bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Group decision-making in land evaluation for irrigation: a case study from Serbia
Authors: Blagojevic Bosko , Srdjevic Zorica , Bezdan Atila , Srdjevic Bojan
Published: December 2015

Presented in this paper is a methodology for a spatially based multi-criteria evaluation of land suitability for irrigation (IR). A group of experts use the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and the consensus convergence model (CCM) to define weights of factors relevant in validating areas of land as suitable for IR and to develop IR suitability maps in the geographic information system (GIS) environment. Then, using those maps, a group of policy-makers apply voting methods to identify districts with priorities for installing new IR systems. The presented methodology has several benefits. Group decision can aggregate the wisdom of the different domain experts involved in the process while effectively coping with the risk inherent in any decision problem. In CCM, cooperation among experts is rewarded and non-cooperation yields the risk of being excluded from the process or having very little impact on the group decision. The presented methodology is more precise than previously published methodologies, which is more helpful for policy-makers. Finally, sometimes experts’ opinions are not comprehensive enough to formulate an objective decision, as they are based on scientific facts whereas real-life decision-making is often based on economic or political factors. Owing to that, policy-makers are included in the presented methodology.
Water distribution network sectorisation using graph theory and many-objective optimisation
Authors: Hajebi Saeed , Roshani Ehsan , Cardozo Nicolás , Barrett Stephen , Clarke Aidan , Clarke Siobhán
Published: December 2015

The water distribution network (WDN) sectorisation problem is characterised by structural and hydraulic requirements that make existing graph partitioning techniques inadequate to find a good solution. Specifically, sector isolation and direct access to at least one source for each sector are not addressed. This study proposes a method to address structural requirements of water network sectorisation with minimum negative impact on the hydraulic requirements. This paper first elaborates the sectorisation problem and discusses the requirements of water network sectorisation. Then, it proposes a novel method, called WDN-Partition, which applies a new heuristic structural graph partitioning algorithm, combined with a many-objective optimisation procedure, to find near-optimal arrangements of nodes into sectors. The criteria of optimisation and their priorities can be specified for each case. The outcome of the method is a set of non-dominated sectorisation solutions, ranked lexicographically based on their values for the chosen criteria and their priorities, from which the final decision can be made by the domain experts. WDN-Partition has been implemented and integrated with a hydraulic network simulator. The simulation-based evaluation results demonstrate that WDN-Partition generally achieves its design objectives to partition a water network into isolated sectors with a minimal negative impact on the hydraulic performance criteria of the network.
Multivariate statistical analysis for water demand modelling: implementation, performance analysis, and comparison with the PRP model
Authors: Fontanazza Chiara M. , Notaro Vincenza , Puleo Valeria , Freni Gabriele
Published: December 2015

Water demand is the driving force behind hydraulic dynamics in water distribution systems. Consequently, it is crucial to accurately estimate the actual water use to develop reliable simulation models. In this study, copula-based multivariate analysis was proposed and used for demand prediction for a given return period. The analysis was applied to water consumption data collected in the water distribution network of Palermo (Italy). The approach produced consistent demand patterns and could be a powerful tool when coupled with water distribution network models for design or analysis problems. The results were compared with those obtained using a classical water demand model, the Poisson rectangular pulse (PRP) model. The multivariate consumption data statistical analysis results were always higher than those of the PRP model but the copula-based method maintained the daily water volume of actual consumptions and provided maximum daily consumption that increased with the return period.
Soil water recharge for grassed and forested land covers on the Oak Ridges Moraine, southern Ontario, Canada
Authors: Bialkowski R. , Buttle J. M.
Published: December 2015

Soil water recharge (R) below 1 m depth was estimated via a 1-d water balance for grasslands, hardwood stands and red pine plantations on the Oak Ridges Moraine (ORM) in southern Ontario, Canada. Annual R values (431–696 mm) were in the order of previous estimates for outcropping sands and gravels on the ORM (∼400 mm); however, they only partially supported hypothesized differences in R between land covers. Annual R was similar for grasslands and hardwood stands and exceeded that for red pine plantations. However, there were no consistent differences in R between land covers for growing or dormant seasons, due to relatively large uncertainties for R estimates as well as inter-site differences in the soil's ability to store and transmit inputs below 1 m. Nevertheless, shifts in annual R appear to have accompanied historical land cover changes from hardwood-conifer stands → agricultural fields → red pine plantations → regenerating hardwoods. Growing season R in hardwoods makes a larger contribution to total R than for other land covers, partly due to spatially focused throughfall and stemflow contributions to R. Results highlight the role of land cover differences when assessing spatial variations in R along the ORM.
Physical and chemical properties of the Goryczkowe and Bystrej Górne vaucluse springs in the Tatra Mountains
Authors: Gromadzka M. , Wolanin A. , Żelazny M. , Pęksa Ł.
Published: December 2015

This paper describes research on two of the largest karst springs in Poland's Tatra Mountains – Goryczkowe and Bystrej Górne – both located in the Tatra National Park. The aim of the study was to determine the potential contributing area for the Bystrej Gorne Spring. Research has shown that seasonal changes in the physical and chemical properties of water in both springs followed a similar pattern; however, observed differences were not statistically significant. Additionally, research has shown that the potential contributing area is different than that previously identified by other researchers. The chemical composition of water obtained from each spring was dominated by Ca2+ and HCO−3, and included small amounts of the biogenic NO−3 ion. The highest values of the measured physical and chemical parameters were noted in winter, while the lowest values were noted in spring and summer. Principal component analysis was used to assess the physical and chemical parameters of water obtained from both studied springs. Water dilution and catchment biological activity were identified as two key processes affecting physical and chemical properties of karst spring water. Several differences were identified between the springs – water temperature, pH, mineralization, as well as the concentration of Mg2+, HCO−3, and SO24.
Water balance between surface water and groundwater in the withdrawal process: a case study of the Osceola watershed
Authors: Li Bing-dong , Zhang Xin-hua , Xu Chong-Yu , Zhang Hao , Song Jin-xi
Published: December 2015

A generalized hierarchical approach with a water balance function is introduced to simulate stream-flow depletion in a complex groundwater system in Osceola County. The groundwater flow system at the site, because of the complex interaction between ambient streams, exhibits a unique multi-scale pattern that proves to be difficult to simulate using standard modelling tools. The hierarchical modelling system was first calibrated to water level measurements collected from monitoring wells. Afterwards, systematic hierarchical simulations and integrated water budget analyses were performed to evaluate the adverse resource impact of the ongoing water withdrawal. The multi-scale process-based results from this generic hierarchical modelling system provided critical storage and flux information that can be used to comprehensively assess the pros and cons of water resource development and management, such as artificial water withdrawal.
Adaptive multi-objective simulation–optimization framework for dynamic flood control operation in a river–reservoir system
Authors: Prakash Om , Srinivasan K. , Sudheer K. P.
Published: December 2015

An adaptive simulation–optimization (S–O) framework enables dynamic reservoir operational decision-making process during the different phases (time stages) of flood control operation during the passage of a flood event in a river–reservoir system is proposed. This is achieved by incorporating the changing priorities of the reservoir operator/manager at each phase of the flood mitigation operation into the S–O framework by evoking the appropriate set of objective functions and dynamically reconstructing the multi-objective optimization model. Five different objective functions are formulated within the S–O framework, out of which two are concerned with the mitigation at the reservoir; two more deal with the mitigation at the control point; and one ensures sufficient water is stored for meeting future demands. The non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm-II (NSGA-II) is employed to obtain the trade-off solutions from the multi-objective optimization model at each time stage. The results from the study show that the dynamic flood operation model yields a significant level of improvement in flood peak mitigation over the static model both at the reservoir as well as at the control point. The proposed S–O framework can be used in developing either deterministic or probabilistic optimal reservoir release policies for flood control operation, especially where damage functions and penalty functions are not developed.
Multi-basin and regional calibration based identification of distributed precipitation–runoff models for hourly runoff simulation: calibration and transfer of full and partial parameters
Authors: Hailegeorgis Teklu T. , Alfredsen Knut
Published: December 2015

Identification of distributed precipitation–runoff models for hourly runoff simulation based on transfer of full parameters (FP) and partial parameters (PP) are lacking for boreal mid-Norway. We evaluated storage–discharge relationships based model (Kirchmod), the Basic-Grid-Model (BGM) and a simplified Hydrologiska Byråns Vattenbalansavdelning (HBV) model for multi-basins (26 catchments). A regional calibration objective function, which uses all streamflow records in the region, was used to optimize local calibration parameters for each catchment and regional parameters yielding maximum regional weighted average (MRWA) performance measures (PM). Based on regional median Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) and NSEln (for log-transformed series) for the calibration and validation periods, the Kirchmod model performed better than the others. Parsimony of the Kirchmod model provided less parameter uncertainty for the FP case but did not guarantee parameter identifiability. Tradeoffs between parsimony and performance were observed despite advantages of parsimony to reduce parameter correlations for the PP, which requires preliminary sensitivity analysis to identify which parameters to transfer. There are potential advantages of using the MRWA method for parameter transfer in space. However, temporal validation indicated marked deterioration of the PM. The tradeoffs between parameter transfers in space and time substantiate both spatial and temporal validation of the regional calibration methodology.
Validation of a mesoscale hydrological model in a small-scale forested catchment
Authors: Šípek Václav , Tesař Miroslav
Published: December 2015

The aim of this study was to examine the abilities of the mesoscale ecohydrological model Soil And Water Integrated Model (SWIM) to simulate discharge, soil moisture, and groundwater dynamics in a small-scale forested catchment. Moreover, the influence of two lateral flow computation techniques on the simulation efficiency was assessed. Generally, the discharges were simulated poorly. Groundwater level was estimated reasonably taking into account that the model was not designed for small-scale catchments. The soil moisture simulation exhibited good correspondence with the observed data in the warmer season (April–August). Both the dynamics and the magnitude were estimated sufficiently well. On the other hand, the colder season does not comply satisfactorily with the modelled data, as the decline of moisture content (in the non-precipitation periods) has no model response. The kinematic storage method was found to be more reliable in the case of a small-scale forested catchment compared to the exponential storage lateral flow estimation approach.
Comparing classical performance measures with signature indices derived from flow duration curves to assess model structures as tools for catchment classification
Authors: Ley Rita , Hellebrand Hugo , Casper Markus C. , Fenicia Fabrizio
Published: December 2015

The ability of a hydrological model to reproduce observed streamflow can be represented by a large variety of performance measures. Although these metrics may suit different purposes, it is unclear which of them is most appropriate for a given application. Our objective is to investigate various performance measures to assess model structures as tools for catchment classification. For this purpose, 12 model structures are generated using the SUPERFLEX modelling framework, which are then applied to 53 meso-scale basins in the Rhineland-Palatinate (Germany). Statistical and hydrological performance measures are compared with signature indices derived from the flow duration curve and combined into a new performance measure, the standardized signature index sum (SIS). The performance measures are evaluated in their ability to distinguish the relative merits of various model alternatives. In many cases, classical and hydrological performance measures assign similar values to different hydrographs. These measures, therefore, are not well suited for model comparison. The proposed SIS is more effective in revealing differences between model results. It allows for a more distinctive identification of a best performing model for individual basins. A best performing model structure obtained through the SIS can be used as basin classifier.
Characteristics of integrated droughts based on a nonparametric standardized drought index in the Yellow River Basin, China
Authors: Zhu Yuelu , Chang Jianxia , Huang Shengzhi , Huang Qiang
Published: December 2015

Most current drought indices rely on a representative parametric distribution function to fit data, which results in different tail behaviors. Additionally, a drought index based on a single variable may not be sufficient for monitoring drought conditions timely and reliably. Therefore, a nonparametric multivariate drought index (NMSDI) combined with the information of precipitation and streamflow was introduced in this study, without assuming representative parametric distributions. It was applied to characterize drought in the Yellow River Basin (YRB) on seasonal and annual scales. Results indicate that: (1) the variations of developed NMSDI is well consistent with those of 1-month SPI (standardized precipitation index) and SSI (standardized streamflow index), indicating the reliability and effectiveness of the newly proposed nonparametric based drought index; (2) a decreasing NMSDI trend was found over the period of 1952–2012 at seasonal and annual time scales, which would reverse in the future as suggested by the Hurst index; (3) no significant change points were detected for the annual NMSDI series over the YRB except one (i.e. the year 1991) in the middle streamflow sub-basin Wei River Basin (WRB) which was primarily caused by the combined effects of climate change and human activities.
Accelerating rural sanitation coverage in Ghana: what are the speed bumps impeding progress?
Authors: Monney Isaac , Baffoe-Kyeremeh Amos , Amissah-Reynolds Papa Kofi
Published: December 2015

Progress towards the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) sanitation target has generally been slow-paced in Ghana. This is particularly the case in rural areas where access to improved sanitation has increased by just 4% within two decades. This paper examines defecation practices as well as constraints and existing opportunities at both household and institutional levels in promoting in-house toilet construction. The study was conducted in three rural communities in the Tain district and drew on key informant interviews, focus group discussions, field observations and face-to-face interviews of 400 residents selected from 249 houses. The results showed the scarcity of in-house toilets, which means consequently open defecation and use of communal toilets are common practices. The need for in-house toilet facilities is high among property owners without them, mainly driven by the desire for comfort and safety. Barriers at the household level constraining latrine installation include ignorance of low-cost technologies, the perceived high cost of latrines and the low priority given to their ownership. Analysis of expenditure patterns at the local assembly shows low priority afforded to sanitation promotion, which is constrained by low donor support, lack of requisite logistics and poor human resource capacity. Existing opportunities for accelerating sanitation coverage in these study communities are examined both at the household and institutional levels, and best practices discussed.
Response in the trophic state of stratified lakes to changes in hydrology and water level: potential effects of climate change
Authors: Robertson Dale M. , Rose William J.
Published: December 2015

To determine how climate-induced changes in hydrology and water level may affect the trophic state (productivity) of stratified lakes, two relatively pristine dimictic temperate lakes in Wisconsin, USA, were examined. Both are closed-basin lakes that experience changes in water level and degradation in water quality during periods of high water. One, a seepage lake with no inlets or outlets, has a small drainage basin and hydrology dominated by precipitation and groundwater exchange causing small changes in water and phosphorus (P) loading, which resulted in small changes in water level, P concentrations, and productivity. The other, a terminal lake with inlets but no outlets, has a large drainage basin and hydrology dominated by runoff causing large changes in water and P loading, which resulted in large changes in water level, P concentrations, and productivity. Eutrophication models accurately predicted the effects of changes in hydrology, P loading, and water level on their trophic state. If climate changes, larger changes in hydrology and water levels than previously observed could occur. If this causes increased water and P loading, stratified (dimictic and monomictic) lakes are expected to experience higher water levels and become more eutrophic, especially those with large developed drainage basins.
Adaptation turning points on inland waterway transport in the Rhine River
Authors: Riquelme-Solar M. , van Slobbe E. , Werners S. E.
Published: December 2015

It is expected that climate change will affect important natural inland waterways in Europe, among others, the Rhine River. Inland waterway transport is one of the main economic activities developed in the Rhine, and the effects of climate change on this activity are of great concern for skippers, the industry and policy-makers. This paper aims to identify whether longer and more frequent dry periods projected in the Rhine River will turn into a physical limitation that prevent inland waterway transport companies from guaranteeing reliable transportation to their customers, and – if so – when such a situation might take place. Based on the adaptation turning point approach, we propose a four step method to identify critical time periods for future climate change adaptation. According to our results, the inland waterway transport sector will start facing insurmountable problems associated with low water levels within the time span 2081–2095. The adaptation turning point approach provides analysts with a dynamic appraisal method that allows options to be ranked with timing of period of effectiveness and the time span needed for implementation as criteria. This increases flexibility of planning and allows for uncertainty about changing future conditions.
Water resource management in a variable and changing climate: hypothetical case study to explore decision making under uncertainty
Authors: Kiem Anthony S. , Austin Emma K. , Verdon-Kidd Danielle C.
Published: December 2015

This paper investigates what information water resource managers think they need to make decisions on climate change adaptation. This is achieved through a hypothetical case study where participants, all actual water resource managers or in research, practitioner or administration roles linked to Australian water resources management, were given theoretical future climate scenarios and asked to make decisions based on the available information. The case study provided useful insights into why there is little evidence of effective climate change adaptation being implemented despite significant advances in climate impacts and adaptation science over the last decade. It was found that in order to bridge the gap between climate change adaptation recommendations and successful implementation at practitioner level there is a demand for: improved translation, communication and packaging of existing climate science information into sector- and location-specific impacts (e.g. hydrological interpretation of climate model rainfall projections and the associated uncertainties); attribution of historical and future hydroclimatic changes (e.g. not just what has happened or is going to happen but why and the confidence and likelihoods surrounding that); quantification of costs and benefits of any decision; and understanding of the social, political, and environmental contexts and level of acceptance associated with any decision.
Assessment of potential impacts of climate and land use changes on stream flow: a case study of the Nam Xong watershed in Lao PDR
Authors: Sayasane Rattykone , Kawasaki Akiyuki , Shrestha Sangam , Takamatsu Masatsugu
Published: December 2015

Climate and land use are two major factors that influence stream flow, especially in developing countries. This paper assesses potential changes to stream flow by considering future climate and land use in the Nam Xong watershed. The logistic regression method was applied to predict future land use in the study area. The predicted major change to land use was the conversion of wood and shrub land to agricultural land in the middle part of the Nam Xong watershed. The conversion to agricultural land, including tree plantations, is expected to increase in the future. Yet protecting forest areas and limiting deforestation is local policy. A hydrological model was applied to estimate daily stream flow, 222 m3/s in the wet season and 32 m3/s in the dry season, for the entire Nam Xong watershed. The scenario comparison showed that stream flow will decrease due to climate and land use changes over the next 20 years, especially in the middle part of the Nam Xong watershed where water is transferred to the Nam Ngum Reservoir. Here, stream flow will decrease by 11.7–12.2%; the overall figure for the watershed is 0.7–1.9%. Our results indicate that water management in the middle part of the Nam Xong watershed should be carefully considered.
Indigenous communities and climate change: a Recognition, Empowerment and Devolution (RED) framework in the Murray-Darling Basin, Australia
Authors: Nikolakis William , Grafton Quentin , Nygaard Aimee
Published: December 2015

Climate change directly threatens Indigenous cultures and livelihoods across Australia's Murray-Darling Basin (MDB). Using a modified grounded theory methodology, this study draws on in-depth interviews with Indigenous leaders and elders across the MDB to highlight that climate variability and over-extraction of water resources by agricultural users directly threatens the integrity of aquatic systems. As a consequence, Indigenous cultures and livelihoods reliant on these natural systems are at risk. Interviewees identify a range of systemic barriers that entrench vulnerability of Indigenous Peoples (IPs) in the MDB. Building on insights from the literature and from interviews, a Recognition, Empowerment and Devolution (RED) framework is developed to establish possible pathways to support climate adaptation by rural IPs. Fundamental to this RED framework is the need for non-Indigenous socio-institutional structures to create a ‘space’ to allow IPs the ability to adapt in their own ways to climate impacts.
Projected precipitation and air temperature over Europe using a performance-based selection method of CMIP5 GCMs
Authors: Basharin Dmitry , Polonsky Alexander , Stankūnavičius Gintautas
Published: December 2015

An assessment of the plausible climate change in precipitation and surface air temperature (SAT) over the European region by the end of the 21st century is provided. The assessment is based on the results of output of the ocean–atmosphere models participating in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project, phase 5 (CMIP5). Six climate models that best reproduce the historical behaviour of SAT over greater Europe were selected from the CMIP5 project using a performance-based selection method of CMIP5 general circulation models for further assessments. The analysis of historical simulations within the scope of the CMIP5 project reveals that six models (namely, CNRM-CM5, HadGEM2ES, GFDL-CM3, CanESM2, MIROC5 and MPI-ESM-LR) sufficiently reproduce historical tendencies and natural variability over the region of interest. The climate change in SAT and precipitation by the end of the 21st century (2070–2099) was examined within the scope of RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios for these selected models. Typical regional warming due to RCP4.5 (RCP8.5) scenario is assessed as 3–4.5 °C (as 4–8 °C) in summer and winter, while a significant reduction of precipitation (typically 20–40%) is obtained only in summer.
Variations of disinfection by-product levels in small drinking water utilities according to climate change scenarios: a first assessment
Authors: Delpla I. , Scheili A. , Guilherme S. , Cool G. , Rodriguez M. J.
Published: December 2015

In Québec, Canada, shifts in climate patterns (i.e., rainfall increase) could have consequences on source water quality due to the intensification of surface/groundwater runoff contamination events, leading to a decline in drinking water treatment efficiency and ultimately disinfection by-products (DBPs) formation following treatment. To assess the impacts of climate change (CC) scenarios on DBP formation, a suite of models linking climate to DBPs was used. This study applies three emissions scenarios (B1, A1B and A2) for three 30-year horizons (2020, 2050 and 2080) in order to produce inputs to test several DBP models (total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), haloacetic acids and haloacetonitriles). An annual increase is estimated for all DBPs for each CC scenario and horizon. The highest seasonal increases were estimated for winter for all DBP groups or species. In the worst-case scenario (A2-2080), TTHMs could be affected more particularly during winter (+34.0%), followed by spring (+16.1%) and fall (+4.4%), whereas summer concentrations would remain stable (−0.3 to +0.4%). Potentially, small water utilities applying only a disinfection step could be more affected by rising TTHMs concentrations associated with CC than those having implemented a complete water treatment process (coagulation–flocculation, filtration and disinfection) with +13.6% and +8.2% increases respectively (A2-2080).
Analyzing the potential impacts of climate change on rainfed wheat production in Hamedan Province, Iran, via generalized additive models
Authors: Mosammam Hassan Mohammadian , Mosammam Ali M. , Sarrafi Mozaffar , Nia Jamileh Tavakoli , Esmaeilzadeh Hassan
Published: December 2015

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges in the 21st century and the agriculture sector is very vulnerable to this phenomenon. Since wheat is the most important cereal crop in Iran, we aim to analyze the potential impact of climatic variables (temperature and precipitation) on rainfed wheat productivity in Hamedan Province, Iran. For this purpose, generalized additive models have been used to model yields of rainfed wheat based on climatic variables during 2004–2012. Then, based on sensitivity of rainfed wheat to temperature and precipitation in this period, we predict the potential effects of climate change on rainfed wheat yield under the IPCC SRES A1FI and B1 climate change scenarios. Results suggest that yields of rainfed wheat would decrease in all Hamedan's counties primarily because of decreasing October to June precipitation and higher temperature. As a result, it is predicted that the yield of rainfed wheat in Hamedan under the A1F1 and B1 scenarios will fall by 41.3% and 20.6%, respectively, in the 2080s. In other words, according to the A1F1 scenario, in the 2080s, Hamedan Province's rainfed wheat production will decline from 1090 kg/ha to 639 kg/ha and under the B1 scenario to 865 kg/ha.
Trends of climate with rapid change in Sinai, Egypt
Authors: Dadamouny Mohamed A. , Schnittler Martin
Published: December 2015

This study presents evidence for rapid climate change in the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt. Analyses of data for temperature and rainfall from 1970 to 2014 show a clear tendency towards decreasing rainfall and increasing average temperatures. This trend caused severe droughts for many years that were suddenly interrupted by high and unpredictable rainfall that fluctuated heavily in space and time. If this tendency continues, the population dynamics of many plant and animal species will be negatively affected, with many of them being important for local inhabitants. Detrimental effects can be expected in the coastal and tourist cities like Sharm El-Sheikh, Taba, El-Tor, St. Catherine, Ras Sedr and El-Arish. Conservation efforts should be directed to conserve the biological and natural resources and to keep pace with this environmental change.
Key drivers in environmental legislation towards good governance
Authors: Barnard C. E.
Published: December 2015

The trialogue model is investigated with reference to the process that should be generated by Government, Science and Society and the results that should be achieved in the interaction at the interfaces between the stakeholders. What should and what has been achieved are analysed and contrasted.

The procedural part of the process is mainly the process of integrated environmental management, supported by a public participation process. The principles against which developments should be measured include sustainable development, the maximisation of benefits and evaluating land development by considering its merits. The structure that brings Society to the trialogue and a co-operative governance structure that brings Government to the trialogue are valuable key drivers that prepare the foundation for good environmental governance. The conclusion reached is that the process that has been developed recently is good. The legal principles that underpin the procedures are both key drivers for the process and valuable touchstones against which the environmental governance products of the trialogue can be legally verified.

The conclusion reached is that, through the absence of integration, the process is not used to its best advantage. The valuable contribution that the new Process can make, and the risk of environmental degradation if it is not used, are such that there is great merit in trying to achieve its implementation The weaknesses are analysed and recommendations are made that aim to facilitate the integration of the use of available environmental governance process.
Governance of a shared and contested resource: a case study of the Okavango River Basin
Authors: Heyns P. S. vH.
Published: December 2015

The three riparian states that share the perennial flow of the Okavango watercourse system established the Permanent Okavango River Basin Water Commission (OKACOM) as a basis for managing that river's basin. The institution has a collective responsibility to advise the basin states about the best options for joint utilisation and protection of the basin. This complex task is compounded by the pristine nature of the ecosystems, the pressing development needs of all the basin states and international pressure to protect the unique Okavango Delta. The development of the basin for the benefit of the population requires an understanding of the potential of the natural resources to support identified development options. The Commission is responsible for ensuring good collective governance that meets the objectives and expectations of the sovereign basin states, while strengthening the levels of governance in each individual state. This case study examines the relevance of the trialogue hypothesis, which states that effective interactions between political, social and scientific processes are essential for good governance. The study has revealed that the close relationship between the political will to create a management institution, understanding the needs of civil society and facilitating the scientific investigations required for planning purposes supports the trialogue hypothesis of good environmental governance.
Application of intelligent optimization techniques and investigating the effect of reservoir size in calibrating the reservoir operating policy
Authors: Hossain MD. S. , El-Shafie A. , Wan Mohtar W. H. M.
Published: December 2015

In this study, we applied the most recently developed artificial bee colony (ABC) optimization technique in search of an optimal reservoir release policy. The effect of the optimization algorithms was also investigated in terms of reservoir size and operational complexities. Particle swarm optimization, genetic algorithm and neural network-based stochastic dynamic programming are used to compare the model performances. Two different reservoir data were used to achieve the detailed analysis and complete understanding of the application efficiency of these optimization techniques. Release curves were developed for every month as guidance for the decision-maker. Simulation was carried out for each method using actual inflow data, and reliability, resiliency and vulnerability are measured. The release policy provided by ABC optimization algorithms outperformed in terms of reliability, less waste of water and handling critical situations of low inflow. Also, the ABC showed better performance in the case of complex reservoirs.
Understanding social acceptability of arsenic-safe technologies in rural Bangladesh: a user-oriented analysis
Authors: Kundu Debasish Kumar , Gupta Aarti , Mol Arthur P. J. , Nasreen Mahbuba
Published: December 2015

Contamination of shallow tube well drinking water by naturally occurring arsenic is a severe societal and human health challenge in Bangladesh. Multiple technological interventions seeking to ameliorate the problem face hurdles in securing social acceptance, i.e. the willingness of users to receive and use a technology. While most papers focus on expert understanding of social acceptability, this paper analyzes how users themselves understand the factors shaping the social acceptability of safe drinking water options in rural Bangladesh. We then deploy such understanding to comparatively assess which factors users see as most important in securing social acceptance for three safe drinking water options in rural Bangladesh: the arsenic removal household (Sono) filter; the deep tube well; and an improved dug well. We draw on focus groups and semi-structured interviews with technology users in six villages across three districts to analyze how users assess the social acceptability of specific arsenic-safe technologies. Our findings highlight that factors such as availability, affordability and compatibility with existing water use practices, as understood by users, are key to securing users' acceptance of a specific arsenic-safe option. In concluding, we point to a future research agenda to analyze user-oriented social acceptability of arsenic-safe technologies in developing country contexts.
Delineation of River Basin Committees in Peru using WARPLAM DSS
Authors: Coelho Ana Carolina , Flecha Rodrigo , Benites Jorge , Serrato Alberto , Torres Humberto , Serruto Guillermo , Baldoceda Yordan
Published: December 2015

In order to promote good water governance practices, harmonize multiple objectives, and reflect the linkages between environmental, socioeconomic and politico-administrative aspects, it is imperative to define appropriate regions for water resources planning and management. The Water Resources Planning and Management Decision Support System (WARPLAM DSS) is presented here as a tool to support the definition of suitable limits for water resources regions. Although river basins are generally considered the most suitable regions to achieve Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) goals, WARPLAM DSS facilitates the analysis of politico-administrative, historic-cultural, socioeconomic, and physical-environmental aspects. This paper summarizes an initiative to define integrated water resources regions for the establishment of River Basin Committees (RBCs) in Peru, based on a comprehensive analysis of the Peruvian territory. The study was developed through a partnership between ANA-Peru and ANA-Brazil, with the cooperation of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). The results simulated in this attempt anticipate a more harmonized division of Peru's territory into water resources regions. Such an approach aims to establish more robust RBCs and to increase the chances of attaining IWRM goals.
Farmers' attitude towards wastewater use in Fars Province, Iran
Authors: Sheidaei Fatemeh , Karami Ezatollah , Keshavarz Marzieh
Published: December 2015

Application of wastewater for irrigation is one of the useful approaches to alleviate the shortage of freshwater resources. Although successful implementation of wastewater-use projects depends upon the support of farmers who are affected by the project, few studies have addressed the farmers' attitude towards wastewater use and little is known about Iranian farmers' perception. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate farmers' attitude towards wastewater use. It was also intended to detect drivers of perceived economic benefits, and health and environmental risks of wastewater use. A survey of 108 farmers of Shiraz County, selected through a simple random sampling method, identified a number of significant knowledge gaps that currently exist among wastewater users. Furthermore, farmers articulated opposing attitudes for irrigating with wastewater. While farmers realized the contribution of wastewater to fertilize the soil and its reliability as a water resource, they were concerned about its negative impacts on health and environment. Regression analysis illustrated that a complex set of factors significantly influenced perceived risks of wastewater use, among which knowledge, closeness to wastewater canal and value orientation are the most determinant factors. Some recommendations are offered to promote farmers' awareness and attitude about wastewater and reduce its negative impacts.
Accounting for service quality to customers in the efficiency of water companies: evidence from England and Wales
Authors: Molinos-Senante María , Maziotis Alexandros , Mocholí-Arce Manuel , Sala-Garrido Ramón
Published: December 2015

This paper investigates the role of service quality to customers in the efficiency assessment of water companies in England and Wales. To achieve this, data envelopment analysis techniques are employed to compute the technical efficiency of the water companies following two approaches: (i) traditional assessment based on quantity variables (without the inclusion of service quality variables) and (ii) alternative assessment considering quantity and service quality variables as undesirable outputs. The analysis covers 22 water and sewerage companies and water only companies providing drinking water services. The results indicate that the traditional efficiency assessment reveals a high level of technical efficiency, suggesting that the English and Welsh water industry is mature and that one of the challenges it faces is improving service quality. When introducing service quality variables in the evaluation, the average scores of technical efficiency slightly decrease. This suggests that, on average, water companies do not necessarily provide high quality of service, meaning that the traditional efficiency assessment favours their performance. Quality of service supplied to customers within a water sector matters and should be taken into account during the benchmarking process as it could assist regulated companies and regulators to improve performance and incentives, respectively.
More water flows from Western Sudan as virtual water than the flow of the River Nile in former Sudan
Authors: Mohieldeen Yasir Elginiad
Published: December 2015

This study argues that by mobilising ‘social resources’, communities in water-scarce, semi-arid areas can not only successfully sustain a livelihood, but they can also play an important role in the water budget of their semi-arid regions. The pastoralist communities in the Darfur region of west Sudan utilise the limited volumes of green – root-zone – water in the soil to rear livestock. They have for centuries developed and adopted a very adaptive management system that has enabled them to utilise the green water of the Nile Basin. The embedded green water in livestock totals more than Sudan's annual share – 18.5 km3 – of the Nile River flow allocated to it by the 1959 Nile Waters Agreement. This study has revealed that this embedded ‘virtual water’ amounts to 37.6 km3. Results show that this silent, unrecognised, green water has been providing a solution to the water requirements of the Nile economies. It has been suggested that if Western Sudan's livestock were to be produced using fresh/blue water from the Nile, the national water balance of the Sudan would be very seriously impacted and the economy would be much less secure than it has been for the past half century.
Tariff structures for water and sanitation urban households: a primer
Authors: Pinto F. Silva , Marques R. Cunha
Published: December 2015

Water tariffs are a powerful management tool. Indeed, they can be seen as a conceptually simple way to promote multiple, possibly conflicting, objectives. Those trade-offs cause discrepancies between stakeholders and may produce undesirable results. The residential urban domain is particularly sensible to those predicaments. To shed some light on the matter, this paper carries out a literature survey on empirical studies, with emphasis on different tariff structures. In total, 185 publications were identified concerning the importance of tariff structures in achieving specific local objectives, or perspectives, of those who demand and supply water. These studies examine, occasionally comparing: (1) the degree to which specific objectives are achieved; (2) how the desired outcomes of a particular structure depend on the customers' sensitivity when receiving a price signal; and (3) the drivers of the decision-makers in the tariff-setting process. A major result is the empirical evidence that the way prices are used matters almost as much as whether they are used or not.
Unpacking viewpoints on water security: lessons from the South Saskatchewan River Basin
Authors: Strickert Graham , Chun Kwok Pan , Bradford Lori , Clark Douglas , Gober Patricia , Reed Maureen G. , Payton Diana
Published: December 2015

Water is essential for human development and the environment; however, its security is challenged by factors such as competing uses, over extraction, and divergent perspectives. The focus of this paper is to better understand how different stakeholders define water security in the South Saskatchewan River Basin, a large (121,095 km2) transboundary basin that exemplifies global water security challenges. Understanding the perceptions of water security held by water stewards across multiple jurisdictions working in the public, private, and civil society sectors is critical for policy formulation and implementation. We used Q-method during three workshops to identify the factors that summarize perceptions about water security from water stewards spanning two provinces in Canada. Participants perceived that water security is linked to sustainability through concerns for intergenerational equity, ecosystem maintenance, and ‘balanced’ growth. Study participants generally disagreed with framings of water security that were short-term, self-centred, and narrow. We find some support for risk and vulnerability based framings of water security which centred on ‘reliability’ and ‘limited resources’ as core themes. In particular, the geographic and jurisdictional location, as well as the roles of water stewards affected the relative importance of core themes about water security.
Investigation and analysis of college's water system: the case of Northeastern University
Authors: Gao Chengkang , Tang Hanmei , Zhang Menghui , Zou Yuming , Zhang Hao
Published: December 2015

To date there have been many studies of water system optimization which were focused on the water use performance of industrial, regional, and urban areas from a macro-perspective. However, water system optimization colleges and universities are rare, though the amount of water consumption is huge in higher education institutions. We applied a water extended input–output model to investigate and analyze the water system of Northeastern University. Results showed that the water consumption at Northeastern University is 106.72 m3/year per capita; 74.44% of the total water consumption at Northeastern University takes place in dormitories and other school buildings. In contrast with industrial and agricultural sewage, the pollutants in campus sewage are simple and are easy to render harmless or eliminate. Analyzed results showed that the rate of water recycling is low. In this paper, we present an optimization project for improving water efficiency at Northeastern University. Through measures such as dormitory toilets that reuse washroom sewage, our proposed plan will reduce water consumption per capita by 2.13 m3/year. If our proposed plan is adopted at other higher education institutions whose size is the same as Northeastern University all over the country, 7,842.77 × 105 m3/year of water will be saved, which is equivalent to 3.45 × 106 yuan.