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Conventional Al‐air batteries are not suitable as portable power devices due to their complicated water management and bulky system. To resolve this issue, the fiber paper‐ and cotton cloth‐based Al‐air batteries were proposed, which exploited the capillary force from the paper (FP) and cotton cloth (CC) to deliver the solutions and eliminated the external pump. The physical features of the FP and CC were gained including the surface morphologies, surface elementary analysis, liquid absorption and flow rates. CC owned larger liquid absorption and faster flow rate due to its hierarchically woven‐spun fiber structure, compared to the randomly oriented fibers of the FP, although the surface of the CC demonstrated lower O/C ratio than that of the FP. So, the performance of the CC‐based Al‐air battery was largely higher than that of the FP‐based battery. The performance of the CC‐based Al‐air battery was optimal at 1.0 M NaOH electrolyte and the anode‐to‐cathode surface area ratio of 1 : 4, with the peak power density of 14.95±0.28 mW cm−2, and the maximum current density of 36.61±0.54 mA cm−2. To apply the CC‐based Al‐air battery, the two‐battery pack connected in series was assembled to drive a timer and light 9 LEDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main rule included in IPPC directive (Directive 96/61/EC) obligating installation owners to operate in the sustainable way in order to reduce the impact on the environment. Water resources are limited, therefore many industries, in particular in water-stressed areas, must invest in water-saving programs. In particular, this problem applies to paper plants, which should limit their consumption of fresh water. However, the main environmental consequence in the production of pulp and paper refers not only to the consumption of water resources, but also to the emission of wastewater resulting from the production process. This paper focuses on the concept of sustainable management of water and wastewater. The proposed approach is demonstrated with a case study. The different treatment facilities option has been tested to find the optimal solution to minimalize consumption of fresh water and reduce effluent loads. The optimal water-wastewater configuration was found by testing several configurations. We concluded that striving for a nearly full circulation loop closure is not always justified by sustainable development and should be assessed in an integrated way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paper with its mechanical strength as well as due to its microfluidic properties has emerged as an interesting sustainable material for future high-tech applications. Examples include paper-based sensors and actuators, paper-based construction materials and paper-based membranes. These examples have in common that a precise control of the water distribution inside the paper sheet during fluid water imbibition, water vapor adsorption, or drying affects the fluidic properties of the paper, which are crucial for its performance. Here silica-based coatings are applied to control the water distribution in the paper sheet during imbibition, adsorption and drying. By using dense silica coatings, the fibers are shielded from water penetration which limits the water distribution into the fiber–fiber voids. Whereas with a mesoporous silica coating, mesopores can be inserted into the paper, providing an additional space for water imbibition and adsorption. Water location upon imbibition, adsorption and drying were investigated using small angle x-ray scattering and gravimetric water vapor adsorption. Thereby, water distribution upon imbibition and adsorption depends on the type of silica coating. In addition, the drying mechanism and water distribution during drying is as well determined by the silica-based coating. The obtained results allow to deduce design criteria for local water management in paper sheets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

B Mar Satorras b is Urban Sustainability Researcher at the Institut Metròpoli, Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra, Spain, and affiliated researcher at the Urban Transformation and Global Change Laboratory (TURBA, IN3, UOC), Barcelona, Spain. We take the nomination of Best Paper and Honourable Mention very seriously, so the selection process is a bit elaborate. Both selections are on important institutional issues that have gained salience in the twenty-first century - how to reoperate reservoirs in a highly stressed basin to meet the challenges of climate change and competing demands, and how to finance the remunicipalization of urban water. [Extracted from the article]

This article discusses the importance of reproducibility in academic research, specifically in the field of bridge engineering. The authors argue that reproducibility is challenging due to factors such as paper documentation, technology constraints, and proprietary issues. They propose implementing a policy that encourages researchers to make their data and models available to others, although they acknowledge that full reproducibility may not always be practical. To incentivize this practice, the Journal of Bridge Engineering plans to introduce a visible recognition badge for papers that provide open data, models, and codes. The authors also outline the review process for papers seeking the "Data Verified Paper" designation. [Extracted from the article]

The European Water Framework Directive (WFD) is one of the most analyzed environmental legislations in the scientific literature, influencing the water management in some non-European countries. The WFD has the strong ambition of achieving a good ecological status of water bodies across all river basins in Europe. However, the advances towards sustainable management are falling far behind the planned schedule. The emphasis of the Directive is focused on water quality rather than on water quantity. The advances during the last quarter of the century since its inception have been strong on urban and industrial point pollution, but not on agricultural non-point pollution that remains high and even increases in major basins. Water quantity aspects have been mostly left aside in the Directive, despite the fact that water scarcity is a serious problem in Southern European countries, and will become more critical with climate change in most basins across Europe. Some policy measures of the WFD need to be reformed, in particular measures for abating agricultural pollution, and new measures for addressing water scarcity. The narrow focus of the WFD on water pricing to solve at the same time issues of financing, water allocation and efficiency, environment, opportunity costs and pollution abatement, should be broadened. The challenge is giving more emphasis to command & control and collective action instruments, and designing combinations of instruments adapted to sectoral and spatial locations in basins. This overhaul of the water policy instruments by the European Commission will be needed to advance in the sustainable management of river basins in Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ant-inspired metaheuristic algorithms known as ant colony optimization (ACO) offer an approach that has the ability to solve complex problems in both discrete and continuous domains. ACOs have gained significant attention in the field of water resources management, since many problems in this domain are non-linear, complex, challenging and also demand reliable solutions. The aim of this study is to critically review the applications of ACO algorithms specifically in the field of hydrology and hydrogeology, which include areas such as reservoir operations, water distribution systems, coastal aquifer management, long-term groundwater monitoring, hydraulic parameter estimation, and urban drainage and storm network design. Research articles, peer-reviewed journal papers and conference papers on ACO were critically analyzed to identify the arguments and research findings to delineate the scope for future research and to identify the drawbacks of ACO. Implementation of ACO variants is also discussed, as hybrid and modified ACO techniques prove to be more efficient over traditional ACO algorithms. These algorithms facilitate formulation of near-optimal solutions, and they also help improve cost efficiency. Although many studies are attempting to overcome the difficulties faced in the application of ACO, some parts of the mathematical analysis remain unsolved. It is also observed that despite its popularity, studies have not been successful in incorporating the uncertainty in ACOs and the problems of dimensionality, convergence and stability are yet to be resolved. Nevertheless, ACO is a potential area for further research as the studies on the applications of these techniques are few. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on the assessment of water resources in agricultural regions is a prominent area of study. These resources are vital for many arid and agricultural areas, including those in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). This paper provides a comprehensive review of research trends, analysing scientific production and published articles on water resources in CIS countries from 2000 to 2023. We collected, reviewed, and analysed 163 publications from the Scopus database meeting our selection criteria. The bibliometric analysis revealed publications in English (149) and Russian (15), annual publication counts, document types, top papers, journals, funding sponsors, subject categories, and affiliations by country and institution. We also examined co-authors and keyword cooccurrence to identify knowledge clusters in the literature. The analysis highlighted the need for international research to enhance scientific exchange on this topic. Long-term, continuous research and sustainable development of water resource concepts are essential for future agricultural, water management integration supplemented with parts of water transport. This study may inspire new trends in agricultural development, focusing on irrigation efficiency, water distribution, and climate change within a sustainable circular economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article announces that a paper published in Water Management in 2022 has won the Robert Alfred Carr Prize, which is awarded for the best paper in the journal. The paper examines the economic value of water in an agricultural region of southern Brazil, specifically focusing on rice and soybean production. The study finds that the marginal value of water in the region is higher than common values for water charges in Brazilian watersheds. The paper also investigates the scarcity costs of recent drought periods and explores the potential for crop mix changes and short-term water reallocation to mitigate drought impacts. [Extracted from the article]

Copyright of Irrigation & Drainage is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

As the carrier of enterprise water resources management disclosure, water information disclosure is a means of expression of enterprises' environmental responsibility. First, a corporate water information disclosure quality evaluation index system and evaluation method are established, and with the help of the projection tracing method of accelerated genetic algorithm, 27 paper companies in China are selected as a sample and the disclosure quality level is analyzed empirically. Then, the analysis is carried out in terms of three changes in vertical trends, horizontal trends and changes in laws, regulations and policies, and the results show that Chinese paper and paper product enterprises have low quality of water information disclosure, weak disclosure content and low voluntary disclosure. Finally, feasible suggestions are made based on the evaluation of disclosure issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Best Paper and Honourable Mention awards for 2020 are both international collaborations, one comparing data exchange in transboundary waters, and the other comparing irrigation management transfer programs in four African countries. BEST PAPER AWARDEE B The devil's in the details: data exchange in transboundary waters b Patience Mukuyu, Jonathan Lautze, Alistair Rieu-Clarke, Davison Saruchera and Matthew McCartney I Water International i , 45:7-8, 884-900 doi 10.1080/02508060.2020.1850026 This extremely important and illuminating article develops and applies an assessment framework for data exchange to twenty-five transboundary river basins. We take the nomination of Best Paper and Honourable Mention very seriously, so the selection process is a bit elaborate. [Extracted from the article]

Water management constitutes a challenge for contemporary Egypt, as the country faces a water shortage that, in certain areas, might endanger the basic needs of people in the dry season. This article seeks to understand the origin of water problems, and argues that beyond existing scarcity due to environmental challenges, current sociopolitical conditions play a significant role. Egypt is socially, economically, and environmentally in a difficult position to be sustainable. The paper utilizes the political ecology approach to shed light on the nexus between the fields mentioned above and tries to create an integrated and comprehensive strategy to analyze the water problems and possible solutions for contemporary Egypt. SWOT analysis helps evaluate the existing conditions (strengths and weaknesses) and potentialities (opportunities and threats) for the Egyptian agriculture and water management sector. Three different angles are utilized during the analysis: the infrastructural background (the economic aspect), the institutional basis (the political aspect), and the international impacts (the environmental aspect) that affect water policy. Regarding the mounting challenges, a slow change of the system is expected, but negative changes in the natural environment could accelerate pressure on Egyptian society and government to adjust. However, the support of international partners to maintain a politically and socially stable Egypt contributes to maintaining archaic political-economic structures that are unsustainable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Water Framework Directive (WFD) is one of the most studied environmental legislations and recently turned twenty. The paper deals with a literature search and analysis of 4120 references related to this Directive. After a period of strong increase in article production (2002–2012) WFD scientific productivity is currently still high (~ 260 papers year−1), suggesting a persistent interest of the scientific community on this issue. Most research supporting the WFD was on water sciences, but contributions were also from governance and socio-economic disciplines. Studies on biological quality elements and rivers were prominent. The WFD implementation has seen a strong participation of scientists from all EU countries, and partially also from outside-EU nations. To improve the EU water policy and management, the paper suggests a greater interconnection between WFD and other EU Directives and indicates some emerging environmental issues to which the Directive should address. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water resource management aims to environmentally and economically satisfy the water demands of various water uses in a hydrological basin. Increasing demand for water, under the pressure of climate change impacts, is forcing water scientists and engineers to improve and develop new methods and approaches for integrating water resources management and protection, develop appropriate policies and define feasible governance structures. The results of model simulations show that surface water resources were sufficient to meet the water demand and water quality has not shown to be a significant factor for the development of surface water supplies. Although Greece is listed in the international rankings as a water-rich country, it has significant water problems due to its high temporal and spatial variation in the distribution of water resources and its unsustainable management practices, characterized by a fragmented and sector-oriented water management system. [Extracted from the article]

We take the nomination of Best Paper and Honourable Mention very seriously, so the selection process is a bit elaborate. This article builds on the Ph.D. work at the University of South Australia of B Anna Robak b , who at time of writing was Director, Whole of Life Asset Management, at Opus International Consultants Limited, Fredericton, NB, Canada; she is now Director, Research & Innovation, WSP in Canada, also in Fredericton, and Adjunct Professor at the University of New Brunswick; B Henning Bjornlund b , an IWRA Fellow, is Research Professor in Water Policy and Management at the University of South Australia. B Christopher A. Scott b , an IWRA Fellow, was the Director of the Udall Center and Professor in the School of Geography, Development & Environment. [Extracted from the article]

The optimization of water management in industrial processes is paramount in diminishing or mitigating, as far as possible, the negative externalities generated by its current use within the linear economy model. This research presents methods for the optimization of wastewater from paper mills which are associated with the new sustainability and circular economy model. In this way, the concept of circular economy was applied to the wastewater treatment from a paper mill, with the objective of recovering the resources contained in this type of effluent. The wastewater treatment plant is based on a biological reactor of activated sludge, and treats a flow of 4868 m3·day−1. This study proposes the development and evaluation of indicators of circular economy applied to wastewater from a paper mill, as well as the assessment of the removal performance of color, total suspended solids (TSS), biochemical oxygen demand on the fifth day (BOD5), and chemical oxygen demand (COD), which are higher than 96% in all cases. Per 1 m3 of wastewater from a paper mill, a volume of 0.9 m3 of potentially reusable water and a recovered sludge mass of 0.7 kg are generated; the latter is reused as a mineral filler during the process itself. In light of this, a multivariable statistical analysis was applied to determine the relationship of the operation variables and indicators of circular economy. In this way, wastewater from the paper mill can be regarded as a technological nutrient, which is partially reintroduced into the production process, enabling the recovery of the water and mineral fillers that it contains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fifth paper - "A Hybrid Model for Water Quality Prediction Based on an Artificial Neural Network, Wavelet Transform, and Long Short-Term Memory" [[30]] (https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/4/610 (accessed on 20 February 2022)) by Junhao Wu and Zhaocai Wang - is a machine learning application for water quality assessments in China. With the advancements in data-driven analyses and modeling approaches for water quality, there are also rapid developments in such model-based DSTs for water quality management. Water quality predictions are compared to results from other models, and the results of the study show the superiority of the ANN-WT-LSTM model and suggest its potential as a decision support tool for water quality prediction. The seventh paper - "Meeting the Moment: Leveraging Temporal Inequality for Temporal Targeting to Achieve Water-Quality Load-Reduction Goals" [[32]] (https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/7/1003 (accessed on 30 March 2022)) by Nicole Opalinski, Daniel Schultz, TamieVeith, Matt Royer, and Heather Preisendanz - focuses on the phenomenon of hydrologic and water quality variation, often expressed as "hot moments" or episodes of unexpectedly high pollutant loading. [Extracted from the article]

A novel MEA (membrane electrode assembly) structure of passive μ-DMFC (micro-direct methanol fuel cell) controls water management and decreases methanol crossover. The CNT (carbon nanotube) paper replacing CP (carbon paper) as GDL (gas diffusion paper) enhances water back diffusion which passively prevents flooding in the cathode and promotes low methanol crossover. Moreover, the unique structure of CNT paper can also enhance efficiency of oxygen mass transport and catalyst utilization. The passive μ-DMFC with CNT-MEA exhibits significantly higher performance than passive μ-DMFC with CP-MEA and can operate in high methanol concentration, showing the peak power density of 23.2 mW cm −2 . The energy efficiency and fuel utilization efficiency are obviously improved from 11.54% to 22.7% and 36.61%–49.34%, respectively, and the water transport coefficient is 0.47 which is lower than previously reported passive μ-DMFC with CP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foreign cations are shown to cause mass transport losses, in particular due to wettability changes in the micro-porous layers (MPL) and the carbon paper substrate, and have a major impact on the durability and the performance of polymer electrolyte fuel cells. We studied the effects of cationic impurities on fuel cell system performance, especially on the water management by employing in-situ and ex-situ contamination methods. Changes in the wettability of the carbon paper surface following the in-situ contamination injection were quantified using the Wilhelmy plate method. The CaSO 4 precipitation on the macro-pores of the carbon paper substrate after the contamination injection causes a higher wettability leading to increased flooding of the carbon paper substrate and consequent mass transport losses. An ex-situ cleaning with an acid solution is shown to be very effective in removing the salt deposits of the carbon paper substrate. During the mitigation, the highly hydrophobic MPL acts as a barrier to the transport of the recovery solution into the membrane-electrode assembly (MEA), therefore isopropanol (IPA) was added to both the contaminant solution and the recovery solution to increase the wettability of the MPL. Wetting force measurements confirm that the added IPA can alter the wettability of the MPL and can render it fully hydrophilic, enabling the transport of the recovery solution into the MEA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to explore why a country with significant under-investment in water infrastructure has not successfully imposed domestic water charges. Drawing on an economization lens, it examines how an economy emerged in the imposition of water charges but was subsequently hidden due to their politically motivated suspension. Design/methodology/approach: Drawing on documentary evidence, a theoretically informed examination of the "economization" process is set out. This examination recognizes the central role sustainability plays in water management but illustrates how sustainability must be integrated with environmental, social, economic, cultural and political factors. Findings: The findings set out the challenges experienced by a state-owned water company as they attempt to manage domestic water charges. The paper reveals that while the suspension of water charges has hidden the "economy" within government subvention, the economic and sustainable imperative to invest in and pay for water remains, but is enveloped within a political "hot potato" bringing about a quasi-political/quasi-economic landscape. Practical implications: The findings demonstrate how the effective and sustainable management of domestic water supply requires collaboration between multiple participants, including the government, the European Union, private citizens and the water protest movement. Social implications: While highlighting the challenges faced by a country that has seriously under-invested in its water resources, the paper reflects the societal consequences of charging individuals for water, raising important questions about what water actually is – a right, a product or a political object. Originality/value: Showing how an economy around domestic water supply in Ireland was revealed, but subsequently hidden in "the political", the paper illustrates how sustainability is as much about economics and politics as it is about ecological balance and natural resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management (JWRPM) launched a Reproducibility Review Program in 2020 to address the lack of reproducibility in water-related journals. The program encourages authors to publish data, models, code, and directions with their articles so that independent reviewers can replicate their work. The program has five objectives, including promoting reproducibility, facilitating the use of reproducible work, and recognizing authors who make their work more reproducible. The program has already awarded Silver and Bronze badges to several manuscripts and plans to expand to other journals. Challenges include incorporating reproducibility reviews into the submission process and educating authors about the program. The program aims to improve reproducibility in the water resources field and shift towards reproducibility as the default in research. [Extracted from the article]

The field of water management is continually changing. Water has been subject to external shocks in the form of climate change and globalization. Water management analysis is subject to disciplinary developments and inter-disciplinary interactions. Are these developments well-documented in the literature? Initial observations in the interdisciplinary literature suggest that results are fragmented, implying that a state-of-the-art review is needed. This paper aims to close such a gap by reviewing recent developments in water economics that address increasing perceptions of water scarcity by looking first at changes in the supply and quality of water and then at the impacts of climate change on water supply extremes. Among responses to such challenges, this paper identifies changes to water use patterns by including and co-managing water from different sources, including surface and groundwater, reclaimed wastewater, and desalinated water. Technological advancements are also among the resources that address water challenges. Water challenges are also reflected in the management of internationally shared water. A recent surge in scientific work identified international treaties as a significant contributor to international water management. This paper reviews recently employed economic approaches, such as experimental economics, game theory, institutional economics, and valuation methods. And, finally, it explores modeling approaches, including hydro-economic and computable general equilibrium models, that are being used to deal with water challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the depletion of rivers and groundwater due to climate change and human activity, which poses a threat to water security and ecosystems. Initiatives such as river ecological restoration and groundwater artificial recharge have been implemented to mitigate this trend. However, these actions can alter the natural connections between river water and groundwater, impacting their hydrological characteristics and material exchange. The article introduces a special issue that aims to further understand these behaviors and mechanisms through fifteen papers covering three research fields: hydrobiogeochemical cycles in riverbank filtration, behavior of pollutants in river-groundwater systems, and the impact of climate change and human activities on groundwater dynamics. These papers provide valuable scientific evidence for the sustainable management of water resources and the protection of water ecological security. [Extracted from the article]

This paper reviews the factors affecting effective dashboards for urban water security monitoring and evaluation. Urban water security is a constantly evolving field influenced by several factors, including changes in climate, ecosystems, socio-economic status, and human beings. Although urban water security has been discussed in some parts of the literature, there has been minimal literature review that focused on the factors of urban water security and the effective dashboards for monitoring and evaluation. Using systematic literature review (SLR) and preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis (PRISMA), this paper reviewed 143 articles. The result shows growth in the environmental informatics landscape since the last ten years when the first article on the urban water management dashboard was published. The visual design was the most frequently discussed factor for dashboards, followed by user customization. It also shows that this topic can go deeper to integrate both factors and design an effective environmental dashboard. The discussion identified three potential opportunities for future research in water security and informatics: i) exploring other dimensions of effective dashboards, ii) considering more research on the environmental dashboard, and iii) investigating the real-life application of dashboards in urban water security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unconventional water includes reclaimed water, harvested rainwater, desalinated seawater, and mine water. Unconventional water use is considered more of a "mandatory responsibility" in China. The initial allocation of unconventional water emphasizes quantity-centered responsibility allocation while the minimum utilization reflects this responsibility. The unconventional water use responsibility (UWUR) should be tailored to the characteristics of each area, moving away from a 'more is better' mindset. However, there is a large research gap in this field. This paper first presented six fundamental principles for unconventional water allocation. Ensuring fairness in allocation involves aligning the allocated amount with urban water usage characteristics. Hence, based on four key features, this paper integrated various socioeconomic and environmental factors to build an initial allocation model. To enhance efficiency, an optimal allocation model was constructed using the zero-sum gains–data envelopment analysis (ZSG-DEA) method. The models were then applied to Jiangsu Province, China, to verify their applicability. The results showed that the projected minimum UWUR allocation (unit: 100 million m3) for each city in 2025 is 1.482 (Nanjing), 1.501 (Wuxi), 0.919 (Xuzhou), 1.029 (Changzhou), 2.977 (Suzhou), 1.497 (Nantong), 0.818 (Lianyungang), 0.766 (Huai'an), 0.875 (Yancheng), 0.920 (Yangzhou), 0.790 (Zhenjiang), 0.858 (Taizhou), and 0.766 (Suqian). The rational and feasible results indicated that the allocation framework proposed in this paper has a certain practicability. Lastly, this paper considered the differences in unconventional water utilization conditions across 13 cities and proposed corresponding measures to improve the utilization. This paper represents a tentative exploration of unconventional water allocation in China and offers theoretical and practical insights for policy-makers to improve territorial spatial planning and sustainable water management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to transform rural communities' use of water resources. Modern sensor technologies are integrated into an all-inclusive system to enable real-time monitoring and prompt identification of anomalies and contamination. Well water information is more accurate and reliable when entered automatically, providing solid groundwork for informed decision-making. The technology combines user-friendly interfaces with a proactive maintenance schedule to enable communities to maintain the longevity of their wells and the quality of their water. This work not only tackles the difficulties associated with managing well water in rural areas but also improves the general well-being and environmental preservation of these communities by endorsing sustainable water management techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Losses from flood disasters are increasing globally due to climate-driven forces and human factors such as migration and land use changes. The risks of such floods involve multiple factors and stakeholders, and frameworks for integrated approaches have attracted a global community of experts. The paper reviews the knowledge base for integrated flood risk management frameworks, including more than twenty bibliometric reviews of their elements. The knowledge base illustrates how integrated strategies for the reduction of flood risk are required at different scales and involve responses ranging from climate and weather studies to the construction of infrastructure, as well as collective action for community resilience. The Integrated Flood Management framework of the Associated Programme on Flood Management of the World Meteorological Organization was developed more than twenty years ago and is explained in some detail, including how it fits within the Integrated Water Resources Management concept that is managed by the Global Water Partnership. The paper reviews the alignment of the two approaches and how they can be used in tandem to reduce flood losses. Success of both integrated management approaches depends on governance and institutional capacity as well as technological advances. The knowledge base for flood risk management indicates how technologies are advancing, while more attention must be paid to social and environmental concerns, as well as government measures to increase participation, awareness, and preparedness. Ultimately, integrated flood management will involve solutions tailored for individual situations, and implementation may be slow, such that perseverance and political commitment will be needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a novel approach to addressing the current water waste problem in conventional water tanks by implementing an efficient water monitoring and control system using Internet of Things (IoT) technology and Android applications. The existing water storage solutions often lack the ability to monitor and manage water levels, leading to significant water waste. In this research, an ultrasonic sensor is employed for precise water level measurement. The parameters critical to water quality, such as pH, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), and turbidity, are also monitored and calculated. The microcontrollers process the sensor-derived data and transmit it to the internet through a Wi-Fi module (ESP 8266). Other existing technologies had certain drawbacks in some way, and the removal of these shortcomings and providing an efficient and economical solution has been the main focus of this paper. This paper outlines the development of a smart water tank system that not only reduces water wastage but also ensures water quality, thereby contributing to the sustainable management of water resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • GDL with excellent bulk hydrophobicity and strength based on interspersed PP network. • Novel bulk- and self- hydrophobicity GDL require no fluoride posttreatment. • Excellent water management under high current density in PEMFC operation. • Cost-effective production of high-performance GDL through paper making. In the quest for sustainable energy, proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are emerging as a key technology due to their high efficiency and low pollutant emissions. However, the performance and longevity of PEMFCs rely heavily on effective water management within the gas diffusion layer (GDL). Traditional GDLs, comprised of carbon fiber paper treated with perfluorinated hydrophobic agents, suffered from environmental, economic, and performance limitations and exhibited unsatisfactory water regulation due to the surface hydrophobicity. To overcome these challenges, we have developed a fluorine-free bulk hydrophobic GDL with an interpenetrating network composed of graphene, cellulose fiber, and modified polypropylene fiber with impressive mechanical strength (22 MPa) and enhanced hydrophobicity without the use of harmful fluorinated agents through the scalable papermaking. The resulting GDL offers significantly improved PEMFC performance by enhancing water management, achieving a current density of 1.25 A cm−2 at 0.6 V and a maximum power density of 0.746 W cm−2. Furthermore, it exhibits superior water management capabilities compared to commercial GDL under high current density and demonstrates a more straightforward, less energy-intensive production process. Our findings suggest a scalable, cost-effective pathway for advanced GDL manufacturing, promoting a shift towards more sustainable and high-performing PEMFCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a more efficient water monitoring and control system for water utilities to address the current water wastage problem, utilizing IoT and Android applications. The integrated system aims to enhance real-time data collection, analysis, and remote management, empowering water utilities to optimize resource usage and mitigate environmental impact. Conventional water tanks cannot monitor or control the water level in the tank, leading to a significant amount of wastage. Implementing smart water tank systems with automated monitoring and control features can not only prevent wastage but also enhance overall water management efficiency. Ultrasonic sensors are used to measure the water level, while other parameters such as pH, TDS, and turbidity of the water should be calculated. Additionally, these sensors play a crucial role in ensuring accurate and real-time monitoring of water quality in various applications, such as industrial processes, aquaculture, and environmental monitoring. The integration of ultrasonic technology for water level measurement enhances the overall efficiency and reliability of water management systems. The calculated values from the sensors can be processed by the microcontrollers and uploaded to the internet through the Wi-Fi module (ESP 8266). Some other technologies have certain drawbacks in one way or another. The removal of these shortcomings and the provision of an efficient and economical solution have been the main focus of this paper. Through extensive research and innovation, our team has strived to overcome these limitations, paving the way for a more robust and seamless technological landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper deals with the wind speed of strong and extreme wind events in Poland and their descriptions of their effects. Two recent estimation developed by the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management in Warsaw [4] and by Lorenc [3] are presented. Their strong and weak points are briefly described. The 37 annual maximum gusts of wind speeds measured at all meteorological stations between 1971 and 2007 are analysed with extremal probability paper. Based on the measured and estimated wind speeds (taken from existing literature), the authors suggest new estimations for strong and extreme wind that may occur in Poland. In the near future, Poland is going to construct some important structures, such as a central air terminal and some nuclear power plants, so knowledge about strong and extreme winds in our country is very important for engineers who will design these types of structures. In this case, the information given in Section 6 of the ISO 1382 standard for identifying hazards, estimating, evaluating, and treating risk may be applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bai et al. ([3]) in their article «Impact of climate change on water transfer scale of inter-basin water diversion project» present a systematic approach for runoff prediction, impact analysis, and risk assessment under climate change. Elnashar and Elyamany ([8], [9]) in the paper «Managing Risks of Climate Change on Irrigation Water in Arid Regions», propose a systematic approach to identify, analyse, and respond to the risks of climate change on irrigation water in arid regions using a Risk Management process. In the paper «Complex policy mixes are needed to cope with agricultural water demands under climate change» by Martinez-Valderrama et al. ([23]) the authors argue that the forecast of the water gap (difference between agricultural water use and annual supply of water resources) will continue to widen, affecting the water security of a large part of the world's population. Elnashar and Elyamany ([8], [9]) in the paper «Adapting Irrigation Strategies to Mitigate Climate Change Impacts: A Value Engineering Approach» accept the fact that climate change will increase water demand and decrease crop yields. [Extracted from the article]

THE REMARKABLE RISE OF PROCESS HYDROLOGY IN CHINA Gu was at the leading edge of process hydrology in China during its remarkable ascent in the past several decades. Through the 1980s and 1990s, Gu authored a number of papers in the Chinese and English literature (Gu, [4]; Gu, [5]; Gu, [6]; Gu, [7]; Gu, [8]; Gu, [9], [10] - summarized in an important review paper in Gu et al., [11]) that showed - in many cases for the first time - the controls on the spatial and temporal evolution of soil water, groundwater and streamflow from the catchment. WEI-ZU GU AND HYDROHILL Gu was a research professor at the Nanjing Institute of Hydrology and Water Resources when he set up the Chuzhou Hydrology Laboratory and now-famous Hydrohill catchment. Following the USGS delegation to China, the USGS team reciprocated, and Gu came to the United States about a year later and toured the Mattole watershed, the Panola watershed in Georgia and other USGS research sites. [Extracted from the article]

In Iran, water scarcity is increasing due to the rapid growth in economy and population, but also due to waste and overuse. Marginal water resources (unutilized water of lower quality) can provide important options to augment water supply or replace freshwater use. In this way, they can reconcile the seemingly opposing views of water development and water management. Encouraging reuse and circulation of marginal water can enhance water availability and conserve freshwater. This paper analyses water reuse options and policies in Iran. It explains policy constraints based on the type of water for reuse and compares the water reuse policies in Iran to regional experiences. Such a contextualization of Iran's policies from a regional perspective provides opportunities for mutual learning and lessons for policy reforms. For Iran, there is a need for investments and comprehensive reuse policies. New water sources need to be appropriately identified, treated, delivered and accepted by endusers and society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Colorado and Mississippi River basins are crucial for water supply, agriculture, and ecological stability in the U.S., yet climate change, water management practices, and energy sector demands pose significant challenges to their sustainability. This paper highlights the potential of leveraging the Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) to address these challenges by creating new revenue streams and incentivizing sustainable water management practices. It provides high-level estimates by extrapolating from existing literature. The paper finds that water projects in these basins could generate over 45 million carbon credits annually, potentially attracting around USD 4.5 billion in investments over the next decade. However, challenges such as high costs, complex regulations, and stakeholder coordination must be addressed. The paper also identifies opportunities for advancing water resiliency projects, including increasing public awareness, engaging corporations, and utilizing innovative financing mechanisms. Recommendations include promoting the VCM–water relationship, encouraging methodology innovation, developing pilot programs, investing in digital monitoring technologies, and conducting localized analysis to optimize carbon credit potential in water management. In conclusion, this paper quantifies the potential of water projects to generate carbon credits and indicates that integrating carbon markets with water management strategies can significantly contribute to global climate goals and improve water resilience in these critical regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Longwood Gardens (Kennett Square, PA, USA) is working toward a future where the beauty of nature can be enjoyed by all through its sustainability and stewardship efforts. Using case studies highlighting water quality and conservation, carbon footprint reduction, material circularity, and land stewardship, this paper examines the multifaceted approach that Longwood takes to address its environmental impact. First, a description of Longwood's innovative water quality and conservation strategies and their integration of green and gray infrastructure is described. Next, the paper explores the comprehensive measures adopted to curtail its carbon footprint, from energy-efficient infrastructure to renewable energy sources. Then, Longwood's commitment to material circularity is investigated, showcasing initiatives that reuse organic materials and create necessary products for the Gardens onsite. Finally, the Gardens' holistic land stewardship practices are detailed, including habitat preservation and biodiversity enhancement. The paper concludes with valuable findings learned from the organization's sustainability and stewardship journey, offering insights applicable to other gardens or campuses seeking to improve their ecological impact while maintaining a commitment to esthetic and horticultural excellence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Snow detection is imperative in remote sensing for various applications, including climate change monitoring, water resources management, and disaster warning. Recognizing the limitations of current deep learning algorithms in cloud and snow boundary segmentation, as well as issues like detail snow information loss and mountainous snow omission, this paper presents a novel snow detection network based on Swin-Transformer and U-shaped dual-branch encoder structure with geographic information (SD-GeoSTUNet), aiming to address the above issues. Initially, the SD-GeoSTUNet incorporates the CNN branch and Swin-Transformer branch to extract features in parallel and the Feature Aggregation Module (FAM) is designed to facilitate the detail feature aggregation via two branches. Simultaneously, an Edge-enhanced Convolution (EeConv) is introduced to promote snow boundary contour extraction in the CNN branch. In particular, auxiliary geographic information, including altitude, longitude, latitude, slope, and aspect, is encoded in the Swin-Transformer branch to enhance snow detection in mountainous regions. Experiments conducted on Levir_CS, a large-scale cloud and snow dataset originating from Gaofen-1, demonstrate that SD-GeoSTUNet achieves optimal performance with the values of 78.08%, 85.07%, and 92.89% for I o U _ s , F 1 _ s , and M P A , respectively, leading to superior cloud and snow boundary segmentation and thin cloud and snow detection. Further, ablation experiments reveal that integrating slope and aspect information effectively alleviates the omission of snow detection in mountainous areas and significantly exhibits the best vision under complex terrain. The proposed model can be used for remote sensing data with geographic information to achieve more accurate snow extraction, which is conducive to promoting the research of hydrology and agriculture with different geospatial characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper delves into the intersection of women's empowerment and water management throughout Africa, examining the diverse roles women undertake in water governance through the lens of case studies and initiatives showcasing their contributions to sustainable development. Utilising interdisciplinary perspectives, the paper scrutinises policy frameworks, institutional mechanisms, and challenges confronting women in water management, emphasising the necessity of gender-responsive approaches and collaborative efforts to foster equitable and resilient water systems. Through empowerment, innovation, and partnership, women emerge as pivotal catalysts for change in navigating the intricate landscape of water governance across the continent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cooperative operation of cascade reservoir systems is an efficient way to regulate water resources. However, noncooperation among various reservoir stakeholders is often observed in practice; this produces an interesting dilemma in the game of water resource management. Considering the upper Yellow River cascade reservoir system as a case study, in this paper we model and analyze the cooperation dilemma in a cascade reservoir system. In our game theoretical analysis, we find that, except for the most upstream reservoir, all reservoirs have free-ride strategies. The free-ride strategy indicates that a reservoir obtains free gain from the cooperation of other reservoirs due to spatial connections, and this fact changes the cooperative game in terms of equilibrium and benefit allocation. The results show that the regulation capacity of the free rider directly affects the equilibrium and benefit allocation of the game. A midstream reservoir with a small or medium regulation capacity tends to employ a free-ride strategy. A midstream reservoir with a large regulation capacity can entirely interrupt the cooperation between upstream and downstream reservoirs, interestingly, which can lead to the disappearance of the free-ride strategy for the midstream reservoir. However, the downstream reservoir may employ a free-ride strategy when the midstream reservoir chooses to cooperate. This implies that grand cooperation is not stable when considering free-ride, whereas partial coalitions are more likely to form. In this paper, we derive equilibrium in the cooperative game of cascade reservoirs, providing theoretical interpretation of the noncooperation phenomenon in the operation of cascade reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of water injection management practices for complex and impactful onshore and offshore carbonate reservoirs. It delves into the fundamental aspects of waterflooding design, surveillance techniques, and monitoring methods tailored for the unique challenges posed by carbonate formations. Two case studies from the Permian Basin in Texas and two from Lula Field offshore Brazil and Agbami Field offshore Nigeria are examined considering scientific principles into practice to provide insights into best practices, lessons learned, and strategies to maximize the benefits derived from real noteworthy waterflood operations. The paper underscores the significance of rigorous reservoir characterization, including understanding reservoir architecture, heterogeneities, fracture networks, fluid communication pathways, and rock–fluid interactions. It emphasizes the crucial role of integrated multidisciplinary teams involving geologists, reservoir engineers, production engineers, and field operators in ensuring successful waterflood design, implementation, and optimization. Through the case studies, the paper highlights the importance of designing pattern configurations, well placements, and injection/production strategies to the specific reservoir characteristics, continually optimizing these elements based on surveillance data. It also stresses the necessity of comprehensive data acquisition, advanced analytics, numerical simulations, and frequent model updates for effective reservoir management and decision-making. The paper is impactful in terms of the lessons learned from the actual case studies, and how can these be implemented in actual field projects. Different case studies documented in the paper provide the challenges facing them and how different authors have addressed their problems in unique ways. The paper distills the information and important findings from a variety of case studies and provides succinct information that is of immense value as a reference. Important findings of these case studies are connected using creativity and are innovative as they introduce unique techniques and establish successful ideas to create new value in terms of maximizing oil recovery. Most importantly, this paper explores the application of innovative technologies, such as intelligent completions, 4D seismic monitoring, and water–alternating gas (WAG) injection, which can significantly improve waterflood performance in complex carbonate reservoirs. In summary, the paper provides a thorough understanding of the factors contributing to the success and failure of waterfloods in carbonate reservoirs through case studies based on factually and technically sound operations. It documents guidelines for optimizing waterflood performance and reducing or eliminating the potential for failures, reinforcing positive results in these challenging yet invaluable hydrocarbon resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper summarises the evolution of the Water Poverty Index (WPI) application at different scales since its emergence. The review captures the main milestones and remarkable developments around the world. It sets the foundation for identifying the most appropriate version of the WPI, building on learning from previous versions. In addition, the paper sheds light on the linkages between the WPI and sustainable development goals and applications to fragile contexts. Therefore, it provides a synthesis of knowledge researchers and practitioners' need in sustainable water resources management that helps boost human development in unstable/fragile arid and semi-arid contexts. The methodology included (i) WPI literature shortlisting and reviewing, (ii) review literature links WPI with sustainable human development and fragility, and (iii) data analysis, identification of gaps and future trends. Intensive research was found to address the limitations of the WPI. However, further research is needed to shortlist the multiple versions of the WPI and match them to their respective scale, purpose and context (including fragile contexts). In addition, a time-based WPI was rarely touched to forecast the impact of decisions on community welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]