The political ecology of water metabolism: the case of the Cobre las Cruces copper mine,southern Spain

Access to extractive resources relies as much on technology and prices as it does on the power to designate ecological and economic meanings to water and other environmental goods. This paper examines the ways in which the mining industry uses scientific models to create meanings for water that in turn legitimizes their access to and control over it. To do so, this paper explores the relevance of combining biophysical analyses—in this case water metabolism—with an examination of those power relations and social constructions that coexist with and affect the flows of water. Based on empirical research, this paper analyzes the evolution of water management in the process of copper production at the Cobre las Cruces mine in southern Spain to identify present contradictions in the strategies adopted by the mining company to avoid water degradation. These contradictions are revealed by examining how water has been framed as a resource not susceptible to being used for purposes other than mining processes. We argue that those framing this environmental explanation—the regional government and the mining industry—are promoting net subtractions of water from an aquifer against current regulations.     

长江上游水土流失成因及治理模式研究--以重庆市城口县为例

水土保持工作是一项直接关系三峡工程和“南水北调”工程的重要工作,也是西部生态环境建设的重要内容之一。以“长治”工程重点县——城口县为例,研究其水土流失成因及治理模式。该县位于重庆市最北端,既是“长治”工程重点县,也是“南水北调”工程中线引水方案丹江口水库上游水土保持工作重点县。该县水土流失比较严重,流失面积高达1 728.67 km\+2,占全县土地总面积的52.61%。造成水土流失的主要原因既有自然因素,又有人为因素,但其资源相当丰富,为水土流失治理模式提供了较好的基础条件。在分析其水土流失成因基础上,结合该县的资源优势和实际情况,提出其水土流失治理的模式和途径,以期进一步推进该县生态环境建设、加强水土保持工作,为长江上游贫困山区县的水土保持工作探索比较合适的模式和途径。     

中国二元经济中水资源流转模式研究

农业用水效率低下及水资源在工农业两部门间的结构性短缺将成为我国经济转型中面临的主要资源问题之一。如何优化配置水资源,实现工农业两部门的"双赢"是经济发展面临的一个重要课题。文章基于刘易斯-费-拉尼斯模型对二元经济结构体制下水资源流转过程进行系统性的经济学阐述,进而得出水资源在工农业两部门中的流转是从无限供给状态到体现稀缺性的过程。并结合1949-2009年中国水资源的利用情况,对中国水资源在两部门经济中的流转进行了阶段识别和趋势研究,即"余水"流转、"低效水"流转和"竞争性用水"流转,从而为水资源流转的实际操作提供了学理性解释,并据此提出通过建设引水工程基础设施、完善用水额度和税费标准法律规范,健全水资源流转的农业补偿机制和加强农业生产部门节水意识宣传,以完善我国水资源流转制度的相应对策建议。     

Multi-level interactions in a context of political decentralization and evolving water-policy goals: the case of Spain

Regional Environmental Change - Spain is a highly decentralized country where water governance is a multi-level institutional endeavor requiring effective intergovernmental coordination—in...     

Land cover effects on water balance partitioning in the Colombian Andes: improved water availability in early stages of natural vegetation recovery

Regional Environmental Change - Vegetation actively affects different components of the water budget in multiple spatial and temporal scales. Changes in vegetation cover and structure—such as...     

Building resilience to water scarcity in southern Spain: a case study of rice farming in Doñana protected wetlands

Agricultural water management needs to evolve in view of increased water scarcity, especially when farming and natural protected areas are closely linked. In the study site of Doñana (southern Spain), water is shared by rice producers and a world heritage biodiversity ecosystem. Our aim is to contribute to defining adaptation strategies that may build resilience to increasing water scarcity and minimize water conflicts among agricultural and natural systems. The analytical framework links a participatory process with quantitative methods to prioritize the adaptation options. Bottom-up proposed adaptation measures are evaluated by a multi-criteria analysis (MCA) that includes both socioeconomic criteria and criteria of the ecosystem services affected by the adaptation options. Criteria weights are estimated by three different methods—analytic hierarchy process, Likert scale and equal weights—that are then compared. Finally, scores from an MCA are input into an optimization model used to determine the optimal land-use distribution in order to maximize utility and land-use diversification according to different scenarios of funds and water availability. While our results show a spectrum of perceptions of priorities among stakeholders, there is one overriding theme that is to define a way to restore part of the rice fields to natural wetlands. These results hold true under the current climate scenario and even more so under an increased water scarcity scenario.     

Comparative Analysis of Variation in Ecological Forms of Altai Osman, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oreoleuciscus potanini</Emphasis> (Cyprinidae), in Lakes Ayrag,Khyargas, and Nogon (Western Mongolia)

Analysis of variation in morphological characters of Potanin Altai osman, Oreoleuciscus potanini, from two freshwater and one brackish water lakes of Western Mongolia has shown that specimens of different ecological forms—herbivorous and piscivorous—form two integral and, at the level under consideration, internally indivisible units in the system of phenetic diversity of the species O. potanini.     

Productivity of rainfed wheat as affected by climate change scenario in northeastern Punjab, India

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is grown as a rainfed crop in the sub-mountainous region of the Punjab state of India, with low crop and water productivity. The present study aims to assess the effect of climate change scenario (A1B) derived from PRECIS—a regional climate model—on wheat yield and water productivity. After minimizing bias in the model climate data for mid-century (2021–2050), evapotranspiration (ET) and yield of wheat crop were simulated using Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer, version 4.5, model. In the changed climate, increased temperature would cause reduction in wheat yield to the extent of 4, 32 and 61 % in the mid-century periods between 2021–2030, 2031–2040 and 2041–2050, respectively, by increasing water stress and decreasing utilization efficiency of photosynthetically active radiation. The decreases in crop water productivity would be 40, 56 and 76 %, respectively, which are caused by decreased yield and increased ET. Planting of wheat up to November 25 till the years 2030–2031 seems to be helpful to mitigate the climate change effect, but not beyond that.     

汉江水华水文因素作用机理--基于藻类生长动力学的研究

在相关文献的基础上总结影响汉江水华的水文因素包括流量、流速和水面比降,根据河流动力学理论,讨论了它们之间的内在联系。在此基础上,从生物生长动力学的角度,将连续流反应器原理应用于汉江水华现象,提出了汉江连续流生物反应器模型,并根据Monod方程分析,认为汉江中的藻类浓度与水流速度应成指数关系。由此,建立了汉江藻类浓度与水流速度关系数学模型a = m exp(k/ν)。利用汉江1992年至2000年实测资料,通过回归分析进一步确定了汉江的藻类浓度与水流速度函数关系中的常数m=8.9759、k=0.9054,相关系数r=0.924 4。最后,对流速、流量和长江水位对汉江水华的作用机理进行了分析,揭示了水文因素影响汉江水华的作用机理。     

Visualizing dynamic capabilities as adaptive capacity for municipal water governance

This study seeks to expand empirical research on how municipalities have adapted and innovated (or not) their water systems as a result of climate change. We analyze characteristics of water governance at the municipal scale in Oklahoma, USA. ArcMap 10.3 was used to build a qualitative geographic information system (GIS) based on fieldwork, including interviews and site-observations, to compare dynamic capabilities that lead to innovation in 38 cities in the state. The GIS enables visualization of our digitalized research to understand the interconnections between drivers of innovativeness—the combination of dynamic capabilities and innovation rates—and state of water resource infrastructure in place specific and regional planning contexts. In particular, the GIS takes into consideration income level, the influence of state-level water policy (Water for 2060 Act), water manager certification levels, population, dynamic capabilities, and perceptions of risk and vulnerability to water system change. Digitizing this information provides a diverging perspective on the historical lack of innovation in the public sector, as different socio-cultural, socio-economic, and socio-political contexts occur throughout Oklahoma, a state notorious for its oil centered economy and its climate change deniers. The findings suggest that innovativeness is directly related to dynamic capabilities and indirectly related to population size, income level, and the educational backgrounds of water decision-makers. The visualizations also show that some cities have surplus capacity for adaptation, while others were able to more efficiently turn capacity into water management innovations. Seeing representations of water governance success and failure in communities affords the opportunity to educate citizens and decision-makers to adapt water infrastructures to the effects of climate change, showcasing the utility of digitalization in a quest for sustainable solutions.     

三峡水库蓄水前库区水质状况研究

采用单因子评价法,对长江三峡库区1996～2001年的水质监测资料进行水质状况分析,结果表明三峡库区江段水质状况总体良好,参与评价的各项指标多年均值均符合Ⅱ类水体标准;部分水质参数测值超Ⅱ类水体标准,其中高锰酸盐指数、总铅、氨氮为库区江段的主要污染因子;汛期水质劣于非汛期水质。采用PWQTrend水质污染发展趋势分析专业软件,对长江三峡库区6年来的水质监测资料进行水质趋势分析,结果显示库区江段水质参数浓度及污染物输送率趋势均以无显著变化为主,表明库区江段总体水质状况6年来保持基本稳定。     

Speciation patterns of actinides in natural waters: a laboratory investigation

The results of laboratory investigations of actinide speciation in ground waters of varying compositions are summarized, re-evaluated and further interpreted, with the inclusion of additional data. Actinide speciation (solubility, oxidation state distributions) in these water samples exhibits great variability at 10⁻¹⁰ to 10⁻⁸ M total actinide concentrations. Americium solubility appears to be controlled by the formation of radiocolloids. neptunium is predictably oxidized and soluble in these water samples, with only a few exceptions. Plutonium exhibits widely varying oxidation state distributions—and hence solubility— despite the presence of 6 mg liter⁻¹ dissolved oxygen in all experiments. Plutonium solubility is enhanced by carbonate and fluoride but is diminished by sulfate in reducing waters. In general, these results are compatible with the limited information available for actinide speciation from previous in-situ investigations but they emphasize the paucity of accurate thermodynamic data to describe these systems.     

Perceived Collective Efficacy and Trust in Government Influence Public Engagement with Climate Change-Related Water Conservation Policies

Water insecurity, induced or intensified due to climate change, has emerged as a key policy challenge in poor and developing countries such as India. Drawing on social cognitive theory, this paper examines the role of perceived collective efficacy—people's shared beliefs about their group's capabilities to accomplish collective tasks—and trust in government as factors influencing Indians' engagement with government water conservation policies. Using a national survey of Indians (N = 4031), we found that individuals with high levels of perceived collective efficacy and trust in government are more likely to support government water conservation policies. Moreover, for individuals with low trust in government, higher collective efficacy is associated with greater policy support. Perceived collective efficacy is also associated with activist behaviours, while distrust is not. Increasing collective efficacy beliefs, for example through mass media channels and targeted campaigns, could help increase citizens' engagement with climate change adaptation policies.     

Some industrial effluents in Durgapur and their impact on the Damodar river

The industrial waste effluents from two industries of Durgapur have been traced along the course of Tamla Nalah at selected sites up to its confluence with the Damodar river and downstream. There are evidences of contamination of the river with toxic pollutants—ammonia, phenol, cyanide, sulphide, and trace mercury from Tamla Nalah. The upstream river water (Durgapur barrage), which is believed to be fairly pure, is actually not much better than the downstream river water. Monitoring data for about a year are presented and discussed.     

Passive sampling: A cost-effective method for understanding antibiotic fate,behaviour and impact

The occurrence of antibiotics in the environment has raised much concern in recent years. Understanding their release, fate and behaviour in the environment is vital to assess potential risks. In this study, a novel passive water sampler – diffusion gradients in thin-films for organics (o-DGT) – was employed to assess the occurrence and removal of antibiotics in two waste water treatment plants (WWTPs) — one in China and the other in the United Kingdom (UK). Of the targeted compounds, 11 of 19 were detected in the Chinese WWTP (ND—200 ng/L) and 10 of 40 were found in the UK plant (ND—1380 ng/L). Florfenicol, lincomycin, ofloxacin and roxithromycin were most abundant in the Chinese WWTP (influent), while anhydrous erythromycin, ciprofloxacin, trimethoprim, ofloxacin and sulfapyridine were the most abundant in the UK influent samples. Estimated Chinese and UK consumption data are used to interpret the results. Neither of the WWTPs was very effective at removing antibiotics: ~ 40–50% (overall) was removed by the two plants, with the rest being discharged into the receiving rivers. This is the first study using o-DGT to assess the occurrence and removal of antibiotics in WWTPs. o-DGT is a useful, cost-effective tool to assess WWTP performance and can highlight the effectiveness of treatment steps, which can be applied to wastewater based epidemiology studies.     

长江苏州段岸线资源评价与港口发展研究

运用遥感与GIS技术查清长江苏州段岸线资源分类长度,采用岸前水深、岸线稳定性和岸前航道水域宽度等指标对岸线资源进行分等评价,结果表明虽然优良岸线的比例不高,但由于优良岸线资源分布集中且具有良好的城镇依托和通达条件、发达的腹地经济,长江苏州段岸线资源开发条件十分优越。通过港口综合实力指数的计算,评价了苏州港在长江南京以下港口群中的地位,明确了苏州港的功能定位与发展方向：上海国际航运中心组合核心配套港、长江流域国际集装箱干线港、长江中上游大宗散货、件杂货中转港、沿江基础产业带建设配套港。在此基础上提出了长江苏州段岸线开发、港口发展的对策与建议。     

千岛湖配水工程的环境成本估算——基于调水区支付意愿调查

由于水资源分布不均、水污染日趋严重,调水工程已不仅用以解决城市资源型缺水,也成为一些地区缓解水质型缺水问题的途径,但是这些耗资巨大的调水工程往往对周围自然生态环境可能产生巨大影响,可能带来的环境成本不容忽视。以千岛湖配水工程为例,通过在调水地进行实地调研和问卷调查,运用Tobit模型分析影响居民支付意愿的因素,基于意愿调查法(CVM)分析了建德市人民对千岛湖配水工程的生态环境影响的支付意愿,并以此估算该工程的环境成本。结果表明,调水地居民对恢复和改善可能破坏的生态环境的平均支付意愿约为每人每年377.6～542.1元,按照年配水量9.78亿 m³可以计算每吨水的环境成本约为0.15～0.21元。由此估算,工程期内千岛湖配水工程可能造成的环境成本总计约为5.80～8.28亿元,高于2014年公布的《杭州市第二水源千岛湖配水工程环境影响报告书》(下文简称《报告书》)中对该工程的环境经济影响评价3.70亿元。千岛湖配水工程的环境成本不容忽视,必须建立科学的生态补偿机制,加强监管;同时受水地也应积极加强污染治理和节约用水,共同解决城市水质型缺水问题。     

Typifying cities to streamline the selection of relevant environmental sustainability indicators for urban water supply and sewage handling systems: a recommendation

Measuring performance and setting targets and benchmarks for the future entail the adoption of metrics or indicators. Sustainability is a multi-pronged objective encompassing social, economic, health, cultural, governance and environmental aspects. Indicators can be grouped under these categories. The selection of environmental sustainability indicators for a water and wastewater utility in a city needs to be based on concerns specific to the utility in question. The authors, in this paper, have recommended the classification of cities into city types based on specific attributes and identification of relevant environmental sustainability indicators, from a pool of 13 indicators, for these different city types. Having selected the relevant indicators, utilities can use them as tools to improve their environmental performance. The purpose is to not facilitate inter-utility comparisons within or across city types. Every utility would compare its environmental performance at a given point in time with what it was in the past. Towards the end, the paper also applies the methodology to nine cities across four continents—Europe (Oslo, Trondheim and Turin), Asia (the National Capital Territory of Delhi, Beijing, Tel Aviv and Male), North America (Sacramento) and South America (São Paulo). In all, 13 environmental sustainability indicators have been identified. Two cities—Oslo and Trondheim (both from Norway) belong to the same city type, while the other seven are different from each other in this regard. The number of relevant indicators ranged from 4 for Trondheim to 11 for Tel Aviv. The methodology is not restricted to urban water supply and sewage handling systems. It can be extended to other infrastructure systems as well—waste management, transportation, etc.     

Phytoplankton-nutrient relationships in years with various water levels in the Pasłęka River in the vicinity of the hydroelectric power station (North-east Poland)

Relationships between abundance of basic net phytoplankton taxonomic groups (cyanobacteria, diatoms, and chlorophytes) and nutrient concentrations in water were studied on the Pas??ka River in years with varied water levels. In high water level conditions, large amounts of orthophosphates and total nitrogen from the catchment could favor development of cyanobacteria and chlorophytes. The species could be allochthonic. At low water levels, the factor stimulating phytoplankton development could be nutrients coming from mineralization of accumulated organic matter. The highest nutrient concentrations could favor diatom development. In such conditions, dominant taxa were autochthonic. In terms of numbers, F. capucina was dominant, and in terms of biomass—genus Spirogyra sp. It could come from plant periphyton inhabiting the concrete drops of the dam included in the river’s development in the vicinity of the hydroelectric power station.     

Sketching sustainable land use in Europe by 2040: a multi-stakeholder participatory approach to elicit cross-sectoral visions

The continuously growing global demands on a finite land resource will require better strategic policies and management of trade-offs to avoid conflicts between different land-use sectors. Visions of the future can support strategic planning by stimulating dialogue, building a consensus on shared priorities and providing long-term targets. We present a novel approach to elicit stakeholder visions of future desired land use, which was applied with a broad range of experts to develop cross-sectoral visions in Europe. The approach is based on (i) combination of software tools and facilitation techniques to stimulate engagement and creativity; (ii) methodical selection of stakeholders; (iii) use of land attributes to deconstruct the multifaceted sectoral visions into land-use changes that can be clustered into few cross-sectoral visions, and (iv) a rigorous iterative process. Three cross-sectoral visions of sustainable land use in Europe in 2040 emerged from applying the approach in participatory workshops involving experts in nature conservation, recreation, agriculture, forestry, settlements, energy, and water. The three visions—Best Land in Europe, Regional Connected and Local Multifunctional—shared a wish to achieve a land use that is sustainable through multifunctionality, resource use efficiency, controlled urban growth, rural renewal and widespread nature. However, they differ on the scale at which land services are provided—EU-wide, regional or local—reflecting the land-sparing versus land-sharing debate. We discuss the usefulness of the approach, as well as the challenges posed and solutions offered by the visions to support strategic land-use planning.