Exponential growth in population and improved standards of living demand increasing amount of freshwater and are putting serious strain on the quantity of naturally available freshwater worldwide. Water Management: Social and Technological Perspectives discusses developments in energy-efficient water production, management, wastewater treatment, and social and political aspects related to water management and re-use of treated water. It features a scientific and technological perspective to meeting current and future needs, discussing such technologies as membrane separation using reverse osmosis, the use of nanoparticles for adsorption of impurities from wastewater, and the use of thermal methods for desalination. The book also discusses increasing the efficiency of water usage in industrial, agricultural, and domestic applications to ensure a sustainable system of water production, usage, and recycling. With 30 chapters authored by internationally renowned experts, this work offers readers a comprehensive view of both social and technological outlooks to help solve this global issue.

One of the seventeen critical infrastructures vital to the security of the United States, the water supply system remains largely unprotected from the threat of terrorism, including possible revenge by Al Qaeda over the killing of Osama Bin Laden. Recognizing and identifying prospective events of terrorism against the water infrastructure is critical to the protection of the nation, as the consequences triggered by a terrorist attack on the water supply would be devastating. Risk Assessment for Water Infrastructure: Safety and Security provides a unique quantitative risk assessment methodology for protection and security against terrorist contamination, vandalism, attacks against dams, and other threats to water supply systems. Focusing on the human safety, environmental, and economic consequences triggered by potential terrorist attacks and other threats, the book presents: The development of an integrated approach of risk assessment based upon the cumulative prospect theory The qualitative/quantitative processes and models for security and safe facility operations as required by EPA, DHS, and other governmental and regulatory agencies The application of an integrated model to the risk assessment of surface water, dams, wells, wastewater treatment facilities, reservoirs, and aqueducts of large urban regions The development of intelligence analysis incorporating risk assessment for terrorism prevention Finally, the book presents the legal and regulatory requirements and policy related to the protection and security of water infrastructure from terrorism and natural hazards to both human health and the environment. By analyzing potential terrorist risks against the water supply, strategic improvements in U.S. water infrastructure security may be achieved, including changes in policy, incorporation of intrusion detection technology, increased surveillance, and increased intelligence. More information can be found on the author's website.

To address the issue of discharge of untreated industrial effluent in the water body causing pollution, adoption of cleaner production technologies and waste minimization initiatives are being encouraged. The book explains each related technology elaborately and critically analyses the same from practical application point of view. In-depth characterization, environmental and health effects and treatment of various industrial effluents are discussed with case studies. Limitations, challenges and remedial actions to be taken are included at the end of each chapter. Chapters are arranged as per specific type of effluents from various industries like textile, tannery/leather plant, and oil refinery.

Water Quality Data emphasizes the interpretation of a water analysis or a group of analyses, with major applications on ground-water pollution or contaminant transport. A companion computer program aids in obtaining accurate, reproducible results, and alleviates some of the drudgery involved in water chemistry calculations.
The text is divided into nine chapters and includes computer programs applicable to all the main concepts presented. After introducing the fundamental aspects of water chemistry, the book focuses on the interpretation of water chemical data. The interrelationships between the various aspects of geochemistry and between chemistry and geology are discussed. The book describes the origin and interpretation of the major elements, and some minor ones, that affect water quality.
Readers are introduced to the elementary thermodynamics necessary to understand the use and results from water equilibrium computer programs. The book includes a detailed overview of organic chemistry and identifies the simpler and environmentally important organic chemicals. Methods are given to estimate the distribution of organic chemicals in the environment. The author fully explains all accompanying computer programs and presents this complex topic in a style that is interesting and easy to grasp for anyone.

This practical book, co-published with the National Environmental Health Association, describes the step-by-step procedures needed to avoid common pitfalls in septic system technology. Valuable in matching the septic system to the site-specific conditions, this useful book will help you install a reliable system in both suitable and difficult environments. Septic tank installers, planners, state and local regulators, civil and sanitary engineers, consulting engineers, architects, homeowners, academics, and land developers will find this publication valuable.

Using the water footprint concept, this impactful book aids our understanding of how we can reduce water consumption and pollution to sustainable levels. Since the publication of the first edition, the question of how to reduce our water footprint has become even more urgent. Freshwater scarcity is increasingly perceived as a global systemic risk and overconsumption of water is widespread. The water footprint, a concept founded by the author, is an indicator of direct and indirect freshwater use by a consumer or producer that can be used to analyze water usage along supply chains and assess the sustainability, efficiency and fairness of our water use. This new edition is fully revised and updated to reflect continued developments in this rapidly growing field of knowledge. New chapters are added covering the history of the water footprint concept; the environmental footprint of the human species versus planetary boundaries; and the human right to water as a foundation to equitable sharing. All other chapters are fully revised with new findings, applications and references, including major new research on energy, vegetarian diets and intelligent water allocation over competing demands. The Water Footprint of Modern Consumer Society is a key textbook for students of interdisciplinary water studies and those taking other related courses within the environmental sciences. It will also be of interest to those working in the governmental sector, environmental and consumer organizations, the business sector and UN institutions, where there is growing interest in the water footprint concept.

The hydrological sciences typically present grey or fuzzy information, making them quite messy and a choice challenge for fuzzy logic application. Providing readers with the first book to cover fuzzy logic modeling as it relates to water science, the author takes an approach that incorporates verbal expert views and other parameters that allow him to eschew the use of mathematics. The book's first seven chapters expose the fuzzy logic principles, processes and design for a fruitful inference system with many hydrological examples. The last two chapters present the use of those principles in larger scale hydrological scales within the hydrological cycle.

This informative new book takes an interdisciplinary look at agricultural and food production and how new engineering practices can be used to enhance production. With contributions from international experts from India, Russia, China, Serbia, and USA, this book presents a selection of chapters on some of these emerging practices, focusing on soil and water conservation and management; agricultural processing engineering; water quality and management; emerging agricultural crops; renewable energy use in agriculture; and applications of nanotechnology in agriculture.

Development of advanced technologies is a critical component in overcoming the looming water crisis. Stressing emerging technologies and strategies that facilitate water sustainability for future generations, the second volume in the two-volume set Sustainable Water Management and Technologies provides current and forthcoming technologies research, development, and applications to help ensure availability of water for all. The book emphasizes emerging nanotechnology, biotechnology, and information technology applications as well as sustainable processes and products to protect the environment and human health, save water and energy, and minimize material use. It also discusses such topics as groundwater transport, protection, and remediation, industrial and wastewater treatment, reuse, and disposal, membrane technology for water purification and desalination, treatment and disposal in unconventional oil and gas development, biodegradation, and bioremediation for soil and water. Stresses emerging technologies and strategies that facilitate water sustainability. Covers a wide array of topics including drinking water, wastewater, and groundwater treatment, protection, and remediation. Discusses oil and gas drilling impacts and pollution prevention, membrane technology for water desalination and purification, biodegradation, and bioremediation for soil and water. Details emerging nanotechnology, biotechnology, and information technology applications, as well as sustainable processes and products.

While the world's population continues to grow, the availability of water remains constant. Facing the looming water crisis, society needs to tackle strategic management issues as an integrated part of the solution toward water sustainability. The first volume in the two-volume set Sustainable Water Management and Technologies offers readers a practical and comprehensive look at such key water management topics as water resource planning and governance, water infrastructure planning and adaption, proper regulations, and water scarcity and inequality. It discusses best management practices for water resource allocation, ground water protection, and water quality assurance, especially for rural, arid, and underdeveloped regions of the world. Timely topics such as drought, ecosystem sustainability, climate change, and water management for shale oil and gas development are presented. Discusses best practices for water resource allocation, ground water protection, and water quality assurance. Offers chapters on urban, rural, arid, and underdeveloped regions of the world. Describes timely topics such as drought, ecosystem sustainability, climate change, and water management for shale oil and gas development. Covers water resource planning and governance, water infrastructure planning and adaptation, proper regulations, and water scarcity and inequality Discusses water resource monitoring, efficiency, and quality management.

Africa has been severely affected by droughts in the past, contributing to food insecure conditions in several African countries. In view of the (even more) severe drought conditions and water shortage that may be expected in sub-Saharan Africa in the coming years, efforts should focus on improving drought management by ameliorating resilience and preparedness to drought. This study contributes to the development of a modelling framework for hydrological drought forecasting in sub-Saharan Africa as a step towards an effective early warning system. The proposed hydrological drought forecasting system makes use of a hydrological model that was found to be suitable for drought forecasting in Africa and could represent the most severe past droughts in the Limpopo Basin. The modelling results showed that there is an added value in computing indicators based on the hydrological model for the identification of droughts and their severity. The proposed seasonal forecasting system for the Limpopo Basin was found to be skilful in predicting hydrological droughts during the summer rainy season. The findings showed that the persistence of the initial hydrological conditions contribute to the predictability up to 2 to 4 months, while for longer lead times the predictability of the system is dominated by the meteorological forcing. An effective drought forecasting and warning system will hopefully contribute to important aspects in the region such as water security, food security, hazard management, and risk reduction.

Invasive non-native species are a major threat to global biodiversity. Often introduced accidentally through international travel or trade, they invade and colonize new habitats, often with devastating consequences for the local flora and fauna. Their environmental impacts can range from damage to resource production (e.g. agriculture and forestry) and infrastructure (e.g. buildings, road and water supply), to human health. They consequently can have major economic impacts. It is a priority to prevent their introduction and spread, as well as to control them. Freshwater ecosystems are particularly at risk from invasions and are landscape corridors that facilitate the spread of invasives. This book reviews the current state of knowledge of the most notable global invasive freshwater species or groups, based on their severity of economic impact, geographic distribution outside of their native range, extent of research, and recognition of the ecological severity of the impact of the species by the IUCN. As well as some of the very well-known species, the book also covers some invasives that are emerging as serious threats. Examples covered include a range of aquatic and riparian plants, insects, molluscs, crustacea, fish, amphibians, reptiles and mammals, as well as some major pathogens of aquatic organisms. The book also includes overview chapters synthesizing the ecological impact of invasive species in fresh water and summarizing practical implications for the management of rivers and other freshwater habitats.

The vocabulary and discourse of water resource management have expanded vastly in recent years to include an array of new concepts and terminology, such as water security, water productivity, virtual water and water governance. While the new conceptual lenses may generate insights that improve responses to the world's water challenges, their practical use is often encumbered by ambiguity and confusion. This book applies critical scrutiny to a prominent set of new but widely used terms, in order to clarify their meanings and improve the basis on which we identify and tackle the world's water challenges. More specifically, the book takes stock of what several of the more prominent new terms mean, reviews variation in interpretation, explores how they are measured, and discusses their respective added value. It makes many implicit differences between terms explicit and aids understanding and use of these terms by both students and professionals. At the same time, it does not ignore the legitimately contested nature of some concepts. Further, the book enables greater precision on the interpretational options for the various terms, and for the value that they add to water policy and its implementation.

Conflicts over waste disposal facility siting is a pressing issue not only in developed countries but also in fast-growing countries that face drastic waste increase and rapid urbanisation. How to address distributive justice has been one of the biggest concerns. This book examines what determines the influence of distributive justice in siting policy. In the 23 wards of Tokyo, one idea of distributive justice, known as "In-Ward Waste Disposal" (IWWD), emerged amid the ongoing garbage crisis in the early 1970s. IWWD was adopted as a significant principle, but its influence waxed and waned over time, until the idea was finally abandoned in 2003. To unravel causes and mechanisms behind the changing influence of IWWD, this book adopts a framework that considers not only ideational causes, but also the power struggles between rationally calculating actors, as well as the influence of external events and environments. By combining an in-depth case study with an integrative theoretical framework, this book tells a thought-provoking story of the changing influence of IWWD in a deep, comprehensive and consistent way. This book provides significant insights and lessons for both academics and practitioners.

As a wetland of international importance located in China, the Poyang Lake Basin's incredible topographical and biological diversity has provided a congregating point for scientists from around the world to engage in cross-disciplinary research. In particular, the International Conference on Poyang Lake Complex Environment System was instrumental in bringing together scholars from China, North America, and Europe to explore the latest innovations in water resource science and watershed management. Featuring cutting-edge research in watershed management presented at this landmark event, Wetland and Water Resource Modeling Assessment pairs the accounts of Poyang Lake with additional information on the important watersheds of North America and Asia to help facilitate the development of decision support tools. The book explains that successful ecosystem assessment and modeling requires three key criteria: 1. Large spatial scales in data collection and analysis must be used to encompass major watershed features 2. Landscape features are needed to appropriately characterize hydrological processes and ecosystem components 3. Management decisions must be linked to results to facilitate ecosystem assessment Through the study of the diverse watersheds featured in Wetland and Water Resource Modeling Assessment, such as Poyang Lake, government, academia, and Industry can obtain the innovative technical tools needed to stay on top of this active field.

Sorption technique was employed to remove heavy metals from gold mining effluent using natural and plant materials for sustainability. An assessment of the effluent quality of a gold mining company in Ghana indicated that arsenic, copper and cyanide were the major pollutants in the process effluent. Arsenic and copper were successfully removed from the effluent by the studied materials. The research showed that the down-flow fixed-bed treatment configuration is an ideal system for the simultaneous removal of copper and arsenic from low concentration gold mining effluent, in addition to other heavy metals present in very low concentrations.

The Congress "Arsenic in the Environment" offers an international, multi- and interdisciplinary discussion platform for research and innovation aimed towards a holistic solution to the problem posed by the environmental toxin arsenic, with significant societal impact. The Congress has focused on cutting edge and breakthrough research in physical, chemical, toxicological, medical, agricultural and other specific issues on arsenic across a broader environmental realm. The Biennial Congress "Arsenic in the Environment" was first organized in Mexico City (As2006) followed by As2008 in Valencia (Spain), As2010 in Tainan (Chinese Taiwan), As2012 in Cairns (Australia), As2014 in Buenos Aires (Argentina) and As2016 in Stockholm (Sweden). The 7th International Congress As2018 was held July 1-6, 2018, in Beijing, P. R. China and was entitled Environmental Arsenic in a Changing World. The Congress addressed the broader context of arsenic research aligned on the following themes: Theme 1: Arsenic Behaviour in Changing Environmental Media Theme 2: Arsenic in a Changing Agricultural Ecosystem Theme 3: Health Impacts of Environmental Arsenic Theme 4: Technologies for Arsenic Immobilization and Clean Water Blueprints Theme 5: Sustainable Mitigation and Management Arsenic in drinking water (mainly groundwater) has emerged as an issue of global health concern. During last decade, the presence of arsenic in rice, possibly also other food of plant origins, has attained increasing attention. This is particularly true in the Asian countries, where the use of high arsenic groundwater as source of irrigation water and drinking water has been flagged as severe health concern. This has been accentuated by elevating arsenic concentrations in deep groundwater recharged from shallow high arsenic groundwater, which may have further detrimental effects on public health. Notably, China has been in the forefront of research on arsenic biogeochemical cycling, health effects of arsenic, technologies for arsenic removal, and sustainable mitigation measures. The Congress has attracted professionals involved in different segments of interdisciplinary research on arsenic in an open forum, and strengthened relations between academia, research institutions, government and non-governmental agencies, industries, and civil society organizations to share an optimal ambience for exchange of knowledge.

This book discusses the development of useful models and their applications in soil and water engineering. It covers various modeling methods, including groundwater recharge estimation, rainfall-runoff modeling using artificial neural networks, development and application of a water balance model and a HYDRUS-2D model for cropped fields, a multi-model approach for stream flow simulation, multi-criteria analysis for construction of groundwater structures in hard rock terrains, hydrologic modeling of watersheds using remote sensing, and GIS and AGNPS.

At the UN General Assembly in 1997, an overwhelming majority of States voted for the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses - a global overarching framework governing the rights and duties of States sharing freshwater systems. Globally, there are 263 internationally shared watersheds, which drain the territories of 145 countries and represent more than forty percent of the Earth's land surface. Hence, inter-State cooperation towards the sustainable management of transboundary water supplies, in accordance with applicable international legal instruments, is a topic of crucial importance, especially in the context of the current global water crisis. This volume provides an assessment of the role and relevance of the UN Watercourses Convention and describes and evaluates its entry into force as a key component of transboundary water governance. To date, the Convention still requires further contracting States before it can enter into force. The authors describe the drafting and negotiation of the Convention and its relationship to other multilateral environmental agreements. A series of case studies assess the role of the Convention at various levels: regional (European Union, East Africa, West Africa, Central Asia, Central America and South America), river basin (e.g. the Mekong and Congo) and national (e.g. Ethiopia and Mexico). The book concludes by proposing how future implementation might further strengthen international cooperation in the management of water resources, to promote biodiversity conservation as well as sustainable and equitable use.

Water management challenges in many basins of Sub-Saharan Africa are increasing due to rapid urbanisation, poverty and food insecurity, energy demands, and climate change. These challenges put additional demands on existing water institutions, and their capacity to reconcile competing claims. In addition to supply augmentation measures, solving water competition and conflict requires crafting new governance arrangements that can ensure equitable and sustainable use of the limited water resources. This book discusses how instead of harmony, state intervention in the water sector appears to generate dissonance at the interface with locally evolved water institutions. The book describes and analyses how local level innovation in institutional arrangements for water sharing often emerged around the creation of hydraulic property and/or is negotiated to secure more water flow for downstream users. Unlike most research on collective action in which water asymmetry, inequality and heterogeneity are seen as risks to collective action, the book discusses how they instead dynamically interact and give rise to interdependencies between water users which facilitate coordination and collective action. The book describes in detail cooperative arrangements as well as conflicts between large- and small-scale irrigation farmers, as well as between irrigation farmers and cities in an African context. The book makes a novel contribution to existing theories and concepts related to catchment water management. It expands the typology of basin actors' responses by explicitly introducing a meso layer which depicts the interface where state-led and local-level initiatives and responses are played out. The book also provides conceptual clarity on the dynamics between water asymmetry, inequality in access to land, and heterogeneity sustaining collective action over common pool resources. It further shows that not all the eight institutional design principles proposed by Ostrom (1993) are necessary for a water institution to be effective and to endure over time.

Gibbons examines the water supply problem through five case studies. The problems faced by these regions and the methods suggested to overcome them provide excellent models for the entire United States. The case studies---typically, expanding supplies---but economic efficiency principles lead to emphasizing managing the demand. In many cases, this means reducing demand by raising prices.

Worldwide, many regions have a great potential to cover part of their pressing water needs by renewable energy powered water treatment processes using either thermal or membrane based technologies. Not only arid and semiarid regions are increasingly suffering from water shortage but also many other regions face a limitation of freshwater resources either by increasing contamination of surface water bodies or groundwater resources unsuitable for drinking and irrigation purposes either due to their high grade of mineralization or their contents of toxic components. In many areas without centralized water supply, treatment techniques using locally available renewable energy resources such as wind, solar and geothermal can provide an economical, social and environmentally sustainable option for clean water production from seawater and from highly mineralized or otherwise unsuitable ground- and surface water. This book provides an overview on possible cost-efficient techniques and application opportunities for different scales and shows why the implementation of these technologies faces numerous technological, economic and policy barriers and provides suggestions how they can be overcome. It serves as a synoptic compendium of the fundamentals of freshwater production using renewable energies, applicable to all types of water, ranging from brackish to marine water and also including industrial and communal residual water. The book is aimed at professionals, academics and decision makers worldwide, working in the areas of water resources, water supply,land planning, energy planning, greenhouse gases emission mitigation and rural development.

This book focuses on best management practices for drip irrigated crops. It cover irrigation methods, scheduling of micro irrigation, and mulching and crop performance. Micro irrigation techniques with diverse crops are discussed, including sweet pepper, chili, tomatoes, cauliflower, wheat, sweet peas, sugarcane, and potatoes. The performance of the various techniques has been tested and evaluated in the field. Written by experts on micro irrigation, this valuable book is a must-have for micro irrigation professionals as well as advanced students.

Urban water conflicts manifested first in Europe in the 19th century and are observed nowadays in various forms throughout the world; in particular, in developing countries. Main causes of these conflicts are characterized by complex socioeconomic and institutional issues related to urban water management. The debate about public water services versus private water supplies is frequently associated with conflicts over water price and affordability. On the other hand, the issue of centralization versus decentralization of water utilities is also often discussed in the context of institutional aspects of urban water management. These issues are intertwined and, thereby, a critical examination of socioeconomic and institutional aspects of urban water management in a holistic way is important for better understanding water conflicts in urban areas.

Urban Water Conflicts the output of a project by UNESCO 's International Hydrological Programme on Socioeconomic and Institutional Aspects in Urban Water Management presents a collection of essays on socioeconomic and institutional aspects of urban water management, focusing on water and sanitation services. The book examines interdisciplinary approaches to understanding and analyzing conflicts that arise from inadequate urban water management. Conflict analysis is addressed in some essays by taking into account economic, environmental and social dimensions of sustainability. The issue of institutional conflicts between different levels of government is also discussed in some case studies.

The Lake Governance book will focus on comparative analysis of governance structures by examining policy, legal and institutional structures of current transboundary commissions to develop a common framework for good governance of transboundary lakes. Cooperation among nations sharing natural resources is important for sustainable use of the shared resources. Lakes contribute a big part to GDP in most of the countries and in some cases are also responsible for providing fisheries (for food, source of protein and livelihood). Climate change and associated risks and uncertainties add more complexity to the problems. This book will explore current water governance challenges, knowledge gaps and recommend a framework for good lake governance.