An Integrated Approach for Impact Assessment of Water Harvesting Techniques in Dry Areas: The Case of Oued Oum Zessar Watershed (Tunisia)

In the arid regions of Tunisia, considerable investments are being made to maintain the old water harvesting techniques and introduce new ones to capture the scarce amount of rainwater (100 mm to 230 mm annually) for agricultural and domestic purposes. However, no detailed assessment of the multiple effects and the costs and benefits of these techniques have been made so far. This paper summarizes the results of an in depth investigation of the multiple impacts (runoff mobilization, ground water recharge, agro-socio-economic impacts) of the water harvesting works undertaken in the watershed of oued Oum Zessar (southeastern Tunisia). The importance of interdisciplinary and integrated approaches was revealed through this detailed impact assessment and economic evaluation. In fact, the profitability of the water harvesting works depends largely on the criteria chosen. However, further refinements are needed to better include all possible impacts (positive and negative) that occur as a result of the installation of the water harvesting structures.     

Desert Water Harvesting to Benefit Wildlife: A Simple, Cheap, And Durable Sub-Surface Water Harvester for Remote Locations

A sub-surface desert water harvester was constructed in the sagebrush steppe habitat of south-central Idaho, U.S.A. The desert water harvester utilizes a buried micro-catchment and three buried storage tanks to augment water for wildlife during the dry season. In this region, mean annual precipitation (MAP) ranges between about 150–250 mm (6″–10″), 70% of which falls during the cold season, November to May. Mid-summer through early autumn, June through October, is the dry portion of the year. During this period, the sub-surface water harvester provides supplemental water for wildlife for 30–90 days, depending upon the precipitation that year. The desert water harvester is constructed with commonly available, “over the counter” materials. The micro-catchment is made of a square-shaped, 20 mL. “PERMALON” polyethylene pond liner (approximately 22.9 m × 22.9 m = 523 m²) buried at a depth of about 60 cm. A PVC pipe connects the harvester with two storage tanks and a drinking trough. The total capacity of the water harvester is about 4777 L (1262 U.S. gallons) which includes three underground storage tanks, a trough and pipes. The drinking trough is refined with an access ramp for birds and small animals. The technology is simple, cheap, and durable and can be adapted to other uses, e.g. drip irrigation, short-term water for small livestock, poultry farming etc. The desert water harvester can be used to concentrate and collect water from precipitation and run-off in semi-arid and arid regions. Water harvested in such a relatively small area will not impact the ground water table but it should help to grow small areas of crops or vegetables to aid villagers in self-sufficiency.     

新疆干旱区的水环境问题分析及对策

在分析新疆特定的自然地理条件及气修水文特征的基础上,讨论了新疆目前面临的水资源短缺、干旱化、沙漠化加剧;水土流失、土壤盐渍化严重;水污染日益严重、水质恶化等主要的水环境问题,对新疆水资源环境的改善提出了相应的对策。     

基于RS和GIS的干旱荒漠区域土壤侵蚀动态监测与评价

为建立土壤侵蚀动态变化数据库,本文以土地利用数据、植被覆盖指数、最大风速等值线图和DEM数据为信息源,对干旱荒漠区新疆克拉玛依市2000年和2007年的土壤侵蚀状况进行了动态监测与评价。结果表明,受自然条件和人类活动影响,8年间克拉玛依市土壤侵蚀强度有所增加,变化区域主要集中在克拉玛依市中部平原区。该方法的应用实现了土壤侵蚀的定时定量评价。     

干旱区内陆艾比湖流域平原区景观生态安全评价研究

在构建基于景观尺度的生态安全评价模型基础上,分析了1990-2005年干旱区内陆艾比湖流域平原区的景观生态安全变化特征。结果表明:研究区景观生态安全状况可以分为3个层次,并以河流、湖泊及沼泽为主的湿地景观所在区域的生态安全程度相对较高。1990-2005年,研究区生态安全状况呈现"V"字型变化趋势,其中生态安全评价指数相对较低区域的面积所占比例呈现先增加后减少、总体上趋于增加的状态;而生态安全指数相对较高区域的面积所占比例呈现先减少后增加、总体上趋于减少的状态。     

Comparison of Nitrate Levels in Raw Water and Finished Water from Historical Monitoring Data on Iowa Municipal Drinking Water Supplies

Nitrate contamination of water sources is a concern where large amounts of nitrogen fertilizers are regularly applied to soils. Ingested nitrate from dietary sources and drinking water can be converted to nitrite and ultimately to N-nitroso compounds, many of which are known carcinogens. Epidemiologic studies of drinking water nitrate and cancer report mixed findings; a criticism is the use of nitrate concentrations from retrospective drinking water data to assign exposure levels. Residential point-of-use nitrate data are scarce; gaps in historical data for municipal supply finished water hamper exposure classification efforts. We used generalized linear regression models to estimate and compare historical raw water and finished water nitrate levels (1960s--1990s) in single source Iowa municipal supplies to determine whether raw water monitoring data could supplement finished water data to improve exposure assessment. Comparison of raw water and finished water samples (same sampling date) showed a significant difference in nitrate levels in municipalities using rivers; municipalities using other surface water or alluvial groundwater had no difference in nitrate levels. A regional aggregation of alluvial groundwater municipalities was constructed based on results from a previous study showing regional differences in nitrate contamination of private wells; results from this analysis were mixed, dependent upon region and decade. These analyses demonstrate using historical raw water nitrate monitoring data to supplement finished water data for exposure assessment is appropriate for individual Iowa municipal supplies using alluvial groundwater, lakes or reservoirs. Using alluvial raw water data on a regional basis is dependent on region and decade.     

Fluoride Content in Drinking Water Supplies of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Groundwater supplies about 34% ofthe total water demand for the capital city of SaudiArabia, Riyadh. The other 66% is desalinatedseawater. The fluoride level in Riyadh drinking watersupplies was evaluated. Samples were collected fromselected wells, treatment plants, desalinatedseawater, distribution network and 19 locally producedand imported bottled water. The fluoride level in theinfluent to the seven groundwater treatment plants andtheir final product water were in the range of 0.63–1.6 and 0.23–1.1 mg/L, respectively. Blending of theplants product water with the desalinated seawaterresulted in the fluoride level ranging from 0.01–0.5 mg/Lin the distribution network. Ninety percent of thesamples collected from the distribution network hadfluoride levels less than or equal to the calculatedweighted average value of 0.24 mg/L. The locallyproduced bottled waters as compared to 8 imported oneshave shown fluoride levels in the range of 0.2–0.83and 0.04–0.2 mg/L, respectively. In general, thefluoride level in Riyadh drinking water supplies isbelow the optimum recommended level of 0.7 to1.2 mg/L. It is therefore recommended thatfluoridation be considered in water treatment plants.     

Water Environmental Degradation of the Heihe River Basin in Arid Northwestern China

Water environmental degradation is a major issue in the Heihe River Basin belonging to the inland river basin of temperate arid zone in northwestern China. Mankind’s activities, such as dense population and heavy dependence on irrigated agriculture, place immense pressure on available and limited water resources during the last century, especially the recent five decades. An investigation on the water environmental degradation in the Heihe River Basin and analysis of its causation were conducted. The results indicated that water environmental changes in the whole basin were tremendous mostly in the middle reaches, which reflected in surface water runoff change, decline of groundwater table and degeneration of surface water and groundwater quality. Some new forms of management based on traditional and scientific knowledge must be introduced to solve problems of water environmental degradation in the Heihe River Basin.     

新疆阿勒泰地区主要风景旅游区水环境与可持续发展

对阿勒泰地区主要风景旅游区水环境保护与可持续发展进行了探讨。     

我国粘胶纤维行业水污染防治技术现状分析

对当前我国粘胶纤维行业采用的几种主要水污染防治技术进行了介绍,较为详细地说明了这几种水污染防治技术的主要技术特点及应用条件,为相关企业及环保工作者了解和掌握我国粘胶纤维行业水污染防治技术现状提供了方便.     

Chlorination Byproducts in Drinking Water Produced from Thermal Desalination in United Arab Emirates

Oil activities in the Arabian Gulf can potentially affect the quality of the intake water available for coastal desalination plants. This paper addresses such situation by investigating the quality of intake water and desalinated water produced by a desalination plant located near a coastal industrial complex in United Arab Emirates (UAE). Analyses of the organic compounds on the intake seawater reported non-detected levels in most samples for the three tested organic groups; namely Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), Phenols, and Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs). Trihalomethanes (THMs) and Haloacetic Acids (HAAs) were also tracked in the intake sea water, throughout the desalination processes, and in the final produced drinking water, to evaluate the undertaken pre- and post chlorination practices. The levels of considered Chlorination Byproducts (CBPs) were mostly found below the permissible international limits with few exceptions showing tangible levels of bromoform in the intake seawater and in the final produced drinking water as well. Lab-controlled experiments on the final produced distillate showed little contribution of its blending with small percentage of seawater upon the formation of trihalomethane and in particular, bromoform. Such results indicate that the organic precursors originated in the seawater are responsible for bromoform formation in the final distillate.     

高速公路水土保持生态服务功能价值评估浅析——以陕西省不同区域三条高速公路为例

以陕西省3个典型区域的3条高速公路为例,在构建高速公路水土保持生态服务功能价值评价体系并确定各评价指标计算方法的基础上,全面分析了高速公路水土保持的生态服务功能价值。旨在相互交流的基础上,为后期同类工程水土保持投资预算设计和资金管理使用提供理论依据。     

化学需氧量在造纸废水中分布规律及采样点位的优化

目前对造纸废水的监测通常采取随机取样,很少考虑污染物在废水中的分布情况,所以取得的样品很难反映污染物的实际排放情况。为此,通过对某造纸厂排废废水中化学需氧量分布夫妻及采样点位的优化研究。     

Water Quality during Development and Apportionment of Pollution from Rivers in Tapeng Lagoon, Taiwan

This work investigated water samples collected from Tapeng Lagoon, Taiwan. Factor analysis was conducted to explain the characteristics and the variation in the quality of water during the disassembly of oyster frames and fishery boxes. The result shows that the most important latent factors in Tapeng Lagoon are the ocean factor, primary productivity factor, and the fishery pollution factor. Canonical discriminant analysis is applied to identify the source of pollution in neighboring rivers outside Tapeng Lagoon. The two constructed discriminant functions (CDFs) showed markedly contribution to all discriminant variables, and that total nitrogen, algae, dissolved oxygen and total phosphate, combined in the nutrient effect factor. The recognition capacities in these two CDFs were 95.6%, 4.4%, respectively. The water quality in the Kaoping river most strongly determined that in the Tapeng Lagoon the best is. And disassembling the oyster frames and fishery boxes improves the water quality markedly. However, environmental topographic conditions indicate that strengthening stream pollution prevention and to constructing another entrance to the ocean are the best approaches for improving the quality of water in Tapeng Lagoon, especially by reducing eutrophication. These approaches and results yield useful information concerning habitat recovery and water resource management.     

浅谈火电项目山谷干灰场水土流失防治对策——以徐矿集团新疆阿克苏热电厂为例

火电厂项目建设对生态环境的影响越来越引起人们的重视,特别是山谷千贮灰场,无论在建设期还是运营期都是火电厂项目防治水土流失的重中之重,其治理已成为人们广泛关注的问题。本文以徐矿集团新疆阿克苏热电厂为例,针对灰场水土流失的各个环节,提出具体的防治对策。     

Trace Element Concentrations in Fish, Surficial Sediments and Water from Northern Part of the Persian Gulf

Concentrations of cadmium, lead, nickel and vanadium were determined in water, surficial sediments and the muscle of three demersal fish species (Epinephelus coioides, Psettodes erumei and Solea elongate) from 15 sampling sites in the northern part of Persian Gulf. Concentrations of the elements were determined using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer. There were no significant differences among the sampling sites in Cd and Pb levels in the sediments. The highest concentrations of Ni and V in sediments were found near the southern coast of Qeshm Iland and Bandar Lengeh. Concentrations of Cd, Pb and Ni in the sediments were notably higher than global baseline values. Nearly in all cases the element concentrations in the sediments were considerably greater than RSA (ROPME Sea Area) and the ERL (Effects Range Low) guidelines. Significant differences among the sampling sites could be found for concentrations of all the four metals in water. The mean Ni, Pb and Cd levels in the water samples were relatively higher than those in some other regions of the Persian Gulf. Except few cases, the mean concentrations of the elements in muscle of the selected fish species were markedly below the international guidelines for human consumption.     

Effects of Flooding on Lead and Cadmium Speciation in Sediments from a Drinking Water Reservoir

Římov water reservoir on the river Malše is the main source of drinking water for the town of České Budějovice and for the majority of inhabitants in the South Bohemian region, Czech Republic. Changes in cadmium and lead contents in bottom sediments before and after an extensive flood on the river Malše in August, 2002 were therefore determined. A five-step sequential extraction procedure was used in order to obtain more detailed information about the influence of the flood on heavy metal retention. In order to determine the mobility of lead and cadmium, the mobility factor (MF) for these heavy metals was calculated. The mobility factor of cadmium showed a significant decrease in the upper parts of the sediment profiles after the flood (e.g., from 59.4% to 49.1%) caused by a release of cadmium especially from the exchangeable fraction. There were no significant changes in the lead mobility factor after the flood, but a decrease of lead concentration in the exchangeable fraction was observed. Presented results show that the flood led to a leaching of the heavy metals present in bottom sediments into the environment.     

工业企业水污染物排放总量计算方法比较研究

通过对3家企业开展现场监测与调查,深入研究了利用手工监测数据计算工业企业水污染物排放总量的方法,并和自动监测数据法、排污系数法进行了比较研究,指出了3种方法的影响因素和适用范围,为合理计算企业污染物排放总量提供了思路.     

Quantitative Analyses of Pollution-Indicator and Pathogenic Bacteria in Mumbai Waters from Ballast Water Exchange Perspective

As large numbers of ships either take in ballast from or discharge their ballast into the Mumbai Harbor region, it is pertinent to quantify microorganisms of health concerns and suggest on the suitability of water for ballasting purposes. To meet with this main aim, a selected set of general and pathogenic bacterial groups and their seasonal variations were studied from the Mumbai Harbor area. Sampling was carried out during postmonsoon (November 2001), pre-monsoon (April 2002) and monsoon (October 2002) periods. We quantified total coliforms and eight other groups of known human pathogenic bacteria from water, sediment, marine plant and animal samples collected in and around Mumbai Harbor. When compared with similar studies from other parts/harbors of the world, the Mumbai Harbor area has over 100-times higher levels of coliforms. The serotypes of Escherichia coli O157 and Shigella-Alkaligens Dispar group were abundant throughout the year. Even Vibrio cholerae, V. parahaemolyticus, Salmonella spp., campylobacters and aeromonads were present in large numbers. This comprehensive study, conducted with a view to quantify these bacterial groups and to evaluate the suitability of these waters for ballasting purposes, clearly suggests that both ballasting and deballasting be avoided in this region and alternative procedures should be developed for treating/handling ballast water.