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Population increase has placed ever-increasing demands on the available groundwater (GW) resources, particularly for intensive agricultural activities. In India, groundwater is the backbone of agriculture and drinking purposes. In the present study, an assessment of groundwater reserves was carried out in the Udaipur district, Aravalli range, India. It was observed that the principal aquifer for the availability of groundwater in the studied area is quartzite, phyllite, gneisses, schist, and dolomitic marble, which occur in unconfined to semi-confined zones. Furthermore, all primary chemical ingredients were found within the permissible limit, including granum. We also found that the average annual rainfall days in a year in the study area was 30 from 1957 to 2020, and it has been found that there are chances to receive surplus rainfall once in every five deficit rainfall years. Using integrated remote sensing, GIS, and a field-based spatial modeling approach, it was found that the dynamic GW reserves of the area are 637.42 mcm/annum, and the total groundwater draft is 639.67 mcm/annum. The deficit GW reserves are 2.25 mcm/annum from an average rainfall of 627 mm, hence the stage of groundwater development is 100.67% and categorized as over-exploited. However, as per the relationship between reserves and rainfall events, surplus reserves are available when rainfall exceeds 700 mm. We conclude that enough static GW reserves are available in the studied area to sustain the requirements of the drought period. For the long-term sustainability of groundwater use, controlling groundwater abstraction by optimizing its use, managing it properly through techniques such as sprinkler and drip irrigation, and achieving more crop-per-drop schemes, will go a long way to conserving this essential reserve, and create maximum groundwater recharge structures.

The IWA Performance Indicator System for water services is now recognized as a worldwide reference. Since it first appearance in 2000, the system has been widely quoted, adapted and used in a large number of projects both for internal performance assessment and metric benchmarking. Water professionals have benefited from a coherent and flexible system, with precise and detailed definitions that in many cases have become a standard. The system has proven to be adaptable and it has been used in very different contexts for diverse purposes. The Performance Indicators System can be used in any organization regardless of its size, nature (public, private, etc.) or degree of complexity and development. The third edition of Performance Indicators for Water Supply Services represents a further improvement of the original manual. It contains a reviewed and consolidated version of the indicators, resulting from the real needs of water companies worldwide that were expressed during the extensive field testing of the original system. The indicators now properly cover bulk distribution and the needs of developing countries, and all definitions have been thoroughly revised. The confidence grading scheme has been simplified and the procedure to assess the results- uncertainty has been significantly enhanced. In addition to the updated contents of the original edition, a large part of the manual is now devoted to the practical application of the system. Complete with simplified step-by-step implementation procedures and case studies, the manual provides guidelines on how to adapt the IWA concepts and indicators to specific contexts and objectives. This new edition of Performance Indicators for Water Supply Services is an invaluable reference source for all those concerned with managing the performance of the water supply industry, including those in the water utilities as well as regulators, policy-makers and financial agencies.  

In recent years, the water environment management of the Wenyu River has yielded positive outcomes. In comparison to earlier, the general water quality has substantially improved. However, some areas’ water quality has not improved as a result of the overall trend of improvement, which has implications for the surrounding areas and the entire water environment. To further explore the water environmental quality of specific river sections, this paper adopts the five monitoring sections of Shahe Gate, Mafang, Lutuan Gate, Xinbao Gate, and the additional sewage outlet in 2019, and the three main water quality indicators of COD, DO, and NH3-N. The water quality of the Wenyu River was evaluated using the comprehensive water quality identification index method, and the characteristics of its temporal and spatial changes were studied using correlation analysis and spatial clustering. The results have shown that the Wenyu River is generally Grade V water during the flood season, and is inferior to Grade V water during the non-flood season. All indicators have a regular time and space distribution and are highly influenced by environmental and human factors. Overall, the water quality of the Wenyu River may essentially reach the water environment function zoning target value. Improvements to the river portions below the Xinbao sluice, as well as the use of rainwater resources, must be prioritized.

Modeling insecurity under future climate change and socio-economic development is indispensable for adaptive planning and sustainable management of water resources. This case study strives to assess the water quality and quantity status for both the present and the near future in the Ciliwung River basin inside the Jakarta Province under different scenarios using population growth with planned additional wastewater management infrastructure by 2030 as mentioned in the local master plan, and comparing the above conditions with the addition of the effects of climate change. Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD) and nitrate (NO3), the three important indicators of aquatic ecosystem health, were simulated to assess river pollution. Simulation results suggest that water quality in year 2030 will further deteriorate compared to the base year 2000 due to population growth and climate change, even considering the planned wastewater management infrastructure. The magnitude of impact from population growth is far greater than that from climate change. Simulated values of NO3, BOD and COD ranged from 6.07 to 13.34 mg/L, 7.65 to 11.41 mg/L, and 20.16 to 51.01 mg/L, respectively. Almost all of the water quality parameters exceeded the safe limit suitable for a healthy aquatic system, especially for the year 2030. The situation of water quality is worse for the downstream sampling location because of the cumulative effect of transport of untreated pollutants coming from upstream, as well as local dumping. This result will be useful for local policy makers and stakeholders involved in the water sector to formulate strategic and adaptive policies and plan for the future. One of the potential policy interventions is to implement a national integrated sewerage and septage management program on a priority basis, considering various factors like population density and growth, and global changes for both short- and long-term measures.

This study examines water scarcity and quality deterioration in various components of the urban setting, including agriculture, manufacturing, construction, residential buildings, and the recreational industries. This paper also analyzes various measures that can be used as valuation matrices to assess the quality and quantity of water consumption, as well as conservation practices and sustainable management strategies. The aim of this work is to enhance and encourage an increase in the value of consumed water through economistic, efficient, and sustainable approaches. The analysis includes the evaluation of measures such as price reform, adoption of efficient appliances, implementation of effective utilization techniques, reduction in water waste, treatment of wastewater, and employment of reuse and reclamation techniques. This article further discusses the multifaceted costs associated with the acquisition of water, emphasizing the need to consider not only economic factors but also environmental and social implications. This study examines the potential adverse effects of introducing value-added measures, specifically focusing on the impact of water pricing reforms on farmers and industrial manufacturers. The analysis highlights the potential increase in costs that these stakeholders may face as a result of such reforms. This study suggests that the implementation of subsidies can be an effective measure to mitigate the negative effects discussed. This article highlights the urgent global need for governments and international organizations to implement strict policies and regulations in order to preserve water resources and protect their inherent value and, also, emphasizes the importance of consumers understanding the true value of water in order to grasp its significance and scarcity.

This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of groundwater valuation in Jeju Island, Korea, which relies heavily on groundwater resources. The research addresses the limitations of conventional valuation methodologies that often undervalue groundwater management and ignore spatial heterogeneity. We employ three non-market valuation aggregation methods: local benefit, national benefit, and a combined heterogeneous benefit approach. The heterogeneous benefit approach divides the population into groups based on their distinct groundwater valuations and then consolidates their willingness to pay. Using a contingent valuation method, we analyze survey data from 542 respondents in Jeju and 1,000 respondents nationwide to capture the comprehensive value of improving groundwater quality, considering both local and non-local dependencies. Results show that national benefits exceed local benefits by a factor of 21.4, and this disparity increases to 21.6 when spatial heterogeneity is included. These findings highlight a significant underestimation in previous studies focusing solely on local beneficiaries. Our approach enhances understanding of the varied values attributed to groundwater by different populations, providing crucial insights for sustainable water resource management

Lixiahe Plain's local water resources need to be evaluated effectively and comprehensively. This study is based on the multisource data from 60 natural water samples, 16 rainfall monitoring stations, and 2 evaporation monitoring stations from 1965 to 2020. Synchronous series representativeness analysis, water quality analysis, and water resource availability estimation are conducted to analyze the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of rainfall, evaporation, and water quality and calculate the availability of various types of water resources. The results indicate that the spatiotemporal distribution of rainfall and evapotranspiration in the study area is uneven, which increases the threat of local floods and droughts. The quality of the main rivers and lakes in the region is good, and the water quality of the drinking water source area and groundwater reaches and even exceeds Class III water standards. In the year 2020, the total water usage in the research area reached 341 million m3. However, the available sum of surface water resources and transit water availability in 2022 was only 201 million m3, so local water supply needs cannot be easily met. Exploring the water resource characterization model of the Lower Rivers Plain can help in local water resource management and protection.

Efficient and sustainable utilization of irrigation water is the key to realizing the objective of enhancing agricultural productivity and commercializing smallholder irrigation farming. Valuing and recognizing the scarcity of irrigation water is essential for its sustainable use. Using cross-sectional data from 328 smallholders in and around Makhathini and Ndumo-B irrigation schemes in KwaZulu-Natal Province, the study aimed to assess smallholder farmers’ preferences for the way irrigation water resources should be managed and their willingness to pay for irrigation water. This was done employing a choice experiment method. The results suggest the need for irrigation water pricing to reflect irrigation intensity. They also show that improving agricultural production and productivity, with market access can enhance farmers’ willingness and ability to pay for irrigation water. The need to consider multiple uses of irrigation water for sustainable utilization of water resources is evident, while supporting women smallholders will have a positive impact on their willingness to pay for irrigation water. The paper recommends a shift towards on-farm volumetric water pricing in the irrigation schemes. The schemes should also have clearly defined boundaries and enforceable rules on collective use of water. The design of irrigation infrastructure should integrate other uses of irrigation water such as domestic and livestock purposes. Consequently, there is a need for further research to ensure that irrigation water prices reflect the marginal value of irrigation water use. Policies should address factors that inherently result in gender differences in terms of access to productive resources which negatively affect sustainable water utilization.

Wuyiling Nature Reserve is located at the edge of a frozen soil area and has abundant vegetation resources. It is an important area for evaluating the impact of frozen soil degradation on the environment. Analyzing the water quality and eutrophication characteristics of different swamps and water bodies can provide a basis for protecting the water environment of frozen soil areas. The pollution characteristics of different swamps and water bodies were analyzed and the Levenberg–Marquardt back-propagation neural network was used to evaluate water quality and eutrophication. Finally, the eutrophication evaluation was compared with the nutritional status index. The results demonstrated that (1) the highest concentrations of the total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen, ammonia nitrogen (AN), permanganate index (PI), chemical oxygen demand, and chlorophyll were all present in the Tangwang River, which could be caused by the effects of human and agricultural activities along the river. The maximum average concentrations of TP, AN, and PI in the four wetland swamps appeared in the shrub swamp; (2) The water quality category of shrub, grass, and forest swamps in Wuyiling Nature Reserve was Class II, and the water quality category of floating swamps and the Tangwang River was Class I. The nutrient levels of the four marsh swamp wetlands and the Tangwang River were in the mid-range for many nutrients; and (3) the LM–BP neural network model, which was used to evaluate water eutrophication, and the results of a comprehensive evaluation of a nutritional status index were similar, further demonstrating the credibility of the evaluation results.