Integrated catchment modeling for nutrient reduction: scenarios showing impacts, potential, and cost of measures

A hydrological-based model (HBV-NP) was applied to a catchment (1900 km2) in the southern part of Sweden. Careful characterization of the present load situation and the potential for improved treatment or reduced soil leaching were analyzed. Several scenarios were modeled to find strategies to reach the Swedish environmental goals of reducing anthropogenic nitrogen load by 30% and phosphorus load by 20%. It was stated that the goals could be reached by different approaches that would affect different polluters and social sectors. However, no single measure was enough by itself. Instead, a combination of measures was necessary to achieve the goals. The nitrogen goal was the most difficult to attain. In order to be cost-effective, these measures should be applied to areas contributing the most to the net loading of the sea. This strategy could reduce the costs by 70%-80% when compared with implementing the measures in the entire catchment. Integrated catchment models may thus be helpful tools for reducing costs in environmental control programs.     

Use of modeling to protect,plan, and manage water resources in catchment areas

The degradation of water resources by diffuse pollution, mainly due to nitrate and pesticides, is an important matter for public health. Restoration of the quality of natural water catchments by focusing on their catchment areas is therefore a national priority in France. To consider catchment areas as homogeneous and to expend an equal effort on the entire area inevitably leads to a waste of time and money, and restorative actions may not be as efficient as intended. The variability of the pedological and geological properties of the area is actually an opportunity to invest effort on smaller areas, simply because every action is not equally efficient on every kind of pedological or geological surface. Using this approach, it is possible to invest in a few selected zones that will be efficient in terms of environmental results. The contributive hydraulic areas (CHA) concept is different from that of the catchment area. Because the transport of most of the mobile and persistent pollutants is primarily driven by water circulation, the concept of the CHA is based on the water pathway from the surface of the soil in the catchment area to the well. The method uses a three-dimensional hydrogeological model of surface and groundwater integrated with a geographic information system called Watermodel. The model calculates the contribution (m³/h or %) of each point of the soil to the total flow pumped in a well. Application of this model, partially funded by the Seine Normandy Basin Agency, to the catchment of the Dormelles Well in the Cretaceous chalk aquifer in the Orvanne valley, France (catchment area of 23,000 ha at Dormelles, county 77), shows that 95 % of the water pumped at the Dormelles Well comes from only 26 % of the total surface area of the catchment. Consequently, an action plan to protect the water resource will be targeted at the 93 farmers operating in this source area rather than the total number of farmers (250) across the entire 23,000 ha. Another model, developed from Epiclès© software, permits the calculation of the under-root nitrate concentrations for each field based on soil type, climate, and farming practices. When the Watermodel and Epiclès© are coupled, nitrate transfers from the soil to the catchment and the river can be modeled. In this study, the initial pollution due to the actual farming practices was simulated and we were also able to estimate the efficiency of the agronomic action plan by testing several scenarios and calculating the time needed to reach the target nitrate concentration in the well.     

Public participation in water resources management: stakeholder voices on degree, scale, potential, and methods in future water management

The European Water Framework Directive puts strong emphasis on stakeholder and public participation in water management. Several practical questions regarding who should be involved, why, when, and how still remain unanswered. This paper investigates stakeholders' own experiences and views of increased public participation in water management. The article also explores the potential for increasing levels of participation by forming catchment committees with representation from stakeholder groups and through the use of various practical methods for participation. For both these aspects of participation, the views, expectations, and apprehensions of different stakeholder groups involved in nutrient loss management are investigated. Stakeholder opinions were collected by inviting representatives from five stakeholder groups within the R?nne? catchment in southern Sweden to a catchment dialog process.     

城市面源污染治理中的公众参与现状与对策探讨

中国的城市面源污染控制在工程措施与管理制度方面均起步较晚,污染造成的危害日渐严重.结合对某城市居民进行的城市面源污染的认知和参与意识的问卷调查结果,分析了目前中国城市面源污染控制中公众参与的现状和存在的问题,公众意识薄弱、政府的参与机制不健全是导致城市面源污染控制水平低下的重要原因.为此,有关部门要提高宣传教育的效率,...     

Investigating the factors underlying participation by the Chinese public in environmental management: an approach based on spatial heterogeneity

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Public participation in environmental management (PPEM) in China has become increasingly prominent; thus, investigating the factors that underlie...     

Legal prerequisites for ecosystem-based management in the Baltic Sea area: The example of eutrophication

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the role of law in the management of the Baltic Sea, with focus on eutrophication. It aims to identify legal instruments or structures realizing an ecosystem approach. This also includes a discussion of the prerequisites of law as contributor to ecosystem-based management (EBM), as well as evaluation of current legal instruments. While ecosystem approach to environmental management is central to contemporary environmental management policy, it is still unclear what such an approach entails in concrete legal terms. The scope of the analysis stretches from international and EU legal regimes, to implementation and regulation within the national legal systems. A conclusion is that the management structures need further development to properly realize EBM, for example, through concretization of management measures, and clarification of duties and responsibilities for their realization.     

Integrated waste management in a zone of northern Italy: compost production and use, and analytical control of compost, soil, and crop

Agricultural soils of two Italian maize farms were treated for five years with an industrially produced high-quality compost. Cattle manure and the usual mineral fertilizer were used for comparison purposes. The effects of the organic and mineral fertilizer treatments were studied by analyzing the compost and manure, cultured soils, and harvested material. The grain yield was also determined. Organic fertilization improved soil pH, CEC, content of organic matter and NPK. Soil respiration and N mineralization were found to be higher than in the purely mineral-treated soil. Plant K take-up was improved, whereas grain yield was not affected. It was confirmed that organic fertilization, particularly compost use, maintained and increased soil fertility. The study demonstrated the feasibility of using in loco analytical facilities to follow the entire recycling process-from waste to compost production-and the use of the final product in the field.     

Review of characterization,factors, impacts,and solutions of Lake eutrophication: lesson for lake Tana,Ethiopia

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Lake eutrophication and water quality deterioration have become a major environmental problem in urban areas and fertilized basins in developing...     

Interaction between environmental policy instruments: carbon emissions trading and Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control

As the number of environmental policy instruments grows, so the potential for interaction between different instruments increases. This interaction can be detrimental or beneficial. To avoid conflict, it is essential that the potential for interaction be assessed during the formulation of new policy instruments. This paper illustrates this through an analysis of how the European Directive on Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control might interact with future schemes for carbon emissions trading. Both instruments encourage industrial energy efficiency, but in fundamentally different ways. This is demonstrated through a detailed comparison of the two policy instruments, followed by the development of three implementation scenarios for IPPC, in which the interaction with potential carbon trading schemes is assessed. The paper concludes that the interpretation of the IPPC energy efficiency requirements could either constrain or facilitate the participation of regulated installations in any carbon trading scheme.     

Effect of eutrophication upon radionuclide dynamics in the Sacca di Goro lagoon (Po River Delta,Italy): a combined field,experimental and modeling study

The focus of this paper is on the relationship between eutrophication and radionuclide circulation at the whole ecosystem scale in the shallow estuarine environment of the Sacca di Goro (Po River Delta, Italy). This lagoon is frequently affected by dystrophic crises, due to decomposition of huge amounts of macroalgae (mainly Ulva rigida), and critical conditions created at the interface between sediment and water are such that Cs-137 accumulated in the sediment can be mobilized and made available in the water column. The release of cesium from sediment in this ecosystem has been evaluated through a field experiment in which chemical conditions typical of anoxic crises were artificially created in enclosures. Also a lab experiment was carried out to shed light on possible cesium release by decomposing macroalgae. The two experiments allowed drawing conclusions on crucial factors controlling cesium release in the Sacca di Goro, the first objective of this research. The second objective was understanding the fate of radiocesium once transported in the water column. To this end ecological information gathered during the experiments and a yearly sampling campaign, has been converted into whole-system seasonal networks describing ecosystem flow structure for the Sacca di Goro. Analyzed by network analysis this model has provided clues about the dynamics of Cs-137 in terms of preferential pathways, sinks, sources, and cycling activity. Sediment, together with seston and dissolved cesium, appear to be the most significant components in the circulation of Cs-137; while macroalgal biomasses play a crucial role as an indirect causal factor.     

Emission inventory and control policy for non-road construction machinery in Tianjin

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The establishment of a non-road construction machinery emission inventory forms the basis for the analysis of pollutant emission characteristics and...     

Correction to: Increasing water productivity,nitrogen economy,and grain yield of rice by water saving irrigation and fertilizer-N management

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The original publication of this paper contains a mistake.     

Phase partitioning modeling of ethanol, isopropanol, and methanol with BTEX compounds in water

This study investigates the equilibrium phase partitioning behavior of ethanol, isopropanol, and methanol in a two-phase liquid-liquid system consisting of water and an individual BTEX (Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, and Xylenes) compound. A previously developed computer program is enhanced to generate ternary phase diagrams for analysis of each three-component cosolvent-nonaqueous phase liquid (NAPL)-water mixture combination. The required activity coefficients are estimated using the UNIFAC (Universal Quasichemical Functional group Activity Coefficient) model. The UNIFAC-derived ternary phase diagrams generally show good agreement against published experimental data, and similar phase partitioning behavior is observed for every BTEX compound in the presence of the same cosolvent. Furthermore, a set of laboratory experiments is conducted to determine the maximum single-phase water content for every mixture combination considered in this study where the volume composition of the cosolvent and the NAPL components is a blend of 85% alcohol and 15% BTEX compound. Comparison of experimentally-derived maximum single-phase water contents against UNIFAC-derived results shows good agreement for mixtures containing ethanol and methanol, but relatively poor agreement for mixtures containing isopropanol.     

Reducing the risk of invasive forest pests and pathogens: Combining legislation,targeted management and public awareness

Intensifying global trade will result in increased numbers of plant pest and pathogen species inadvertently being transported along with cargo. This paper examines current mechanisms for prevention and management of potential introductions of forest insect pests and pathogens in the European Union (EU). Current European legislation has not been found sufficient in preventing invasion, establishment and spread of pest and pathogen species within the EU. Costs associated with future invasions are difficult to estimate but past invasions have led to negative economic impacts in the invaded country. The challenge is combining free trade and free movement of products (within the EU) with protection against invasive pests and pathogens. Public awareness may mobilise the public for prevention and detection of potential invasions and, simultaneously, increase support for eradication and control measures. We recommend focus on commodities in addition to pathways, an approach within the EU using a centralised response unit and, critically, to engage the general public in the battle against establishment and spread of these harmful pests and pathogens.     

Public participation in municipal planning as a tool for coastal management: case studies from western Sweden

This article analyses four main models of participation in Swedish natural resource management and assesses strengths and weaknesses of one model (participation in physical/spatial planning) based on empirical studies of coastal resource conflicts in two Swedish west coast municipalities. In comparison to other administrative and planning procedures, physical planning offers possibilities to coordinate land and water management across sectors and resources and to broaden stakeholder participation. Local influence on coastal management increases with participation beyond the statutory minimum requirements, although management frameworks and practice of participation need to be developed further. Besides educating professionals and experimenting with combinations of existing procedures, in the long run an adaptation of legislation to the requirements of integrated and sustainable coastal management will be necessary.     

美国水质反退化政策及其对中国的启示

作为美国水质标准的一个重要组成部分,反退化政策在防止良好水质进一步恶化方面发挥着重要作用.目前由于中国环境保护的法律法规中尚无反退化原则,水质标准中也缺乏反退化的定性规定,无法从根本上确立全力保护水质的决心.建议在《水污染防治法》中增加水质反退化政策,宣示国家保护水质的决心和意志,将反退化原则纳入中国的水质标准体系,并制定相应的执行细则.     

Increasing water productivity,nitrogen economy,and grain yield of rice by water saving irrigation and fertilizer-N management

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The looming water resources worldwide necessitate the development of water-saving technologies in rice production. An open greenhouse experiment was...     

Utilization of water chestnut for reclamation of water environment and control of cyanobacterial blooms

Overgrowth of water chestnut (Trapa spp.) is a regional problem throughout Asia and North America because of waterway blockage and water fouling upon decomposition. In the present study, we investigated the potential of water chestnut to control cyanobacterial blooms, via a high content of phenolic compounds. In addition, we assessed the impact of biomass harvesting and crude extract application on nutrient balance. We showed that the floating parts of water chestnut contained high concentrations of total phenolics (89.2 mg g^?1 dry weight) and exhibited strong antioxidant activity (1.31 mmol g^?1 dry weight). Methanol-extracted phenolics inhibited growth of Microcystis aeruginosa; the half maximal effective concentration (EC₅₀) of the extracted phenolics was 5.8 mg L^?1, which was obtained from only 103 mg L^?1 of dry biomass (the floating and submerged parts). However, the crude extracts also added important quantities of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (1.49, 1.05, and 16.3 mg g^?1, respectively; extracted dry biomass weight basis); therefore, in practice, nutrient removal before and/or after the extraction is essential. On the other hand, biomass harvesting enables recovery of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium from the water environment (23.1, 2.9, and 18.7 mg g^?1, respectively; dry biomass weight basis). Our findings indicate that water chestnut contains high concentrations of phenolics and exhibits strong antioxidant activity. Utilization of these resources, including nutrients, will contribute to reclamation of the water environment, and also to disposal of wet biomass.     

Climate-resilient strategies for sustainable management of water resources and agriculture

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Warming of the earth is considered as the major adverse effect of climate change along with other abnormalities such as non-availability of water...     

水体中卤乙酸（HAAs）的产生、测定方法与控制途径

对饮用水中普遍存在的消毒副产物形式HAAs的产生、测定方法以及控制途径进行了阐述。并对影响HAAs生成的主要因素投氯量、溴的影响以及卤乙酸副产物（HAAFP）含量等进行了分析。生物活性炭技术是一种非常有效的控制HAAs含量和减少HAAFP含量的方法，对于保障饮用水安全性具有重要意义。