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Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), a Holistic Approach to Sustainable Water Management

A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441). This special issue belongs to the section "Water Resources Management, Policy and Governance".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2022) | Viewed by 91359

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. José Álvarez-García

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Departamento de Economía Financiera y Contabilidad, Instituto Universitario de Investigación para el Desarrollo Territorial Sostenible (INTERRA), Universidad de Extremadura, 10071 Cáceres, Spain
Interests: business; finance and tourism; resource and service management; natural resources; sustainable rural development; water resources management; agricultural resources management; land resources management; financial economics; accounting and management; sustainability; entrepreneurship; innovation; quality and environmental management systems
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Amador Durán-Sánchez

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Financial Economy and Accounting Department, Faculty of Business, Finance and Tourism, University of Extremadura, 10071 Cáceres, Spain
Interests: business; finance and tourism; resource and service management; natural resource; sustainable rural development; water resources management; financial economics; accounting and management; sustainability; entrepreneurship; innovation; quality and environmental management systems
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. María de la Cruz del Río-Rama

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Business Management and Marketing Department, Faculty of Business Sciences and Tourism, University of Vigo, 32004 Ourense, Spain
Interests: business; finance and tourism; resource and service management; natural resources; sustainable rural development; water resources management; agricultural resources management; land resources management; financial economics; accounting and management; sustainability; entrepreneurship; innovation; quality and environmental management systems
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Water is a scarce natural resource, essential for life and for the vast majority of economic activities; it is irreplaceable, not expandable by the mere will of man, irregular in its way of presenting itself in time and space, easily vulnerable, and susceptible to successive uses. Only 3.5% of the earth's water is fresh, but of this percentage, 70% is in glaciers and polar caps. The remaining 30% is found in the subsoil, wells or aquifers. Only 1% of the earth's freshwater flows through river basins in the form of streams and rivers. It is, therefore, a limited resource, whose demand, according to the forecasts of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), will skyrocket globally to 55% between the years 2000 and 2050.

Conflicts over competition for water use are likely to increase as societies grapple with social, economic, and political challenges, especially compounded by climate change. In this scenario, the sustainable management of water resources is a key priority to meet the growing demand for water and to achieve a safe and sustainable supply. The Integrated Water Resources Management is understood as a process that promotes the development and coordinated management of water, land, and related resources in order to maximize economic and social well-being in an equitable way and without compromising the sustainability of vital ecosystems in the future.

The objectives and scope of this Special Issue are very broad. Manuscripts presenting cutting-edge research on Integrated Water Resources Management (conceptual and/or empirical works) from all areas of knowledge are welcome. Research that addresses the following specific topics, without excluding others directly related to them, is of interest:

  • Water Resources Systems
  • Integrated Water Modeling
  • Water Monitoring
  • Water Protection and Management
  • Water Resources Planning
  • Adaptive Management
  • Water Demand Management
  • Water Economics
  • Water-Saving Strategies Assessment (WSSA)
  • Drought Management
  • Groundwater Depletion
  • Urban Water Management
  • Water Management and Economics Sector
  • Water Allocation
  • Water Quality
  • Water Use and Sustainable Development
  • Water Markets
  • Water Footprint
  • Emerging Contaminants of Water
  • Wastewater, Management, Recycling, and Water Reuses
  • Wastewater Decontamination
  • Other relevant topics related to the subject.

In summary, this Special Issue invites the submission of articles examining trends and initiatives in Integrated Water Resources Management, employing original methodologies and offering interesting empirical insights and novel theoretical contributions.

Prof. Dr. José Álvarez-García
Prof. Amador Durán-Sánchez
Prof. Dr. María de la Cruz del Río-Rama
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Water is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Water Management 
  • Water Resources 
  • Urban Water Management 
  • Water Supply 
  • Water Protection 
  • Sustainable Development 
  • Decision Making 
  • Groundwater 
  • Wastewater 
  • Water Recycling 
  • Water Decontamination 
  • Water Reuses Management 
  • Water Shortage Management 
  • Water Planning 
  • Water Economics 
  • Water Quality 
  • Water Markets 
  • Water Footprint

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

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  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (15 papers)

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10 pages, 1457 KiB  
Article
Expanding the Irrigated Areas in the MENA and Central Asia: Challenges or Opportunities?
by Nizar Abou Zaki, Bjørn Kløve and Ali Torabi Haghighi
Water 2022, 14(16), 2560; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14162560 - 20 Aug 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2565
Abstract
Middle Eastern, North African countries (MENA), and Central Asian countries are considered the countries most facing water and food scarcity. The current water exploitation indicates that a few countries are overexploiting their water resources and using the fossil water available. This study reviews [...] Read more.
Middle Eastern, North African countries (MENA), and Central Asian countries are considered the countries most facing water and food scarcity. The current water exploitation indicates that a few countries are overexploiting their water resources and using the fossil water available. This study reviews each country’s renewable water resources volume and evaluates the resources available to expand the agricultural area. Different scenarios are considered, using both irrigated and rainfed farming options, for concluding the most sustainable farming method in each country. Different scenarios are considered using irrigated and rainfed farming options to recommend the most sustainable farming method for each country. Results show that the countries in the MENA and Central Asia can be divided into three main categories: (1) Countries whose expansion of agricultural area can only be applied by using fossil water resources (Bahrain, Egypt, Kuwait, Libya, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, and Uzbekistan); (2) Countries where the agricultural area can be expanded to a certain limit, by sustainably using both irrigated and rainfed farming (Afghanistan, Algeria, Iran, Palestine, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Oman, Syria, Tajikistan, Tunisia, and Yemen); (3) Countries that have enough renewable water resources to farm all their agricultural area (Lebanon, Iraq, Turkey, and Kyrgyzstan). However, the aim of this study and its results are only to assess the renewable water resources available to sustain the increased agricultural water demand by setting aside other agricultural factors that constrain the sector. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), a Holistic Approach to Sustainable Water Management)
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20 pages, 2347 KiB  
Article
Hydro-Geochemistry and Groundwater Quality Assessment of Ouargla Basin, South of Algeria
by Zina Mansouri, Youcef Leghrieb, Saber Kouadri, Nadhir Al-Ansari, Hadee Mohammed Najm, Nuha S. Mashaan, Moutaz Mustafa A. Eldirderi and Khaled Mohamed Khedher
Water 2022, 14(15), 2441; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14152441 - 6 Aug 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3838
Abstract
This study aims to evaluate the hydro-chemical characteristics of Ouargla, Algeria basin groundwaters harvested from the Mio Pliocene aquifer. The study covered 70 samples; the physical parameters, potential of hydrogen (pH), and electrical conductivity EC μS.cm−1 were determined in situ, using a [...] Read more.
This study aims to evaluate the hydro-chemical characteristics of Ouargla, Algeria basin groundwaters harvested from the Mio Pliocene aquifer. The study covered 70 samples; the physical parameters, potential of hydrogen (pH), and electrical conductivity EC μS.cm−1 were determined in situ, using a multiparameter; the laboratory analysis included dry residuals DR (mg/L), calcium Ca2+ (mg/L), magnesium Mg2+ (mg/L), sodium Na+ (mg/L), potassium K+ (mg/L), bicarbonates HCO3− (mg/L), sulfates SO42− (mg/L), and chloride Cl− (mg/L). The piper diagram shows that the Ouargla basin ground waters divided into two facies, sodic chlorinated in 93% and sodic sulphated in 7% of samples. The United States Salinity Laboratory Staff (USSL) diagram was used to detect the suitability of groundwater in irrigation where the results show that the groundwater was classed into two classes, poor water (C4 S4) and bad water (C4 S4). Furthermore, indices such as the Kelly index (KI), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), sodium solubility percentage (Na%), and magnesium hazards (MH) confirm the negative effect of groundwater on soil permeability in 96%, 80%, 89%, and 53% of samples. The permeability index (PI) shows that the analyzed samples were considered as doubtful (71%) and safe (29%), otherwise there is no risk related to residual sodium carbonate (RSC). The geo-spatial distribution of deferent indices shows that all the study area has poor groundwater for irrigation, except the south-west part, where the groundwaters of this sub-area do not form a problem related to RSC. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), a Holistic Approach to Sustainable Water Management)
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24 pages, 26533 KiB  
Article
Reservoir Operation Management with New Multi-Objective (MOEPO) and Metaheuristic (EPO) Algorithms
by Icen Yoosefdoost, Milad Basirifard and José Álvarez-García
Water 2022, 14(15), 2329; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14152329 - 27 Jul 2022
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 16521
Abstract
Dam reservoir operation plays a fundamental role in water management studies and planning. This study examined three policies to improve the performance of reservoirs: Standard Operation Policy (SOP), Hedging Rule (HR) and Multi-Objective Optimization (MOO). The objective functions were to minimize the LSR [...] Read more.
Dam reservoir operation plays a fundamental role in water management studies and planning. This study examined three policies to improve the performance of reservoirs: Standard Operation Policy (SOP), Hedging Rule (HR) and Multi-Objective Optimization (MOO). The objective functions were to minimize the LSR (Long-term Shortage Ratio) for HR and to minimize MAE (Mean Absolute Errors of released water) for SOP. MOO’s objective function was to reduce vulnerability and maximize reliability indexes. The research was conducted in two time periods (1985–2005 and 2025–2045). Combining EPO (Empire Penguin Optimization) algorithm and Gene Expression Programming (GEP) with elementary arithmetic (EOPba) and logical operators (EPOad) modified HR and SOP policies. Multi-Objective EPO (MPOEPO) and GEP with trigonometric functions were used to create a multi-objective policies formula. The results showed that the generation of the operation rules with EPOad increased the dam reservoir Performance Indexes (Vulnerability and Reliability Indexes) compared to EPOba. Moreover, HR application compared to SOP improves the mean dam reservoir’s Performance Indexes by about 12 and 33% in the baseline and 12 and 21% in the future period (climate change conditions), respectively. The MOO method (MOEPO) improved the Vulnerability and Reliability Indexes by about 36 and 25% in the baseline and by 31 and 26% in the future, respectively, compared to SOP. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), a Holistic Approach to Sustainable Water Management)
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24 pages, 2484 KiB  
Article
Prospective Water Balance Scenarios (2015–2035) for the Management of São Francisco River Basin, Eastern Brazil
by Pedro Bettencourt, Rodrigo Proença de Oliveira, Cláudia Fulgêncio, Ângela Canas and Julio Cesar Wasserman
Water 2022, 14(15), 2283; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14152283 - 22 Jul 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2472
Abstract
The need for renewed and healthier water resources pushes human society to develop new management procedures that warrant provisions and that are compatible with the population and economic growth. The São Francisco River is one of the main surface water resources in Brazil [...] Read more.
The need for renewed and healthier water resources pushes human society to develop new management procedures that warrant provisions and that are compatible with the population and economic growth. The São Francisco River is one of the main surface water resources in Brazil and is facing environmental challenges that threaten its sustainability. In the scope of growing conflicts over water resources in the São Francisco River Basin, the present research applied surface and groundwater balances for the current situation and for three prospective water demand scenarios (a pessimistic, an optimistic and an equilibrated) referring to 2025 and 2035, considering the multiple uses of the basin. For the surface water balance, the AcquaNet Decision Support System was used, whereas for the groundwater balance, the relationship between the withdrawal flow for consumptive uses and the exploitable flow was applied. The results evidenced that there are scenarios in which the available surface water resources will not be sufficient to satisfy the demanded projections. The groundwater balance was characterized as more favourable; however, the lack of knowledge creates uncertainties about these resources. Beyond its limitations, research was able to define geographical water availability and balance, allowing the indication of precise management procedures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), a Holistic Approach to Sustainable Water Management)
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29 pages, 4686 KiB  
Article
Analyzing and Assessing Dynamic Behavior of a Physical Supply and Demand System for Sustainable Water Management under a Semi-Arid Environment
by Ahmed F. Mashaly and Alexander G. Fernald
Water 2022, 14(12), 1939; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14121939 - 16 Jun 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2451
Abstract
The extensive interest in sustainable water management reflects the extent to which the global water landscape has changed in the past twenty years, which is a natural development of changes in water resources and an increase in the level of imbalance between water [...] Read more.
The extensive interest in sustainable water management reflects the extent to which the global water landscape has changed in the past twenty years, which is a natural development of changes in water resources and an increase in the level of imbalance between water supply and demand. In this paper, a simulation model based on system dynamics (SD) methodology was developed to aid sustainable water management efforts in a semi-arid region. Six policy scenarios were used to study, analyze, and assess water management trends in the Southeast region of New Mexico, USA. The modeling process included two phases: calibration (2000–2015) and future prediction (2016–2050). Several statistical criteria were applied to assess the developed model performance. The findings revealed that the simulated outputs were in excellent agreement with the historical data, indicating accurate model simulation. The SD model’s determination coefficients ranged from 0.9288 to 0.9936 and the index of agreement values ranged from 0.9397 to 0.9958. Findings for the business-as-usual scenario indicated that total water withdrawals and total population will continue to rise, whereas groundwater storage, agricultural consumptive water use, and total consumptive water use will decrease over the simulated period. Sensitivity analysis using Monte Carlo simulation indicated that cultivated irrigated land change is the most influential parameter affecting groundwater storage, water supply storage change (total withdrawals), agricultural consumptive water use, and total consumptive water use. The changes occurring in the agricultural cultivated area had a great influence on controlling the groundwater system. Overall, the results showed that our SD model has been successful in capturing the system’s dynamic behavior, and confirmed its capability in modeling water management issues for policy and decision makers under semi-arid conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), a Holistic Approach to Sustainable Water Management)
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20 pages, 1880 KiB  
Article
Water Markets: Mapping Scientific Knowledge
by Amador Durán-Sánchez, María de la Cruz del Río-Rama, José Álvarez-García and Mᵃ Teresa Cabezas-Hernández
Water 2022, 14(12), 1907; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14121907 - 13 Jun 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2380
Abstract
Water is a vital resource for citizens’ economic and social development. However, the uses to which it can be put often conflict. Possible solutions to mitigate disputes involve political options, scarce economic resources, and the search for mechanisms to ensure its adequate allocation. [...] Read more.
Water is a vital resource for citizens’ economic and social development. However, the uses to which it can be put often conflict. Possible solutions to mitigate disputes involve political options, scarce economic resources, and the search for mechanisms to ensure its adequate allocation. For over half a century, countries such as Australia, Spain, Chile, and the western states of the United States have been considering the possibility of using markets for rights of use. They are defined as formal or informal trading exchanges of rights, whose aim is to improve efficiency, ensure security of supply, and make allocations more flexible. In this context, the aim of this article is to show a current picture of the scientific production related to Water Markets using the comparative bibliometric study of the documents indexed in the Web of Science (WoS) and Scopus databases as a tool. The advanced search of relevant terms resulted in the retrieval of 261 papers from WoS and 305 from Scopus, with a time limit of 2020, which make up the ad hoc basis of the analysis. From this basis, it can be deduced that the subject of the Water Market has been present in the scientific literature on a more or less regular basis since the beginning of the 1990s. However, it has emerged as a topical issue in recent years, being in a phase of exponential growth, which means that interest in the area is likely to continue in the coming years. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), a Holistic Approach to Sustainable Water Management)
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20 pages, 1440 KiB  
Article
Impact of Participation in Groundwater Market on Farmland, Income, and Water Access: Evidence from Pakistan
by Amar Razzaq, Meizhen Xiao, Yewang Zhou, Hancheng Liu, Azhar Abbas, Wanqi Liang and Muhammad Asad ur Rehman Naseer
Water 2022, 14(12), 1832; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14121832 - 7 Jun 2022
Cited by 23 | Viewed by 5001
Abstract
Groundwater irrigation has a critical role in the sustainability of arable farming in many developing countries including Pakistan. Groundwater irrigation is generally practiced to supplement surface water supplies in Pakistan. Nevertheless, uninterrupted and extensive use of groundwater irrigation has raised several concerns about [...] Read more.
Groundwater irrigation has a critical role in the sustainability of arable farming in many developing countries including Pakistan. Groundwater irrigation is generally practiced to supplement surface water supplies in Pakistan. Nevertheless, uninterrupted and extensive use of groundwater irrigation has raised several concerns about its sustainability and resultant environmental implications. Due to the scarcity of groundwater and heterogeneity in farmers’ resources, informal groundwater markets have emerged in Pakistan, where farmers trade water using a contractual system. Yet, the effects of these markets on agricultural productivity and equity remain largely unknown. This paper aims to analyze the impact of participation in the groundwater market on farmland utilization, cropping patterns, water access, and income. We analyze these impacts using primary data collected from 360 farmers in three different zones of the country’s largest province. The farmers were categorized as buyers, sellers, and self-users of water. Results indicate that participation in water markets increased agricultural land utilization, evinced by a higher cropping intensity among participants. A horizontal and vertical equity analysis of water markets shows that although large farmers have better access to groundwater irrigation, water market participation improves equity to water access. Based on income inequality measures such as the Gini coefficient and the Lorenz curve, water market participation also improves farmer incomes regardless of farm size. Propensity score matching revealed that wheat yield and income among water-market participants went up by approximately 150 kg and PKR 4503 per acre compared with non-participants. Groundwater market participants’ higher crop productivity and income level suggest that water markets need a thorough revisit in terms of policy focus and institutional support to ensure sustainable rural development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), a Holistic Approach to Sustainable Water Management)
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30 pages, 11054 KiB  
Article
Assessing Xeriscaping as a Retrofit Sustainable Water Consumption Approach for a Desert University Campus
by Esam M. H. Ismaeil and Abu Elnasr E. Sobaih
Water 2022, 14(11), 1681; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14111681 - 24 May 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 5050
Abstract
Assessing water usage associated with urban green infrastructure is crucial for water resource management and sustainable planning of desert campus areas. A public university campus layout in the desert region is considered an urban city subject to urban water consumption (UWC) of significant [...] Read more.
Assessing water usage associated with urban green infrastructure is crucial for water resource management and sustainable planning of desert campus areas. A public university campus layout in the desert region is considered an urban city subject to urban water consumption (UWC) of significant intensity and extent, even though the urban layout is essential to all campus occupants’ comfort and environmental sustainability needs. Hence, there is a need to reduce its detrimental effects through sustainable methods for campus water content. This study focuses on assessing urban xeriscaping landscape quantities as a practical potential approach to support university campus decision-makers in reducing urban water consumption and preserving the urban campus water content as asset management and life quality. Four selected landscape field experiments were undertaken by adopting xeriscaping landscape design instead of existing conventional urban design at King Faisal University’s (KFU) campus layout, Al-Ahsaa, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia. The study built a specific practical sustainability retrofit approach in water conservation from conventional to xeriscaping method inside the existing public desert campus area. Applying the study approach framework considering xeriscaping layout design provided sustainability requirements, retrofit approach, and pathway to effective landscape mapping, based on reasonable and accurate quantities of xeriscaping landscape items, to convert the KFU campus layout as a low water consumption campus with an average reduction of 41% water consumption within the remaining campus layout. The results of this study contribute to the water conservation and management in university desert campus and opens the door for other studies on the use of this approach for thermal reduction, economic and environmental benefits beside its value for water reduction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), a Holistic Approach to Sustainable Water Management)
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19 pages, 3779 KiB  
Article
Socio-Economic Aspects of Centralized Wastewater System for Rural Settlement under Conditions of Eastern Poland
by Aleksandra Brzusek, Marcin K. Widomski and Anna Musz-Pomorska
Water 2022, 14(10), 1667; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14101667 - 23 May 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3199
Abstract
This paper presents a case study concerning multivariate analysis, including social and financial aspects, as well as environmental impacts, of the organized sanitation development under conditions of the selected rural settlement in Poland. Three technologically up-to-date variants of sanitary sewerage network concepts with [...] Read more.
This paper presents a case study concerning multivariate analysis, including social and financial aspects, as well as environmental impacts, of the organized sanitation development under conditions of the selected rural settlement in Poland. Three technologically up-to-date variants of sanitary sewerage network concepts with the different assumed sewage transport, i.e., pressure, pressure-gravity and gravity, were proposed together with the investment and operation and maintenance costs estimation. The willingness-to-accept (WTA) and willingness-to-pay (WTP) survey was used to analyze the level of social acceptance and involvement. The financial analysis covered two economic and cost-efficiency dynamic indicators, benefits–costs ratio (BCR) and dynamic generation cost (DGC), commonly used to support the decision-making process. The environmental aspects were assessed by the possible anthropopressure caused by sewerage leakage and odor emissions. Results of the WTA and WTP survey presented a significant level of acceptance and involvement of the local population to sustain the improved sanitation. The determined values of DGC indicated low cost-efficiency of the gravity system, while obtained values of BCR for all variants and the actual regional sewage fees showed the low profitability of improved sanitation, i.e., BCR < 1.0. All studied sanitation systems were assessed positively due to their environmental impacts. The performed studies showed that, despite the declared willingness to accept the organized sanitation and to pay the sewage fees, the economical sustainability of the proposed designs is doubtful over the longer time duration due to the significant capital and operation costs affecting the sewerage payment value. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), a Holistic Approach to Sustainable Water Management)
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26 pages, 3499 KiB  
Article
Bibliometric Analysis of Groundwater’s Life Cycle Assessment Research
by Gricelda Herrera-Franco, Paúl Carrión-Mero, Néstor Montalván-Burbano, Carlos Mora-Frank and Edgar Berrezueta
Water 2022, 14(7), 1082; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14071082 - 29 Mar 2022
Cited by 24 | Viewed by 5483
Abstract
Groundwater is an important water resource that accounts for 30% of the world’s freshwater. 97% of this extracted groundwater is for drinking and human use. Due to anthropogenic activities, this resource is affected and, consequently, its life cycle is modified, changing its natural [...] Read more.
Groundwater is an important water resource that accounts for 30% of the world’s freshwater. 97% of this extracted groundwater is for drinking and human use. Due to anthropogenic activities, this resource is affected and, consequently, its life cycle is modified, changing its natural state. This paper aims to analyse the scientific production that deals with the study of groundwater’s Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), using bibliometric methods. Thus, it contributes to the evolution of knowledge of this resource in terms of its use (environmental, economic and social). The methodological process includes: (i) selection and analysis of search topics in the Scopus and Web of Science (WoS) databases; (ii) application of Bibliometrix and Visualisation of Similarity Viewer (VOSviewer) software to the data collected; (iii) scientific structure of the relation of the topics groundwater and life cycle, considering programme lines and relations in their sub-themes; (iv) literature review of Author keywords. A total of 780 papers were selected, 306 being from Scopus, 158 from WoS and 316 published in both databases. The time evolution of the analysed data (publications) indicates that groundwater LCA studies have seen exponential growth (between 1983 and 2021). In addition, it has three development periods: introduction (years between 1983 and 2001), growth (between 2002 and 2011) and maturation (between 2012 and 2021). At the country level (origin of contributions authors), the USA dominates the total scientific production with 24.7%, followed by Denmark with 12.8% and 10.3% for China. Among the main topics of study associated with LCA are those focused on: the proposal of remediation methods, the application and development of technologies and the use of water resources by the urban community. This study allows establishing new trends in agricultural development issues about irrigation efficiency, wastewater reuse, mining and treatment, climate change in a circular economy scheme related to sustainability and life cycle assessment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), a Holistic Approach to Sustainable Water Management)
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31 pages, 1759 KiB  
Article
Hydropower Technology for Sustainable Energy Generation in Wastewater Systems: Learning from the Experience
by Rosa M. Llácer-Iglesias, P. Amparo López-Jiménez and Modesto Pérez-Sánchez
Water 2021, 13(22), 3259; https://doi.org/10.3390/w13223259 - 17 Nov 2021
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 12281
Abstract
Hydropower is a well-known technology, applied worldwide for electricity generation from renewable sources. Within the current framework, some studies have started to consider its application to existing urban water systems, to harness an excess of energy that otherwise would be wasted. This research [...] Read more.
Hydropower is a well-known technology, applied worldwide for electricity generation from renewable sources. Within the current framework, some studies have started to consider its application to existing urban water systems, to harness an excess of energy that otherwise would be wasted. This research sought to determine a methodology to assess the potential of hydropower application to wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), regarding different aspects of sustainability. Firstly, previously developed methodologies for potential assessment in this sector at a country level were analyzed. Secondly, data from existing real case studies were gathered from publicly available documents and a theoretical analysis of their actual performance was conducted to validate assumptions made in the previous methodologies. As a result, the proposed new approach suggests adapting methodologies for potential assessment at a lower level, considering possible driving factors, other than economic feasibility. To define the study area, the management model scope should be considered. The power to determine the cut-off point for a WWTP to be considered as a potential site, is proposed to be lowered according to technical feasibility. Additionally, bearing in mind the sustainability concept, social or environmental factors should also be introduced in the methodology, tailored to the region being assessed. This novel perspective could provide a closer approach to the most likely decision-making level for these kinds of strategies in the wastewater industry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), a Holistic Approach to Sustainable Water Management)
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19 pages, 3117 KiB  
Article
Design of a Thermal Hotel Based on AHP-QFD Methodology
by Fatma Kürüm Varolgüneş, Fatih Canan, María de la Cruz del Río-Rama and Cristiana Oliveira
Water 2021, 13(15), 2109; https://doi.org/10.3390/w13152109 - 31 Jul 2021
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 4057
Abstract
The aim of this investigation was to help select design criteria that highlight customer satisfaction, and thus improve the design quality in buildings, specifically in a building of a thermal hotel. The methodology is based on applying the Quality Function Deployment (QFD) technique [...] Read more.
The aim of this investigation was to help select design criteria that highlight customer satisfaction, and thus improve the design quality in buildings, specifically in a building of a thermal hotel. The methodology is based on applying the Quality Function Deployment (QFD) technique to listen to the voice of the customer, in addition to the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), which allows selection of the best design alternative. The literature shows that QFD–AHP methods have been tried in different areas of the building industry, but there are few examples of combining building design processes. In the study process, collaboration environments between stakeholders were established and the operability of the method used was tested with real actors. The matrix solutions realised in the horizontal and vertical sections of the framework of the model can be reused in different projects with different user demands. This added a modular and developable feature to the model. This study revealed that the most important customer needs, in order of importance, are “health”, “service”, “comfort”, and “functionality”. These are followed by “accessibility”, “aesthetics”, and “energy conservation”. According to the findings, QFD was shown to be an appropriate method for transferring customer (occupant) requirements to designs in the most accurate manner, given the complex structure of thermal hotel buildings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), a Holistic Approach to Sustainable Water Management)
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17 pages, 13773 KiB  
Article
Geometric Model of a Coastal Aquifer to Promote the Sustainable Use of Water. Manglaralto, Ecuador
by Paul Carrión-Mero, Ximena Quiñonez-Barzola, Fernando Morante-Carballo, F. Javier Montalván, Gricelda Herrera-Franco and José Plaza-Úbeda
Water 2021, 13(7), 923; https://doi.org/10.3390/w13070923 - 28 Mar 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4315
Abstract
Modeling an aquifer provides significant advantages when evaluating and estimating the water resource for its sustainable use. This study focuses on the rural parish Manglaralto, a semi-arid area with a shortage of water, and without supply service by the public network. Still, it [...] Read more.
Modeling an aquifer provides significant advantages when evaluating and estimating the water resource for its sustainable use. This study focuses on the rural parish Manglaralto, a semi-arid area with a shortage of water, and without supply service by the public network. Still, it has a great demand for supply by the local and floating population (tourism). This has caused the coastal aquifer, which supplies the area’s water, to show signs of overexploitation, and its natural balance is compromised. The aim is to establish a geometric model of the aquifer through geological and geophysical analysis to set sustainable water-use guidelines. The methodology includes: (i) the processing of the current technical and hydrogeological information to know the aquifer’s data; (ii) geometric modeling of the aquifer through the correlation of technical information, using the GeoModeller software; (iii) proposals for the sustainable use of water in the framework of the United Nations’ Agenda 2030. The geometric model results reveal that the aquifer’s thickness varies from 4 m at the head of the river to 30 m at the sea’s mouth. The volume of water is estimated at 13.6 Hm3. The sustainable-use proposals ensure that more than half of the population receives the community company’s service. More than 40% of the territory is a protected area, and 64% of the population has sewerage service. This geometric model is a visual contribution that allows us to know the aquifer’s shape and establishes guidelines that help strengthen the water supply’s development and sustainability over time. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), a Holistic Approach to Sustainable Water Management)
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20 pages, 3902 KiB  
Article
Wastewater Management: Bibliometric Analysis of Scientific Literature
by Amador Durán-Sánchez, José Álvarez-García, Encarnación González-Vázquez and María de la Cruz Del Río-Rama
Water 2020, 12(11), 2963; https://doi.org/10.3390/w12112963 - 22 Oct 2020
Cited by 29 | Viewed by 6099
Abstract
Two of the greatest challenges that threaten sustainable development are the water supply crisis together with the control of water resources pollution. The United Nations recognises that the right to safe drinking water and sanitation is an essential right, and states are called [...] Read more.
Two of the greatest challenges that threaten sustainable development are the water supply crisis together with the control of water resources pollution. The United Nations recognises that the right to safe drinking water and sanitation is an essential right, and states are called upon to intensify their efforts to provide the entire population with affordable access to safe drinking water. However, due to population growth and climate change, water resources are under great pressure, producing millions of cubic metres of wastewater. Due to the near impossibility of increasing water supply in a natural way, the importance of wastewater management as a method has grown in recent years, which, although it is not to increase the amount of this resource, but to facilitate its successive use before its final return to the sea. The objective of this article is to carry out a bibliometric analysis regarding the production and impact of the scientific research related to wastewater management indexed in the WoS and Scopus databases. The purpose is to know key aspects such as the progression of production over the years, maturity in research, coverage of the subject, identifying the most discussed topics and therefore identifying the gaps, the most relevant authors and the core of journals through which knowledge in this area is disseminated, as well as its impact through the analysis of citations. This analysis can help future researchers in this field by providing an overview of the current literature that helps them identify new research approaches to position their own work and identify the most relevant authors in this field. Likewise, a comparison is made on coverage and overlap between the two main international databases WoS and Scopus. From the analysis of the 211 articles selected through an advanced search by terms with a time limit set in 2018, it is concluded that we are facing a very incipient field of knowledge that has aroused great interest since 2010, with about half of the articles published in the period 2012–2018. Although WoS and Scopus differ in general terms in scope and coverage policies, both systems are complementary and not exclusive. In the specific area of wastewater management, Scopus is the base that provides the best coverage taking into account the number of articles published and the number of citations received. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), a Holistic Approach to Sustainable Water Management)
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Review

Jump to: Research

16 pages, 7088 KiB  
Review
Efficient Use of Water in Tailings Management: New Technologies and Environmental Strategies for the Future of Mining
by Carlos Cacciuttolo and Fernando Valenzuela
Water 2022, 14(11), 1741; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14111741 - 28 May 2022
Cited by 22 | Viewed by 9747
Abstract
Nowadays, many major copper mining projects in desert areas with extremely dry climates, as in northern Chile and the southern coast of Peru, process sulfide ores at high production rates; in some cases over 100,000 metric tonnes per day (mtpd), generating large amounts [...] Read more.
Nowadays, many major copper mining projects in desert areas with extremely dry climates, as in northern Chile and the southern coast of Peru, process sulfide ores at high production rates; in some cases over 100,000 metric tonnes per day (mtpd), generating large amounts of tailings, that are commonly managed and transported to tailings storage facilities (TSF) hydraulically using fresh water. Considering the extremely dry climate, water scarcity, community demands, and environmental constraints in these desert areas, the efficient use of water in mining is being strongly enforced. For this reason, water supply is recognized as one of the limiting factors for the development of new mining projects and for the expansion of the existing ones in these areas. New water supply alternatives, such as sea water desalinization, direct use of sea water, or water recovery from tailings, represent the strategy developed by the mining industry to deal with this growing scarcity. The focus of this paper is the possibility of applying different water supply technologies or a combination of these, implementing improved water management strategies that consider: environmental issues, technical issues, stringent regulatory frameworks, community requests and cost-effective strategies, that result in a reduction of freshwater make-up water requirements for mining (m3 per metric tonnes of treated ore). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), a Holistic Approach to Sustainable Water Management)
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