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In the Canadian Arctic, the availability of sustainable drinking water supplies is threatened by pressures such as increasing populations, climate change, and the remote geographic nature of the communities. The objective of this study was to conduct a screening level vulnerability assessment of municipal drinking water supplies in the Canadian territory of Nunavut with consideration for climate change, population growth, and infrastructure changes. A hydrological analysis of primary drinking water supply watersheds was performed to evaluate the relative vulnerability level in 24 Nunavut communities. We used a water balance model to predict annual water yield from each watershed using historical and projected future climate data. Approximately 25% of the study communities were projected to experience high vulnerability to water shortages by 2070, defined as using greater than 40% of available water from their source watershed on an annual basis. A medium level of vulnerability (using 20%-40% of annual available water) was determined for 8% of the study communities and a moderate level for 12% (using 10%-20% of annual available water). A low vulnerability level to 2070 (using less than 10% of annual available water) was determined for 55% of the communities. The vulnerability level was primarily influenced by source watershed size. The results of this study could be used as a component of a proactive strategy to help address water security issues in Nunavut. Key words: water resource assessment; climate change; Arctic; water management; water security; Arctic hydrology; drinking water vulnerability Dans l'Arctique canadien, la disponibilite d'approvisionnements durables en eau potable est menacee par diverses contraintes, comme la croissance des populations, le changement climatique et l'eloignement geographique des collectivites. Cette etude avait pour but d'effectuer l'evaluation prealable de la vulnerabilite des approvisionnements municipaux en eau potable dans le territoire canadien du Nunavut, en tenant compte du changement climatique, de la croissance de la population et des changements en matiere d'infrastructures. Une analyse hydrologique des principaux bassins versants d'alimentation en eau potable a ete realisee afin d'evaluer le degre de vulnerabilite relative de 24 collectivites du Nunavut. Nous avons utilise un modele du bilan hydraulique pour prevoir l'apport annuel en eau de chaque bassin versant en recourant a des donnees climatiques historiques et projetees. Selon nos projections, environ 25% des collectivites etudiees devraient connaitre une grande vulnerabilite en matiere de penurie d'eau d'ici 2070, ce qui est defini comme utilisant plus de 40% de l'eau provenant de leur propre bassin versant annuellement. Un degre de vulnerabilite moyen (utilisant de 20% a 40% de l'eau utile annuellement) a ete determine pour 8% des collectivites etudiees, tandis qu'un degre de vulnerabilite modere a ete determine pour 12% des collectivites (utilisant 10% a 20% de l'eau utile annuellement). Un faible degre de vulnerabilite jusqu'en 2070 (utilisant moins de 10% de l'eau utile annuellement) a ete determine pour 55% des collectivites. Le degre de vulnerabilite etait principalement influence par la taille du bassin versant a la source. Les resultats de cette etude pourraient faire partie d'une strategie proactive pour aider a rectifier les enjeux en matiere de securite de l'eau au Nunavut. Mots cles : evaluation des ressources en eau; changement climatique; Arctique; gestion de l'eau; securite de l'eau; hydrologie de l'Arctique; vulnerabilite de l'eau potable Traduit pour la revue Arctic par Nicole Giguere., INTRODUCTION The provision of municipal drinking water faces unique challenges in many Arctic communities, which are typically remote, experience an extreme cold climate, have high infrastructure costs, and often have [...]

Byline: E. O. Ejechi (1), B. O. Ejechi (2,3) Keywords: Sachet water; Borehole; Coliforms; Cities; Oil; Environment; Quality of life Abstract: The availability and safety of drinking water and the environmental quality of life was investigated in five cities located in an oil-producing area of Nigeria using questionnaire-based scales, discussion and laboratory tests. Polythene-packaged sachet water and commercial and non-commercial private boreholes largely met the drinking water requirement of the cities. Consumption of sachet water was high (14.0--20.0 points vs. 25.0 points) but regression analysis indicated strong negative relationships with income group ([beta] = -0.75, P < 0.005) and educational level ([beta] = -0.77, P < 0.005) of respondents (658). Private borehole water was prevalent (18.7--19.9 vs. 20.0) while public water supplies were almost non-existent (4.8--5.6 vs. 20.0) in the cities. Vulnerability to contamination in all water sources was indicated following unacceptable counts of total and faecal coliform bacteria in 10--62.5 and 3--25% of samples, respectfully. Respondents were not satisfied with environmental quality of life indicated by the quality of housing, school, health services, refuse disposal, recreation, streetlight, transport and police (3.43--4.01 vs. 10). It is concluded that modernization and industrialization due to the oil and gas industries, tended to increase individualization to the negligence of common services as evidenced by the preponderance of private boreholes and sachet water. Author Affiliation: (1) Department of Sociology, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria (2) College of Natural and Applied Sciences, Novena University, Ogume, Delta State, Nigeria (3) Department of Microbiology, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria Article History: Registration Date: 02/01/2007 Received Date: 10/11/2006 Accepted Date: 02/01/2007 Online Date: 09/02/2007

In an effort to combat his country's long-standing water crisis, Iran's president took to Twitter last year. 'We need plan to save water in agriculture, prevent excessive tap water use, [...]

This article describes infrastructure development project for augmenting drinking water supply from Lake Mead in Las Vegas, Nevada. The $2-billion plan includes pipeline alignments, intake placements, and construction of treatment plants and pumping stations encompassing a 35,000 square feet construction site.

Byline: Anand N. Asthana (1) Keywords: demand analysis; water supply; developing countries Abstract: This paper examines how a policy of providing free domestic water can be unsustainable. Using a conditional logit model, this research looks at the demand side and identifies the determinants of choice. Under assumptions normally associated with developing societies, the model shows that the people's perception of benefits of safe water is significant, household variables like female literacy are important variables determining the choice of safe water and the capability to pay and willingness to pay already exists. The governments in poor countries need to have a fresh look at their policy relating to rural water supply. Author Affiliation: (1) Indian Administrative Service, D 4/13 Char Imli, Bhopal, 462016, India Article History: Registration Date: 18/10/2004