Water Security最新文献

There is considerable empirical evidence that using nature-based solutions to restore and enhance hydrological processes such as infiltration, interception, floodplain re-connection and water storage, is effective at small scales for low to medium probability floods. However, the performance of systems of spatially distributed nature-based solutions at larger scales or under the more extreme flooding expected with climate change, has mainly been assessed using modelling. The mechanism by which carefully designed nature-based solutions can provide naturally adaptive pathways to divert higher flood flows into expandable areas of storage in the landscape, has been less formally investigated. This paper reports on new hydrometric data collected from one of eighteen small-scale, accurately monitored micro-catchments in Cumbria, UK, to study the effect in more detail. The micro-catchments have been set up by Lancaster Environment Centre as part of the Q-NFM project attempting to quantify changes in hydrological responses due to a range of natural flood management measures that have been installed by catchment partners. A direct-runoff 2d inundation model was setup and calibrated using accurate flow measurements upstream and downstream of new river restoration project in the Lowther catchment (2.5 km²) for two large storm events (Storms Ciara and Dennis, February 2020). It was used to analyse how the storage on the floodplain can expand with flood magnitude, and can be enhanced with appropriately designed natural flood management. Model evidence was then assessed for the same mechanism in the larger UK catchments of Eddleston Water (70 km²) and Culm (280 km²) using the same whole-catchment direct-runoff modelling approach. For both of these large catchments the same expandable field storage is evident, and we highlight how this latent property of well-designed nature-based solutions can complement traditional strategies and provide significant economic benefits over a thirty-year appraisal period of the order of €0.7 m.

Water rights and water markets are increasingly important as cost-effective tools for managing scare water resources by stimulating efficiently uses. A clear and stable water rights system is necessary for sustaining world’s agricultural productions and global food security. However, knowledge gap still exists on identifying the critical elements and their interactions in the water rights system in the context of changing environments. This paper establishes a systematic framework of water rights based on the current practices in China. The relationships among water rights, water entitlements, water-abstraction permits, water rights certificates and seasonal allocations are explained. The water trading rules, trading systems among regions, sectors and individual famers as well as the trading platforms and brokers in China are also discussed for managerial implications. Suggestions are provided to improve China’s water rights and markets by drawing upon the experiences of current practices according to the proposed framework.

Water scarcity is increasing across the globe. We discuss how the private sector and private investment can assist in the fight against water scarcity, especially in advanced and middle-income economies. We first lay out from an economic perspective why local, regional, and national governments have traditionally played an outsized role in providing water security. We next describe a whole set of possible roles for the private sector, ranging from a fully privatized water sector to more limited public–private partnerships (PPPs), corporate social responsibility (CSR), and impact investment that may take place independent of the public sector. The theoretical and empirical underpinnings of an argument for greater private involvement emerge from reassessing the traditional view of the water sector as a natural monopoly with increasing returns to scale, as well as from contract theory that emphasizes how carefully written contracts imply control but do not require public ownership at all times. Rising water scarcity and water infrastructures badly in need of an upgrade in many places point to public institutions and societies not meeting the social and environmental challenge, which opens the door for private initiatives in the form of corporate social responsibility and impact investing.

The linkages between water security and global health vary in space and time. Just like water connects every aspect of life, geography relates everything to everything else. Therefore, in order to address challenges at the interface of water security and global health, the use and application of medical geography, a sub-discipline of geography, is helpful in research, policy and practice.

Using different water security pathway classifications (diminished water supply or quality, increased water demand, and extreme flood events) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and targets as a frame, this paper looks at water and health challenges from different angles and from a holistic perspective, while contextualizing them. Drawing on five practical examples, including water-related infectious disease exposure in watersheds in semi-arid Kenya, health system response in floodplains in Namibia, public health implications in a protracted emergency setting in arid Northeast Nigeria, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) monitoring in households, schools and healthcare facilities in Small Island Developing States in the South Pacific, and WASH-related challenges and disease exposures among marginalized ethnic minority populations in Europe, the applicability and usefulness of geography contextualizations in research, policy-makers and practitioners is presented. Moreover, cross-cutting topics and contextualizations, beyond water security and global health, including climate- and weather-related extreme events, inequality, health- and water-related education, risk perceptions and behaviour, and the cultural context, are highlighted to showcase the value of applying medical geography in understanding the key drivers, barriers and bottlenecks in complex situations; recommending actionable and contextualized measures to address these challenges; directing programming and interventions; and informing policy-making to tackle and solve these challenges.

This paper provides a review of collective action for safe water provision and management in rural sub-Saharan Africa. Water-related collective action is largely premised on norms of trust and reciprocity, institutional arrangements that prescribe and enforce appropriate rules and sanctions, and ecological threats and conditions that favour cooperation. A central argument of this paper is that while community based water management and collective action are important institutional mechanisms for achieving water security, researchers and practitioners need to pay attention to the social ingredients, ecological variables, and governance structures that easily render them ineffective and counterproductive for rural water provision and management. The critical role of the state, mainstreaming the human right to water, and addressing structural inequalities at all levels should form the foundation of rural water policies and programs.

Water scarcity turns into shortage when water supplies are mismatched with user demands. After clarifying the different social and private uses of water, I explain how to use prices to allocate treated (“utility”) water among municipal and industrial users and untreated (“raw”) water among irrigators. Assuming institutional capacity, successful management of water scarcity requires prices that constrain total demand and revenues that cover the cost of reliable supply. Public acceptance of effective water pricing requires that policies protect the poor and the environment, i.e., policies that prioritize “social water” over water competitively allocated among economic uses.

The ambiguity of competing ‘water security’ interpretations obscure the inherently political dimensions of water. Being explicit about how water security is conceptualised reveals the underlying assumptions about for whom is water is secured, for what purpose and how it is secured. Here, a framing cycle is adapted for the water security context that asks, security ‘of what?’, ‘against what’, ‘for whom’ and ‘over what timeframe’? The framing cycle provides a content analysis of documents representing Australian water security framings across administrative levels. Whilst some overarching themes are common (water for the environment, agriculture and drinking water/ubran water supplies), each administrative level varies in emphasis and detail. The variation is likely related to different responsibilities and roles at each level, highlighting the need for ‘fit for purpose’ definitions of water security, rather than trying to accommodate all facets of water security at all levels. The framing cycle was a useful tool in unpacking how water security was conceptualised at different levels. However, more nuanced insight could be achieved by combining the framing cycle with other lenses, for example a decolonial lens.

Climate change and socio-economic development result in increasing flood risk which challenges flood risk management policy making and practice. Each situation, however, is different and calls for not only understanding the natural context, but also the socio-economic and cultural context. Only then Flood Risk Management strategies can be designed that are not only 1) fit for purpose but also 2) feasible for local implementation and 3) sustainable into the future. Flood consequences that are accepted in some cultures (fatalist), may not be acceptable in other cultures (controlist). This calls for considering the local normative context in order to understand current differences in policy and practice. More importantly, the design of strategic alternatives for Flood Risk Management into the future should consider this socio-economic and cultural context as well because not every society aims for the same goals in the same proportion, nor is equally willing or capable to implement and maintain sophisticated infrastructure and dedicated institutions. Based on literature on cultural theory and national cultures, we hypothesized that acknowledging socio-economic and cultural differences would allow to better appreciate the rationale of current flood risk management policies and practices in different parts of the world. By analysing cases related to Deltares projects abroad, we explored whether these factors explain the main differences observed. Based on this preliminary exploration, we propose a shortlist of factors to consider when designing future flood risk management strategies tailored to local socio-economic and cultural contexts.

EU Member States invest some €2.5 billion per year in flood protection, yet flood damages continue to increase. A new approach to the planning, design and management of flood protection assets is needed to ensure risks are better managed and asset management is aligned with broader socio-economic policies and supporting governance systems. This paper sets out a policy framework to enable this transition. The framework results from a collaboration of researchers and practitioners from around the North Sea. The findings highlight common challenges and identify four priority Policy Recommendations in response to these: ‘Break free of the silo’ by aligning planning processes; ‘Mind the gap’ between strategic and operational choices; ‘Prepare for change’ by developing multi-functional and flexible plans; and ‘Make space for innovation’ by seeking to manage risk rather than avoiding it.

Floods affect a large fraction of the Indian population during the monsoon (June-September) every year. Floods disrupt all aspects of the socio-economic conditions and cause enormous damage to infrastructure and agriculture. Human mortality and economic losses due to floods have increased in India during recent decades. Moreover, floods are projected to occur more frequently in the future under the warming climate. Both structural and non-structural measures are common in India to mitigate the detrimental impacts of floods. However, the challenges and opportunities for operational flood forecast systems in India have not been carefully evaluated. Here, we review the current status and future requirements to strengthen the flood early warning systems in India. India made tremendous progress in developing the ensemble prediction system for precipitation forecast. Precipitation forecast is available at various spatial and temporal resolutions, which provides a skilful prediction of extreme precipitation at short (1–3 day) and longer (15–20 day) lead times. However, the spatial and temporal resolutions and lead time need to be improved for precipitation forecast in smaller catchments and urban areas, which are prone to flash flooding. There is a need to translate the ensemble weather and climate forecast to hydrologic ensemble prediction (HEP) system through the integration of improved meteorological forecast, hydrologic and hydraulic modelling, data assimilation, and post-processing. We also highlight the role of improved inflow forecast at the appropriate lead for reservoir operations as the decisions related to reservoir operations can be critical for flood management. We, finally, discuss the need for an integrated approach at various levels to enhance the operational flood forecast in India, which is essential for the development of an effective flood early warning system.