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Brazil, despite possessing the largest renewable freshwater reserves in the world (8.65 trillion m3 annually), faces growing challenges in water management due to increasing demand. Agriculture, responsible for 68.4% of water consumption, is one of the main drivers of this demand, especially in the São Francisco River Basin, where irrigation accounts for 81% of total water withdrawals. Water bodies play a crucial role in sustaining ecosystems and supporting life, particularly along the East-West axis of Alagoas, a water-rich region in the ENEB. This study aimed to map and quantify the spatiotemporal variations of water bodies in the ENEB region and assess the impacts of human activities using MODIS satellite data, applying hydrological indices such as NDWI, MNDWI, and AWEI. Between 2003 and 2022, significant variations in the extent of water bodies were observed, with reductions of up to 100 km2 during dry periods and expansions of up to 300 km2 during wet seasons compared to dry periods. AWEI and MNDWI proved to be the most effective indices for detecting water bodies with MODIS data, providing accurate insights into water dynamics. Additionally, the MapBiomas Rios dataset, despite being resampled from a 30 m to a 500 m resolution, offered the most accurate representation of water bodies due to its methodology for data acquisition. Changes in albedo and surface temperature were also detected, highlighting the influence of climate change on the region’s water resources. These findings are crucial for guiding the sustainable management of water resources, not only in Alagoas but also in other regions of Brazil and similar semi-arid areas around the world. The study demonstrates the hydrological variability in the state of Alagoas, indicating the need for adaptive strategies to mitigate the impacts of climate change and anthropogenic pressures, supporting the need for informed decision-making in water resource management at both local and national levels.

Water scarcity and quality deterioration, driven by rapid population growth, urbanization, and intensive industrial and agricultural activities, emphasize the urgency for effective water management. This study aims to develop a model to comprehensively monitor various water quality parameters (WQP) and evaluate the feasibility of implementing this model in real-world scenarios, addressing the limitations of conventional in-situ sampling. Thus, a comprehensive model for monitoring WQP was developed using a 38-year dataset of Landsat imagery and in-situ data from the Water Information System of Europe (WISE), employing Back-Propagated Artificial Neural Networks (ANN). Correlation analyses revealed strong associations between remote sensing data and various WQPs, including Total Suspended Solids (TSS), chlorophyll-a (chl-a), Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Total Nitrogen (TN), and Total Phosphorus (TP). Optimal band combinations for each parameter were identified, enhancing the accuracy of the WQP estimation. The ANN-based model exhibited very high accuracy, particularly for chl-a and TSS (R2 > 0.90, NRMSE < 0.79%), surpassing previous studies. The independent validation showcased accurate classification for TSS and TN, while DO estimation faced challenges during high variation periods, highlighting the complexity of DO dynamics. The usability of the developed model was successfully tested in a real-case scenario, proving to be an operational tool for water management. Future research avenues include exploring additional data sources for improved model accuracy, potentially enhancing predictions and expanding the model's utility in diverse environmental contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global water resources are under great pressure, so sustainable water and wastewater management is essential for every industrial unit. The water footprint (WF) is a multidimensional indicator of volumetric water use and pollution and is applied throughout the production cycle from the supply chain to the end user. The state-of-the art method of calculating the direct (operational) WF requires detailed records of water consumption and wastewater production per process, that are usually not available. In order to effectively implement the indicator, modifications to the standard calculation method are usually necessary, to meet the requirements and characteristics of each production unit. The present study focuses in three production units in Greece (i.e., cement, brewery, and natural cosmetics) and analyzes the modifications and assumptions required for the operational WF assessment, calculated for each production process where possible and for the whole unit. The WF assessment performed for the three case studies showed that both water consumption rates and operational WFs are within the lowest values (4.7 hL water/hL beer for brewery case study and 0.155 L/kg cement for cement case study) of the ranges reported in the international literature (4–8.8 hL water/hL beer and 0.14–0.413 L/kg cement). The total operational WF of the brewery after applying mass balances was calculated at 23.8 hL water/hL beer with virtual grey WF contributing at 79.7% and blue WF at 20.3%. For the cement manufacturing unit, using estimations from the plant operators and data from international literature, the total operational WF of the plant was assessed at 0.159 L/kg cement with blue WF contributing at 95.8%, green WF at 1%, and virtual grey WF at 3.2%. For the natural cosmetics unit, after modifying the system boundaries properly, the total operational WF was assessed at 81.6 L/kg bulk with virtual grey WF contributing at 88.8%. Through WF assessment, strategic actions could be identified to reduce water consumption and a benchmark could be provided to assess water performance between companies of the same branch. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficient monitoring and tracking of groundwater level changes are critical for the sustainable management of water resources, especially in light of population growth and climate change. This study evaluates the ability of the Non-linear Autoregressive with exogenous input (NARX) model to simulate groundwater level trends in Ajabshir, Iran, using groundwater level data from 2006 to 2019 as the baseline period. The model was trained using time, groundwater levels, and delay times between 1 and 2 as the input training samples. The results indicate that the NARX model performed exceptionally well in simulating historical trends of groundwater levels, achieving a Coefficient of Determination (DC) value of 0.87 and a Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) of 0.215. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The need to find a trade-off between protecting water-related ecosystems and increasing safe water-use for human society is recognized in the 2030 Agenda of the European Union. We assess the ecological status of a riverine system in order to mitigate human impacts, considering its importance for supplying drinking water to more than 4 million users in Rome. We used an integrated approach, analyzing animal and plant communities at riverbanks and the riverbed. A macrobenthos analysis revealed a well-structured community with a good ecology for all sampling stations. The highest value was found immediately upstream and downstream of the springs collection system, while the lowest richness value was where the river collects urban wastewater. A floristic inventory showed Hemicryptophytes composing almost 45% of all species, and prevalence of Euroasiatic (35%) and Orophilous (34%) chorotypes. A positive correlation between riverbed vegetation and the quality of the benthic community was revealed, while tree height seems to have a negative trend. Our data suggest a river stretch affected by resurgence and water abstraction did not highlight irreversible alterations to the landscape. Indeed, the composition of vegetation and correlated animal communities mirrored a clinal gradient expected for an Apennine river system. Our study has the potential to improve the approach used to monitor the impacts of humans on freshwater ecosystems, aiming at preserving the integrity of the water-related landscape.

Freshwater is a limited resource that is needed by all living things. However, the available amount of it cannot counterbalance the explosion of the human population in recent years. This condition is worsened because of the contamination of many bodies of water by industrialization and urbanization. Nanomaterials offer an alternative sustainable solution due to their unique size-dependent properties, i.e., high specific surface area and discontinuous properties. These advantages can be utilized to reuse wastewater to become a sustainable water source for drinking water. Many recent studies have proven that nanotechnologies in the forms of nano-adsorbents, nanomembranes, and nano-catalysts have high performances in water contaminants removal. This review provides a comprehensive discussion around these nanotechnologies from the mechanism, applications, efficacy, advantages, disadvantages, and challenges in applications for producing drinking water including by wastewater reusing. Each nanotechnology reviewed here has been proven to perform effectively for water contaminants removal in laboratory scale. An initial study is also performed in this review to analyze the sustainability of nanotechnology for producing drinking water. In spite of the great efficacy, nanotechnologies utilization in commercial scales is still limited which requires further studies.

This research examines the integration of geological and hydrogeological data in numerical aquifer model simulations, with a particular focus on the urban area of Torino, Italy. The role of groundwater resources in urban sustainability is analysed. The objective is to integrate open-loop geothermal plants into the district heating network of IREN S.p.A. Two case studies are examined: the Torino Nord area and the Moncalieri area, both of which host district heating plants. The work entails the collection and analysis of data from a variety of sources, including geognostic surveys and permeability tests, in order to construct a three-dimensional numerical model of the surface aquifer. Models were built using the public MODFLOW 6 (model of groundwater flow) code and calibrated using PESTHP (High Performance of Model Independent Parameter Estimation and Uncertainty Analysis). Results indicate the potential of urban aquifers as renewable energy sources and the necessity of comprehensive geological and hydrogeological assessments for optimal ground water heat pump (GWHP) system installation. This paper emphasises the significance of sustainable water management in the context of climate change and urbanisation challenges.

This study addresses the financial sustainability challenge of integrated watershed management (IWM) in regions with inadequate water service tariffs. A novel water service tariff model is proposed, incorporating supply costs, water loss reduction investments, and IWM expenses informed by user perceptions. The model is applied to an intermediate Andean city in southern Ecuador, where the current tariff impedes the financial viability of the water utility, reflecting a regional trend. The results indicate a necessary tariff increase exceeding 100% to cover the costs and support IWM. The economic value of watershed environmental services (WES) were estimated at USD 1,505,530.64 per year. This value translates to an average water consumption of 20 m3/user/month, equivalent to a WES of USD 2.60 per month. Despite the users’ willingness to pay falling below the estimated economic value of WES, there is a clear need for implementing incentive programs to promote water conservation and policy adjustments that favor the financial sustainability of water supply companies in developing countries.

Citrus is a subtropical fruit tree with high water requirements. This study aimed to determine the effects of water deficit on an orange orchard subjected to different water-saving strategies. The study was realised in an orange orchard in a semiarid area by adopting four different water management techniques: 100% crop evapotranspiration (control); SSDI—subsurface sustained deficit irrigation; RDI—regulated deficit irrigation; PRD—partial rootzone drying treatment during five growing seasons. The experimental design foresaw a randomised block design with six replicates per treatment (24 index plants). The results of the study showed that the water-saving strategies reduced irrigation water consumption by 25% (SSDI), 33% (RDI), and 49% (PRD) compared to the fully irrigated treatment without yield reduction, thus increasing water use efficiency. Mineral nutrition of the trees was slightly affected by irrigation treatments; element concentration in leaves was generally in the optimal range; only potassium showed values below the recommended leaf concentrations. Regarding fruit quality parameters, the vitamin C concentration in RDI showed significant differences with a value of 62.7 mg 100 mL−1 compared to 58.5 mg 100 mL−1 in the control. Plants subjected to SSDI and PRD strategies showed increased levels of pulp colour index with significant values of 10 and 9.90, respectively, compared to the control (8.44). By implementing targeted water management, citrus growers could save water and increase the ascorbic acid and sugar concentration in the fruits; anthocyanins also increased but not significantly. These findings open new market opportunities for citrus growers in marginal areas, where they cannot rely solely on producing citrus fruits to remain competitive.

Maintaining ecological flow is crucial for preserving healthy aquatic ecosystems. This study presents a novel approach to assess and secure ecological flow by linking fish growth scenarios with water budget analysis. Addressing the challenges of accurately predicting ecological flow requirements, especially in post-dam-construction scenarios, is a central focus. In the Gam River basin, we assess the compatibility of a target fish species with post-dam quantitative instream flow, confirming an appropriate 4 m3/s for Zacco platypus in the basin's water supply system. This determination, facilitated by the K-WEAP model, not only ensures water availability but also prevents the Gimcheon-Buhang Dam from falling below its dead storage water level. Our study's key achievements include the development and successful application of this innovative methodology, integrating basin water budget analysis with fish population growth predictions across varying flow conditions. This approach allows the identification of potential ecosystem risks like water scarcity or pollution and determines the optimal ecological flow needed for maintaining the river ecosystem. Our research provides valuable insights for future endeavors in sustainable water resources management and river ecosystem conservation efforts.

Water quality and quantity decline due to anthropogenic factors and climate change, affecting 2.3 billion people in water-scarce areas, of whom 733 million reside in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Therefore, this review paper examined sustainable global water management by focussing on four sustainable development goal (SDG #6) indicators, including water use efficiency in agriculture, integrated water management, transboundary water cooperation, and water user participation. The review covered articles from 2016 to 2023, using Scopus and Web of Science databases with specific selection criteria. A total of 216 sources were downloaded, and after data screening, 72 articles were analysed along with additional supplementary materials such as books, conference papers, and United Nations documents. The finding indicates emerging trends in sustainable water management for agriculture, including water-efficient technologies like alternate wetting and drying, drip irrigation, mulching, etc. However, careful implementation is required to address environmental concerns, prevent water pollution, minimise yield reductions, and ensure long-term sustainability. Moreover, integrated water resource management has faced challenges in practical implementation due to governance structures, economic circumstances, cooperation, and collaboration among stakeholders. While over 600 treaties aim to promote international water cooperation, only a few have been effective. In addition, out of 500 transboundary groundwater sources shared by countries, only six have dedicated treaties to govern their use. Thus, clearly defined rights, responsibilities, and sustainable management practises for each shared aquifer would foster the sustainability of these resources. Moreover, engaging communities through inclusive policies, dialogue, and empowerment is vital for sustainable water management. Investment in community education and capacity-building fosters transformative change and addresses global water management challenges, securing the future of precious water resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This comprehensive review paper addresses the contemporary challenges and future trajectories in the domain of sustainable urban infrastructure within civil engineering. The escalating pace of urbanization demands immediate transformative measures, underscoring the joint responsibility of the civil engineering community to construct cities that are not only habitable but also inclusive and environmentally conscious. The document extensively examines critical facets, including green building design, renewable energy integration, sustainable water management, and waste reduction and recycling. The prioritization of research endeavors in these domains is intricately linked to regional needs, environmental complexities, and societal preferences. Throughout the review, there is a consistent emphasis on the indispensable role of sustainable and resilient practices in the development of urban infrastructure, stressing the necessity for innovative solutions to address the intricate interplay of factors influencing urban environments. The concluding remarks underscore the urgency for the civil engineering community to spearhead the implementation of transformative practices, contributing to the evolution of cities that are not only resilient but also pivotal in fostering a sustainable and equitable future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the pressing challenges of water scarcity and pollution, achieving sustainable water management is imperative for promoting long-term development. Therefore, this paper aims to examine the socio-economic and cultural factors that shape the sustainability of water management strategies in Brazil and Portugal. This study highlights various factors that influence water management, including robust legal frameworks, socio-economic disparities, cultural practices, agricultural water usage, knowledge sharing, public participation, climate change resilience, water scarcity risks, industrial water consumption, and urbanization. By conducting a SWOT analysis of water management strategies, this research synthesizes information through an extensive literature review, encompassing the legal frameworks, policies, and implemented strategies in both countries. Additionally, it investigates comparative studies among Brazil, Portugal, and other European nations to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and experiences in water management practices. The findings of this study offer valuable insights into the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats associated with water management strategies in Brazil and Portugal, thereby guiding the development of tailored policies and strategies that foster sustainability in water resource management. Additionally, the research highlights the role of digital transformation in optimizing water management practices. By integrating socio-economic, cultural, and digital factors, this study contributes to effective and sustainable water management in Brazil and Portugal, ensuring responsible utilization and preservation of water resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water scarcity has been a critical factor that restricts the Yellow River Basin’s economic development for decades. Balancing water resources and industrial development is a core strategy for the sustainable water management in the Yellow River Basin; it is also crucial for promoting the synergistic development of society, economy, and environment and for realizing ecological protection and high-quality development of the basin. This study first analyzes the evolution of the “balancing water resources and industrial development” concept and distinguishes the relationship between the concept and water management. Based on the social-economic-natural complex ecosystem theory, we propose a conceptual framework and an implementation roadmap for promoting sustainable water management in the basin. Moreover, we analyze the evolution and the status of the water management system in the Yellow River Basin by reviewing the basin’s water governance strategies and management systems. Accordingly, three major challenges in balancing water resources and industrial development in the basin are identified, including planning and coordination of administrative mechanisms, efficiency optimization of human‒water interaction, and improvement of data-driven policy-making. Furthermore, we propose several suggestions including strengthening intersectoral coordination in the basin, encouraging participation of multiple social entities to improve the basin governance network, and promoting administrative departments to co-build and share data resources to realize refined and sustainable water management of the basin.

Karst aquifers are crucial for providing fresh water worldwide but are also incredibly sensitive to human impact and climate change. This study aims to reconstruct the historical water levels of karst springs, despite the lack of data. By combining collected data, we have created a detailed numerical model to understand the complex behavior of karst aquifers. Our research reveals significant drops in the water levels at Longtan Spring, mainly due to the overuse of groundwater and inadequate water recharge, which is critical for the success of the Springs Resurgence project. We have also mapped out historical groundwater levels and identified the necessary conditions to get the spring flowing again. The model proved to be reliable during its calibration from 2000 to 2007, with an average Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient of 0.52 for the monitoring wells. For the period from 1960 to 2019, our model showed a strong correlation coefficient of over 0.97 when compared with data from the GRACE satellite mission, demonstrating its high accuracy. The approach we have taken in this study provides a feasible way to figure out historical water levels in karst springs, which is vital for protecting these essential fresh water sources. This work will provide a strong basis for policies to restore the spring.

Due to urbanization and population growth, freshwater resources have become a long-term concern for most developing countries. With the growth of population, the demand for fresh water is increasing and the requirement for sewage treatment is also increasing. In recent years, the demand for sewage recycling has increased sharply. Constructed wetlands (CWs) are an effective sewage treatment system with low energy consumption, minimal maintenance requirements, and a low operation cost, which will meet the current demand for the removal of nutrients and pathogens. The application of CWs in sewage treatment has attracted more and more attention because it is also a nature-based solution (NbS). These systems are capable of removing not only nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), but also pathogen indicators, such as fecal coliform and Escherichia coli. The presence of these indicators also suggests the influx of other pathogens into aquatic systems, thereby threatening aquatic ecological health. However, research on the removal of pathogens in CWs is relatively scare and their removal mechanisms are not fully understood. Despite their widespread application, the role of plants in CWs, particularly in the specific mechanism of pathogens and nitrogen removal, remains largely unknown. This article will help us to better understand this technology and provide help for our further research. In this paper, the coupled denitrification mechanism between microorganisms and plants in the process of nitrogen transformation was discussed. Plants affect nitrogen transformation microorganisms by releasing oxygen and secretions from their roots and provide substrates for bioremediation. The removal effects of different types of CWs on pathogen and nitrogen species were also summarized. Overall, the removal effect of subsurface flow wetlands outperforms that of surface flow wetlands, with multi-stage wetland systems being the most effective. The main factors affecting the removal of pathogens and nitrogen species in CWs include plants, substrates, operating parameters, UV radiation, temperature, water composition, and pH. Finally, the research frontiers on the removal of pathogens in CWs were prospected.

Given the environmental challenges of soil depletion, water scarcity, and resource competition, the agricultural products market demands a continuous increase in annual crop productivity. Nevertheless, it is often overlooked whether there are favorable conditions within the biophysical constraints of the natural system to meet such a requirement. This paper contemplates an integrated analysis that connects the interaction of water-land-food and production value (WLFPV) from the availability, requirement, and scarcity of water based on the Multi-Scale Integrated Analysis of Societal and Ecosystem Metabolism (MuSIASEM) framework. This study evaluates nine crops (agave, avocado, berries, coffee, figs, native maize, pitaya-pitahaya, critical banana, and vanilla) of high commercial value from the central-eastern region of Mexico to obtain their metabolic profiles and answer this question. For this, relative water stress index (RWSI) was used as well as intensity and metabolic density indicators for each crop. The findings were then visualized and communicated through maps. The results indicate that: (1) The annual available water satisfies the total water requirement of the crops of 1,782.6 hm3, planted in 276,965 hectares that produce 803,191 tons of food with a value of 165.2 million USD. (2) 65% of the area dedicated to the production of agave, pitaya-pitahaya, and other crops is affected by a water deficit. This area’s relative water stress index (RWSI) ranges from moderate to high. In the short term, they can constrain agricultural development areas. (3) The metabolic intensity and density indicators show that the combined efficiency of the water demand/supply relationship for native maize was very deficient in 23 of the 50 municipalities. From our analysis perspective, it was possible to understand the changes occurring in the Socio-Ecological System of the nine agricultural chains. A trend in decreased rainfall and water levels in the aquifers for food production was observed.

Study Region: Arid and semi-arid regions of Northwest China (NWC) Study Focus: Water scarcity poses a significant challenge to the development of NWC. Although the climate is getting warmer and wetter in NWC, there is a clear intensification in the trend of regional hydrological aridification. However, the connection between these factors continues to remain elusive to our comprehension. This study investigated the impacts of vegetation changes on terrestrial water storage (TWS) and explored their underlying causes using the Lund-Potsdam-Jena (LPJ) Dynamic Global Vegetation Model based on long-term hydrometeorological data, TWS anomaly data, and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) data. New Hydrological Insights for the Region: This study unveils a significant upsurge in NDVI and actual evaporation (E) within NWC during 1982–2019, with distinct prominence observed in cultivated regions. This heightened E emerges as a central driver behind the reduction in surface soil water, root zone soil water, and the continuous decline of TWS across the NWC. The research discerns the amplified E, influenced by both climatic and human activities, as a key contributor to the diminution of TWS within the region. Notably, the contribution of cultivated land E exhibits consistent expansion, while grassland E remains pivotal in TWS reduction. Transpiration (Et) and bare-soil evaporation (Eb) surface as the predominant elements of terrestrial E. The degradation of grasslands leads to intensified Eb, thereby further augmenting E.

Identifying operational losses in irrigation canals can be difficult due to inaccurate simplification in designing and operating national guidelines. However, this study aims to provide a practical solution to this problem by identifying operational losses, which are the primary cause of off-farm irrigation water losses. The method involves simulating the daily delivered water to individual Irrigation Units (IUs) through off-take structures using hydraulic simulation. The daily agricultural water demand for individual IUs is then calculated using a crop growth model and irrigation system efficiency. This approach offers an effective way to accurately identify operational losses in agricultural water distribution systems. The Roodasht irrigation district in central Iran was used test proposed method. The water distribution simulation was conducted using an open-source Irrigation Conveyance System Simulation (ICSS) in three separate scenarios, including 29, 22, and 55 days, and each showed a typical operation based on history. The IUs’ agricultural water demand, at each off-take location, was calculated by the Aquacrop estimation including the existing information of the on-farm water efficiency depending on irrigation system. According to the study, the amount of water lost daily varied between 60% and 82%, 50–70%, and 44–61% in IUs that used drip, sprinkler, and surface water application systems, respectively, during normal operational scenarios. In situations where water was scarce, the water loss range was 4–87%, 68–80%, and 60–70%, respectively.The results of this study confirmed that losses in the conveyance and distribution systems varied according to the distance from the source and were often higher than the recommended guidelines for irrigation system design and operation (such as the 10–20% suggested in Iranian guidelines). The proposed methodology can be used to improve estimation of actual water losses for irrigation districts with similar operation systems and climatic conditions.

Water security is the backbone of regional development. However, it is generally compromised by the increasing competition for water resources between natural and social systems, especially in areas with limited water resources. Sustainable water planning requires a comprehensive analysis of supply and demand patterns, which is difficult owing to scale mismatches in data and methodologies. This study investigated the dynamics and interrelationships of water supply and demand in a semi-arid watershed of the Loess Plateau, China, by developing a system dynamics model that simulates water security during 1980–2020 and future changes under different climate, socioeconomic development, and inter-basin water diversion scenarios during 2021–2050. The results showed that (1) by the end of 2020, the regional water security level gradually approached the water scarcity threshold indicated by the water deficit index surpassing 0; (2) under unfavorable climate and progressive socioeconomic growth conditions, up to 16 out of 30 years of simulation demonstrated water insecurity in the form of a net water quantity deficit; and (3) the water diversion project can offset such deficits in the short term, but potentially aggravates water insecurity risk by eliciting a more rapid socioeconomic growth pattern. The results indicate that curbing demand and improving water-saving technology are instructive in water resource management. For the Yanhe Watershed, the quantity and pattern of water diversion should be improved in the future to guarantee water resource security on a full temporal scale. We suggest a moderate socioeconomic growth rate to be more appropriate for this region and that efforts to solidify water use redlines and advancement in water-saving technologies are essential in the future. This study provides a scientific basis for the long-term evaluation of regional water security on a full timescale with tightly coupled hydrological components and a modeling framework for decision-makers to manage water resources sustainably.

Management based on sustainable approaches increases the resilience of systems in which they are implemented. The following study explores the sustainability and efficiency of water management in the regions of Ukraine and the role of these factors in its resilient development. The study conducts a bibliometric analysis of sources on sustainable water management, a comprehensive assessment of water resource efficiency in the regions of Ukraine, identifies and maps regional differences, and analyzes their dynamics over the period 2016–2020. The assessment shows that almost half of the regions (48.3%) have sufficient water management efficiency, 40.8% are very high, and 10.9% are average. Most regions (79.2%) maintained the same level of water resource efficiency. The Kharkiv region was examined in-depth, revealing higher water losses during transport and municipal/household sectors than the national average. Based on the assessment's results, a differentiated approach to sustainable water management should be taken, depending on the type of regions. For regions with a very high and sufficient level of water efficiency, strategies to maintain the achieved positions should be implemented, while for regions with an average level of efficiency, strategies to improve the respective indices should be implemented. These research findings and policy recommendations can be utilized to guide policy-makers aiming to enhance the economic mechanism of sustainable water management at regional and national levels and improve their resilience to face the intensifying challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquatic ecosystems are under pressure due to human activity. In the summer of 2022, the Odra River (Central Europe) suffered a massive death of fish and mollusks. This paper aims to show selected water quality parameters before and during the ecological disaster and find which parameters may have been crucial to the development of this disaster. We used the Kruskal–Wallis test and Spearman's correlation to check the water parameters' spatial and temporal diversification. In addition, non-metric multidimensional scaling was performed. The water quality parameters of the Odra system were analyzed in sections: middle Odra, lower Odra, transitional waters, and Szczecin Lagoon. Human activity has led to the formation of a system with unusual characteristics, disturbing the river's natural continuum and related processes. The year 2022 in the middle Odra differed from the previous years in having a high water temperature (>24 °C), high ammonium concentrations (>4 mg/L), and relatively low nitrate concentrations (<6.5 mg/L). At the same time, salt pollution in the river was very high (maximum 1.4 g/L). In June and July 2022, we observed low chlorophyll a concentrations in the middle Odra (on average 2.3 µg/L and 4.4 µg/L, respectively), presumably due to salinity stress and high temperatures, suppressing freshwater phytoplankton taxa. This circumstance has created the appropriate conditions for developing euryhaline and thermophilic Prymnesium parvum. Because of decaying organisms, hypoxia occurred in the lower Odra (0.26 mg/L of dissolved oxygen in surface waters), and oxygen conditions worsened in the transitional waters (<4 mg/L). The zonal deaths of fish and mollusks result from multiple stressors induced by human activity. This disaster has proven that it is necessary to improve selected water quality parameters to reduce the risk of such disasters. The most urgent recommendations are to reduce the salt pollution of the upper section of the Odra, reduce nutrient inputs, and improve the condition of smaller rivers feeding the main course of the Odra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The Province of Ontario in Canada illustrates contemporary water security issues, where despite perception of water abundance, water challenges arise locally. Water risks stem from biophysical dimensions of groundwater depletion, low surface water flows, and degraded quality, and, contextual dimensions of regulatory uncertainty, public concerns and perception. While academic, policy, and practitioner interest is growing, literature reveals major gaps in comprehensive assessment of multidimensional water risks at the subwatershed scale. Addressing these gaps, the study developed a locally attuned and interdisciplinary water risk assessment framework. Using secondary mixed data analysis, the study integrated quantitative and qualitative data for water quantity and quality risks, regulatory trends, water user conflicts for 38 subwatersheds in Ontario. The framework identifies subwatersheds and sectors at high, moderate, and low risk along with media and public concern themes. The study finds high and moderate risk potential in at least 50% of studied subwatersheds for all water risk indicators and challenges the myth of water abundance in Great Lakes watershed of Ontario. The study advances knowledge in water risk assessment by applying social‐ecological perspectives, interdisciplinary approaches of Risk Theory, and mixed methods to provide a comprehensive evaluation of water security and demonstrates integration of social science perspectives in the field of sociohydrology. Our framework assesses interdisciplinary water risks to inform multisector sustainable water management decisions. While spatially scoped to populous subwatersheds of Ontario, this framework can be methodologically generalized to other geographical regions by using local data. Key Points: Developed a locally attuned interdisciplinary water risk assessment framework for 38 subwatersheds in Ontario, CanadaApplied Risk Theory and assessed multidimensional risks of biophysical quantity, quality, regulatory uncertainty, and public perceptionFound high and moderate risk potential in all categories for at least 50% of studied areas hence challenging the myth of water abundance [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change affects all areas of our lives, especially the quality and quantity of water. The 6th goal of the Sustainable Development Gaols deals with problems affecting water, and among its goals, local communities are also given a significant role, just like in the European planning documents. These documents promote sustainable water management solutions that enable integrated and cost-effective interventions. In this paper, I am looking for the answer to how sustainable water management solutions can contribute to the fulfilment of SDG 6 and what effects they have on local communities. In addition to the relevant literature and document review, I conducted expert interviews with specialists who were already involved in such projects and I analyse three case studies with sustainable water management solutions. Results show that these solutions have a significant impact not only on the physical natural environment, but also on residents' habits and they have a strong identity-forming role, so they are suitable to contribute to the fulfilment of SDG 6. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-scalar climate hazards in watersheds and growing consideration regarding equity call for innovation in how agencies evaluate and prioritize mitigation and adaptation projects. Benefit–Cost Analysis (BCA) is one approach that is increasingly being applied to decision-making (i.e., FEMA BCA toolkit), but that has not been applied to watershed and equity-based flood management initiatives. This paper addresses this topic and presents a case study evaluating projects for watershed flood and climate mitigation projects by the Louisiana Watershed Initiative (Louisiana, USA). Through semi-structured interviews with stakeholders and practitioners, we found that BCA tool design must be embedded in the program and policy in order to be successfully applied and that equity has not traditionally been a core value of mitigation practice. Even though many stakeholders understand the need for incorporating environmental and social project consequences at a watershed scale, challenges to doing so include inequitable barriers to project design in competitive processes, the complexity of integrating modeling and environmental outcomes data, jurisdictional interests, and the need for better science communication with local decision-makers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Storing runoff during the monsoon season in Himalayan hills is crucial to have enough water to cope with the dry season, especially considering that climate change is changing rainfall intensity and patterns. Traditional Nepalese water ponds, called pokharis, are used to store runoff mainly for cattle rearing and rice fields' supplementary irrigation. Local communities are interested in restoring existing pokharis and building new ones to improve their economical and living conditions. Selecting the most suitable locations for pokharis is of crucial importance; however, scarce information is available for large-scale site selection. A comprehensive analysis of multiple relevant parameters for traditional ponds siting can lead to more efficient rainwater collection and provide a useful water resource management tool. In this work, we propose a methodology for pokharis’ best-siting analysis, based on geographic information system (GIS), multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM), and participatory research. To our knowledge, this is the first large-scale best-siting analysis for traditional ponds in Nepal. An area of 0.423 km2 (3.47% of the study area) is classified as highly suitable, with 100% agreement with existing pokharis. Despite the low data resolution, which requires a further field inspection for the final site selection, our results provide reliable guidance for pokharis’ large-scale suitability, supporting water-resilience projects in the area. HIGHLIGHTS Large-scale best-siting analyses of traditional Nepalese ponds (pokharis) are lacking despite their importance for water management in Nepal.; Uphill communities, being more prone to water scarcity, were prioritized through appropriate criteria setting.; We propose a composite of standard and in-field surveyed criteria for pokharis' best siting.; The study provides useful guidance for building water harvesting ponds in Nepal.;

Organic waste poses a threat to the environment in the event of its repeated use; however, in this study, we converted it into a useful and environmentally safe source of fertilization. In addition to its fertilization ability, it exhibited a good ability to reduce water stress in cultivated plants in area in which irrigation is lacking and are suffering the impact of climate change. Two field experiments were conducted during the 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 seasons to study the effect of the regulated deficit irrigation strategy and organic N-fertilization ratio during wheat cultivation. The majority of the studied characteristics were slightly higher when irrigation was 75% FI as compared to 100% FI. When using organic nitrogen fertilization in addition to mineral nitrogen fertilization, at 50% organic to 50% mineral, it was possible to irrigate at 75% FI. In this scenario, productivity increased by 28.5% in 2019/2020, and 56% in 2020/2021. The model simulated the studied characteristics of the two seasons relatively well. In summary, the field and modeling results indicate that the use of organic waste in sustainable water management in dry areas has various benefits, including a higher yield and reduced use of chemical fertilizers by up to 50%. This was replaced with 50% organic nitrogen fertilizer produced from the compost from agricultural waste, which is abundant on all farms. These additional benefits increase the income for farmers, and reduce environmental pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although Lebanon has the highest mean annual rainfall of all Middle Eastern countries, it is affected by water stress, negatively impacting agricultural food production, energy generation, and undermine ecosystem functions. The Bekaa area, where the upper Litani River Basin (LRB) is located, suffers serious water quality and quantity problems, which threaten agricultural productivity and public health. Most of the domestic and industrial water in the basin is left untreated. This study investigates prevailing water management issues in the basin. The analysis provides a critical reflection on the water quality and quantity indicators using Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6), to 'ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all'. Results based on the author's observations and evidence from published reports and papers, since the early nineties, showed the existing management approaches fall short to mitigate the negative impact of the environmental problems in the LRB, particularly low water quality (indicator 6.3) and inefficient water use (indicator 6.4). Progress on achieving integrated water management (indicator 6.5) in the LRB is limited. Persistent environmental challenges remain due to weak governance, insufficient capacity, and law enforcement, which must be targeted by a public-private partnership. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Paldang Reservoir (PDR) in South Korea is vital for supplying drinking water and maintaining ecosystems; thus, a comprehensive understanding of its water quality is necessary. Spatiotemporal changes in reservoir water quality were evaluated by applying Korean water quality indices and multivariate statistical techniques (MSTs). A dataset of 15 water quality parameters at five sites in the PDR were evaluated from 2017 to 2021. The organic matter, suspended matter, total phosphorus (TP), chlorophyll a (Chl-a), and total coliforms in the PDR exhibited a fair grade or higher. Chemical oxygen demand was found to correlate with biochemical oxygen demand, Chl-a, and TP. The average real-time water quality index (RTWQI) and average trophic state index (TSIKO) of the PDR were excellent and mesotrophic, respectively, and 46% of eutrophic conditions occurred during the monsoon season. For a hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), the five sites were grouped into three polluted areas and 12 months were grouped into dry and wet seasons. Principal component analysis and factor analysis identified four potential pollution sources (domestic sewage, industrial wastewater, intensive agricultural activities, and livestock wastewater) in the PDR and explained 79.7% of the total changes. Thus, the RTWQI, TSIKO, and MSTs are useful tools for assessing freshwater quality in Korea, predicting potentially harmful conditions, and potentially assisting policymakers in PDR management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]