to increasingly frequent and prolonged water shortages. The situation may significantly reduce production and the quality of many crops [...] Read more.

One of the biggest problems facing agriculture is the occurrence of droughts. Due to ongoing climate change, many regions of the world are exposed to increasingly frequent and prolonged water shortages. The situation may significantly reduce production and the quality of many crops in the Poaceae family, including crucial cereals. Therefore, it is important to find solutions that can help adapt plants to the drought phenomenon and reduce its negative effects. One measure that could potentially improve the condition of plants and help them survive under water deficit conditions is the use of antitranspirants (AT), which are products that reduce transpiration. Antitranspirants are divided into three groups: film-forming, metabolic, and reflective types. This review aimed to the current state of knowledge on the effects of selected AT applications on Poaceae plants under drought conditions. It demonstrated that AT, in many cases, mitigates the negative effects of drought on crops such as maize, wheat, or rice, which are crucial for global food security. Furthermore, AT often improved growth and yield parameters. These results are particularly relevant for countries that are important cereals producers and are more vulnerable to droughts in the future. However, it should be noted that the results obtained often depend on several factors, such as plant species, environment, type of antitranspirant, and applied dose. Therefore, it is advisable to measure further the effects of AT on plants under drought-stress conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances and Challenges in the Sustainable Water Management)

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62 pages, 10677 KiB

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A Systemic View on Circular Economy in the Water Industry: Learnings from a Belgian and Dutch Case

by Tanaka Mandy Mbavarira and Christine Grimm

Sustainability 2021, 13(6), 3313; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13063313 - 17 Mar 2021

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 8009

Abstract

Water is fundamental to our existence and has increasingly been put under pressure by soaring population growth, urbanization, agricultural farming and climate change; all, of which impact the quantity and quality of our water resources. Water utilities (WUs) are challenged to provide clean, [...] Read more.

Water is fundamental to our existence and has increasingly been put under pressure by soaring population growth, urbanization, agricultural farming and climate change; all, of which impact the quantity and quality of our water resources. Water utilities (WUs) are challenged to provide clean, safe drinking water when faced with aging, costly infrastructure, a price of water that is not reflective of its true value and the need for infrastructure to remain resilient in a time when threats of floods and droughts are pervasive. In the linear take-use-discharge approach, wastewater is treated only to be returned to waterways and extracted again for treatment before drinking. This can no longer sustain our water resources as it is costly, energy-intensive and environmentally unsound. Circular economy (CE) has been gaining attention in the water industry to tackle this. It follows the 6Rs strategy of reduce, reuse, recycle, reclaim, recover and restore to keep water in circulation for longer and reduce the burden on natural systems. The aim of this study is to determine what the economic and operational system effects of CE are on WUs, informing them of CE’s potential to change their business operations and business model while highlighting its associated challenges. Based on a review of literature, input from expert interviews (Q4 2019) and case studies, an economic view of the urban water system is qualitatively modeled, on top, of which a circular water economy system is designed using a causal loop-diagramming system mapping tool. Digitalization, water reuse and resource recovery were determined to underpin circularity in water, providing operational benefits through efficiencies and diversification of revenue streams. However, issues of investment and a missing enabling legal framework are slowing the rate of uptake. On this basis, CE represents both a challenge and an opportunity for the water industry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances and Challenges in the Sustainable Water Management)

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