Molecular tools for bathing water assessment in Europe: Balancing social science research with a rapidly developing environmental science evidence-base

The use of molecular tools, principally qPCR, versus traditional culture-based methods for quantifying microbial parameters (e.g., Fecal Indicator Organisms) in bathing waters generates considerable ongoing debate at the science–policy interface. Advances in science have allowed the development and application of molecular biological methods for rapid (~2 h) quantification of microbial pollution in bathing and recreational waters. In contrast, culture-based methods can take between 18 and 96 h for sample processing. Thus, molecular tools offer an opportunity to provide a more meaningful statement of microbial risk to water-users by providing near-real-time information enabling potentially more informed decision-making with regard to water-based activities. However, complementary studies concerning the potential costs and benefits of adopting rapid methods as a regulatory tool are in short supply. We report on findings from an international Working Group that examined the breadth of social impacts, challenges, and research opportunities associated with the application of molecular tools to bathing water regulations.     

Temporal Trends in the Spatial Distribution of Impervious Cover Relative to Stream Location

Use of impervious cover is transitioning from an indicator of surface water condition to one that also guides and informs watershed planning and management, including Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. §1251 et seq.) reporting. Whether it is for understanding surface water condition or planning and management, impervious cover is most commonly expressed as summary measurement (e.g., percentage watershed in impervious cover). We use the National Land Cover Database to estimate impervious cover in the vicinity of surface waters for three time periods (2001, 2006, 2011). We also compare impervious cover in the vicinity of surface waters to watershed summary estimates of impervious cover for classifying the spatial pattern of impervious cover. Between 2001 and 2011, surface water shorelines (streams and water bodies) in the vicinity of impervious cover increased nearly 10,000 km. Across all time periods, approximately 27% of the watersheds in the continental United States had proximally distributed impervious cover, i.e., the percentage of impervious cover in the vicinity of surface waters was higher than its watershed summary expression. We discuss how impervious cover spatial pattern can be used to inform watershed planning and management, including reporting under the Clean Water Act.     

Connotation and principles of ecological compensation in water source reserve areas based on the theory of externality

Understanding the connotation and principles of ecological compensation in water source reserve areas is the basis and guarantee for establishing and improving the ecological compensation mechanism of water source reserve areas. First, this paper reviews the three stages of ecological compensation research progress. Based on the review, using the theory of externality, the ecological environment system of water source reserve areas is then analyzed. This paper argues that the connotation of ecological compensation in water source reserve areas is a kind of institutional arrangement, which is designed to internalize externalities. Finally, based on the understanding of the connotation of ecological compensation in water source reserve areas, five principles for establishing and improving the ecological compensation mechanism are proposed, including the principle of fairness and justice, the principle of equivalence of equality and responsibility, the principle of flexibility and effectiveness, the principle of “earmark funds, and implementation by law,” and the principle of government compensation supplemented with market compensation.     

水环境数学模型与GIS的集成研究

从地理信息系统(GIS)的功能特点、环境信息的特性和水环境数学模型软件应用时存在不足的3个方面分析了GIS和水环境数学模型软件集成的必要性.介绍了GIS和水环境数学模型的集成方式以及苏州河三期综合整治决策支持系统的主要功能结构,重点从GIS和水环境数学模型集成方面介绍了地图矢量化、模型计算结果转化为相应数据库文件、数据库文件和GIS实现绑定以及断面水位动态演示的实现方法和重要作用.     

水葫芦厌氧发酵工程化应用研究

在实验室进行了接种率、破碎程度和温度等对水葫芦厌氧发酵产气率的影响研究.结果表明:水葫芦在中温35℃下,水葫芦和接种污泥的最佳接种率为1:1(总固体物质比),经简单切分后产气率最高,原料产气率为0.540 m3/d(以每千克固体含量计,下同);高温消化与中温消化相比,产气率无明显优势.在实验室研究基础上,对中国农村地区原有的沼气发酵工艺进行适当的改进,设计构建了5 m3 15 m3(酸化池 产气池)两级反应池,该反应池在夏季常温条件下运行良好,80 d的平均原料产气率达0.305 m3/d.     

巢湖污染现状与水质恢复措施

巢湖是属于国家"三河三湖"重点水污染防治流域之一。近年来,湖体营养过程加剧,生态环境受到明显损害,制约了流域社会经济的可持续发展。巢湖湖区水中高锰酸钾、总氮、总磷含量分别为4.9、2.48、0.227mg/L,水质类别为劣ⅴ类(重度污染);表层沉积物中总氮、总磷含量平均值为1065、587 mg/kg。要实现流域水资源的可持续利用,必须加快水污染综合治理。文章分析了巢湖污染现状,结合实际情况提出了治理对策。     

微波联合消解流动注射光度法测定水中总氮和总磷

利用微波联合消解水样,采用流动注射分析技术,建立了在线测定水中总氮和总磷的快速分析方法.优化了试验条件,在线性范围内,总氮和总磷的工作曲线线性关系良好,检出限分别为0.03 mg/L和0.01 mg/L,相对标准偏差分别为1.5%和1.2%,加标回收率分别为96.7%～103%和98.8%～102%.     

太湖梅梁湾水源水中微囊藻毒素浓度的变化

对太湖梅梁湾水源水中的总藻毒素TMC[(TMC-LR) (TMC-RR)]和胞外藻毒素EMC[(EMC-LR) (EMC-RR)]进行了跟踪检测.结果表明,水体中TMC-RR、TMC-LR、EMC-RR、EMC-LR质量浓度平均分别为1.819 μg/L、1.090 μg/L、0.491 μg/L和0.077 μg/L,无锡市的主要水源地水质已受到微囊藻毒素的污染.提出,应加强水源地水体中微囊藻毒素浓度的监测,确保饮用水的安全.     

城市景观水污染现状及处理技术

城市景观水体由于水质恶化而渐渐影响附近居民的正常生活,要从根本上保证水质需采取一定的水源保护和水处理措施。在景观水处理中,适用于景观水处理的工艺有很多,但工程实施中需要对其进行选择、优化、组合。随着社会不断发展和人们生活质量要求不断提高,景观水处理也必将成为继生活用水处理、工业用水处理后的又一给水处理新领域。     

Managing disposal of water produced with petroleum in Kuwait

Disposal of water produced with petroleum has been of great interest in Kuwait for the last 20 years. The current problem arose when the Burgan oil field, which is the second largest field in the world, experienced successive increases in the water content of the produced oil. This study introduces a decision-making analysis of the considered alternatives for the disposal of the produced water. Four alternative solutions exist for the industry as practical solutions for the disposal of water produced in Kuwait. The first method utilizes a large number of pits to discharge water. The second alternative depends on discharging water into sealed pits. The third approach to dispose water is by injecting the water underground. The last method is similar to the previous one, but takes into consideration the recovery of reservoir pressure to maintain the rate of oil production. A questionnaire was distributed to 48 experts at the top management level of the petroleum companies and the governmental authority. The data collected considered cost, efficiency, and environmental parameters. Based on the data, a statistical analysis was conducted using the factor analysis method to reduce the number of investigated variables. The analysis concluded that the optimal solution is to use the effluent injection method to discharge water produced with oil in Burgan and similar fields in Kuwait.