K. Fowler, Thomas A. McMahon, Seth Westra, Avril Horne, Joseph H. A. Guillaume, Danlu Guo, R. Nathan, H. R. Maier, A. John
Together with other “bottom‐up” methods, climate stress testing is becoming a prominent approach for climate change impact assessment of water systems. Compared with traditional approaches, stress testing is: (i) more focused on exploring the vulnerabilities of the system at hand; (ii) potentially more inclusive, being amenable to stakeholder involvement and (iii) well suited to identify robust policy options that better account for the deep uncertainty associated with multiple plausible futures. Stress testing is rapidly evolving and giving rise to new techniques and concepts, but few articles provide an accessible overview that can serve as an introduction to the field. Here, we review the underlying principles and concepts of climate stress testing, providing a guide to the main decisions involved in practical application. Topics include selection of stressors, characterizing and exploring the exposure space and data generation including the use of stochastic data. In a complex world where water decisions are made in the context of wider socio‐ecological systems, stress testing and other bottom‐up methods can support decisions that are not only robust to future uncertainty but also regarded as legitimate by affected communities.This article is categorized under: Engineering Water > Sustainable Engineering of Water Science of Water > Water and Environmental Change Water and Life > Stresses and Pressures on Ecosystems
{"title":"Climate stress testing for water systems: Review and guide for applications","authors":"K. Fowler, Thomas A. McMahon, Seth Westra, Avril Horne, Joseph H. A. Guillaume, Danlu Guo, R. Nathan, H. R. Maier, A. John","doi":"10.1002/wat2.1747","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wat2.1747","url":null,"abstract":"Together with other “bottom‐up” methods, climate stress testing is becoming a prominent approach for climate change impact assessment of water systems. Compared with traditional approaches, stress testing is: (i) more focused on exploring the vulnerabilities of the system at hand; (ii) potentially more inclusive, being amenable to stakeholder involvement and (iii) well suited to identify robust policy options that better account for the deep uncertainty associated with multiple plausible futures. Stress testing is rapidly evolving and giving rise to new techniques and concepts, but few articles provide an accessible overview that can serve as an introduction to the field. Here, we review the underlying principles and concepts of climate stress testing, providing a guide to the main decisions involved in practical application. Topics include selection of stressors, characterizing and exploring the exposure space and data generation including the use of stochastic data. In a complex world where water decisions are made in the context of wider socio‐ecological systems, stress testing and other bottom‐up methods can support decisions that are not only robust to future uncertainty but also regarded as legitimate by affected communities.This article is categorized under:\u0000Engineering Water > Sustainable Engineering of Water\u0000Science of Water > Water and Environmental Change\u0000Water and Life > Stresses and Pressures on Ecosystems\u0000","PeriodicalId":501223,"journal":{"name":"WIREs Water","volume":"40 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141650139","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Rachel Stubbington, Judy England, Romain Sarremejane, Glenn Watts, Paul J. Wood
Climate change is interacting with water resource pressures to alter the frequency, severity and spatial extent of drought, which can thus no longer be considered a purely natural hazard. Although particularly severe ecological impacts of drought have occurred in drylands, its effects on temperate ecosystems, including rivers, are also considerable. Extensive research spanning a diverse range of UK rivers offers an opportunity to place the effects of past drought in the context of intensifying climate change and to examine the likely effects of future drought in a typically cool, wet country. Here, drought manifests instream as deficits in surface water, modified flow velocities, and—increasingly—partial or complete drying of previously perennial and naturally non‐perennial reaches. As a result, drought causes declines in the taxonomic and functional biodiversity of freshwater communities including microorganisms, algae, plants, invertebrates and fish, altering ecological processes and associated benefits to people. Although freshwater communities have typically recovered quickly after previous UK droughts, an increase in drought extremity may compromise recovery following future events. The risk of droughts that push ecosystems beyond thresholds to persistent, species‐poor, functionally simplified states is increasing. Research and monitoring are needed to enable timely identification of rivers approaching such thresholds and thus to inform interventions that pull these ecosystems back from the brink. Management actions that support natural flow regimes and promote natural processes that diversify instream habitats, including drought refuges, are also crucial to support biodiversity within functional river ecosystems as they adapt to a changing world.This article is categorized under:Water and Life > Nature of Freshwater EcosystemsWater and Life > Stresses and Pressures on EcosystemsWater and Life > Conservation, Management, and Awareness
{"title":"The effects of drought on biodiversity in UK river ecosystems: Drying rivers in a wet country","authors":"Rachel Stubbington, Judy England, Romain Sarremejane, Glenn Watts, Paul J. Wood","doi":"10.1002/wat2.1745","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wat2.1745","url":null,"abstract":"Climate change is interacting with water resource pressures to alter the frequency, severity and spatial extent of drought, which can thus no longer be considered a purely natural hazard. Although particularly severe ecological impacts of drought have occurred in drylands, its effects on temperate ecosystems, including rivers, are also considerable. Extensive research spanning a diverse range of UK rivers offers an opportunity to place the effects of past drought in the context of intensifying climate change and to examine the likely effects of future drought in a typically cool, wet country. Here, drought manifests instream as deficits in surface water, modified flow velocities, and—increasingly—partial or complete drying of previously perennial and naturally non‐perennial reaches. As a result, drought causes declines in the taxonomic and functional biodiversity of freshwater communities including microorganisms, algae, plants, invertebrates and fish, altering ecological processes and associated benefits to people. Although freshwater communities have typically recovered quickly after previous UK droughts, an increase in drought extremity may compromise recovery following future events. The risk of droughts that push ecosystems beyond thresholds to persistent, species‐poor, functionally simplified states is increasing. Research and monitoring are needed to enable timely identification of rivers approaching such thresholds and thus to inform interventions that pull these ecosystems back from the brink. Management actions that support natural flow regimes and promote natural processes that diversify instream habitats, including drought refuges, are also crucial to support biodiversity within functional river ecosystems as they adapt to a changing world.This article is categorized under:<jats:list list-type=\"simple\"> <jats:list-item>Water and Life > Nature of Freshwater Ecosystems</jats:list-item> <jats:list-item>Water and Life > Stresses and Pressures on Ecosystems</jats:list-item> <jats:list-item>Water and Life > Conservation, Management, and Awareness</jats:list-item> </jats:list>","PeriodicalId":501223,"journal":{"name":"WIREs Water","volume":"20 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141587366","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Vandré Barbosa Brião, Jéssica Stefanello Cadore, Samarah Graciola, Raíssa Vieira da Silva, Guilherme Otávio Moraes Giubel, Luiza Desengrini Barbizan, Tauane Lazzari, Stephen Agha, Ranjan Vepa, M. Hasan Shaheed
Research focused on rainwater for human consumption is being conducted in different regions of the world. The systematic review revealed that the inadequate quality of harvested rainwater and its scarcity pose significant barriers to the installation of the catchment of rainwater for noble uses. The improper design of rainwater harvesting systems, often a result of the disregard of critical data, is a crucial factor leading to the development of poorly structured systems and inadequate management of this valuable resource. The absence of scientific knowledge about the process further compounds the problem, leading to a sense of insecurity for potential consumers. Ultrafiltration (UF) membranes, followed by ultraviolet disinfection or chlorination, have shown satisfactory results for the potability of rainwater. Additionally, the implementation of photovoltaic panel energized rainwater UF is both economically and technically feasible, and serves as an alternative to traditional water supply approaches. Most studies focused on the utilization of harvested water for non‐drinking purposes, thereby providing opportunities for new studies into effective treatment methods to cater to local and global potable water demands. Therefore, this review aimed to provide insights into the current progress, future challenges, and opportunities related to rainwater harvesting systems and their treatment for the supply of drinking water.This article is categorized under:Engineering Water > Engineering WaterEngineering Water > Sustainable Engineering of WaterEngineering Water > Planning Water
{"title":"Rainwater for drinking purposes: An overview of challenges and perspectives","authors":"Vandré Barbosa Brião, Jéssica Stefanello Cadore, Samarah Graciola, Raíssa Vieira da Silva, Guilherme Otávio Moraes Giubel, Luiza Desengrini Barbizan, Tauane Lazzari, Stephen Agha, Ranjan Vepa, M. Hasan Shaheed","doi":"10.1002/wat2.1746","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wat2.1746","url":null,"abstract":"Research focused on rainwater for human consumption is being conducted in different regions of the world. The systematic review revealed that the inadequate quality of harvested rainwater and its scarcity pose significant barriers to the installation of the catchment of rainwater for noble uses. The improper design of rainwater harvesting systems, often a result of the disregard of critical data, is a crucial factor leading to the development of poorly structured systems and inadequate management of this valuable resource. The absence of scientific knowledge about the process further compounds the problem, leading to a sense of insecurity for potential consumers. Ultrafiltration (UF) membranes, followed by ultraviolet disinfection or chlorination, have shown satisfactory results for the potability of rainwater. Additionally, the implementation of photovoltaic panel energized rainwater UF is both economically and technically feasible, and serves as an alternative to traditional water supply approaches. Most studies focused on the utilization of harvested water for non‐drinking purposes, thereby providing opportunities for new studies into effective treatment methods to cater to local and global potable water demands. Therefore, this review aimed to provide insights into the current progress, future challenges, and opportunities related to rainwater harvesting systems and their treatment for the supply of drinking water.This article is categorized under:<jats:list list-type=\"simple\"> <jats:list-item>Engineering Water > Engineering Water</jats:list-item> <jats:list-item>Engineering Water > Sustainable Engineering of Water</jats:list-item> <jats:list-item>Engineering Water > Planning Water</jats:list-item> </jats:list>","PeriodicalId":501223,"journal":{"name":"WIREs Water","volume":"54 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141572425","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Morgane Lalonde, Fabian Drenkhan, Pedro Rau, Jan R. Baiker, Wouter Buytaert
The introduction of nature‐based solutions (NbS) in catchments has the potential to increase the cost‐effectiveness, flexibility, and reliability of water management practices aimed at improving water security. However, the scientific‐evidence base of the hydrological impacts of NbS is still weak, and there is therefore a risk that catchment interventions might not lead to the desired hydrological outcomes. This is especially important when assessing NbS‐based catchment interventions before their implementation, as this requires robust simulation tools capable of effectively managing the uncertainties associated with future forecasts. This study aims to review the hydrological impacts of different NbS intervention types for water management. First, we present an NbS typology and the corresponding dominant hydrological impacts. We then use this typology to review the strength of the current evidence of the effect of NbS interventions on the hydrological response at the catchment‐scale. Our results demonstrate that the effectiveness of each NbS type hinges on specific conditions such as location, design, and environmental factors. For instance, micro‐reservoirs notably enhance surface storage and evaporation, while infiltration trenches reduce runoff but can increase soil erosion. Our global analysis highlights the need for an improved understanding of NbS catchment impacts and careful planning of NbS interventions as a key for successful long‐term implementation of NbS. These include participatory approaches with stakeholder involvement in NbS co‐design, knowledge co‐production, and novel data collection to support locally relevant adaptation strategies, and to increase water security on the long term.This article is categorized under:Science of Water > Hydrological ProcessesEngineering Water > Planning WaterWater and Life > Conservation, Management, and Awareness
{"title":"Scientific evidence of the hydrological impacts of nature‐based solutions at the catchment scale","authors":"Morgane Lalonde, Fabian Drenkhan, Pedro Rau, Jan R. Baiker, Wouter Buytaert","doi":"10.1002/wat2.1744","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wat2.1744","url":null,"abstract":"The introduction of nature‐based solutions (NbS) in catchments has the potential to increase the cost‐effectiveness, flexibility, and reliability of water management practices aimed at improving water security. However, the scientific‐evidence base of the hydrological impacts of NbS is still weak, and there is therefore a risk that catchment interventions might not lead to the desired hydrological outcomes. This is especially important when assessing NbS‐based catchment interventions before their implementation, as this requires robust simulation tools capable of effectively managing the uncertainties associated with future forecasts. This study aims to review the hydrological impacts of different NbS intervention types for water management. First, we present an NbS typology and the corresponding dominant hydrological impacts. We then use this typology to review the strength of the current evidence of the effect of NbS interventions on the hydrological response at the catchment‐scale. Our results demonstrate that the effectiveness of each NbS type hinges on specific conditions such as location, design, and environmental factors. For instance, micro‐reservoirs notably enhance surface storage and evaporation, while infiltration trenches reduce runoff but can increase soil erosion. Our global analysis highlights the need for an improved understanding of NbS catchment impacts and careful planning of NbS interventions as a key for successful long‐term implementation of NbS. These include participatory approaches with stakeholder involvement in NbS co‐design, knowledge co‐production, and novel data collection to support locally relevant adaptation strategies, and to increase water security on the long term.This article is categorized under:<jats:list list-type=\"simple\"> <jats:list-item>Science of Water > Hydrological Processes</jats:list-item> <jats:list-item>Engineering Water > Planning Water</jats:list-item> <jats:list-item>Water and Life > Conservation, Management, and Awareness</jats:list-item> </jats:list>","PeriodicalId":501223,"journal":{"name":"WIREs Water","volume":"2014 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141549655","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kevin Bishop, Irena F. Creed, Kathryn Bryk Friedman
Water crises fuel conflicts that confound efforts to solve the underlying water crises. Water diplomacy is more effective at defusing such conflicts when the parties involved share at least a common understanding of the water involved. We argue that basic, but still up to date knowledge of where water is and how it moves is so important for finding common ground in water conflicts that this knowledge deserves a name of its own—the Water Intelligence Quotient or Water‐IQ. Science has advanced, and what people learn about the water cycle needs to reflect that. Two keystones of Water‐IQ are awareness of how profoundly people have influenced the water cycle and the atmospheric teleconnections that move water between geographic regions. Given the importance of evidence‐based knowledge of the water cycle when trying to overcome water conflicts and seek a basis for water cooperation, Water‐IQ knowledge needs to be spread widely.This article is categorized under: Human Water > Water Governance Water and Life > Conservation, Management, and Awareness Human Water > Water as Imagined and Represented
{"title":"Water‐IQ matters as water conflicts mount","authors":"Kevin Bishop, Irena F. Creed, Kathryn Bryk Friedman","doi":"10.1002/wat2.1743","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wat2.1743","url":null,"abstract":"Water crises fuel conflicts that confound efforts to solve the underlying water crises. Water diplomacy is more effective at defusing such conflicts when the parties involved share at least a common understanding of the water involved. We argue that basic, but still up to date knowledge of where water is and how it moves is so important for finding common ground in water conflicts that this knowledge deserves a name of its own—the Water Intelligence Quotient or Water‐IQ. Science has advanced, and what people learn about the water cycle needs to reflect that. Two keystones of Water‐IQ are awareness of how profoundly people have influenced the water cycle and the atmospheric teleconnections that move water between geographic regions. Given the importance of evidence‐based knowledge of the water cycle when trying to overcome water conflicts and seek a basis for water cooperation, Water‐IQ knowledge needs to be spread widely.This article is categorized under:\u0000Human Water > Water Governance\u0000Water and Life > Conservation, Management, and Awareness\u0000Human Water > Water as Imagined and Represented\u0000","PeriodicalId":501223,"journal":{"name":"WIREs Water","volume":"9 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141267353","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Hannah L. Haemmerli, Andrea K. Gerlak, Tyler Swanson
In this Perspective, we review the clashing narratives around the role of hydropower in the United States' (US) energy future. In doing so, we reveal how hydropower is regarded as a keystone for the renewable energy transition but also viewed as a harmful technology with significant negative environmental and social impacts. These narratives can be seen in the contrasting future renewable energy visions of US government agencies, the hydropower industry, NGOs, and Tribal governments. We review critical lessons learned from past dam‐ and hydropower‐related challenges to reimagine a just energy future for the US that bridges diverse sectors, jurisdictions, and values. We conclude by highlighting some key paths forward that might result in more resilient and adaptive water and energy systems as the country strives to decarbonize.This article is categorized under:Human Water > Human WaterHuman Water > Water GovernanceScience of Water > Water and Environmental ChangeEngineering Water > Planning Water
{"title":"Reimagining hydropower in the United States","authors":"Hannah L. Haemmerli, Andrea K. Gerlak, Tyler Swanson","doi":"10.1002/wat2.1735","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wat2.1735","url":null,"abstract":"In this <jats:italic>Perspective</jats:italic>, we review the clashing narratives around the role of hydropower in the United States' (US) energy future. In doing so, we reveal how hydropower is regarded as a keystone for the renewable energy transition but also viewed as a harmful technology with significant negative environmental and social impacts. These narratives can be seen in the contrasting future renewable energy visions of US government agencies, the hydropower industry, NGOs, and Tribal governments. We review critical lessons learned from past dam‐ and hydropower‐related challenges to reimagine a just energy future for the US that bridges diverse sectors, jurisdictions, and values. We conclude by highlighting some key paths forward that might result in more resilient and adaptive water and energy systems as the country strives to decarbonize.This article is categorized under:<jats:list list-type=\"simple\"> <jats:list-item>Human Water > Human Water</jats:list-item> <jats:list-item>Human Water > Water Governance</jats:list-item> <jats:list-item>Science of Water > Water and Environmental Change</jats:list-item> <jats:list-item>Engineering Water > Planning Water</jats:list-item> </jats:list>","PeriodicalId":501223,"journal":{"name":"WIREs Water","volume":"34 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-05-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141196864","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Vimal Mishra, J. S. Nanditha, Swarup Dangar, Dipesh Singh Chuphal, Urmin Vegad
The frequency of hydrological extremes (droughts and floods) has increased in recent years in India. A dense population, intensive agriculture, and rapidly developing physical infrastructure put India under the risk of hydrological extremes. However, a comprehensive overview of the drivers, changes, and impacts associated with hydrological extremes in India has been lacking. We examine the key processes and the role of climate and human interventions on hydrological extremes in India. We discuss the observed and projected changes in hydrological extremes along with their impacts. While the Indian summer monsoon is the primary driver of the hydrological extremes in India, human interventions (irrigation, reservoir storage, and groundwater pumping) play a crucial role in the changes and variability of hydrological extremes. The relative role of climate change and direct human interventions on changing the intensity and impacts of hydrological extremes need to be considered for future adaptation planning under climate change. The observed increase in the frequency and intensity of hydrological extremes will continue in the future with compound and cascading impacts due to the warming climate. We need to strengthen the observational network, improve hydrological modeling, reduce climate uncertainty, and develop robust early warning systems to adapt and mitigate hydrological extremes in India.This article is categorized under:Science of Water > Hydrological ProcessesScience of Water > Water ExtremesScience of Water > Water and Environmental Change
{"title":"Drivers, changes, and impacts of hydrological extremes in India: A review","authors":"Vimal Mishra, J. S. Nanditha, Swarup Dangar, Dipesh Singh Chuphal, Urmin Vegad","doi":"10.1002/wat2.1742","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wat2.1742","url":null,"abstract":"The frequency of hydrological extremes (droughts and floods) has increased in recent years in India. A dense population, intensive agriculture, and rapidly developing physical infrastructure put India under the risk of hydrological extremes. However, a comprehensive overview of the drivers, changes, and impacts associated with hydrological extremes in India has been lacking. We examine the key processes and the role of climate and human interventions on hydrological extremes in India. We discuss the observed and projected changes in hydrological extremes along with their impacts. While the Indian summer monsoon is the primary driver of the hydrological extremes in India, human interventions (irrigation, reservoir storage, and groundwater pumping) play a crucial role in the changes and variability of hydrological extremes. The relative role of climate change and direct human interventions on changing the intensity and impacts of hydrological extremes need to be considered for future adaptation planning under climate change. The observed increase in the frequency and intensity of hydrological extremes will continue in the future with compound and cascading impacts due to the warming climate. We need to strengthen the observational network, improve hydrological modeling, reduce climate uncertainty, and develop robust early warning systems to adapt and mitigate hydrological extremes in India.This article is categorized under:<jats:list list-type=\"simple\"> <jats:list-item>Science of Water > Hydrological Processes</jats:list-item> <jats:list-item>Science of Water > Water Extremes</jats:list-item> <jats:list-item>Science of Water > Water and Environmental Change</jats:list-item> </jats:list>","PeriodicalId":501223,"journal":{"name":"WIREs Water","volume":"106 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141166827","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
In the last three decades, the world has experienced a rapid emergence of megacities. The increasing demographics, urbanization, and water demand brought severe and undesired effects on the quantity and quality of their water resources. A prime example is Lagos (Nigeria, West Africa), which is projected to become the world's largest city by 2100, and faces water scarcity challenges common to other megacities of developing countries. A literature review reveals the vast gap between water demand and regulated supply, inadequate knowledge and information on the current state of water (re)sources, and major, yet unregulated, use of groundwater. It further highlights the impacts of uncontrolled wastewater discharge into surface waters and aquifers, the role of increasing paved surfaces and blocked drainages on flooding, the inadequate supply of potable water, and the unsustainable abstraction of groundwater. Here, we examine the potential of managed aquifer recharge (MAR) to address these recurrent challenges across the megacity. The analysis reveals the opportunities and potential risks associated with the capture of wastewater, storm water, and brackish surface water for MAR. These waters, after appropriate treatment and subsurface storage may bridge the growing water supply–demand gap and mitigate the effects of groundwater (over)exploitation, including aquifer depletion, saltwater intrusion and land subsidence. Immediate efforts should focus on improving the conceptual and quantitative knowledge of Lagos' hydrogeology and groundwater resources through comprehensive spatial–temporal groundwater monitoring and socio‐economic studies of groundwater access and use. The insights provided may inform other fast‐growing coastal megacities in Africa and the wider developing world.This article is categorized under: Science of Water > Water and Environmental Change Engineering Water > Water, Health, and Sanitation Human Water > Value of Water Science of Water > Hydrological Processes
{"title":"Water scarcity in the fast‐growing megacity of Lagos, Nigeria and opportunities for managed aquifer recharge","authors":"O. Olabode, J. Comte","doi":"10.1002/wat2.1733","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wat2.1733","url":null,"abstract":"In the last three decades, the world has experienced a rapid emergence of megacities. The increasing demographics, urbanization, and water demand brought severe and undesired effects on the quantity and quality of their water resources. A prime example is Lagos (Nigeria, West Africa), which is projected to become the world's largest city by 2100, and faces water scarcity challenges common to other megacities of developing countries. A literature review reveals the vast gap between water demand and regulated supply, inadequate knowledge and information on the current state of water (re)sources, and major, yet unregulated, use of groundwater. It further highlights the impacts of uncontrolled wastewater discharge into surface waters and aquifers, the role of increasing paved surfaces and blocked drainages on flooding, the inadequate supply of potable water, and the unsustainable abstraction of groundwater. Here, we examine the potential of managed aquifer recharge (MAR) to address these recurrent challenges across the megacity. The analysis reveals the opportunities and potential risks associated with the capture of wastewater, storm water, and brackish surface water for MAR. These waters, after appropriate treatment and subsurface storage may bridge the growing water supply–demand gap and mitigate the effects of groundwater (over)exploitation, including aquifer depletion, saltwater intrusion and land subsidence. Immediate efforts should focus on improving the conceptual and quantitative knowledge of Lagos' hydrogeology and groundwater resources through comprehensive spatial–temporal groundwater monitoring and socio‐economic studies of groundwater access and use. The insights provided may inform other fast‐growing coastal megacities in Africa and the wider developing world.This article is categorized under:\u0000Science of Water > Water and Environmental Change\u0000Engineering Water > Water, Health, and Sanitation\u0000Human Water > Value of Water\u0000Science of Water > Hydrological Processes\u0000","PeriodicalId":501223,"journal":{"name":"WIREs Water","volume":"49 42","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-05-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141103360","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Elizabeth Macpherson, Rosa I. Cuppari, Aurora Kagawa‐Viviani, Holly Brause, William A. Brewer, William E. Grant, Nicole Herman‐Mercer, Ben Livneh, Kaustuv Raj Neupane, Tanya Petach, Chelsea N. Peters, Hsiao‐Hsuan Wang, Claudia Pahl‐Wostl, Howard Wheater
Global water systems are facing unprecedented pressures, including climate change‐driven drought and escalating flood risk, environmental contamination, and over allocation. Water management and governance typically lack integration across spatial scales, including relationships between surface and ground water systems. They also routinely ignore connectivity across temporal scales, including the need for intergenerational water planning. As a global and interdisciplinary group of scientists, we seek to highlight how power and scale dynamics influence and determine water outcomes. We argue that attending to complex water systems challenges requires understanding the function and influence of power at different temporal and spatial scales. Building this understanding is key to designing multi‐scalar, reflexive, and pluralistic policy solutions that avoid ineffective or unintended outcomes. We use a co‐learning process to reveal important lessons for the challenge of interdisciplinary research and set a pluralist agenda for understanding power and scale in future water governance.This article is categorized under: Human Water > Water Governance Human Water > Water as Imagined and Represented Human Water > Methods
{"title":"Setting a pluralist agenda for water governance: Why power and scale matter","authors":"Elizabeth Macpherson, Rosa I. Cuppari, Aurora Kagawa‐Viviani, Holly Brause, William A. Brewer, William E. Grant, Nicole Herman‐Mercer, Ben Livneh, Kaustuv Raj Neupane, Tanya Petach, Chelsea N. Peters, Hsiao‐Hsuan Wang, Claudia Pahl‐Wostl, Howard Wheater","doi":"10.1002/wat2.1734","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wat2.1734","url":null,"abstract":"Global water systems are facing unprecedented pressures, including climate change‐driven drought and escalating flood risk, environmental contamination, and over allocation. Water management and governance typically lack integration across spatial scales, including relationships between surface and ground water systems. They also routinely ignore connectivity across temporal scales, including the need for intergenerational water planning. As a global and interdisciplinary group of scientists, we seek to highlight how power and scale dynamics influence and determine water outcomes. We argue that attending to complex water systems challenges requires understanding the function and influence of power at different temporal and spatial scales. Building this understanding is key to designing multi‐scalar, reflexive, and pluralistic policy solutions that avoid ineffective or unintended outcomes. We use a co‐learning process to reveal important lessons for the challenge of interdisciplinary research and set a pluralist agenda for understanding power and scale in future water governance.This article is categorized under:\u0000Human Water > Water Governance\u0000Human Water > Water as Imagined and Represented\u0000Human Water > Methods\u0000","PeriodicalId":501223,"journal":{"name":"WIREs Water","volume":"16 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141114331","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
K. Dobbin, Ariana Hernandez, Darcy Bostic, Grace Harrison, Aaryaman Singhal, Matthew Barnett, Itzel Vasquez‐Rodriguez, Gregory Pierce, Kate Sawyer
In the United States, most residents receive water from centralized utilities regulated under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. Yet, a sizable portion of U.S. residents satisfy their household water needs through decentralized means, including domestic wells, very small water systems, and hauled water. These federally unregulated water users are among the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, particularly in aridifying regions like the Southwest. They are, however, inconsistently monitored and regulated at the Tribal, federal, state, and local levels. Compared to regulated users, very few programs exist to assist this population in securing and maintaining safe, affordable drinking water access. This neglect creates a vicious cycle whereby their water security needs remain both poorly understood and inadequately addressed. We review available data sources, regulations, assistance programs, and published studies relevant to unregulated water users across the Southwestern U.S. to illustrate this injurious feedback loop. We then propose four key areas for intervention to transform this vicious cycle into a virtuous one. Drawing on new insights from the emerging literature on modular, adaptive, and decentralized (MAD) water infrastructure, we highlight opportunities for investment and innovation to support decentralized service alongside existing investments in centralized infrastructure, and the critical need to attend to justice in the design and implementation of such policies.This article is categorized under: Science of Water > Water and Environmental Change Human Water > Water Governance Human Water > Rights to Water
{"title":"Making a vicious cycle virtuous: A research and policy agenda for advancing the water security of unregulated users in the Southwestern U.S.","authors":"K. Dobbin, Ariana Hernandez, Darcy Bostic, Grace Harrison, Aaryaman Singhal, Matthew Barnett, Itzel Vasquez‐Rodriguez, Gregory Pierce, Kate Sawyer","doi":"10.1002/wat2.1731","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wat2.1731","url":null,"abstract":"In the United States, most residents receive water from centralized utilities regulated under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. Yet, a sizable portion of U.S. residents satisfy their household water needs through decentralized means, including domestic wells, very small water systems, and hauled water. These federally unregulated water users are among the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, particularly in aridifying regions like the Southwest. They are, however, inconsistently monitored and regulated at the Tribal, federal, state, and local levels. Compared to regulated users, very few programs exist to assist this population in securing and maintaining safe, affordable drinking water access. This neglect creates a vicious cycle whereby their water security needs remain both poorly understood and inadequately addressed. We review available data sources, regulations, assistance programs, and published studies relevant to unregulated water users across the Southwestern U.S. to illustrate this injurious feedback loop. We then propose four key areas for intervention to transform this vicious cycle into a virtuous one. Drawing on new insights from the emerging literature on modular, adaptive, and decentralized (MAD) water infrastructure, we highlight opportunities for investment and innovation to support decentralized service alongside existing investments in centralized infrastructure, and the critical need to attend to justice in the design and implementation of such policies.This article is categorized under:\u0000Science of Water > Water and Environmental Change\u0000Human Water > Water Governance\u0000Human Water > Rights to Water\u0000","PeriodicalId":501223,"journal":{"name":"WIREs Water","volume":"121 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140967869","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
京公网安备 11010802042870号
京ICP备2023020795号-1
扫码关注我们
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：