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Access to clean drinking water is a fundamental human right, yet many urban and peri-urban areas struggle to provide this service. While rural water access has improved, urban areas face stagnation or declining access to safe water services due to rapid urbanization, environmental changes, and social disparities. With urban populations in the global South expected to double and concerns about water quality from centralized systems in high-income countries, adaptable and resilient water service solutions are urgently needed. Decentralized systems are gaining attention for their adaptability, cost-effectiveness, and resilience, offering flexible alternatives to large treatment plants and aiming to provide safe, clean water at the household or community level. These systems improve local responsiveness, reduce inequalities, and enhance resilience by utilizing alternative water sources like rainwater harvesting. Innovative service delivery models are essential to bridge gaps, increase local responsiveness, and benefit vulnerable groups. Business model innovation is crucial for adopting and sustaining decentralized water technologies, especially in urban and developing contexts. Private companies are increasingly stepping in to provide decentralized drinking water services, often in partnership with government-led projects or community-managed initiatives, filling gaps where public institutions fall short. This thesis investigates private entities as viable alternatives for decentralized drinking water service provision, considering the complex landscape of urban water provision and the challenges centralized systems face. Using a mixed-methods approach, including a systematic literature review and interviews with eight organizations, the study explores how private companies operate and engage with communities to improve water services. Findings show that private companies use innovative business models, such as Social Enterprise and Product-Service System Models, to bal

This research paper explores the advancements, applications, challenges, and future trends in the integration of remote sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) technologies for groundwater monitoring. The significance of groundwater monitoring is highlighted, emphasizing the role of remote sensing and GIS as powerful tools in understanding and managing groundwater resources. The paper provides a comprehensive overview of traditional monitoring methods, their limitations, and the need for technological advancements. The section on remote sensing techniques details the applications of satellite imagery, aerial photography, and LiDAR in groundwater monitoring, emphasizing advantages such as large-scale coverage and real-time data acquisition. The subsequent discussion on GIS applications explores spatial analysis, visualization, and decision support systems, showcasing the diverse ways GIS enhances groundwater management. The integration of remote sensing and GIS is examined through case studies, illustrating successful projects in different regions of the world. These case studies demonstrate the synergies between technologies and their impacts on sustainable groundwater management. The paper addresses challenges associated with remote sensing and GIS, including spatial and temporal limitations, data accuracy, and cost constraints. Solutions and areas for improvement are proposed, underscoring the need for ongoing research and interdisciplinary collaboration. The discussion on data processing and modeling emphasizes methods for accurate groundwater assessments, aquifer characterization, and the role of machine learning and artificial intelligence. Several case studies illustrate successful applications of these methodologies in real-world projects. The paper concludes by highlighting emerging technologies and trends, including improved satellite sensors, SAR technology, hyperspectral imaging, UAVs, LiDAR advancements, and the growing role of machine learning a

This research paper addresses the pressing issue of water scarcity in Solapur district, an arid region facing recurrent droughts. The study explores the importance of water harvesting as a sustainable solution to mitigate the impact of drought. Various water harvesting techniques, including rooftop rainwater harvesting, check dams, contour trenching, percolation pits, and farm ponds, are discussed in detail. These techniques are evaluated for their applicability to Solapur's unique geographical and climatic conditions. The research emphasizes the critical role of water harvesting in improving water availability, sustaining agriculture, and enhancing community resilience. By presenting case studies and successful examples, the paper provides practical insights that can guide policymakers, local authorities, and communities in implementing effective water harvesting projects. The findings of this study contribute to the broader discourse on sustainable water management and hold significance for regions facing similar water challenges worldwide.

Any student studying pharmaceutical science or working in the field should own Industrial Pharmacy. The book enhances the employability and knowledge of pharmacy graduates by providing insightful information on the creation of stable, safe, and effective drug products.The fundamentals of preformulation and creating stable, secure, and efficient formulations are covered in the book. It also covers a thorough understanding of the formulation and assessment of the most widely used and well-liked dosage forms, including tablets, capsules, parenterals, ophthalmic, suspension, and emulsion. It also includes easy-to-read information on aerosols, pharmaceutical packaging, and cosmetics. Every topic offered includes helpful links for additional reading so that the subject can be explored in more detail.The major goal of the efforts has been to enable B. Pharm students to comprehend the fundamentals of designing dosage forms, including the information that must be obtained beforehand, storage, stability, and evaluation criteria in order to produce a dosage form that is stable, safe, and effective.One of the most worthwhile industries to work in right now is industrial pharmacy, given our society's constant need to discover cures for ailments and create products that help create a better, safer, and healthier tomorrow. Research, production, marketing, distribution, and quality control are all part of the industrial pharmacy process. Future demand for this field and its rising popularity would both be influenced by emerging technologies.

As the capital of Peru and one of the largest metropolises in South America, Lima's rapid development has attracted worldwide attention. In recent years, the water crisis has become a pressing problem as people flock to Lima with a thirst for opportunity. Lima is located in a coastal desert area on the Pacific coast, backed by the Andes Mountains, a unique natural condition that has resulted in the formation of this 'city without rain'. The 1,2 million residents of the city obtain their daily water supply from water trucks and water tanks. However, seasonal flooding accompanies the dearth of water. The abundance of water in the Andes does not appear to alleviate Lima's water crisis; rather, the three principal rivers that originate in the Andes, Chillón, Rímac and Lurín, are always accompanied by flooding as summer approaches. At the same time, along with the unequal distribution of water resources and water pollution, residents in large cities have developed a very negative attitude towards water. In contrast, Huamantanga, located in the Andean highlands, still relies on natural groundwater recharge systems and traditional man-made water systems. However, these systems have suffered damage due to climate change and mismanagement. At the same time, for the town's residents, a single mode of production has caused population loss and the devaluation of traditional water-related practices. The graduation project proposes landscape interventions as a means of water system restoration. From the Andean highlands to the lower Chillón River, Huamantanga and Lima have the opportunity to be connected through the restoration of the water system, thus helping to alleviate Lima's water crisis. The different communities through which the water system flows are also viewed as stakeholders in sustainable water management, and the project will provide multiple environmental, social, and spiritual improvements to their water-related lives. The desi, Architecture, Urbanism and Building Sciences | Landscape Architecture

Objectives: Kiambang (Salvinia molesta), a natural aquatic plant, is tested for its ability to improve water quality in three post-coal mine ponds in South Kalimantan, Indonesia: Pond A (Satui), Pond B (Jorong), and Pond C (Angsana). Kiambang's ability to remediate dissolved nutrients and contaminants is the main goal. Theoretical Framework: Using kiambang's ability to absorb dissolved elements and contaminants, the study follows phytoremediation principles. Previous research has shown its promise in many settings, but applying it to South Kalimantan post-coal mine ponds is challenging. Method: A completely randomized controlled experiment with five treatments and a control group was conducted. Water quality measures like dissolved nutrients, heavy metals, and pollutants were measured before and after seven days. We used advanced testing equipment to verify accuracy. Results and conclusion: Kiambang-treated ponds have consistently better water quality. The plant greatly reduced dissolved nutrients, heavy metals, and contaminants. ANOVA analysis verified the significance of these differences (p < 0.05). Kiambang shows potential in phytoremediation, a sustainable and eco-friendly solution to post-coal mining pond water quality issues. Nature-based initiatives are crucial in coal-mining regions, according to the study. Implications of the research: Environmental conservation, sustainable resource use, and ecological applications are affected by this research. Kiambang's water quality management potential benefits post-coal mining ponds, aquatic ecosystems, wetlands, and aquaculture systems. This work enables future research and collaboration to use kiambang in varied environments.

Stormwater biofilters are low-impact development systems that are typically designed to quickly remove stormwater from surfaces for flood control with limited capacity to remove dissolved pollutants. Although certain amendments such as biochar, iron filings, and compost are added to biofilters to increase removal of pollutants, their pollutant removal capacity is unreliable due to various reasons including variable removal capacity of adsorbent media, exhaustion of adsorption sites, and environmental conditions. Adsorbed pollutants accumulate in the biofilter media and reduce the further removal of pollutants in stormwater. Replacement of exhausted biofilter media is cost-prohibitive. An alternate strategy is in-situ regeneration of the biofilters as a non-intrusive method to replenish exhausted biofilter media. This dissertation aims to improve the understanding of the fate and transport of emerging pollutants such as perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and legacy pollutants such as heavy metals and pathogens in subsurface systems and use the improved understanding to develop methods to artificially or naturally regenerate the pollutant removal capacity of filter media to limit their exhaustion rate in stormwater biofilters.The dissertation consists of 5 research chapters. Chapter 2 critically examines the PFAS concentrations in suspended particles or colloids in the environment and shows that the suspended particles can adsorb and transport significant amounts of PFAS in surface water, subsurface soil, and even air. Chapter 3 proves that the fluctuations in groundwater flow can release colloids from PFAS-contaminated aquifer soil, which can carry PFAS. Therefore, removing soil colloids from groundwater samples through filtration or centrifugation can underestimate the PFAS concentration in groundwater. Chapter 4 examines the role of weathering cycles in the transport of PFAS in the subsurface and shows that dry-wet and freeze-thaw cycles can increase the release of c

Representatives from 14 countries worldwide worked together on improving their monitoring and ultimately their water management to reach the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 goals by 2030, thereby testing the Information Strategy Model (ISM). This model is developed to support identifying the need for information for water management. In a workshop setting, participants were instructed and subsequently developed the ISM for their own situation. The results show that the ISM fulfils its task of structuring the development and improvement of a monitoring network, but can be enhanced by adding detailed information for specific elements and needs explanation and assistance to be of use., Water Resources

Water is essential for life on earth. Human society is challenged to sustain sufficient water quantity of good quality. This objective is reflected in sustainable development goal 6, “clean water and sanitation”. Water monitoring is part of sustainable water management and aims to evaluate the physical, chemical and biological status of a water body. Regular monitoring in the catchment area of Indalsälven (Sweden) is conducted by the Indalsälven Water Conservation Association (IWCA). In this area counts of Escherichia coli (E. coli) between 0 and 500 colony forming units (CFU) were monitored from 1993 – 2022 at the closest monitoring station Enkroken. This implies that drinking water quality standards were exceeded during many occasions (≥10 E. coli CFU/100ml). It is known that survival of E. coli in aquatic environments is dependent on nutrient levels, turbidity, sedimentation, pH level, predation, microbial community composition, temperature, and solar radiation. Low water depth and clear water with poor nutrient level in Enan and Handölan, tributaries to Indalsälven, are believed to cause solar radiation to be the main driver for inactivation of E. coli. Inactivation behaviour of indicator bacteria for faecal contamination such as E. col, is assumed to reflect on other bacteria that were excreted in the same way. The objective of the research was to investigate to which extent river color and river depth under the influence of sunlight affected E. coli inactivation in pristine like conditions such as the upper catchment area of Indalsälven. In this study, conditions from the research area were mimicked in 4 laboratory experiments. Results showed that neither 10 nor 35µW/cm2 led to additional inactivation due to sunlight. In a following experiment the liquid depth was reduced, with as a result that the inactivation of bacteria started to be influenced by sunlight when the depth was reduced to 14.4cm or lower. A fourth experiment was conducted at 14.4cm depth and a, 2022-06-19

Irrigation is vital in Bangladesh in order to meet the growing food demand as a result of the increasing population. During the dry season, groundwater irrigation is the main source of water for agriculture. However, excessive abstraction of groundwater for irrigation causes groundwater level depletion. At the same time, the loss from excessive irrigation could end up contributing to aquifer recharge as return flow. Therefore, investigating the influence of irrigation on groundwater is important for the sustainable management of this resource. This study aims to assess the impact of irrigation on groundwater recharge in the northwest Rajshahi district in Bangladesh. A semi-physically based water balance model was used to simulate spatially distributed groundwater recharge with two scenarios (with and without irrigation). To evaluate the effect of irrigation, groundwater recharges from these two scenarios were compared. The result showed that the use of groundwater for irrigation increased over the study period whereas, there was a persistent trend of decrease in groundwater level during the study period. Groundwater provides 91% of overall irrigation in the study area. However, on average, about 33% of the total irrigation becomes return flow and contributes to groundwater recharge in the dry season. Irrigation return flow is around 98% of the total recharge during the dry season in this region. The spatially distributed seasonal return flow varies from 305 to 401 mm. In brief, irrigation has a significant role in groundwater recharge in the study area during the dry season. Hence, proper irrigation water measurement and management are necessary for sustainable groundwater resource management in this region.

Urbanization alters hydrological processes and is often associated with increasing flood risks, which threaten human wellbeing and social and economic development. The conventional paradigm of flood protection relying on structural measures based on hard engineering solutions (e.g., dams, piped systems) has proven insufficient to mitigate floods. Sustainable water management, including solutions to enhance natural processes within urban areas, is a promising approach to enhance flood resilience and address the multiple sustainability challenges faced by cities. However, implementation of solutions based on mimicking natural processes has been slow. Mainstreaming of urban sustainable flood management is inhibited by governance aspects (e.g., limited collaborative governance), and knowledge gaps on effectiveness compared with conventional engineering approaches. The increasing flood hazards driven by growing urban populations and climate change projections of increasing frequency and intensity of large precipitation events demand improvements in spatial planning. This also provides opportunities for sustainable water management mainstreaming in order to complement the relatively limited drainage capacity of conventional systems., QC 20230614

Water scarcity is one of the main challenges facing countries in arid or semi-arid zones. As an example, Egypt needs to deal with both insufficient quantity and quality of water for residents. Here, we propose actions and policies to promote an integrated water management approach to respond to water challenges in Egypt. Based on a literature review, we have selected a set of criteria concerning the environmental, economic, social, governmental, and physical dimensions of urban water management. We studied approaches from Peru, Namibia, and South Australia as these countries have similar climatic conditions and water issues and have made substantial advances toward sustainable water management. Key criteria are state or municipal ownership of water and related infrastructure, agreement on master plans for sustainable water management, improvement of water sanitation and overall infrastructure, and reduction of water demand. Participatory, and educational campaigns put water issues at the center of public debates. We evaluated which elements of water management approaches can be adapted and used in Egypt, which faces limited freshwater resources, and which faces a highly increasing population. Proposed actions included directing water fees to ecosystem projects, treatment of wastewater to be potable, participatory approaches that engage the community in water management, educational campaigns that lead to change of public perception and knowledge dissemination. We interviewed key stakeholders in the water sector in Egypt to validate our proposed approaches. The stakeholders supported knowledge dissemination, suggested using water fees in implementing environmental projects and criticized converting wastewater into drinking water. Finally, we drafted specific recommendations at the organizational and urban levels of water management. We recommended establishing a General Organization for Water Management to oversee water-related organizations and ministries. We also r, Peer Reviewed

The naturally oligotrophic rivers in Northern Sweden are generally characterized by a low pollution level. However, an increasing trend in E. coli contamination has been observed in the most upstream catchment area of one of the large rivers of Norhtern Sweden. This decrease in microbial water quality will have a severe negative impact on the ecosystem, wild animals, visitors, inhabitants as well as indigenous people dependent on the land for their daily income, such as Sami herders. The source area of river Indalsälven is part of a very remote, mountainous region with few roads, which makes it challenging to conduct regular water quality monitoring covering the whole area of ±780km2. The aim is to evaluate and implement monitoring tools that are more environmentally friendly and faster than the currently applied methods which can be implemented as an early warning system for fecal contamination in remote mountain areas. Currently, the presence of fecal contamination in Indalsälven´s catchment area is assessed by strategic river-side water sampling, followed by long transport times and laboratory analysis of fecal indicator organisms such as E. coli. The use of drones for water sampling could significantly increase the accessibility and coverage of the research area. Also, analysis time can drastically decrease by doing field analysis of the water samples, e.g. by performing a field-PCR for the detection and quantification of E. coli. On the other hand, the monitoring of proxies for fecal contamination can also be a promising approach for continuous monitoring and the development of an early warning system. Our previous research has shown that river flow rate and river color are potential parameters for this. Continuous measurement of these parameters at well-chosen locations or remote imaging by drones over the whole research area are proposed to investigate this track., ECWA-NOR

Irrigation is vital in Bangladesh in order to meet the growing food demand as a result of the increasing population. During the dry season, groundwater irrigation is the main source of water for agriculture. However, excessive abstraction of groundwater for irrigation causes groundwater level depletion. At the same time, the loss from excessive irrigation could end up contributing to aquifer recharge as return flow. Therefore, investigating the influence of irrigation on groundwater is important for the sustainable management of this resource. This study aims to assess the impact of irrigation on groundwater recharge in the northwest Rajshahi district in Bangladesh. A semi-physically based water balance model was used to simulate spatially distributed groundwater recharge with two scenarios (with and without irrigation). To evaluate the effect of irrigation, groundwater recharges from these two scenarios were compared. The result showed that the use of groundwater for irrigation increased over the study period whereas, there was a persistent trend of decrease in groundwater level during the study period. Groundwater provides 91% of overall irrigation in the study area. However, on average, about 33% of the total irrigation becomes return flow and contributes to groundwater recharge in the dry season. Irrigation return flow is around 98% of the total recharge during the dry season in this region. The spatially distributed seasonal return flow varies from 305 to 401 mm. In brief, irrigation has a significant role in groundwater recharge in the study area during the dry season. Hence, proper irrigation water measurement and management are necessary for sustainable groundwater resource management in this region.

Increasing pollution levels in waters from remote mountain areas in northern Sweden have been observed. To support a sustainable water quality management, it is necessary to know which environmental and antrophogenic factors influence the water quality. The purpose of this study was to map the Escherichia coli prevalence in the catchment area of the upper part of a large northern Scandinavian river and investigate the controlling factors of microbial contamination. A total of 112 water samples were collected from various locations in the research area between July 2020 and December 2020. These samples were analyzed for microbial and chemical characteristics, and information about tourism and reindeer herding was compiled. Additionally, microbial and physicochemical water characteristics collected by Indalsälven Water Conservation Association (IWCA, 1993–2020) and Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI, 2004–2020) were analyzed. The results showed that E. coli enumerations ranged between 0 and 500 CFU/100 ml. There was generally no obvious relation between suspected point sources, e.g., sewage treatment plants at mountain stations, and E. coli levels at downstream sampling points. Principal component analysis showed that E. coli was correlated to coliforms, total heterotrophic count, river discharge, CODMn and river color. Since microbial analyses are time-consuming, expensive and difficult to perform in remote areas, it is important to find more easily extracted water parameters that can serve as a proxy for E. coli. In particular, river color and discharge are promising parameters that may serve as an early indication of bacterial outbreak and fecal contamination in mountain waters., ECWA-NOR

[ES] Actualmente, en España, las tarifas del agua contemplan únicamente los costes asociados al mantenimiento de la red, dejando de lado los costes de inversión en la instalación para la renovación de las infraestructuras. El presente documento recoge una metodología para la recuperación de todos los costes anuales de la red de distribución de agua, en base a la definición de los costes operacionales y de inversión de la instalación, con el fin de asegurar un servicio de calidad y un uso eficiente del agua., [EN] Nowadays, in Spain, water tariffs only include the costs associated with the maintenance of the network, leaving aside the investment costs in the installation for the renewal of infrastructures. This document includes a methodology for the recovery of all the annual costs of the water distribution network, based on the definition of the operational and investment costs of the installation, in order to ensure a quality service and an efficient use of water.

Operational management of agricultural water based on an economic perspective was investigated as a sustainable approach in water shortage periods. Accordingly, an automatic water distribution system was coupled with the Positive Mathematical Programming economic model for a sustainable agricultural water operation in the Roodasht irrigation network, Iran. Operational management was carried out based on the economic value of water in each irrigated unit. According to the results, the existing operating system was able to supply 71 and 22% of farmers' water requirements under normal and water shortage conditions, respectively. However, employing the proposed automated operational-economic approach reduced water consumption by 14.3%, while maintaining the cultivation area by 11% and increasing farmers' net profit to 840,000 USD under water scarcity. The economic operation can reduce water losses, implement economic strategies in those districts without water marketing mechanisms, and provide sustainable management of limited water resources in hyper-arid regions.

Nature-based solutions (NBS) are increasingly reckoned as viable solutions to address water related societal challenges and as a sustainable strategic approach to manage water in terms of quality, quantity and flow. NATWIP, an EU-Cooperation Water-JPI Project, within which this abstract is produced, aims to contribute to closing the water cycle gap by exploring these questions in the peri-urban context, being transitional zones in the process of increasing urbanization. An assessment framework has been developed in NATWIP as a tool to analyze the contextual factors and driving forces, governance processes and the sustainability criteria of NBS projects in the peri-urban context of 6 countries in Europe and outside. This presentation will focus on the findings from two case studies conducted in Stockholm County, Sweden that apply varied types of NBS interventions at different scales and to deal with different water challenges. The first case explores NBS application at decentralized scale as a means for improving wastewater treatment and management in Stockholm Archipelago and its environmental impact on the Baltic Sea, where many of the summerhouses lie outside the municipal network. The second case addresses various water pressures including climate change impacts and flooding at the sub-urban scale with the aim of planning an urban district that integrate spatially ambitious NBS in the form of blue-green structures for multifunctional urban spaces and improving ecosystem services. The findings of the case studies will be presented to draw parallels and contrasts regarding their contexts, and the processes and socioeconomic and environmental benefits concerning NBS and to conclude on general lessons regarding opportunities and constraints for sustainable up-taking of NBS measures.

This paper investigates empirically the reasons for delays in the payment of clean water invoice in Algeria. Using a data set of 27,363 households connected to the water services network and a small-sample survey of 172 household, we estimate several duration models to better understand the main determinants of water invoice time to payment. The delayed payment of water bills could be explained by three determinants: the household financial constraints, the quality of the public service provided, and disincentives through increasing water tariff structure, which is used to manage sustainably the demand for water. This study calls for a modification in the tariff structure to promote equity and water resource protection. It also suggests providing additional efforts to improve the quality of the public water service offered.

Nature-based solutions (NBS) are defined by the European Commission as “actions that are inspired by, supported by, or copied from nature…” and that solve societal challenges and multiple benefits. As a result, NBS are often promoted as alternative responses that solve complex societal challenges such as watershed management, while delivering a systemic approach of multiple benefits for well-being, human health, and sustainable use of resources. Despite rising interest in NBS, further identification of experiences implementing NBS could advance our understanding of the operationalization of this comprehensive concept. For this purpose, we analyzed 35 peer-reviewed articles on implementation experiences of NBS for water management in peri-urban areas, on aspects related to (i) NBS problem–solution: water challenges, ecosystem services, scales, and types; (ii) NBS governance and management. From the insights of the analysis, this paper asks what lessons are learned, and which barriers are identified, from implementing NBS for water management in peri-urban areas? As a result, this study presents a detailed analysis of each aspect. We conclude by highlighting accountancy, monitoring, and communication as potential success factors for integration and development while diminishing the overall barrier of complexity, which leads to technical, institutional, economic, and social uncertainty., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (published version)

Ensuring water and food security in the Anthropocene requires an understanding of combined climate change patterns and land and water management options from local to global scale. In many regions, irrigation from river and groundwater sources is being used at unsustainable rates and climate change will further threaten those water sources. Optimizing the use of precipitation in agricultural water management becomes a necessary improvement to adopt at larger scales, especially in vast rainfed arid and semi-arid regions where it represents the only source of water. This thesis explores the patterns of change in hydroclimate and the land and water management options to provide guidance to scale-out sustainable agricultural practices. In particular, this thesis focuses on where and to what extent practices related to water harvesting can represent a sustainable agricultural innovation to cope with climate change with a social-ecological lens. It also provides a simple data-driven methodological approach that can be replicated and adapted at different spatial scales to be used as a policy-guiding tool to spread water harvesting implementations. In the first manuscript focused on Africa (Africa manuscript), I investigate the projected impact of climate change on the water cycle based on the main hydroclimatic parameters of precipitation, evapotranspiration, runoff and soil moisture and two hydroclimatic indices; the aridity index and the evaporative ratio. The manuscript identifies continent-wide patterns in hydroclimatic change that are found to be consistent between the two representative climate change scenario corresponding to the Paris agreement and the business as usual, respectively. The manuscript not only highlights the importance of pursuing the climate policies to increase adaptation to future hydroclimatic change, but also suggests the urgency to implement sustainable land and water management practices (e.g. water harvesting) to make the best use of water re

Water scarcity is increasingly staking a claim next to energy as a threat to the sustainability of large cities, especially in developing countries with limited resources. The recent crisis brought on by Cape Town’s “Day Zero” drought created the impetus to expand on existing research on water demand management to include analysis of school usage patterns and key determinants thereof. With the effects of apartheid still visible in society and in school infrastructure coupled with the high water usage rates at schools, this paper evaluates the impact of school affluence (whether it is fee-paying or not, and self-governing or not) on water usage. We find that poor schools use substantially more water, partially because of poor maintenance, with mean water efficiencies of poor schools around 50% and 80% for affluent schools. Bayesian models were used to further determine which characteristics of a school are good proxies for the higher usage to help administrators and policy makers in the resource constrained educational environment. In addition to the obvious detrimental impact of poor maintenance, the results also point an incriminatory finger at early morning-school usage, early afternoon usage, and Saturday usage.

The social and environmental impacts associated with corporate water use and discharge in Kazakhstan is historically high, and in certain watershed pose a significant threat to the health of the local communities and ecosystems. Today the industries are consuming almost a third of freshwater and remain one of the biggest polluters in the country. The situation is aggravated with the changing climatic conditions, economic and population growth. Thus, the possibilities to enhance the environmental responsibility of the private sector are appeared to be essential to achieve sustainable water management. Yet, it is not known, to which extent the private sector is involved in this process. Based on the identified gap in knowledge, this research focused on two goals, formulated as: 1) Define the level of engagement of the private sector in Kazakhstan in sustainable water management; 2) Document the driving forces and barriers that determined the current level of business engagement in the country. Research questions were built to correspond to the overarching research goal and were approached through the five case studies on the ‘water role’ of the private companies from fuel, mining and chemical industries in different regions of Kazakhstan; but also through a range of expert interviews and a literature review on relevant topics. The inductive research design also included the analysis of the collected data through the ‘codes’ or ‘parameters’ that reflect different aspects of the notion of sustainable water management: operations, watershed improvements; stakeholders; local community; water policy; and transparency. The qualitative analysis of collected data revealed the following main findings: the case study companies are to a larger extent involved in the activities imposed by the regulation, while less intensively employ the voluntary water stewardship mechanisms. Thus, the engagement at the operational level is limited by the intentions to comply with the regulation

An increase in users’ online searches, the social concern for an efficient management of resources such as water, and the appearance of more and more digital platforms for sustainable purposes to conduct online searches lead us to reflect more on the users’ behavioral intention with respect to search engines that support sustainable projects like water management projects. Another issue to consider is the factors that determine the adoption of such search engines. In the present study, we aim to identify the factors that determine the intention to adopt a search engine, such as Lilo, that favors sustainable water management. To this end, a model based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) is proposed. The methodology used is the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analysis with the Analysis of Moment Structures (AMOS). The results demonstrate that individuals who intend to use a search engine are influenced by hedonic motivations, which drive their feeling of contentment with the search. Similarly, the success of search engines is found to be closely related to the ability a search engine grants to its users to generate a social or environmental impact, rather than users’ trust in what they do or in their results. However, according to our results, habit is also an important factor that has both a direct and an indirect impact on users’ behavioral intention to adopt different search engines.

Purpose: The purpose with this thesis is to identify the problems that these two municipalities, Jönköping and Borås, are facing in regard to sustainable development in the water infrastructure area and highlight the different strategies that the municipalities has developed to find solutions to these problems. Two municipalities have been chosen for this analyse, the municipalities of Borås and Jönköping, for the reason that they both have similar population but two different solutions in how the municipality water management is run. The questions that the thesis are built on is: 1) How do these two municipality work towards a sustainable development in water management? 2) What are these strategies based on? 3) How does the checklist for sustainable development been developed and how does it differ between the two municipalities? Method: The method of finding the answers to these questions is six qualitative interviews with people from both organizations with knowledge of the subject. Literature studies of the theories behind sustainable development in water infrastructure and analysing documents provided by the municipalities in order to scientifically back up the findings from the interviews. Findings: After analysing the collected data one can see that sustainability is already a part of water management in general but there is some focus areas that the organizations are working on with different tools which is presented in a checklist. Implications: There are three conclusions that could be made from this thesis, they are about legal requirements, technical development and sustainability index. Limitations: This thesis is of limited size and is therefore an overview of these organizations work towards sustainable development. The thesis does not bring up the political aspect and does not do a deeper analysis of the different aspects of water management. Keywords: sustainable development, sustainable water management, water management

Groundwater is a vital water supply worldwide for people and nature. However, species and ecosystems that depend on groundwater for some or all of their water needs, known as groundwater dependent ecosystems (GDEs), are increasingly becoming threatened worldwide due to growing human water demands. Over the past two decades, the protection and management of GDEs have been incorporated into several water management policy initiatives worldwide including jurisdictions within Australia, the European Union, South Africa, and the United States. Among these, Australia has implemented the most comprehensive framework to manage and protect GDEs through its water policy initiatives. Using a science-based approach, Australia has made good progress at reducing uncertainty when selecting management thresholds for GDEs in their water management plans. This has been achieved by incorporating appropriate metrics for GDEs into water monitoring programs so that information gathered over time can inform management decisions. This adaptive management approach is also accompanied by the application of the “Precautionary Principle” in cases where insufficient information on GDEs exist. Additionally, the integration of risk assessment into Australia's approach has enabled water managers to prioritize the most valuable and vulnerable ecologic assets necessary to manage GDEs under Australia's national sustainable water management legislation. The purpose of this paper is to: (1) compare existing global policy initiatives for the protection and management of GDEs; (2) synthesize Australia's adaptive management approach of GDEs in their state water plans; and (3) highlight opportunities and challenges of applying Australia's approach for managing GDEs under other water management policies worldwide.

La Sabana de Bogotá afronta el conflicto creciente entre el desarrollo urbano y un sistema de manejo de agua ineficiente. Ante esta contradicción, la investigación estudia cómo se pueden modificar las relaciones conflictivas entre la vivienda dirigida a sectores de bajos ingresos y el medio ambiente para crear una interacción constructiva. La necesidad incuestionable de construir vivienda social puede ser vista como un riesgo para el manejo sostenible de agua, pero también como una oportunidad única para proponer intervenciones espaciales estratégicas. El artículo presenta la investigación y diseño de dos secciones que atraviesan el Río Bogotá y están expuestas a la presión de desarrollo urbano. En cada sección, el diseño interviene el sistema hídrico para que resuelva problemas cuantitativos y cualitativos del agua y al mismo tiempo genere la estructura para nuevos tejidos de vivienda. La tesis tiene tres objetivos. Primero, presentar una aproximación crítica a las tendencias actuales de urbanización. Segundo, cuestionar los modelos de planeamiento actual basados en la distinción entre las áreas rurales y urbanas y el abandono de la conservación ambiental en el ámbito urbano. Finalmente, desarrollar nuevas tipologías urbanas que integren el manejo sostenible de agua. La hipótesis de la investigación es que, a través del diseño del sistema hídrico, las inversiones privadas y públicas se pueden dirigir para crear una estructura urbana pública, sostenible y resiliente a largo plazo., The Sabana de Bogotá is facing a continuously increasing conflict between urban development and a saturated water management system. The research investigates how current contested relations between lowincome housing and environmental stress can be converted into a constructive interplay. The unquestionable necessity of building new social housing can be seen as a major threat for sustainable water management but also as a unique opportunity to propose strategic spatial interventions. This paper present design investigations in two sections that cut across the Bogotá River and are undergoing development pressure. In each site the design proposes a water structure that solve qualitative and quantitative water issues while delivers a framework for new housing fabrics. The thesis has three objectives. First, to develop a critical approach to current development trends and to envision alternative development schemes for the region. Second, to challenge the current planning models based on the distinction of “urban” and “rural” areas and the abandonment of environmental conservation in the urban sphere. Finally, to develop new urban typologies that integrate sustainable water management. By designing the water system, public and private investment can be oriented towards a sustainable and resilience public structure in the long term.

This study aims to provide an opinion on the state-of-the-art of changes and reforms of water policies in South Korea, as well as the challenges along with their implications for sustainable water governance and management. In parallel with change in water resource characteristics generated by physical, environmental and socio-economic challenges such as: (1) uncertainties about climate change (flooding and drought) including seasonal and regional variation in precipitation; (2) significant increase in water use caused by rapid urbanization and population growth in industrialized urban areas; (3) inadequate water pricing mechanism which covers only around 80% of the production cost and makes it harder to maintain water systems; and (4) recursive water quality degradation and conflicts over water rights between regions resulting from non-point source pollution in highland versus lowland areas, Korean water policies have been developed through diverse reforms over 100 years. Nevertheless, new challenges for sustainable water management are continuously emerging. To meet those challenges we provide two ideas: (i) provider-gets-principle (payment for ecosystem services) of cost-benefit sharing among stakeholders who benefit from water use; and (ii) water pricing applying full-cost pricing-principle internalizing environmental externalities caused by the intensive water use. Funds secured from the application of those methods would facilitate: (1) support for upstream (rural) low income householders suffering from economic restrictions; (2) improvement in water facilities; and (3) efficient water use and demand management in South Korea's water sectors. We expect that this paper can examine the lessons relevant to challenges that South Korea faces and offer some implications on the formulation of new integration and further reforms of the institutions, laws and organizations responsible for managing water resources in South Korea. © 2017 by the authors.

In the densely populated coastal regions of the world, loss of groundwater due to seawater intrusion, driven by changes of climate, sea level, land use and water use, may critically impact many people. We analytically investigate and quantify the limits constraining a coastal aquifer's sustainable management space, in order to avoid critical loss of the coastal groundwater resource by seawater intrusion. Limiting conditions occur when the intrusion toe reaches the pumping wells, well intrusion, or the marine-side groundwater divide, complete intrusion; in both cases the limits are functions of the seaward groundwater flow remaining after the human groundwater extractions. The study presents a screening-level approach to the quantification of the key natural and human-determined controls and sustainability limits for the human use of coastal groundwater. The physical and geometrical characteristics of the coastal aquifer along with the natural conditions for recharge and replenishment of the coastal groundwater are the key natural controls of the sustainable management space for the latter. The groundwater pumping rates and locations are the key human-determined controls of this space. The present approach to combining and accounting for both of these types of controls is simple, yet general. The approach is applicable across different scales and regions, and for historic, current and projected future conditions of changing hydro-climate, sea level, and human freshwater use. The use of this approach is also concretely demonstrated for the natural and human-determined controls and limits of the sustainable management space for two specific Mediterranean aquifers.

The study explores access to water supply system of tea pickers in six tea estates of Sylhet division of Bangladesh—Malnichhera, Lackaturah, Keramotnagor, Balishera, Kalagul and Rashidpur. Drawing upon a systematic set of semi-structured interviews and cross-sectional data collected randomly from 300 tea pickers, the study considers men and women’s access to (un)safe water by addressing their sources of both drinking and using water for daily usages and the distances from home to sources by including their concern about safe water and its related diseases.

En la actualidad Bogotá afronta la presión de construir viviendas sociales en ecosistemas frágiles, áreas rurales o zonas propensas a las inundaciones, y al mismo tiempo proteger estas áreas para asegurar la capacidad de resiliencia del medio ambiente. Ante esta contradicción, la pregunta de investigación es: ¿Cómo se pueden modificar las tendencias de urbanización para crear una interacción que favorezca el manejo sustentable del agua? Con el fin de responder esta pregunta ésta comunicación presenta un análisis histórico de planes de alcantarillado y control hidráulico desarrollados desde 1990, junto con una revisión de proyectos de vivienda social representativos, e investiga la interacción entre estos dos campos. El análisis permite definir diferentes etapas en la transformación física del sistema hídrico que se basan en los cambios universales de paradigma en la gestión del agua e ilustra diferentes construcciones socio-culturales en torno a la naturaleza, además analiza la producción de vivienda en relación a la transformación del sistema hídrico., Currently, Bogotá faces the pressure to continue to urbanize fragile ecosystems, rural lands and flood prone areas with low-cost housing projects and simultaneously protect these areas to ensure environmental resilience. Given this contradiction, the question is how urbanization trends could be reversed into a constructive interplay with a revised water management? In order to that, this paper provides an historical analysis of representative water infrastructure projects, urban plans and housing projects in Bogotá developed after 1900 and investigates the interplays between this two realms. The analysis allows to define different stages in the physical transformation of the water system that are based on universal paradigm shifts in water management and illustrates different socio-cultural constructions around nature. It also analysis the production of social housing in relation to the water system transformation.

Water irrigation systems are required to provide adequate pressure levels in any sort of network. Quite frequently, this requirement is achieved by using pressure reducing valves (PRVs). Nevertheless, the possibility of using hydraulic machines to recover energy instead of PRVs could reduce the energy footprint of the whole system. In this research, a new methodology is proposed to help water managers quantify the potential energy recovering of an irrigation water network with adequate conditions of topographies distribution. EPANET has been used to create a model based on probabilities of irrigation and flow distribution in real networks. Knowledge of the flows and pressures in the network is necessary to perform an analysis of economic viability. Using the proposed methodology, a case study has been analyzed in a typical Mediterranean region and the potential available energy has been estimated. The study quantifies the theoretical energy recoverable if hydraulic machines were installed in the network. Particularly, the maximum energy potentially recovered in the system has been estimated up to 188.23 MWh/year) with a potential saving of non-renewable energy resources (coal and gas) of CO2 137.4 t/year.

In this thesis, the decision analysis process of investigating the best optimal strategy for Tehran water management in 2021 is described. Such process is normally divided into four steps including: structuring the problem; identifying feasible strategies, their impact and uncertainty; quantifying preferences; and evaluation of countermeasures and sensitivity analysis. Here, in order to structure the problem, the characteristics of Tehran with respect to water issues and its history of water management are reviewed. The state of surface waters and ground waters and a description of Tehran plan for waste water treatment are given, the most significant constraints of Tehran water sector are classified and the challenges of climate change and variability are explained. The feasible adaptation strategies are designed subsequently based on that classification, data extracted from a survey and a number of interviews with water officials and managers and ordinary citizens in Tehran. Each strategy contains a series of separate measures with different weights. The phase of quantifying preferences and elucidating utility functions is conducted based on the data available from previous studies and also the current survey. The measures include: installing water saving devices, awareness raising to change citizens’ water consumption pattern, adding new sources of surface water, investing on waste water utilization, migration control and repairing water distribution network.Different combinations of these measures provide different possibilities for formulating adaptation strategies. We compare two more discussed adaptation strategies of the spectrum of strategies; one is inclined toward exploiting more water resources while the other one is more focused on demand management. The former is mainly supported by water officials and the latter advocated by water experts we interviewed. The criteria of comparison are social acceptability, economic feasibility, time-efficiency and envi

Grey water reuse has attracted more and more attention among researchers and professionals in recent years. As most of the Chinese cities are undergoing the process of fast urbanization and economic development, many water-related problems have occurred and urban water resources management has become a strategic issue. The urge to reconsider the conventional ways of utilizing water and discharging the wastewater in cities is calling. As a relatively simple and flexible way, decentralized grey water reuse system can help to make the first step in achieving a sustainable urban water management. However, whether it is feasible in China is still a question. This paper aims at looking for the answer based on a survey and interviews with professionals in the fields from different Chinese cities. The result shows “reuse” as one of the solutions of solving water shortage and achieving sustainable water management is not as simple as one may think. In general, decentralized urban grey water / wastewater reuse is not easy to flourish in China in the near future though most of the respondents hold a positive attitude about reuse itself. To explain this difference between attitude and actual planning we need more historical, political and social-economic understanding with a touch of “Chinese characteristics”.

Denna fältstudie kommer att undersöka betydelsen av regnvattenanvändning som vattenförsörjnings alternativ. Hur kan hållbara innovativa lösningar tas fram för att lösa vattenförsörjningen på Sri Lanka? Efter lidandet av mer än 30 års inbördeskrig och efter de omfattande skadorna från tsunamin 2004, står nu Sri Lanka inför många utmaningar rörande landets återuppbyggnad. Tillgången till vatten är den viktigaste grundläggande förutsättningen för ett fungerande samhälle. I landets torra zon är det långa perioder av torka då vattenkällor sinar och inget naturligt vatten finns att tillgå. Detta trots att det under monsunen kommer tillräckligt med regn för att täcka vattenbehovet om det skulle samlas på ett optimalt sätt. Avrinningskoefficienten är här mer än 60% outnyttjat regnvatten. I ett flertal lyckade projekt har man samlat regnvatten i RWH system för senare användning. Människor i dessa områden saknar kranvatten eftersom detta område ej är täckt av vattenförsörjningsnätet. Detta gör att dessa människor har en positiv inställning till att ha RWH system..I den våta zonen, och då speciellt i Colombos stadsmiljö som denna studie handlar om, är situationen annorlunda. Här har de flesta invånare kranvatten. Det kommunala kranvattnet är högt subventionerat av regeringen vilket gör att kostnaden är låg för användarna samt ökar vattenkonsumtionen. Invånarna känner inget ansvar för vattenresurserna eftersom den gemena uppfattningen är att det är en evig källa. Majoriteten av hushållen ser inget skäl till att installera RWH på grund av den låga lönsamheten. Trots att det finns ett förordnande att det ska ingå ett RWH system, så följs inte detta. Saknande av uppföljningsplikt anges som orsak av vatten styrelsen. Kostnaden för att behandla och leverera vatten till invånarna är väldigt hög och är mycket energi krävande. Det finns ett behov av enorma investeringar för att rusta upp och bygga ut både vattenverken och vattennätet för att klara av att möta det växande invånarantalet, The field study will investigate the importance of Rain Water Harvesting (RWH) as a water supply option. How can sustainable innovative solutions be developed to solve the water problem of Sri Lanka? Suffering from more than 30 years of civil war and damages after being struck by the tsunami 2004, Sri Lanka faces many challenges to recover and rebuilt the country. The access to water is the most important need for a civilization´s existence. In the dry zones of the island people suffer from long drought periods with dried up wells and no natural sources for water. However the rainfall during the monsoon, even in these areas, is more than enough to provide the water needs if properly collected, thus the run-off coefficient is more than 60%. Several projects with rain water harvesting in so called RWH systems have been implemented with success. Because these areas are not covered by the water supply net and therefore have no tap water, the people are very positive to having the RWH system. In the wet zones and especially in the urban environment of Colombo the situation is different. Here most of the people have treated pipe-borne tap water. The metered tap water is highly subsidized by the government which makes the cost low for the users and increases the water consumption. The citizens do not feel a responsibility to be careful with resources since the common opinion is that water is a never ending source. The majority of the households find no reasons for installing a RWH system because it´s low economic profits. Even if there is a legislation that demands all new buildings should have a RWH system not many households have installed these systems. However the cost to deliver and treat this water is very expensive for the government and demands a lot of energy. Huge investments need to be done in both the treatment plants and the pipe-line net to meet the growing population in Colombo area. Another problem is that 40% of the households today in Colombo have no sewa

The Lake Urmia positioned in a closed basin in north-west Iran, positioned at altitude 1250 m above the sea level, and has been rapidly drying since 1990. The lake water level has declined to 1271.58 m in 2008 from the last highest record 1277.80 m in 1994. The lake water volume has fluctuated during the observation period and shows a drop from of 32 to 14.5 million cubic meters, while the lake salinity has increased from 205 to 338 g/l due to the evaporation and water inflow reduction. In the Lake Urmia basin, there has been an increase in public awareness of the possible environmental threat and the unpleasant socio-economical consequences on the region’s inhabitants. The main aim of this study is to assess the current water use pattern in the Urmia Lake basin system with emphasis on the agricultural sub-system, and to propose adaptive measures and sustainable water management scenarios. The study shows that the main cause for these changes are the diversion of rivers and streams for agricultural irrigation; agriculture is a sector with one of the highest water demands, and frequent drought in early 2000s exacerbated the situation. In addition, a growing population and the increased development of agricultural land has led to an increase in unsustainable practices which have an unpredictable impact on the Lake Urmia ecosystem. This study investigates sustainable water use strategies for Lake Urmia basin, and considers economic and environmental factors, including the loss of valuable ecosystems that highlights social and ethical issues for the current and coming generations.

The purpose of this case study is to identify the driving forces that motivated various companies to implement sustainable water management (SWM) voluntary initiatives in four Latin American countries: Panama, Colombia, Ecuador and Brazil. Additionally, the case study explores opportunities on how strategic stakeholders, such as government institutions, NGOs, IGOs, financing institutions, and the companies themselves, can motivate the private sector to cooperate on water governance issues. The main data collection methods were semi-structured interviews and written questionnaires, which were used to consult with companies and strategic stakeholders. Both internal and external factors influenced the companies in this sample to participate in voluntary SWM initiatives. The most important driving forces included: upholding corporate values and commitments related to sustainable development; ensuring adequate availability, supply and quality of water for their operations; developing competitive advantage; reducing operational and production costs; preparing for stricter regulations; reducing potential conflicts with the communities where they operate and to communicate their environmentally responsible behavior to consumers, investors and other stakeholders. Strategic stakeholders can motivate companies to engage in SWM and governance issues by engaging them in multistakeholder platforms to support and oversee watershed stewardship, involving them in water related policy development and implementation, through incentive-based policies and mechanisms related to sustainable production, through lobbying campaigns, and by exchanging information about good SWM practices and tools.

The growing pressure on the world‘s fresh water resources is enforced by population growth that leads to conflicts between demands for different purposes. A main concern on water use is the conflict between the environment and other purposes like hydropower, irrigation for agriculture and domestic and industry water supply, where total flows are diverted without releasing water for ecological conservation. As a consequence, some of the common problems related to water faced by many countries are shortage, quality deterioration and flood impacts. Hence, utilization of integrated water resources management in a single system, which is built up by river basin, is an optimum way to handle the question of water. However, in many areas, when planning for balancing water demands major gaps exist on baseline knowledge of water resources. In order to bridge these gaps, hydro-logical models are among the available tools used to acquire adequate understanding of the characteristics of the river basin. Apart from forecasting and predicting the quantity and quality of water for decision makers, some models could also help in predicting the impacts of natural and anthropogenic changes on water resources and also in quantifying the spatial and temporal availability of the resources. However, main challenges lie in choosing and utilizing these models for a specific basin and managerial plan. In this study, an analysis of the different types of models and application of a selected model to characterize the Awash River basin, located in Ethiopia, is presented. The results from the modeling procedure and the performance of the model are discussed. The different possible sources of uncertainties in the modeling process are also discussed. The results indicate dissimilar predictions in using different methods; hence proper care must be taken in selecting and employing available methods for a specific watershed prior to presenting the results to decision makers., QC 20110516

This thesis tells a story of today, of Mexico City, and a plan for a desirable future for the Municipality of Valle de Chalco, an informal settlement affected by the metropolitan mismanagement of water resources. Today uneven developments dominate in Mexico City Metropolitan Area, a result of a Neoliberal urbanization process. The current urban reality is the result of the unbalanced power relations between the city makers that priorities the city core and the city dwellers that are pushed into urban poverty towards peripheral areas. Those areas are not perceived as part of the city and therefore experience water related problems: flooding and lack of basic services such as safe water supply and sanitation. The Neoliberal policies in the urban process had emphasized the class polarization of the citizens. Valle de Chalco Solidaridad at the south-east periphery of the city is a fine example of a marginalized society in struggle. Moreover, the rapid population growth has led human interventions to affect natural processes and contribute to the growing destruction of natural ecosystems. The story of the natural ecosystems coevolves with the story of the development of Mexico City’s settlement. The human story intersects with that of nature. Until today humans had gain at the expense of nature, which moves ineluctably towards ecological disequilibrium. Current risks of flooding and fresh water scarcity that Mexico City Metropolitan Area is facing will increase if the denial for interaction between the city and water continues. A city that once was an island in complete synergism with water needs to learn how to live with it again and create opportunities from the interaction with it. The desirable is a win-win situation in which harmony between humans and their natural environment is re-established., MSc Spatial Planning and Urban Design - [TISD] Technology in Sustainable Development Specialization, Urbanism, Architecture

The Aral Sea, located in a semi-arid environment, undergoes substantial annual (1200 mm/yr) and decadal lake-level fluctuations due to extreme seasonality in evaporation and precipitation along with steadily reduced river discharge. To trace the source of the lake water and understand the internal dynamics of the lake, we used oxygen and deuterium isotope composition of the lake water collected at different depths during spring and autumn from 2004 to 2006. We collected data from both the western (W) and eastern (E) basins of the Large Aral Sea as well as the channel connecting the two basins. The oxygen and hydrogen isotope ratios of the lake water vary widely (+ 4.6 to - 5.3‰ and - 48 to + 11‰, respectively). We further measured isotopic ratios of groundwater leakage near the shoreline of the W basin of the Large Aral Sea and released in an artesian well on the Kulandy Peninsula. These ratios range from - 16 to + 3.4‰ (d18O) and - 120 to + 2.2‰ (dD). The river water displays ratios of - 12‰ (d18O) and - 81.3‰ (dD). Precipitation from winter and early spring 2006 exhibit d18O values of - 14‰ (snow) and + 0.2‰ (rain) and dD values of - 97‰ (snow) and + 3.6‰ (rain). The oxygen and hydrogen isotope snapshots show that in addition to evaporation, groundwater effluent flows at different depths are major contributors to the lake in spring and autumn. The d-excess, ranging between - 25‰ (lake water) and + 10‰ (groundwater), further demonstrates the impact of both effluent groundwater and evaporation on the isotopic composition of the lake water. Thus, stable isotope ratios can provide a first insight into seasonally triggered hydrologic interactions in the western part of the endorheic Aral Sea region. Remote sensing studies prove that major groundwater leakage occurs along the entire shoreline, except for the western shore where spatial resolution was t

Physically decentralised water management systems may contribute to improving the sustainability of urban water management. Any shift toward decentralised systems needs to consider not just physical system design but also social values, knowledge frames, and organisations, and their interconnections to the physical technology.Four cases of recent Australian urban water management improvement projects were researched using qualitative methods. Three cases were of decentralised water management innovation. The other was of a centralised system, although decentralised options had been considered. These cases were studied to identify institutional barriers and enablers for the uptake of decentralised systems, and to better understand how emerging environmental engineering knowledge might be applied to overcome an implementation gap for decentralised urban water technologies.Analysis of each case focused on the institutional elements of urban water management, namely: the values, knowledge frames and organisational structures. These elements were identified through in-depth interviews, document review, and an on-line survey. The alignment of these elements was identified as being a significant contributor to the stability of centralised systems, or to change toward decentralised systems.A new organisational home for innovative knowledge was found to be common to each case where decentralised innovation occurred. ‘Institutional entrepreneurs’, strong stakeholder engagement, and inter-organisational networks were all found to be linked to the creation of shared meaning and legitimacy for organisational and technological change.Existing planning frameworks focus on expert justification for change rather than institutional support for change. Institutional factors include shared understandings, values and organisational frameworks, and the alignment of each factor. Principles for, and examples of, appropriate organisational design for enabling and managing decentra

Multi-actor initiatives aiming at environmental sustainability and social equity, face complex tensions between institutionalized decision-makers, backed up by expert knowledge, and communities with locally embedded knowledge and interests. Despite the importance given to community participation, successful experiences are limited in number, scope and duration. Experts are confronted with the paradox that they exclude local communities with the strategies and languages they use to include them. This study is based on the long-term experiences of the authors with a multi-actor initiative in Southern Ecuador on sustainable rural drinking water management. They were involved as actionresearchers, facilitating multiparty interactions and supporting reflective practice among the participants. The article shows how multiparty processes construct identities, workforms, structures and activities that cross the boundaries between communities of expert and indigenous practice, even in the exceptionally unequal conditions of the Andes, where inequalities between these communities are deeply rooted in history. Such transitions were taken as opportunities to look for common ground between different communities-of-practice whilst, at the same time, contradictions could come to the fore. As inequalities tend to be confirmed through interactions, not only inside but also outside the multi-actor initiative, they cannot be resolved definitively by a multiparty project. Under those circumstances a social constructionist approach, calling the attention to the constructed nature of mutual perceptions and relationships, was highly inspiring for the authors-facilitators to keep the reflection and dialogue among the participants in the process going-on.

Somerville, A., Baxter, G.S., Richardson, S., Wild, G. (2015). Sustainable water management at major Australian regional airports: The case of Mildura Airport in Aviation, 19(2), 83-89. Available here.

Rohde, M. M., Froend, R., & Howard, J. (2017). A Global Synthesis of Managing Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems Under Sustainable Groundwater Policy. Groundwater, 55(3), 293-301. Available here.