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Water resource modelling plays a crucial role in water resources management, but it involves many inherent uncertainties. This research investigates how epistemic uncertainties affect reservoir water budgets, projecting forward over a 30 year period using Monte Carlo simulation. It encompasses long-term variations in water demand, reservoir volume, precipitation, evaporation and inflow, while also considering siltation processes, reservoir dredging, population growth, reduced water consumption, and the hydrological impacts of climate change. The research focuses on fifty reservoirs in a semi-arid region of Brazil. The findings demonstrate that some reservoirs consistently met their demands with high level reliability, even within a wide range of uncertainty. Conversely, reservoirs with morphohydric indices indicating a tendency toward water scarcity are significantly affected by input variability introduced through uncertainty analysis. An empirical model is proposed to estimate the probability of these reservoirs achieving the reference volume reliability of 90%, while considering the uncertainties of: annual average inflow, reservoir maximum volume and annual demand. Sensitivity analysis reveals that reservoir inflow and demand are the two most influential variables affecting a reservoirs' ability to meet its demand. For over exploited reservoirs, variations in these variables strongly impact the volume reliability. This research provides a valuable tool for estimating the likelihood of reaching a 90% volume reliability, while taking into account the inherent uncertainties in the modeling process. Additionally, it identifies key variables that have the most influence on the reservoirs' ability to meet its demand. Notably, this study conducts uncertainty and sensitivity analyses in the context of physical and hydrological reservoir features for a large number of reservoirs, adding novelty to the research field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Questions: Plants largely vary in their capacity for foliar water uptake (FWU), that is, the capacity to increase leaf water content by directly absorbing water from leaf‐wetting events. Climate change will reduce leaf wetting and increase drought events. Therefore, we need a better understanding of the underlying traits and mechanisms that facilitate FWU. Location: Seasonally dry tropical montane grasslands in Brazil (Campos de Altitude). Methods: We measured FWU and leaf traits related to wettability, surface conductance, water potential and water storage on up to 55 plant species. By using Direct Acyclic Graph theory and Bayesian modelling, we tested how those leaf traits affect FWU. Results: We found that stomatal conductance largely explained interspecific variation in FWU, which was also favoured in species with hydrophilic leaves, high cuticular conductance, more negative leaf water potentials, low dry‐matter content, isohydric behaviour, and more elastic cell walls. Conclusions: Due to the existence of trade‐offs, not all species exhibit an optimal combination of traits that favours FWU. Instead, co‐occurring species have achieved a similar capacity for FWU through distinct trait combinations. Consequently, species engaged in FWU may exhibit differential vulnerabilities to climate change as they can cope with drought using other strategies beside FWU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential for potable water savings and the financial viability of a rainwater harvesting system in a private university building located in southern Brazil. The water end-uses were estimated based on answers about frequency and time of use of the water appliances. The rainwater tank and the financial viability analysis were assessed using the Netuno computer programme. The per capita water consumption was 5.38 L/person/day and the highest water end-use was observed for toilet flushing (51.9%). The potential for potable water savings ranged from 49.7% to 72.4%. The cost to implement the system was estimated at USD 25,730.78 and the payback period ranged from 8 to 9 years. The main conclusion is that rainwater harvesting in private university buildings in Brazil can be economically feasible even when the per capita water consumption is low, as total water consumption tends to be high. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban water consumption can be influenced by several factors and may have different patterns due to regional and local specificities. This research aims to determine the influence of climatic, geographic, demographic, economic, social and water-supply-service-related factors on the per capita water consumption in Brazil using a dataset with 1746 municipalities. For this purpose, a multiple linear regression model using log-transformed data was fitted. The results show that household income, water tariff, number of residents per household, temperature, percentage of households with washing machine, city population, gender, percentage of households with piped water and the municipality's GDP significantly influence urban water consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study seeks to analyze water consumption and promote water conservation measures in universities through a case study conducted at the University of Pernambuco, Brazil. The methodology consisted of collecting data on water consumption over six years, auditing plumbing fixtures, developing and applying questionnaires to evaluate water user behaviors, determining the technical and financial feasibility of replacing water appliances, and proposing indicators to diagnose and monitor the improvements made on campus, aiming at the sustainable use of water. The results showed that per capita water consumption could be reduced by more than 50% through accessible measures, such as daily consumption monitoring. By replacing faucets and toilets, 18% savings in monthly water consumption would also be possible. The User Perception Index estimated showed that water was still wastefully used in various activities, further demonstrating the importance of engaging the academic community regarding implementing a water conservation program on campus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal 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.)

This study presents the assessment of water scarcity associated with livestock production in a watershed in Southern Brazil where 115 farms (poultry, pig, and milk) are located. The methods, AWARE—available water remaining, and BWSI—blue water scarcity index, were applied monthly for the year 2018, and the characterization factors (CF) were regionalized into five scenarios evaluated by varying water availability and environmental water requirements. Livestock water consumption accounted for 94.1% of the total water consumed. Low water scarcity was observed in all scenarios (BWSI < 0). The highest CFAWARE was observed in scenario 3, ranging from 2.15 to 9.70 m3 world eq.m3, with higher water scarcity in summer. In the same scenario, pig production presented the highest annual average water scarcity footprint (WSF) of 90.3 m3 world eq./t carcass weight. Among milk production systems, pasture-based systems presented the highest annual average WSF of 52.7 m3 world eq./t fat protein corrected milk, surpassing semi-confined and confined systems by 12.4% and 3.5%, respectively. In scenario 3, poultry production presented an annual average WSF of 49.3 m3 world eq./t carcass weight. This study contributes knowledge to the livestock sector to perform the assessment of water scarcity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial resistance to antimicrobials is a global public health problem that surpasses the human context and can be increased by pollution. However, the lack of systematic monitoring of resistance in some aquatic matrices, such as tropical estuaries, makes it unknown whether its occurrence is associated with anthropogenic pollution in these environments. Therefore, we investigated the occurrence of extended‐spectrum beta‐lactamases (ESBLs) producing Escherichia coli as a resistance indicator for 12 consecutive months at three representative points of a pollution gradient in Guanabara Bay (GB), Brazil. Sixty‐six E. coli strains were selected from 72 samples of GB waters in the presence of ceftriaxone (8 μg mL−1) and identified by MALDI‐TOF MS. Of the 66, 55 (83.3%) strains were ESBL producers. They carried beta‐lactamase/ESBL genes, with the predominance of blaCTX‐M (54, 98.2%), especially the blaCTX‐M‐1,2 allele (49.1%). These strains were detected frequently (81.8%) from the point with the highest pollution levels. Furthermore, the marker for Class 1 integron, intI1 gene, was detected in 54.5% of ESBL producers. These data suggest an association between antimicrobial‐resistant E. coli and sewage pollution in aquatic environments raising concerns about the possible risks of human exposure to these waters and fish consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Central Amazonian rivers annually inundate farmland and expand aquatic habitats, making fish harder to catch. Little attention has been paid to date as to whether this hydrological regime impacts human dietary intakes, and, if so, whether impacts vary between communities in seasonally flooded (várzea) and non-flooded (terra firme) zones. To address this gap, we collected dietary data on over 8,000 meals in six várzea and three terra firme communities during the hydrological cycle, and calculated energy and macronutrient intake. Diets were dominated by fish (44%), the main source of protein and fat, and manioc flour (26%), the main source of energy and carbohydrates. Fish consumption fell as water levels rose. This resulted in reduced energy and macronutrient intake in the várzea, but not the terra firme, where wild meat and fruits helped maintain protein and fat intake, respectively. Our data demonstrate seasonal instability of dietary intake, with resilience provided by access to permanently unflooded land. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water is largely used in urban-environment human activities; thus, it is essential to properly understand consumption characteristics so that measures to ensure a more efficient use of water resources can be implemented. This study aims to evaluate how different factors impact water consumption in office buildings using longitudinal and cross-sectional approaches in a case study conducted in southern Brazil. Data from 53 offices were used to build statistical water consumption models using the multiple linear regression method. In addition, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on water consumption in this building typology was assessed. The significant variables for the per capita water consumption regression model are the age of the building and the total number of employees. For consumption per floor-plan area (m3/m2/year), the variables are whether the building is owned or rented, its age, its size, and the total number of employees. The COVID-19 pandemic impact analysis showed a 10% reduction in the average water consumption during the first wave, when considering all offices in the sample. The analysis by business activity showed a reduction of 28% and 27% in the average consumption of water in law and accounting firms, respectively. In contrast, it went up by 15% in engineering offices during the same period. The analysis of the impact of the pandemic and the investigation of the main drivers of water consumption can provide parameters to promote water conservation in office buildings and can be used in the management of urban water demand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adoption of strategies for monitoring water consumption is essential for water resources management, contributing to the promotion of the sustainability in the water sector. Statistical process control (SPC) charts, which are widely used in the industrial sector, are statistical methods developed to improve the quality of products and processes. The application of this method has reached other areas over the last decades and has recently been identified as an option for environmental monitoring. In this context, the application of SPC charts emerges as an option for water consumption monitoring, whether in a building or an urban scale. Thus, this article aims to analyze the application of statistical process control charts in the monitoring of water consumption of two housing compounds in Joinville, southern Brazil. The methodological procedures include the use of the Shewhart and the EWMA control charts in addition to the non-parametric alternative, the EWMA-SN, assessing the effectiveness of these techniques in detecting water leaks in residential apartment buildings. The data sets, obtained through a telemetry metering system from the water utility, represent a period of 243 days. The results show that control charts are a powerful tool in identifying changes in water consumption patterns, with the EWMA chart flagging the leaks sooner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal 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.)

The Paraiba do Sul River Basin (PSRB) is a vital source of water resources in Brazil, providing water for human consumption, industry, agriculture, and hydroelectric energy generation. As part of one of the most developed areas of the country, in the Southeast of Brazil, the region is vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, with evidence of extreme events such as droughts and floods affecting the availability and quality of water. Hence, this study analyzes precipitation and streamflow rates data from the PSRB between 1939–2020 to investigate the spatial variability of average patterns and extreme events, trends, and their relationship with urban growth and socioeconomic development. The analysis reveals significant spatial variations in precipitation and runoff rates, with higher altitude areas, such as the Serra da Mantiqueira, exhibiting higher average values. Moreover, the Mann–Kendall trend results showed in most of the sites no significant trend regarding precipitation data; however, about 50% of the sites in the PSRB presented a decreasing trend of runoff rates. Since the precipitation does not explain identified changes in the hydrological patterns, the evaluation of the area's urban growth and socioeconomic development throughout the decades suggested that human activities, such as those associated with urbanization, have played a significant role in altering the runoff patterns in the basin. These findings highlight the importance of sustainable land-use planning and water resource-management practices in the PSRB to mitigate the negative impacts of urbanization on the hydrological cycle and to enhance the resilience of the region's water resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clandestine connections represent a significant portion of the apparent water losses. The objective of this research work is to propose a systematic approach to inspect sites with possible illegal water consumption more precisely. A case study was conducted in a District Metered Area (DMA) located in the city of Joinville, Southern Brazil, using technical information and consumption history from 1400 consumer units located in this area. The proposed methodology uses the bagging technique called Random Forest, through a machine learning algorithm. With success rates of 88.10% when classifying frauds in the model training phase and 88.20% in the test phase, the obtained model shows great ability to properly classify frauds in the water supply system in the studied DMA. The use of the random forest classification model, combined with the SMOTE technique for data balancing, proves to be a viable technical alternative for the detection of unauthorized water consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A water safety plan (WSP) is a tool proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO) for the mitigation of risks in water consumption, and little is known about the challenges of its implementation stage. The goal of this work was to identify the facilitating factors and challenges regarding WSP implementation from a case study in Brazil. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with water supply public service providers who already have implemented such policy and with supporting institutions that helped with the process implementation. As a result, it has been identified that the WSP implementation is strongly influenced by the quality of WSP preparation process, which means that this process is the foundation of the WSP implementation; through internal management of the organization, whose administrative discontinuities thwart the actions' implementation; and through the relationship of the service provider with the external actors, which can interfere be it in the data collection or the WSP implementation scope's entirety. Lastly, it was possible to conclude that the WSP preparation process, the organization's internal management, and its relationship with external actors are the specific factors that impact the WSP implementation. The conduction and deepening of studies aiming to improve the tools of support for WSP implementation are thus recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural systems are highly affected by climatic factors such as temperature, rain, humidity, wind, and solar radiation, so the climate and its changes are major risk factors for agricultural activities. A small portion of the agricultural areas of Brazil is irrigated, while the vast majority directly depends on the natural variations of the rains. The increase in temperatures due to climate change will lead to increased water consumption by farmers and a reduction in water availability, putting production capacity at risk. Drought is a limiting environmental factor for plant growth and one of the natural phenomena that most affects agricultural productivity. The response of plants to water stress is complex and involves coordination between gene expression and its integration with hormones. Studies suggest that bacteria have mechanisms to mitigate the effects of water stress and promote more significant growth in these plant species. The underlined mechanism involves root-to-shoot phenotypic changes in growth rate, architecture, hydraulic conductivity, water conservation, plant cell protection, and damage restoration through integrating phytohormones modulation, stress-induced enzymatic apparatus, and metabolites. Thus, this review aims to demonstrate how plant growth-promoting bacteria could mitigate negative responses in plants exposed to water stress and provide examples of technological conversion applied to agroecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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.)

This study evaluated the results recorded at the Central Public Health Laboratory of Santa Catarina state (Brazil) concerning the investigation of Rotavirus (RVA) and Norovirus (NoVs) - genogroups GI and GII. Samples were taken from seawater, river water, estuary water, lagoon water, and treated water samples, from 2018 to 2021. The aim was to correlate them with each other and evaluate their association with the type of water, presence of shellfish farming, population density, and sewage treatment. The most prevalent enteric virus was RVA, followed by NoV GI and NoV GII. There was a strong correlation between the presence/absence of RVA and the presence/absence of at least one NoV genogroup, mainly in samples collected in rivers. No correlation was observed between the presence of any virus and the presence of shellfish farming. When evaluating the binomial sewage treatment vs. population density, the correlation coefficients between population density and the presence of the virus in a sample were higher than the coefficients between the percentage of treated sewage and the presence of the virus. Sources of human-origin pollution impair the quality of treated and surface waters, and therefore the results of this work can help develop viral-monitoring programs in these places. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water is an essential natural resource for maintaining life and its quality is influenced by the land use and occupation within a watershed. Furthermore, water quality has a direct impact on the health and well-being of a population. The present study aimed to carry out a macroscopic environmental analysis in shallow wells found in rural properties distributed in the states of Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina, including the Uruguay River Basin. The evaluation period of the macroscopic parameters took place in April 2021. The physical characteristics of the water and the state of preservation of the shallow wells and their surroundings were visually evaluated in rural properties with predominant land use and occupation through dairy production, swine farming activity and seasonal crops (agricultural crops). As results obtained for the environmental macroscopic analysis, through the weighting of the characteristics observed in each parameter about the state of preservation of the shallow wells, it was verified that they presented different classifications, ranging from the Very Good class to the Poor, being possible to identify the main sources that cause negative impacts on the evaluated locations (state of vegetation, use by animals, protection of the area and proximity to residences). Therefore, rural producers were advised to carry out protection and care measures around these wells that presented lower classifications, Fair (38,10%) and Poor (19,09%) to improve the conditions and aspects that directly influence the quality of water for human consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To overcome the challenges encountered in banana cultivation, such as the high cost of production due to high water consumption by the banana plant, efficient management practices are being adopted. The use of agricultural forecasting techniques is an alternative that has been gaining attention in rural areas. One way to manage and improve agricultural productivity is the use of technologies that allow the monitoring of production. The implementation of computational tools as software to aid processes, such as irrigation management, is gradually taking up space in the agricultural sector. In this light, herein, the present study aimed to develop a model using STELLA 8.0 software to estimate the growth and productivity of irrigated banana (Musa sp.). For this, the physiological processes and water demand were calculated using reference evapotranspiration (ET0) and culture evapotranspiration (ETc) in the first banana cycle for the climatic conditions of the Jaíba Project (Jaíba, Minas Gerais State, Brazil). The data of the climatic conditions were obtained from the National Institute of Meteorology. It was verified that the average monthly ET0 was 5.78 mm day-1. In addition, the water requirement of the plant corresponded to a blade equivalent to 65% of ET0. The verified productivity was 8.93 t ha-1, which is considered adequate for the simulated conditions. The model responded efficiently to the proposed application and was characterized as a prognostic tool of reality through simplified representation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The correct determination of water consumption is key to increasing hydraulic modeling reliability. In this context, Smart Metering (SM) is an important concept. The SM systems can provide consumption at a customer level and in small intervals of time. In this scenario, the work focused on a residential condominium, in Brazil, where an SM system was implemented. The work uses data obtained to model consumers' water consumption and proposes a system to detect metering failures and internal water loss. Three models were proposed: one uses Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) theory, another uses the Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (SARIMA), and the last uses multivariate linear regression. The average root mean square error of the first model was 14,73, of the second was 13,50, and of the third was 20,99. A metering and consumption system, able to detect internal leaks and others, was also developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rural and isolated communities traditionally lack adequate water treatment and distribution systems, and water quality assessment often does not include radioactivity measurement. Here we present, for the first time, the results of Rn measurements and the evaluation of the associated dose in groundwaters of rural communities in a semiarid area in Paraiba State, Brazil. Water samples were analysed using a low-level liquid scintillation spectrometer (LSS). Radon concentrations were higher than EPA and WHO recommended levels in water for most of the wells (range of 5.5–1107.0 Bq/L, average 252.8 Bq/L). Higher Rn concentration was measured in deeper wells and located in area rich in granite and diorite rocks. The annual effective doses varied between 0.021 and 4.317 mSv/y for infants, 0.016–3.182 mSv/y for children, and 0.015–3.022 mSv/y for adults, exceeding, in some cases, the 1 mSv/y reference level recommended by the WHO and UNSCEAR for the public. Thus, water consumption from half of the wells should be avoided unless adequate treatment is provided. Results highlight the need to perform actions to supply water with appropriate quality to the local population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The expansion of urban water supply crisis (UWC) cases, a context characterized by an inadequate ratio between water consumption and supply capacity, has motivated researchers to search for tools to solve the problem. The objective of this study is to develop a multicriteria tool to help select the solution alternative for UWC cases. The tool (called UWC‐MCDA) is based on obtaining consensus on various multicriteria methods for selecting alternatives to solve UWC cases. The proposed methodology consists of the following steps: (1) defining the criteria, (2) defining weights, (3) defining the alternative, (4) defining multicriterial decision support methods, (5) coding the UWC solution alternative selection model, (6) evaluation of the model coding, (7) application of the model coding, and (8) sensitivity analysis. The methods PROMETHEE II, TOPSIS, ELECTRE III, and Consensus ranking are used. The case study considered was the Administrative Region of Brasilia, in the Federal District of Brazil. A multicriteria tool to help select the solution alternative for UWC cases was developed in an easy‐to‐use environment (Visual Basic for Applications, MS Excel). The UWC‐MCDA is able to identify and prioritize, among a set of possible alternatives, the most appropriate solution for the case in question. For the case study, the UWC‐MCDA indicated the best alternatives for regulating water consumption, strengthening sanitation service operators and good water conservation practices. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2023;19:99–113. © 2022 SETAC KEY POINTS: •Solutions for urban water supply crises are dynamic in space and time; the city X in year Y may have the best solution S1, but in year Y1, the best solution is S2.•A new way to perform a multicriteria analysis (three multicriteria methods plus one integrated assessment, the Consensus ranking) and a computational tool were created.•The consensus decision from the Consensus ranking method incorporates participation, concordance, inclusion, win‐win principles, equality, collaboration, cooperation, and better, more creative decisions into the decision‐making process.•The methodology was applied in a real case and can be applied in other cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world is moving towards a low-carbon economy through renewable energy sources. In this context, concentrating solar power (CSP) technologies can exploit the rich solar resource in Brazil, diversifying the national electricity mix. The aim of this paper is to support the insertion of CSP generation in the Brazilian bottom-up model MATRIZ by analyzing the environmental performance of three CSP technologies: (i) solar tower power (STP) with a thermal storage system (TSS) of 7.5 h; (ii) solar thermal parabolic trough (STPT) with a TSS of 6 h; and (iii) STPT without TSS. From a life cycle perspective, their freshwater consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are addressed by employing the software SimaPro, the Ecoinvent database, and the ReCiPe 2016 method, as well as information from the system advisory model (SAM) and the literature. As a result, STP is the most environmentally sound CSP alternative, presenting lower GHG emissions and water consumption than the two STPT technologies. In general, CSP generation proves to be more environmentally attractive than some fossil-fired power plants and renewable energy sources. Moreover, moving the manufacturing of CSP technologies to Brazil has the potential to reduce GHG emissions from the upstream processes of their value chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in 2020 led to a significant change in human behaviors, mainly because of the quarantine to avoid the spread of the virus. Measures affected both economic activities and citizens' behaviors as they developed more intense hygiene habits to avoid contamination and switched to home offices. These exceptional behaviors also affected the way that water is consumed and need to be fully understood to manage supply systems. Therefore, this study aims to investigate changes in residential and commercial water consumption in 31 municipalities in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, during SARS-CoV-2. To do this, the expected consumption for the first half of 2020 was forecasted using the Holt-Winters multiplicative method and compared with the data observed for the same period. In addition, we compared monthly records of new contaminations and the social distancing index to establish a correlation with changes in water consumption. The results show an average difference between forecasted and observed consumption equal to +6.23% and −18.59% for residential and commercial activities, respectively. For the first one, the consumption per capita increased at the rate of 8.44 L.person−1.day−1. The observed changes in consumption seem to be a consequence of hygiene habits, social distancing and the closing of nonessential services in commerce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many countries, the adverse impact of agriculture on water sources has been discussed with more attention recently by the water footprint estimation. Brazil is the second largest animal protein' exporter, and this demand has a tendency to increase significantly until 2050, and in this context the water management will be crucial. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the water footprint and productivity in the broiler and swine slaughtered in Brazil from 2008 to 2018. The results showed that the herds of broiler and swine were concentrated in three main regions: Midwest, Southeast and South, representing 97.1% of the broilers and 99.7% of the swine slaughtered in Brazil. During the studied decade, the slaughter of broiler and swine increased 9.1 and 25.8%, respectively. The broiler and swine water footprint decreased by 15.4 and 3.5%, respectively. The average volume of water needed for the production of broiler and swine meat was 2533 L kg−1 and 3754 L kg−1, respectively. The average water productivity per kg of broiler meat was 0.397 kg m−3, while for swine it was 0.269 kg m−3. The average water productivity for soybean was 0.497 kg m−3, and for corn it was 1.18 kg m−3. The decrease in the water footprint is a result of the improvement of management practices, highlighting that it is necessary to improve the knowledge about the use of the water footprint methodology as a tool for water management to help public policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Brazil suffers from a lack of basic sanitation in many regions, intensified in the Amazon region due to its difficult access. The application of natural coagulants is a promising alternative since it eliminates the use of chemicals, is a simple, low-cost method that is easy to reproduce, and is accessible to any community, thus promoting health and environmental improvements. On the other hand, the use of chemical coagulants can cause harm to the environment and human health. Aim: Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the coagulation effect of a species of Amazonian cactus applied in the treatment of water for human consumption. Methods: For the study, about 500 grams of the aerial part of the Cereus jamacaru was collected on the banks of the BR 174 in the region of Roraima. The spines were removed in the laboratory, the plant material was washed, cut to a thickness, dried in an oven at 60 °C for 36 hours, then ground and sieved until obtaining a powder, which was tested as a natural coagulant. The water used in the study was collected from the Branco River in Boa Vista, Roraima, and characterized its initial turbidity. Results: The dosage of 0.2g of the natural cactus coagulant showed a significant reduction in the turbidity of the study water, leaving it within the potability standards established for groundwater. Discussion: Coagulation in the sanitary context is evidenced by the removal of microscopic particles associated with pathogenic microorganisms, normally found in raw water and with very low sedimentation speed. Replacing polluting chemical substances with natural coagulants in the treatment of water for human consumption contributes to the quality of life. Conclusion: The Amazonian cactus Cereus jamacaru demonstrated coagulation efficiency for analyzing the turbidity parameter of water for human consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rupture of dam B-1 at the Córrego do Feijão mine in Brumadinho, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil (25/Jan/2019) contaminated the Paraopeba River with mine waste. To identify the adverse effects of this event on public and environmental health, we conducted the Fish Embryo Acute Toxicity (FET) test (OECD No. 236). During the tests, zebrafish embryos were exposed for 144 hours to solutions containing realistic concentrations of dissolved iron and aluminum and total manganese at the following analysis points upstream or downstream of the dam: 10 km, upstream; 19.7 km, downstream, at the point where water for consumption is collected; 24.5 km, downstream, in the city of Mário Franco; and 59 km, downstream, on the border between the towns of Juatuba and Betim. Metal concentrations were taken from September 2019 report No. 53 released by IGAM. Mortality was high at all exposure points and reached 93% at the Juatuba/Betim point. We also detected lethal, sublethal and teratogenic effects, such as non-hatching, non-inflation of the swim bladder, pericardial edema and scoliosis, affecting up to 25% of embryos at the other analysis points. The results highlight the need for continuous monitoring of the water quality of the Paraopeba River. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing population size and housing density are responsible for greater consumption of water resources, causing drinking water shortages in many regions. To reduce water consumption, it is essential to perform wastewater treatment, particularly in onsite non-potable water systems (ONWS). This article discusses the performance of a wastewater treatment system in a shopping mall in Brazil (City of Guarulhos, São Paulo State, Brazil), using data collected over 3 years (2015–2018) that resulted in water reuse ranging from 12 to 42 m³ per day. The strategy used for this wastewater treatment and further reuse in cooling towers and toilets initially included nine steps; after adjustments, an additional step (tertiary decanter) was added. All steps were named as follows: (1) railing; (2) fats boxes; (3) aerobic reactors with selector tank; (4) denitrification; (5) flocculation; (6) secondary decanter; (7) ultrafiltration; (8) disinfection; (9) filtration by zeolites; and (10) tertiary decanter. Based on using FeCl3 as a flocculant followed by filtration by zeolites (SFM) for ion adsorption and removing above 99% of the biological oxygen demand (BOD5), generating a final BOD5 of <2.0 mg/L, total dissolved solids of 130 to 594 mg/L, pH ranging from 6.75 to 7.79, and remaining pathogen-free. This treatment demonstrated the feasibility of reusing water in air conditioning cooling towers and toilets, generating up to 797 m³/month of treated water for reuse with savings of up to 27% in drinking water consumption at the mall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conflicting demands for water used for irrigating crops, generating power, and supplying humans and livestock have placed many river basins around the world under stress. The competition for scarce water resources will be exacerbated by the impact of climate change. This article uses a residual imputation and net rents approach to obtain economic values and water demand curves of irrigators in Brazil's Sao Marcos River Basin (SMRB). We estimate that current water prices must increase by over 230 times in the dry season to reduce the water consumption in the basin to the level that is required to accommodate its use to generate electricity as required by the water regulator. These estimated water prices are constrained efficient in the sense that they promote the efficient reduction in water consumption from the agricultural sector to satisfy the existing water permit granted for electricity generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Brazil, the favorable weather conditions and abundant land contribute to the thriving agricultural production. Brazilian crops extensively employ pesticides due to their high efficacy, cost-effectiveness, and permissive regulatory framework. However, pesticide use also endangers water resources, animal organisms, and human health. Due to the lack of data on pesticide use in the Amazonas forest-based Brazil, the present study aimed to assess the levels of twenty-one current-use pesticides (CUPs) from five different classes in river waters collected from urban and riverside areas in this region. Moreover, the non-carcinogenic risks associated with water consumption were also characterized. Thirteen CUPs were detected in concentrations above the limit of detection (LOD) in at least one of the water samples, and most pesticides were detected in riverside areas. In contrast, only 18% of the analyzed samples were considered "clean," with only one compound detected. Fenitrothion showed the highest concentration, with a mean value of 4.86 ng/mL (0.30–14.3 ng/mL). Up to 33% of the samples showed levels of fipronil above the LOD, an issue of environmental and human health concern, mainly because of the adverse effects observed in honeybees. Despite this, the human health risk assessment showed a target hazard quotient below one (HQ < 1) in adults for all substances, suggesting that pesticide exposure through water consumption should not mean risk for the riverside populations. Taking into account the large extension of Brazil, as well as its different agricultural practices throughout the country, it would be of great importance to conduct extensive research in other areas. It would help to gain knowledge in this field and to promote eco-friendly alternatives to mitigate pesticide use and, consequently, to reduce their potential adverse effects on human health and the ecosystems. [Display omitted] • The levels of thirteen CUPs were above the limit of detection in at least one of the water samples. • Most pesticides were detected in riverside areas. • Only 18% of the analyzed samples were considered "clean". • Fenitrothion showed the highest concentration, with a mean value of 4.86 ng/mL (0.30–14.3 ng/mL). • Eight pesticides selected showed non-cancer risk below the threshold (THQ <1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brazil has the largest cultivated area for sugarcane in the world, with a predominance of rain-fed production systems (64%) and marginal areas that are subject to frequent water deficits. The remaining 36% under cultivation is equipped with irrigation systems; however, a significant portion of these irrigation systems (76%) is dedicated to crop maintenance. Their primary purpose is to provide water for initial plant maintenance during planting and regrowth of ratoons, which helps to alleviate drought stress caused by water scarcity during dry periods. The remaining 24% of the irrigated sugarcane production areas use deficit and full irrigation strategies to partially (50%) and fully (100%) meet the plants' water demands, respectively. Therefore, a large part of the cultivated area for sugarcane in Brazil is subject to a water deficit at one or more stages of the crop's development cycle, which can retard plant growth, nutrient use and productivity. One potential strategy for mitigating these harmful effects is the application of silicon (Si) in the furrow at planting, which can also increase crop water productivity (WP c). The objective of this research was to determine the effects of different applications of Si and nitrogen (N) on WP c , in terms of sugar (SWP c), biomass (BWP c) and energy (ENWP c) for sugarcane crop. The research was conducted at the University of São Paulo (USP/ESALQ), Piracicaba, São Paulo State, Brazil. The experimental design involved randomized blocks, with four blocks and 12 treatments. The treatments consisted of three applications of Si, 175, 350 and 525 kg·ha−1 and four N treatments of 15, 30, 60 and 90 kg·ha−1. Biometric responses, effects on juice quality, and indices related to yield and WP c were determined. The water consumption and agricultural yield (AY) of sugarcane were clearly influenced by the treatments. The lowest water consumption was obtained with the 15Nx350Si treatment, 561 mm per year. The treatment with the highest AY value was 60Nx350Si (162.3 Mg·ha−1). The SWP c , BWP c and ENWP c of the sugarcane crop were affected by the different application rates of N and Si. In general, the highest average WP c values were obtained with the 15Nx350Si treatment (SWP c =2.6 kg·m−3, BWP c =10 kg·m−3 and ENWP c =224.5 MJ·m−3). The different N and Si treatments did not significantly affect biometric variables (except for fresh biomass and leaf area) or juice quality; therefore, Si application did not compromise the quality of the end-product. • Investigated effects of N and Si fertilization on water productivity of sugarcane. • Water consumption of sugarcane can be reduced by combined N and Si treatments. • Si applications can reduce the amount of N needed while maintaining sugarcane yield. • Sugarcane water productivity was optimal with combined 15 kg·ha−1 N and 350 kg·ha−1 Si. • N plus Si did not affect sugarcane juice quality or biometric variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Hot water consumption in social housing in South Brazil presents seasonal variation. • Three hot water consumption peaks occur during the day. • Outdoor temperature and solar radiation are correlated to hot water consumption. • Hot water consumption starts earlier on weekdays than on weekends. • Hourly hot water consumption profile determination through telemetry monitoring. Solar water-heating systems have been widely implemented in Brazilian social housing buildings. Although these systems have been extensively explored regarding energy consumption, little is known about the water consumption. This article analyzes hot water consumption data from 154 social housing apartments in Southern Brazil. Hourly and daily consumption were analyzed regarding volume, profile and seasonal variations. The current system design was analyzed and compared to optimum configurations. The water-heating system only provides hot water for the shower, and the measurements presented refer to untempered hot water – before mixing with cold water to reach end-use temperature. Three peaks were found to occur during the day: in the morning, during lunch time and in the evening, which was the highest. In addition, seasonal ambient temperature and solar radiation showed significantly correlated to daily hot water consumption. Summer average per capita hot water consumption was lower than other seasons', while the average consumption during fall was the highest. If the collectors were installed facing North and with a 26° inclination, the solar hot water system would provide more adequate temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) are neglected diseases caused by helminths and protozoa, with the relationships between parasite, host and environment having the potential to produce high morbidity and incapacity to work and mortality in vulnerable areas. This study assessed the prevalence of IPIs concerning socio-environmental conditions and analyzed the knowledge, attitudes and practices related to these diseases among men living in the slums of Rio de Janeiro city, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. A cross-sectional study was conducted in an agglomeration of urban slums between 2018 and 2019, with men aged between 20 and 59 years. A socioeconomic status questionnaire and an IPIs knowledge, attitudes and practices questionnaire (KAPQ) were applied. Coproparasitological diagnoses (n=454) were performed using four methods and samples of water for household consumption (n=392) were subjected to microbiological and physicochemical analysis. A total of 624 participants were enrolled. About 40% of the households had "water unsuitable for consumption". Only one Major Area, MA 3 was not statistically significant for IPIs (AOR=0.75; 95% CI: 0.30-1.88; p=0.55). The overall prevalence of IPIs was 23.8%. Endolimax nana (n=65, 14.3%) and hookworm (n=8, 1.7%) were the most frequently identified parasites. The analysis of the frequency of responses to the KAPQ has shown that men reported to seeking medical care if they were suspicious of IPIs, and around 35% would self-medicate. The results have shown the need to adopt integrated health education practices targeting male residents in urban slums to qualify the care with water for human consumption and promote self-care about IPIs. The household can be considered strategic for Primary Health Care activities for men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this research is to identify factors influencing water consumption in schools in the city of Joinville, Southern Brazil, in order to understand and monitor water consumption. Twenty-six (26) public elementary, middle, and high schools in the state public educational system were selected for this research study. Data were collected on water usage, through in situ water-related measurements and through questionnaires answered by the principals from each school. The collected data made it possible to characterize the schools and perform a preliminary diagnosis of water usage. Descriptive analysis of water consumption and per capita water consumption was performed. Average monthly water consumption was 111.45 m3/school/month, and the average per capita water consumption was 8.833 L/student/day. Multiple linear regression analysis was employed to forecast schools' monthly water consumption. Correlation analysis and the stepwise method were used to choose the variables, and the results showed that the significant variables for monthly water consumption were the number of students and the number of toilets in use. These results contribute to understanding factors influencing the water consumption at schools, as there have been few studies performed regarding the subject on this typology of buildings. In addition, the results can be used to forecast and monitor consumption, contributing to water saving in the school environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban water consumption can be analyzed by means of applied research to help promote the development of environmentally sustainable cities. In this study, water consumption models are established for multifamily residential buildings in Southern Brazil using multiple linear regression analysis and cross-validation techniques. Sociodemographic and building characteristics were analyzed in a sample of 78 buildings for a period of 25 months. Six forecast models were obtained which met the assumptions of constant error variance, multicollinearity, autocorrelation, residual diagnosis, and generalization ability, explaining the variations in up to 90.61% of the building monthly water consumption and 68.72% of the per capita daily water consumption. The most significant variables were building age, number of stories, total area per floor and per person, dwellers per room and per apartment, number of bedrooms, type of metering system, presence of swimming pools and presence of alternative water-supply systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agricola e Ambiental - Agriambi is the property of Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agricola e Ambiental 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.)

Food production and water scarcity, both in constant growth and intrinsically linked, are subjects of great relevance in current studies in several areas of knowledge. The impacts generated by the production of beef are at the center of major environmental debates, especially the consumption of water for the production and development of the livestock production chain. This research analyzed the use of water resources in the production of beef in the Amazon biome. The water footprint for beef cattle was of 13,074 L.kg-1 compared to a world average of 21,829 L.kg-1. Based on the data obtained it was possible to demonstrate that the presence and operationalization of this production chain in the Amazon is more efficient from the water point of view than in the other locations reported in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quality of the water consumed by a given community is related to its quality of life. In this sense, this study aimed to evaluate, from the perspective of health risk, the physical, chemical, and microbiological quality of drinking water, in a quilombola community, and the qualitative aspects intrinsic to its use and storage. For this, water samples, collected at the exits of the collective water supply system and from eight cisterns that store rainwater, used for human consumption, were analyzed. The samples were subjected to physical, chemical, and microbiological analysis, including adenovirus (HAdV) and enterovirus (EV). The probability of an individual acquiring infection through water consumption was determined by quantitative microbiological risk analysis using HAdV and Escherichia coli (EC) as reference pathogens. The results showed that the water in the deep tubular well had 270.8 mg/L of total hardness, leading to the rejection of its consumption by ingestion. Alternativity, the people in the community consume rainwater stored in cisterns. For this type of water, the presence of heterotrophic bacteria was found in 75%, total coliform was present in 100%, and Enterococci were detected in 25%. Furthermore, EC was present in 25%, EV in 50%, and HAdV in 100% of the samples. The probability of annual infection with HAdV and EC was, in the worst situation, 100% and 1.3%, respectively. Regarding the qualitative and quantitative aspects, there was a significant positive correlation between the absence of EC and the withdrawal of water from the cistern using a pump and the opposite when the withdrawal was carried out using a bucket or hose. Based on the results found, it is important to carry out actions aimed at improving water quality and, consequently, the quality of life of people living in the study community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Ambiente e Água is the property of Revista Ambiente e Agua 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.)

Copyright of Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agricola e Ambiental - Agriambi is the property of Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agricola e Ambiental 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.)

• Silicon glass microparticles (SiMPs) induce tolerance to abiotic stresses. • Seed priming mitigated the effects of water restriction in cowpea plants. • Therefore, plants from seeds subjected to SP improve tolerance to water stress. The northeast region of Brazil presents high variations in solar radiation levels and high air temperatures, impairing the growth and production of cowpea, consequently raising the need for technologies to improve the adaptation of cultivated plants. Therefore, this work aimed to promote the tolerance of cowpea (cultivar BRS Itaim) to water deficit induced by polyethylene glycol 6000 through seed conditioning with silicon glass microparticles. The experiment was performed in the field using a completely randomized 6 × 2 factorial scheme design with four replications. Seed priming (SP) consisted of six combinations of water potential (Ψw) and silicon glass microparticles (SiMPs) (T1: Ψw 0 + 0 SiMPs, T2: Ψw 0 + 200 SiMPs, T3: Ψw -0.4 + 0 SiMPs, T4: Ψw -0.4 + 200 SiMPs, T5: Ψw -0.8 + 0 SiMPs, and T6: Ψw -0.8 + 200 SiMPs) and two water replacement levels: plants with water restriction (50 % of water consumption) and without it (100 % of water consumption). Seed priming with silicon glass microparticles and polyethylene glycol 6000 attenuated the deleterious effects of water restriction in cowpea plants through water status homeostasis, osmotic adjustment, and antioxidant mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proliferation of Raphidiopsis raciborskii blooms has sparked concerns regarding potential human exposure to heightened saxitoxins (STXs) levels. Thus, comprehending how environmental elements drive the proliferation of this STXs-producing species can aid in predicting human exposure risks. This study aimed to explore the link between cyanobacteria R. raciborskii , STXs cyanotoxins, and environmental factors in 37 public supply reservoirs in the tropical region and assess potential health hazards these toxins pose in the reservoir waters. A Structural Equation Model was used to assess the impact of environmental factors (water volume and physical and chemical variables) on R. raciborskii biomass and STXs levels. Furthermore, the potential risk of STXs exposure from consuming untreated reservoir water was evaluated. Lastly, the cumulative distribution function (CDF) of STXs across the reservoirs was computed. Our findings revealed a correlation between R. raciborskii biomass and STXs concentrations. Total phosphorus emerged as a critical environmental factor positively influencing species biomass and indirectly affecting STXs levels. pH significantly influenced STXs concentrations, indicating different factors influencing R. raciborskii biomass and STXs. Significantly, for the first time, the risk of STXs exposure was gauged using the risk quotient (HQ) for untreated water consumption from public supply reservoirs in Brazil's semi-arid region. Although the exposure risks were generally low to moderate, the CDF underscored the risk of chronic exposure due to low toxin concentrations in over 90% of samples. These outcomes emphasize the potential expansion of R. raciborskii in tropical settings due to increased phosphorus, amplifying waterborne STXs levels and associated intoxication risks. Thus, this study reinforces the importance of nutrient control, particularly phosphorus regulation, as a mitigation strategy against R. raciborskii blooms and reducing STXs intoxication hazards. [Display omitted] • Phosphorus promotes the spread of R. raciborskii and increased levels of SXTs. • Consequently, the levels of SXTs and risks of human exposure are increased. • The risk of exposure to SXTs per water consumption from reservoirs was evaluated. • Exposures to SXTs could have implications for public and environmental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An environmental diagnosis of the red ceramics sector in the region of Oeiras PI Brazil, is provided. A bibliographic review, technical visits to the ceramic factory with interviews and photographic registration and analysis of production have been undertaken. Environmental impacts and possible mitigating measures were identified. Results reveal as environmental impacts: removal of vegetation, topographic alterations, ashes, high water consumption, raw matter and non-adequate matter. The main mitigating measures were: reforestation, earthwork, control of water consumption, improvement in production process, incorporation of residues in the ceramic mass. The establishment of quality system, environmental management and entrepreneurs' compromise are important for the sector's sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]