At a time of great turmoil and crisis, environmentally, socially and politically, water has emerged as a topic of huge global concern. Moreover, many argue that what is needed in order to change our relationship with the environment is a cultural paradigm shift. To this end, this volume brings together diverse approaches to exploring human relationships with the watery world and the other living things that rely upon it. Through exploring multiple creative ways of engaging with water and people, the volume adds to the current zeitgeist of writing about water by expanding the discussion about this vital substance and how, as humans, we relate to it. Chapters focus on creative explorations and explorations of creativity in relation to developing these understandings, including concepts such as hydrocitizenship and responses to drought and flooding. Drawing on the in-depth research and experience of arts practitioners including participatory artists, as well as academics from a variety of fields including geography, anthropology, health studies and environmental humanities, the book provides a rich and multidisciplinary perspective on water and creative ways of engaging and understanding human-water relationships. It represents a valuable source and inspiration for academics, arts practitioners and those involved in environmental policy and governance.

Evaluating the effectiveness of conventional wet processes for cleaning silicon wafers in semiconductor production, this reference reveals concrete measures to improve ultrapure water quality reviewing the structure and physical characteristics of ultrapure water molecules.

Electronic waste includes such items as TVs, computers, LCD and plasma displays, and mobile phones, as well as a wide range of household, medical and industrial equipment which are simply discarded as new technologies become available. Huge and growing quantities of waste are discarded every year and this waste contains toxic and carcinogenic compounds which can pose a risk to the environment. However, if handled correctly, electronic waste presents a valuable source of secondary raw materials. This book brings together a group of leading experts in the management of electrical and electronic waste to provide an up-to-date review of the scale of the waste problem, the impact of recent legislation such as the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE) and the "restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment" directive (RoHS), and of current and future methods for treatment, recycling and disposal of this waste. The book discusses these latest directives, examines current worldwide legislation and considers the opportunities and threats posed by this form of waste. While the emphasis is on European practice, comparisons with other countries such as the USA, Japan and China are made. The book deals with the full range of waste management issues, including recycling and recovery of materials, design considerations for waste minimisation, and contains a wide variety of illustrative case studies eg: LCD displays. With detailed and comprehensive coverage of the subject matter it also contains an extensive bibliography with each chapter. Key chapters cover areas such as: -electronic waste -materials -EU directives -landfill and incineration -recycling and recovery -'cradle to grave' design considerations -engineering thermoplastics It is essential reading for all involved with electrical and electronic waste management through its comprehensive review of recent EU legislation and the subsequent impact on manufacturers and users of electronic equipment.

The World Health Organization estimates that globally one billion people are without access to safe water and two billion people without adequate sanitation. The health consequence of such a situation is very serious and demands urgent appropriate action. The centralised system, which is still promoted all over the world, will not help in providing water and sanitation for all as it depends on huge financial and technological resources that are often not available. The International Conference on Decentralised Water and Wastewater Systems held in Fremantle, Western Australia in July 2006 (organised by the Environmental Technology Centre at Murdoch University) promoted decentralised systems as a means of solving this problem. All the papers submitted at the conference underwent a review process. This book brings together a selection of papers presented at the conference. The papers selected for inclusion in WEMS 13: Decentralised Water and Wastewater Systems promote the concept of decentralised systems, focusing on the design, operation, maintenance and management of small water and wastewater treatment plants and the uptake of decentralized systems. This book will be a valuable resource to industry practitioners, consultants and academics.

Approximately 23 percent of the estimated 115 million occupied homes in the United States are served by onsite wastewater systems. The vast majority of onsite wastewater treatment systems include a septic tank, grease trap, or both for primary treatment. These units are efficient, simple, low-energy treatment units whose performance is critically important to the overall functioning of onsite wastewater systems. Regulations, industry standards, guidance materials and engineering texts vary widely and are often incomplete in their consideration of the factors that may influence primary unit performance in onsite systems. The objective of this research was therefore to identify, compile, analyze, and report on the existing body of work addressing the performance of primary treatment units in onsite wastewater systems and the factors impacting performance. Design, construction/installation, and maintenance issues were considered, with a goal of establishing what is known, what is not known and what future research is needed in this area. Over 700 sources of information were collected, with most reviewed and presented in this document - the white paper. A bibliographic database, which can continue to be updated into the future, was developed as a companion piece to the white paper, as a tool for researchers and practitioners.

The sudden increase in indicator bacteria, including fecal coliforms (FCs) and E. coli, was evaluated at several full-scale facilities, in addition to the increase measured during cake storage. The results showed that the sudden increase was a statistically verifiable occurrence at some facilities, but not all, as was the additional increases measured during cake storage. The sudden increase and growth were much more prevalent in processes that utilized centrifuge dewatering compared to belt filter press dewatering. The sudden increase appears to be a result of the reactivation of indicator bacteria that become reversibly non-culturable (RNC) during digestion. Although other hypotheses, such as contamination and presence of inhibitors, cannot be ruled out in all cases. Only one plant that was sampled with high solids centrifugation did not show reactivation and/or regrowth and this plant was different from others in that it utilized thermophilic reactors in series. The results showed a good correlation between the digestion temperature and the reactivation potential and amount of reactivation measured after dewatering. As temperature of digestion increased, the amount of reactivation increased (for plants with reactivation). Similarly, this was generally true, on average for the extent of regrowth. The digestion SRT and VS reduction did not correlate well with reactivation or regrowth.

Wastewater collection system odors and corrosion issues continue to grow in importance to the community and to system owners and operators. Odor and corrosion prevention in collection systems has historically been as much art as science. Common control methods are selected based on practical experience as opposed to a fundamental understanding of why and when methods will be successful. Although much is known regarding the cause of odorous gases in the collection system, the underlying science and mechanisms of odor generation, sewer ventilation, odor characterization and monitoring, and corrosion mechanisms need further research. This WERF research activity helps odor-control specialists transition from "odor artists" to scientists and engineers, while also providing a useful tool both for designers to successfully prevent odor and corrosion events through proper design and for operators to mitigate and prevent odor excursions and corrosion impacts. This project transfers state-of-the-art technology and information gained from the literature survey to the collection system owner and designer on odor and corrosion assessment, measurement, characterization, monitoring, and prevention. The field studies identified in this Phase 1 effort will fill high-ranked knowledge needs. The resultant database and team-developed, web-based application tool will identify the best practices for the entire collection system and its associated facilities, infrastructure, equipment, and pipes. A plain-English guide providing a useful and easily understandable overview about odor and corrosion in collection systems including how odor and corrosion compounds are formed and what to do to control them is provided as an introduction to this document. This Phase 1 report then summarizes the state of the art in knowledge related to odor and corrosion in collection systems. This highlights the latest knowledge reported in the literature. These efforts to compile the literature database have included information-sharing partnerships with municipal utilities, the academic community, and the profession, all on a global basis. Our team included leading odor and corrosion control researchers in the academic, utility management, and consulting communities, and part of their role was to provide exhaustive literature research efforts through catalogue reference, gray literature review, and Internet search mechanisms. In this way we have accessed a broad spectrum of global resources tapping into the knowledge and experience of both WERF member and nonmember utilities.

The Adaptiveness of IWRM provides new insights and knowledge on the challenges and solutions that current water management faces in a situation of complexity and uncertainty. Drawing on the available results from a wide range of European research projects under several framework programmes, the book provides an overview of the state of the art in European research on Integrated Water Resources Management on the topics of Participation, Transboundary regimes, Economics, Vulnerability, Climate change, Advanced monitoring, Spatial planning, and the Social dimensions of water management. The achievements of EU research projects are considered in view of the extent to which IWRM responds to the current complexity and uncertainty water management is facing. These achievements are positioned in a wider context of worldwide developments in the respective topics which account for the future challenges. From this, the book concludes with the required focus of European research in the near future and promotes the concept of Adaptive Water Management as the preferred direction for the development of IWRM. The book presents the achievements of European IWRM research on a range of water management topics and offers conclusions and recommendations for research foci that will be invaluable to water managers, policy-makers and academic researchers working in the field of IWRM.

Intended for professionals, administrators or engineers, project managers or policymakers and trainers or workers in the field of health, water and sanitation, this book brings together a series of short and illustrated introductions to the main technologies and processes in the field of village and community level water and sanitation. Developed and tested over the years, the 32 "appropriate technologies" described here range from household water storage to public standposts, from making soap to eye and skin diseases.;Each short brief concludes with an indication of where to go for more information, and Professor John Pickford sets the scene for the programme and project workers who will find this "ideas tank" invaluable.;Originally published individually in "Waterlines", a magazine devoted to low-cost water and sanitation, this consolidated publication brings together a body of practical information and guidance which appropriately marks the end of the "Water Decade" and the start of the "Health for All by 2000" campaign.

The European DayWater project has developed a prototype of an Adaptive Decision Support System (ADSS) related to urban stormwater pollution source control. The DayWater ADSS greatly facilitates decision-making for stormwater source control, which is currently impeded by the large number of stakeholders involved and by the necessary multidisciplinary knowledge. This book presents the results of this project, providing new insights into both technical and management issues. The main objectives of its technical chapters are pollution source control modelling, risk and impact assessment, and evaluation and comparison of best management practices. It also covers management aspects, such as the analysis of the decision-making processes in stormwater source control, at a European scale, and stormwater management strategies in general. The combination of scientific-technical and socio-managerial knowledge, with the strong cooperation of numerous end-users, reflects the innovative character of this book which includes actual applications of the ADSS prototype in significant case studies. DayWater: an Adaptive Decision Support System for Urban Stormwater Management contains 26 chapters collectively prepared by DayWater scientific partners and end-users associated with this European Research and Development project. It includes: A general presentation of the DayWater Adaptive Decision Support System (ADSS) structure and operation modes, A detailed description of the major components of this ADSS prototype, The assessment of its components in significant case studies in France, Germany and Sweden, The proceedings of the International Conference on Decision Support Systems for Integrated Urban Water Management, held in Paris on 3-4 November 2005. The book presents the ADSS prototype including a combination of freely accessible on-line databases, guidance documents, road maps and modelling or multi-criteria analysis tools. As demonstrated in several significant case studies the challenge for stormwater managers is to make the benefits of urban stormwater management visible to society, resulting in active co-operation of a diversity of stakeholders. Only then, will sustainable management succeed. DayWater: an Adaptive Decision Support System for Urban Stormwater Management advances this cause of sustainable urban management through Urban stormwater management, and makes achievable (by means of risk and vulnerability tools which are included) the goal of integrated urban water management (IUWM).

These proceedings of the International Water Association conference held in Valencia, Spain in March 2008 reflect the performance indicators developed in the final stage of the COST C18 Action in the EU. Here over 30 papers cover performance indicators, metric and process benchmarking, asset management and regulation and a selection of case studies. Paper topics include cross-linked performance indicators for sustainability evaluations, performance assessment as a management tool for water facilities governance in developing countries, web-based applications, activity-based costing and benchmarking, proactive crisis management, technical performance indicators in urban areas, optimal utility incentives in local settings, and benchmarking the process of customer meter reading and meter replacement. Case studies come from projects developed in such locations as the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic, Jakarta, South Africa, Austria, Portugal, and Greece. Each paper includes its own references.

This report is the summary of a portion of a larger-scale project titled Salt Creek Water Quality Studies (SCWQS) performed by the City of Lincoln, Nebraska, for an approximate seven year period from 1994 through 2000, to address proposed ammonia effluent limits for the Cityi 's two wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). The project focused on characterizing Salt Creek by quantifying the existing biological community, evaluating existing water quality, physical and hydrologic conditions, and evaluating the impact of ammonia discharges from the WWTPs to the biological community compared to other stressors. The portion of the project that is the primary focus of this report is the in situ toxicity study performed in Salt Creek that modeled typical laboratory tests that introduce a species of fish to known levels of ammonia to determine a dose-response relationship. The in situ toxicity study results would be the basis for developing a site-specific chronic ammonia water quality criterion for Segment LP2-20000 of Salt Creek.The Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) provided peer review for this project, which resulted in credible research results that were used to develop alternative ammonia discharge limits for the City's WWTPs.Substantial support was also provided by the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality and the Region VII Environmental Protection Agency.

Hydrometry presents a thorough introduction to the science of hydrometry: the measurement of flow in open channels. Dealing with both traditional techniques and innovative new methods and instruments, in line with the latest ISO standards, this book deals with the main themes of hydrometry: the measurement of water levels and bed levels, of discharge and of sediment transport; it considers the use of flow measurement structures, hydrological networks and the organization of river surveys.

Wubbo Boiten has extensive experience in teaching students from many countries and backgrounds, and has distilled this experience into a clear and comprehensive account of hydrology and water resource management. Hydrometry will appeal to graduate students and professionals in hydrology and management of water resources.

Except in schoolboy jokes, the subject of human waste is rarely aired. We talk about water-related diseases when most are sanitation-related - in short, we don t mention the shit. A century and a half ago, a long, hot summer reduced the Thames flowing past the UK Houses of Parliament to a Great Stink, thereby inducing MPs to legislate sanitary reform. Today, another sanitary reformation is needed, one that manages to spread cheaper and simpler systems to people everywhere. In the byways of the developing world, much is quietly happening on the excretory frontier. In 2008, the International Year of Sanitation, the authors bring this awkward subject to a wider audience than the world of international filth usually commands. They seek the elimination of the Great Distaste so that people without political clout or economic muscle can claim their right to a dignified and hygienic place to go . Published with UNICEF

Based on the suggestions made by the speakers of Plenary Session IV "Ch- lenges to the management of water resources and to countering deserti cation in the Mediterranean region" during the 15th Economic and Environmental Forum, the OCEEA proposed to organize a workshop on "Water Scarcity, Land Degra- tion and Deserti cation in the Mediterranean region - Environment and Security Aspects." In order to build on common synergies, OSCE sought co-operation with c- leagues from NATO, in particular from the Science for Peace and Security P- gramme. NATO has a longstanding expertise on the issue and had organised in Valencia, in December 2003, a NATO scienti c workshop on "Deserti cation and Security in the Mediterranean Region." The objective of the new proposed wo- shop would be to broaden its focus from the scienti c community to include also policy makers. 1 The workshop, aimed at government of cials from the Mediterranean Region, gathered representatives of Water management, Land degradation and Desert- cation Departments of Ministries of Environment and representatives from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs. In addition, policy makers, scientists and experts were also invited. The aim was to discuss how the OSCE, NATO and other c- petent organizations like the UNCCD, UNEP, MAP, and the EU could play a role in ensuring that environment and security linkages in terms of water scarcity, land degradation and deserti cation are addressed in the Mediterranean Region.

The modern definition of firefighter no longer means "putting the wet stuff on the red stuff." Emergency responders answer incidents ranging from fire alarm activations to elevator rescues and medical emergencies more often than full-blown fires. Consequently, responders increasingly interface with a wide array of building systems. Underscoring the changing role of firefighters, Fire Protection: Systems and Response presents the basic knowledge of the inner workings of fire safety/fire protection systems and related equipment in buildings.

The author provides a straightforward overview of the functions and benefits of these systems and how they can assist with fire suppression, code enforcement, alarm response, and elevator rescue. The book's comprehensive discussion of elevators, fire command centers, emergency generators and lighting, and HVAC systems sets it apart from other fire protection books currently available. The topics covered prepare emergency response personnel for the challenges they face working with fire protection systems, fire alarm systems, and elevators.

Logically organized, clearly written, and covering all systems in a single text, this presentation of information streamlines fire service interaction with building features and fire protection systems. Providing an understanding of how systems are designed and installed, the book is also a reference for troubleshooting fire protection problems in the field. The information not only gives responders an appreciationknowledge of how the systems work, but helps them use this knowledge to perform their job better.

Handbook of Nanomaterials for Wastewater Treatment: Fundamentals and Scale up Issues provides coverage of the nanomaterials used for wastewater treatment, covering photocatalytic nanocomposite materials, nanomaterials used as adsorbents, water remediation processes, and their current status and challenges. The book explores the major applications of nanomaterials for effective catalysis and adsorption, also providing in-depth information on the properties and application of new advanced nanomaterials for wastewater treatment processes. This is an important reference source for researchers who need to solve basic and advanced problems relating to the use of nanomaterials for the development of wastewater treatment processes and technologies. As nanotechnology has the potential to substantially improve current water and wastewater treatment processes, the synthesis methods and physiochemical properties of nanomaterials and noble metal nanoparticles make their performance and mechanisms efficient for the treatment of various pollutants.

This well-documented study examines one of the increasingly pressing problems for US homeland security: the storage and management of radioactive waste. Despite pressing homeland security and energy security concerns associated with highly radioactive waste, political considerations have prevented policy makers from adopting adequate long-term solutions to the problem. This book explores nuclear waste problems through the broader lens of federal, state and local government and the resultant constraints on policy that emerge within the American political system. Presenting specific case studies to highlight the deficiencies in current policy and planning as well as the possibility of terrorist activity, it is highly suited to courses on security studies and environmental politics.

The UN Water Decade has been the catalyst for much research and development in water-related fields, and one result of the Decade has been improved dissemination of the water technologies being developed. Community Water Development presents some of the best material from leading researchers and practitioners in rural water supply in developing countries. The book sets out the original concepts and field experience for the development of appropriate technologies for water supply, and illustrates the changes in thinking which have taken place over the Decade. The various sections, originally published over seven years as articles in Waterlines and Appropriate Technology magazines, cover sources of supply, pumping methods, transport and storage as well as education and training, and questions of planning and management. People remain at the heart of every contributor's concerns, and overall the sixty articles will provide and invaluable tool for anyone concerned with community-sensitive approaches to water-supply problems, whether they are teachers, students or engineers.

In Water Sheikhs and Dam Builders Francesca de Chatel discusses the problems and paradoxes of water resources in the Middle East and North Africa, exploring the past, present, and future of water in the region and exposing the roots of the current water crisis.

The author provides a colorful and diverse portrait of a resource that is inextricably entwined with the history and future of the region and its peoples. Based on four years of research and travel from Iran to Libya and from Israel to Syria, the book combines lively character sketches, interviews, travel descriptions, historical anecdotes, and hard facts to reveal the complexity of this invaluable resource. Besides identifying the causes of the current water crisis, the book also discusses the reasons behind the widespread lack of awareness of the problem among the general public. The book deals with a variety of themes, such as the role of water in religions and ideologies, the impact of large-scale water projects on people's perception of the resource, and the politics of water pricing. The first four chapters focus on the historical and cultural legacy of water in the region and form the background to the second part of the book, which addresses various aspects of the current crisis. The last two chapters look at the future of water management, identifying a number of strategies that could lead to a more sustainable water use.

By exploring the history and culture of water and approaching the subject from a human perspective, de Chatel takes an entirely new angle on the much-discussed question of water scarcity in the Middle East. Unlike other books on the subject that provide specialized geopolitical, economic, and hydrological analyses, Water Sheikhs and Dam Builders presents the reality of water scarcity through the eyes of those who have to confront the problem on a daily basis. As such, it will capture the interest of environmental scientists, water experts, and Middle East scholars as well as general readers with an interest in the Middle East and the environment.

Water conflicts in India have now percolated to every level. They are aggravated by the relative paucity of frameworks, policies and mechanisms to govern the use of water resources. Based on the premise that understanding and documenting different types of water conflict cases in all their complexity would contribute to informed public debate and facilitate their resolution, Forum for Policy Dialogue on Water Conflicts in India, a collaborative initiative of the WWF project 'Dialogue on Water, Food and Environment', documented a number of such case studies. One of its kind in India, this book brings together an impressive sixty-three case studies - summarized status of the conflicts, the issues involved and their current position - and gives us a glimpse into 'the million revolts' that are brewing around water. While recognizing that each conflict is a microcosm of wider conflicts, the editors have classified these cases into eight broad themes that try to capture the dominant aspect of the conflict. These are: contending water uses; dams and displacement; equity-access-allocations; micro-level conflicts; water quality; trans-boundary conflicts; privatization; sand excavation and mining. With a mix of academics and activists as contributors, the book makes an important contribution to a new discourse on water in general, and water conflicts and conflict resolution in particular.

The objectives of this project are to document the performance and whole-life costs of Best Management Practices (BMPs) and Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS). These two terms refer to stormwater practices implemented in the U.S. and UK to reduce the impact of urbanization. The study was undertaken for a number of reasons, including: The lack of data on operational performance (in connection with both water quantity and quality management) A need to better understand future financial liabilities associated with the widespread adoption of these facilities The need to improve confidence in BMPs/SUDS techniques to facilitate appropriate regulation and adoption. The BMPs/SUDS selected for evaluation in this study include retention ponds, extended detention basins, vegetated swales, bioretention, porous pavements, and various infiltration practices. A whole-life cost model was developed in a spreadsheet framework to allow calculation of the expected cost of a facility based on drainage area, maintenance expectations, and other factors. Separate models were developed for five of the selected systems. The default values for many model parameters were extracted from the information gained in the survey of systems in the U.S. and UK.

The World Water Development Report 2003 pointed out the extensive problem that: 'Sadly, the tragedy of the water crisis is not simply a result of lack of water but is, essentially, one of poor water governance.' Cross-sectional and historical intra-national and international comparisons have been recognized as a valuable method of study in different sectors of human life, including technologies and governance. Environmental History of Water fills this gap, with its main focus being on water and sanitation services and their evolution. Altogether 34 authors have written 30 chapters for this multidisciplinary book which divides into four chronological parts, from ancient cultures to the challenges of the 21st century, each with its introduction and conclusions written by the editors. The authors represent such disciplines as history of technology, history of public health, public policy, development studies, sociology, engineering and management sciences. This book emphasizes that the history of water and sanitation services is strongly linked to current water management and policy issues, as well as future implications. Geographically the book consists of local cases from all inhabited continents. The key penetrating themes of the book include especially population growth, health, water consumption, technological choices and governance. There is great need for general, long-term analysis at the global level. Lessons learned from earlier societies help us to understand the present crisis and challenges. This new book, Environmental History of Water, provides this analysis by studying these lessons.

In order to facilitate more effective integration of monitoring data and technically sound assessment methodologies into the waterbody assessment and listing process, a critical evaluation of the current methodologies employed by the states was recognized by WERF. Funding was provided to document and evaluate current assessment and listing methodologies employed by the states during the development of their Integrated Reports. The findings from the review of current waterbody assessment methodologies presented herein provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of the science for the waterbody assessment and listing process. Using the strengths found in many of the states assessment methodologies and information found in other guidance, the Research Team developed recommendations which request the states to: 1) develop and publish minimum data quantity and quality requirements, 2) better integrate monitoring programs with waterbody assessment needs, 3) develop standardized assessment units that allow for better water quality extrapolation, 4) develop numeric water quality criteria by which to more reliably determine support or impairment of designated uses, 5) use statistically-based data evaluation techniques to more confidently determine attainment of water quality standards, and 6) include the public in the assessment and listing methodology development process.

The exercise of solving engineering problems that require optimisation procedures can be seriously affected by uncertain variables, resulting in potential underperforming solutions. Although this is a well-known problem, important knowledge gaps are still to be addressed. For example, concepts of robustness largely differ from study to study, robust solutions are generally provided with limited information about their uncertainty, and robust optimisation is difficult to apply as it is a computationally demanding task. The proposed research aims to address the mentioned challenges and focuses on robust optimisation of multiple objectives and multiple sources of probabilistically described uncertainty. This is done by the development of the Robust Optimisation and Probabilistic Analysis of Robustness algorithm (ROPAR), which integrates widely accepted robustness metrics into a single flexible framework. In this thesis, ROPAR is not only tested in benchmark functions, but also in engineering problems related to the water sector, in particular the design of urban drainage and water distribution systems. ROPAR allows for employing practically any existing multi-objective optimisation algorithm as its internal optimisation engine, which enables its applicability to other problems as well. Additionally, ROPAR can be straightforwardly parallelized, allowing for fast availability of results.