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Editor’s Choice Articles

Editor’s Choice articles are based on recommendations by the scientific editors of MDPI journals from around the world. Editors select a small number of articles recently published in the journal that they believe will be particularly interesting to readers, or important in the respective research area. The aim is to provide a snapshot of some of the most exciting work published in the various research areas of the journal.

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18 pages, 2511 KiB  
Review
Review on Drip Irrigation: Impact on Crop Yield, Quality, and Water Productivity in China
by Pei Yang, Lifeng Wu, Minghui Cheng, Junliang Fan, Sien Li, Haidong Wang and Long Qian
Water 2023, 15(9), 1733; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15091733 - 30 Apr 2023
Cited by 23 | Viewed by 24085
Abstract
The scarcity of freshwater resources is a global concern that is exacerbated by an increasing global population and climate change induced by global warming. To address this issue, the largest water-consuming sector has taken a series of measures termed as drip irrigation schemes. [...] Read more.
The scarcity of freshwater resources is a global concern that is exacerbated by an increasing global population and climate change induced by global warming. To address this issue, the largest water-consuming sector has taken a series of measures termed as drip irrigation schemes. The primary purposes of drip irrigation are to reduce water scarcity near the root zone, reduce evaporation, and decrease water use. The application scope of drip irrigation is getting wider and wider, with the number of papers related to drip irrigation increasing year by year from 1990 to 2022. This study reviews crops planted in China that had been irrigated by drip irrigation equipment. The effects of drip irrigation technology on crop growth, physiology, quality, yield, and water use efficiency are summarized. This paper also provides an overview of drip irrigation technology on crop root development and nitrogen uptake. Through a global meta-analysis, it is found that in the case of water shortage, drip irrigation can save water and ensure crop yield compared to flooding irrigation, border irrigation, furrow irrigation, sprinkler irrigation, and micro-sprinkler irrigation. When the drip irrigation amount is more (100–120%), drip irrigation significantly increases crop yields by 28.92%, 14.55%, 8.03%, 2.32%, and 5.17% relative to flooding irrigation, border irrigation, furrow irrigation, sprinkler irrigation, and micro-sprinkler irrigation, respectively. When water resources are sufficient, increasing the amount of drip irrigation also improves crop yield. Moreover, the researchers found that drip irrigation can reduce fertilizer leaching and soil salinity. However, more studies should be conducted in the future to enrich the research on drip irrigation. In conclusion, drip irrigation technology is effective in improving crop growth, water use efficiency, and reducing water scarcity while decreasing fertilizer leaching and soil salinity, making it an ideal solution to the issue of freshwater resource scarcity globally. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Insight into Drip Irrigation)
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16 pages, 2572 KiB  
Article
Projection of Future Meteorological Droughts in Lake Urmia Basin, Iran
by Babak Ghazi, Sanjana Dutt and Ali Torabi Haghighi
Water 2023, 15(8), 1558; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15081558 - 16 Apr 2023
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2184
Abstract
Future changes (2015–2100) in precipitation and meteorological droughts in Lake Urmia Basin were investigated using an average mean ensemble of eight general circulation models (GCMs) with high-resolution datasets in socioeconomic pathway scenarios (SSPs) from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6). In order to [...] Read more.
Future changes (2015–2100) in precipitation and meteorological droughts in Lake Urmia Basin were investigated using an average mean ensemble of eight general circulation models (GCMs) with high-resolution datasets in socioeconomic pathway scenarios (SSPs) from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6). In order to project the drought, the standardized precipitation index (SPI) was calculated. Overall, the results revealed that precipitation in Lake Urmia Basin will decrease by 3.21% and 7.18% in the SSP1-2.6 and SSP5-8.5 scenarios, respectively. The results based on 6-month-timescale SPI indices projected more “Extremely dry” events in SSP5-8.5 scenarios. The frequency of “Extremely dry” months in SSP5-8.5 compared to SSP1-2.6 is expected to increase by 14, 7, 14, 10, 5, 14, and 7 months for the Mahabad, Maragheh, Saqez, Sarab, Tabriz, Takab, and Urmia stations, respectively. In contrast, the frequency of “Extremely wet” months will decline for all stations in Lake Urmia Basin. The results of this study provide useful insight for considering drought prevention measures to be implemented in advance for Lake Urmia Basin, which is currently experiencing various environmental issues. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydroclimatic Modeling and Monitoring under Climate Change)
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17 pages, 10217 KiB  
Article
Hydrochemical Assessment of the Kisköre Reservoir (Lake Tisza) and the Impacts of Water Quality on Tourism Development
by Tamás Mester, Borbála Benkhard, Mária Vasvári, Péter Csorba, Emőke Kiss, Dániel Balla, István Fazekas, Eduárd Csépes, Ayoub Barkat and György Szabó
Water 2023, 15(8), 1514; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15081514 - 12 Apr 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1734
Abstract
Outdoor recreation has grown rapidly in recent years, with an increasing preference for areas in good ecological condition. Since lakes represent some of the most important wetlands, providing a wide variety of ecosystem services, they have become a very popular destination. The present [...] Read more.
Outdoor recreation has grown rapidly in recent years, with an increasing preference for areas in good ecological condition. Since lakes represent some of the most important wetlands, providing a wide variety of ecosystem services, they have become a very popular destination. The present study aimed to assess the water quality of the largest artificial lake in Hungary (Kisköre Reservoir—Lake Tisza), and the role of ecological status in tourism development. Monthly water sampling from the basins of the lake (Tiszavalk, Poroszló, Sarud and Abádszalók basins) took place from April–November 2021 and in 2022. The majority of samples from the river section and from the lake are classified as Ca2+-HCO3− type or mixed Ca2+-Na+-HCO3− type. According to the results, the water quality of each basin is considered excellent or good. Rapid warming of the shallow water of the basins was detected during the summer months, resulting in different hydrochemical characteristics (pH, NH4-N, NO2-N, NO3-N, PO4-P, CODcr BOI5) compared to the river section. Differences in the plant nutrient and oxygen balance component groups have been revealed with hierarchical and two-step cluster analysis as well. The results demonstrated that the hydrochemical properties of the lake’s water are substantially influenced by the filling of the lake in spring from the River Tisza and the significant lowering (1.2 m) of the water level in the autumn each year, allowing the drainage of stagnant water, the removal of accumulated sediments and the oxidation of organic matter. The number of tourists on Lake Tisza has increased rapidly over the last decade, confirming that a wide range of ecosystem services have a significant attractive impact on waterfront activities and ecotourism. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water Quality Assessment—Methods and Surveys)
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16 pages, 1408 KiB  
Review
Trait-Based Research on Rotifera: The Holy Grail or Just Messy?
by Ulrike Obertegger and Robert Lee Wallace
Water 2023, 15(8), 1459; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15081459 - 8 Apr 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2187
Abstract
In recent years, trait-based research on plankton has gained interest because of its potential to uncover general roles in ecology. While trait categories for phytoplankton and crustaceans have been posited, rotifer trait assessment has lagged behind. Here, we reviewed the literature to assess [...] Read more.
In recent years, trait-based research on plankton has gained interest because of its potential to uncover general roles in ecology. While trait categories for phytoplankton and crustaceans have been posited, rotifer trait assessment has lagged behind. Here, we reviewed the literature to assess traits key to their life histories and provided a data matrix for the 138 valid genera of phylum Rotifera. We considered seven traits: habitat type, trophi type, presence of lorica and foot, predation defense attributes, corona type, and feeding traits. While most traits were morphological attributes and supposedly easy to assess, we were faced with several challenges regarding trait assignment. Feeding traits were especially difficult to assess for many genera because relevant information was missing. Our assembled trait matrix provides a foundation that will initiate additional research on rotifer functional diversity, diminish the misclassification of rotifer genera into trait categories, and facilitate studies across trophic levels. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity and Functionality of Plankton Communities)
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29 pages, 3870 KiB  
Review
Examining Current and Future Applications of Electrocoagulation in Wastewater Treatment
by Yi Mao, Yaqian Zhao and Sarah Cotterill
Water 2023, 15(8), 1455; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15081455 - 7 Apr 2023
Cited by 24 | Viewed by 9992
Abstract
Electrocoagulation (EC) has gained increasing attention as an effective and environmentally friendly technique for purifying water and wastewater. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the recent literature on EC and identifies new trends and potentials for further research. Initially, the nature of [...] Read more.
Electrocoagulation (EC) has gained increasing attention as an effective and environmentally friendly technique for purifying water and wastewater. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the recent literature on EC and identifies new trends and potentials for further research. Initially, the nature of EC and its operating parameters are discussed, while the research trends are analyzed using the Scopus database and VOSviewer software. From 1977 to 2022, 2691 research articles and review papers on EC for water/wastewater treatment were published, with the number of publications increasing from 2 in 1977 to 293 in 2022. In the past five years, most studies focused on treatment performance and the mechanism of EC systems. However, recent emphasis has been placed on combining EC with other treatment processes and addressing emerging pollutants. The innovative applications of EC are highlighted, including the removal of microplastics and per/polyfluoroalkyl substances, the power supply of EC via microbial fuel cells (MFCs) and electro-wetlands (EWs), and the application of power management systems in EC. The review concludes with suggestions for further research to enhance the technology and expand its scope of applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Wastewater Treatment and Reuse)
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13 pages, 2793 KiB  
Article
The Role of Estuarine Wetlands (Saltmarshes) in Sediment Microplastics Retention
by C. Marisa R. Almeida, Iraide Sáez-Zamacona, Diogo M. Silva, Sabrina M. Rodrigues, Rúben Pereira and Sandra Ramos
Water 2023, 15(7), 1382; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15071382 - 3 Apr 2023
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2455
Abstract
Concerns regarding plastic pollution, especially microplastics, have increased, as they can be present in different environmental compartments, including estuarine areas and saltmarshes. Although saltmarshes are highly vulnerable to different human activities and pressures, they have the ability to trap/retain contaminants in their vegetated [...] Read more.
Concerns regarding plastic pollution, especially microplastics, have increased, as they can be present in different environmental compartments, including estuarine areas and saltmarshes. Although saltmarshes are highly vulnerable to different human activities and pressures, they have the ability to trap/retain contaminants in their vegetated sediments. However, there is still little information regarding the role of saltmarshes in microplastic retention. Thus, the present study aims to investigate the capability of an estuarine saltmarsh to trap microplastics by comparing microplastic concentrations in vegetated (saltmarsh) and non-vegetated sediments. Microplastic content from sediment (vegetated and non-vegetated) samples collected at different sampling sites in Lima River estuary was estimated using previously optimised extraction protocols, and the observed particles were then characterised accordingly to their size, colour, shape, and polymer (by FTIR). Water samples were also collected and analysed for their microplastics content to complement MPs characterisation within the estuarine area. Microplastics were detected in all sediment samples, with fibres being the most common type of microplastic found, followed by fragments/particles. Overall, vegetated sediments, especially those of saltmarsh species Juncus maritimus, presented a higher number of plastic items. These results indicated that microplastics tend to be trapped in vegetated sediments, supporting the fact that saltmarshes have a significant influence on the transport, distribution, and accumulation of MPs in estuarine areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microplastics in Wetlands: Occurrence, Fate and Interactions)
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23 pages, 1946 KiB  
Article
Compilation of Water Resource Balance Sheets under Unified Accounting of Water Quantity and Quality, a Case Study of Hubei Province
by Liang Yuan, Liwen Ding, Weijun He, Yang Kong, Thomas Stephen Ramsey, Dagmawi Mulugeta Degefu and Xia Wu
Water 2023, 15(7), 1383; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15071383 - 3 Apr 2023
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2106
Abstract
This article discusses the issues caused by traditional water resource development and utilization, as well as policy issues in China that have led to a water crisis. The article proposes a theoretical approach along with a quantitative accounting of water resources, in order [...] Read more.
This article discusses the issues caused by traditional water resource development and utilization, as well as policy issues in China that have led to a water crisis. The article proposes a theoretical approach along with a quantitative accounting of water resources, in order to solve these problems. To improve the value accounting method for water resources, the study focuses on a unified accounting perspective of water quantity and quality, allowing for an evaluation of water use efficiency and quality. The study uses prefecture-level cities in Hubei Province as a case study and finds that the water use efficiency of these cities has constantly improved, while water quality has shown an annual improvement. Water resource assets, liabilities, and net assets have increased, but with fluctuations. The study shows differences in water resource assets, liabilities, and net assets in the eastern, central, and western regions of Hubei Province. The unified accounting perspective of water quantity and quality provides a new idea and method for the preparation of water resource balance sheets and will effectively improve the management level and efficiency of water resources. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Water Resources Management, Policy and Governance)
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21 pages, 711 KiB  
Review
Hydropower Dam Development and Fish Biodiversity in the Mekong River Basin: A Review
by Ian G. Baird and Zeb S. Hogan
Water 2023, 15(7), 1352; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15071352 - 1 Apr 2023
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 5145
Abstract
Over the last few decades, considerable concern has been expressed about the threat of Mekong River Basin hydropower dams to a range of important freshwater riverine fisheries, particularly for fish that seasonally migrate long distances. However, much less attention has been given to [...] Read more.
Over the last few decades, considerable concern has been expressed about the threat of Mekong River Basin hydropower dams to a range of important freshwater riverine fisheries, particularly for fish that seasonally migrate long distances. However, much less attention has been given to the threat of hydropower dams to fish biodiversity in the high-diversity Mekong River Basin, the focus of this paper. Through reviewing the existing state of knowledge regarding Mekong River Basin fish biodiversity, and threats to it, we argue that even though no species are definitively known to have been extirpated from the Mekong River Basin to date, hydropower dam development and various other developments nevertheless pose a serious threat to fish biodiversity. Indeed, dams typically significantly block fish migrations and fish larvae distribution, cause river fragmentation, fundamentally alter river hydrology, and change water quality, all factors that have the potential to intersect with each other and lead to significant species extirpation and extinction, or in some cases, functional extinction, when a small population remains but the important larger population is lost permanently. The circumstances are further exacerbated by the lag time between impact and when that impact becomes evident, cumulative impacts, a lack of consistent data collection, including the collection of base-line data, and insufficient post-project research related to biodiversity. We contend that much more could and should be done to ensure that the Mekong River basin’s exceptional fish biodiversity is not variously diminished and destroyed during the coming years. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Endangered Fish, Rivers at Risk: Spatial Aspects of Freshwater Biodiversity Conservation)
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19 pages, 20262 KiB  
Article
A Stacking Ensemble Model of Various Machine Learning Models for Daily Runoff Forecasting
by Mingshen Lu, Qinyao Hou, Shujing Qin, Lihao Zhou, Dong Hua, Xiaoxia Wang and Lei Cheng
Water 2023, 15(7), 1265; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15071265 - 23 Mar 2023
Cited by 26 | Viewed by 6802
Abstract
Improving the accuracy and stability of daily runoff prediction is crucial for effective water resource management and flood control. This study proposed a novel stacking ensemble learning model based on attention mechanism for the daily runoff prediction. The proposed model has a two-layer [...] Read more.
Improving the accuracy and stability of daily runoff prediction is crucial for effective water resource management and flood control. This study proposed a novel stacking ensemble learning model based on attention mechanism for the daily runoff prediction. The proposed model has a two-layer structure with the base model and the meta model. Three machine learning models, namely random forest (RF), adaptive boosting (AdaBoost), and extreme gradient boosting (XGB) are used as the base models. The attention mechanism is used as the meta model to integrate the output of the base model to obtain predictions. The proposed model is applied to predict the daily inflow to Fuchun River Reservoir in the Qiantang River basin. The results show that the proposed model outperforms the base models and other ensemble models in terms of prediction accuracy. Compared with the XGB and weighted averaging ensemble (WAE) models, the proposed model has a 10.22% and 8.54% increase in Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE), an 18.52% and 16.38% reduction in root mean square error (RMSE), a 28.17% and 18.66% reduction in mean absolute error (MAE), and a 4.54% and 4.19% increase in correlation coefficient (r). The proposed model significantly outperforms the base model and simple stacking model indicated by both the Friedman test and the Nemenyi test. Thus, the proposed model can produce reasonable and accurate prediction of the reservoir inflow, which is of great strategic significance and application value in formulating the rational allocation and optimal operation of water resources and improving the breadth and depth of hydrological forecasting integrated services. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section New Sensors, New Technologies and Machine Learning in Water Sciences)
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17 pages, 875 KiB  
Review
The Bacterial Degradation of Lignin—A Review
by Dijana Grgas, Matea Rukavina, Drago Bešlo, Tea Štefanac, Vlado Crnek, Tanja Šikić, Mirna Habuda-Stanić and Tibela Landeka Dragičević
Water 2023, 15(7), 1272; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15071272 - 23 Mar 2023
Cited by 26 | Viewed by 11053
Abstract
Microbial degradation of lignin, a natural complex biopolymer, a renewable raw material with a wide range of applications, has been mainly directed at fungal systems, nevertheless, recent studies have proposed the bacterial role in lignin degradation and modification since bacteria possess remarkable environmental [...] Read more.
Microbial degradation of lignin, a natural complex biopolymer, a renewable raw material with a wide range of applications, has been mainly directed at fungal systems, nevertheless, recent studies have proposed the bacterial role in lignin degradation and modification since bacteria possess remarkable environmental adaptability, and various production of enzymes and biochemistry. An occurrence of a high proportion of lignin-degrading genes has been confirmed in actinobacteria and proteobacteria classes by bioinformatics analysis, which points to the probability of undiscovered pathways and enzymes. Because of that, bacterial lignin decomposition might be substantially different from fungal lignin decomposition. Bacteria capable of lignin modification and degradation belong to actinomycetes, some Firmicutes, α-proteobacteria, and γ-proteobacteria. The enzymes responsible for lignin degradation are lignin peroxidase, manganese-dependent peroxidase, versatile peroxidase, dye-decolourizing peroxidase, and laccases. One of the main lignin producers is the pulp and paper manufacturing industry. Lignolytic microorganisms have been identified from diverse habitats, such as in plants, soil, wood, and the gut. Bacterial strains Bacillus, Rhodococcus, Sterptomyces, and Pseudomonas have been reported to have lignin decomposition ability. This review aims to describe the role of bacteria in lignin degradation, bacterial species, and bacterial enzymes included in lignin degradation. Several reports about bacterial species involved in lignin degradation are also highlighted, and the current state of the knowledge on the degradation of lignin from the pulp and paper manufacturing industry are reported. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Approaches to Nutrients and Pollutants Removal from Wastewaters)
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23 pages, 1921 KiB  
Review
Biorefinery of Sewage Sludge: Overview of Possible Value-Added Products and Applicable Process Technologies
by Andrea G. Capodaglio
Water 2023, 15(6), 1195; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15061195 - 20 Mar 2023
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 4289
Abstract
The disposal of excess biological sewage sludge from wastewater treatment is a growing environmental issue due to the vast quantities generated worldwide. For many years, sludge disposal has been considered an inevitable “nuisance” linked to the main task of wastewater treatment; recently, the [...] Read more.
The disposal of excess biological sewage sludge from wastewater treatment is a growing environmental issue due to the vast quantities generated worldwide. For many years, sludge disposal has been considered an inevitable “nuisance” linked to the main task of wastewater treatment; recently, the issues relating to the presence of emerging pollutants in sludge have contributed to severe limitations on traditional disposal routes and increased process costs. As a consequence of the water industry’s approach to sustainability and circular economy principles, the investigation into options for sludge-embedded resource recovery has been increasing over time. Among these, the definition of biorefinery encompasses many processes used to process sewage sludge for biofuel and/or resource recovery. In addition to the “conventional” recovery of biogas and nutrients, biopolymers (PHAs and EPS), proteins, enzymes, biopesticides, and biofuels are among the “new” sludge extraction products that are being studied. Not all of the proposed technologies are, however, mature for industrial exploitation as yet. This paper presents an overview of possible product recovery from sludge biorefinery, with emphasis on recent developments, and on the benefits and limitations of applicable technologies for ensuring sustainability and environmental efficiency, through an analysis of the current literature. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series: Planning of Water-Energy Nexus under Climate Change)
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16 pages, 7102 KiB  
Article
Comparative Study for Daily Streamflow Simulation with Different Machine Learning Methods
by Ruonan Hao and Zhixu Bai
Water 2023, 15(6), 1179; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15061179 - 18 Mar 2023
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2309
Abstract
Rainfall–runoff modeling has been of great importance for flood control and water resource management. However, the selection of hydrological models is challenging to obtain superior simulation performance especially with the rapid development of machine learning techniques. Three models under different categories of machine [...] Read more.
Rainfall–runoff modeling has been of great importance for flood control and water resource management. However, the selection of hydrological models is challenging to obtain superior simulation performance especially with the rapid development of machine learning techniques. Three models under different categories of machine learning methods, including support vector regression (SVR), extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), and the long-short term memory neural network (LSTM), were assessed for simulating daily runoff over a mountainous river catchment. The performances with different input scenarios were compared. Additionally, the joint multifractal spectra (JMS) method was implemented to evaluate the simulation performances during wet and dry seasons. The results show that: (1) LSTM always obtained a higher accuracy than XGBoost and SVR; (2) the impacts of the input variables were different for different machine learning methods, such as antecedent streamflow for XGBoost and rainfall for LSTM; (3) XGBoost showed a relatively high performance during dry seasons, and the classification of wet and dry seasons improved the simulation performance, especially for LSTM during dry seasons; (4) the JMS analysis indicated the advantages of a hybrid model combined with LSTM trained with wet-season data and XGBoost trained with dry-season data. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Streamflow and Flood Forecasting)
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16 pages, 2250 KiB  
Article
Contamination Characteristics and Source Identification of Groundwater in Xishan Coal Mining Area of Taiyuan Based on Hydrochemistry and Sulfur–Oxygen Isotopes
by Di Chen, Qiyan Feng and Min Gong
Water 2023, 15(6), 1169; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15061169 - 17 Mar 2023
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2488
Abstract
Xishan mining area in Taiyuan is a typical coal industry cluster with a variety of coal-related industrial sites such as coal mines, power plants and coking plants, which seriously pollute the native ecological environment. Study of the hydrochemical characteristics and pollution sources of [...] Read more.
Xishan mining area in Taiyuan is a typical coal industry cluster with a variety of coal-related industrial sites such as coal mines, power plants and coking plants, which seriously pollute the native ecological environment. Study of the hydrochemical characteristics and pollution sources of groundwater in the area can contribute to the ecological protection and remediation of regional groundwater resources. In this study, we collected surface water and groundwater samples from the Xishan mining area and measured and analyzed hydrochemical and sulfur–oxygen isotopes. Results showed that 64.7% of groundwater in the study area exceeded the sulfate standard due to the influence of the coal industry, with some karst groundwater up to 2000 mg/L. In the runoff and discharge area of karst groundwater, the proportion of anthropogenic input of SO42− increased, which led to the hydrochemical type of karst groundwater gradually changing from HCO3-Ca·Mg (recharge area) to SO4-Ca·Mg (discharge area). Results of sulfur–oxygen isotope tests indicated that the δ34SSO4 and δ18OSO4 values of samples were −10.01~24.42‰ and −4.90~12.40‰, respectively, and the sulfur–oxygen isotope values of some karst groundwater were close to the dissolved end of sulfide minerals, indicating their sulfate mainly came from the oxidation of pyrite. Sulfate sources in groundwater water were parsed using IsoSource model. Calculated results revealed that sulfate in pore groundwater mostly originated from pyrite oxidation, and karst groundwater in the recharge area was mainly influenced by atmosphere precipitation, while groundwater in the runoff and discharge areas were significantly affected by pyrite oxidation, accounting for up to 90% in some karst groundwater. Comparing the sulfur–oxygen isotope values of karst groundwater in 1989, 2016 and 2022, we found that the δ34SSO4 values in 2022 decreased significantly, which indicated the expansion of karst groundwater pollution in the Xishan mining area. This study highlights the pollution of regional groundwater by coal-related industrial agglomerations, and the groundwater pollution in the Xishan mining area requires urgent remediation and restoration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Research on Effects of Coal Mining on Groundwater Environment and System)
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24 pages, 16191 KiB  
Article
Impacts of Medicanes on Geomorphology and Infrastructure in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Case of Medicane Ianos and the Ionian Islands in Western Greece
by Michalis Diakakis, Spyridon Mavroulis, Christos Filis, Stylianos Lozios, Emmanuel Vassilakis, Giorgos Naoum, Konstantinos Soukis, Aliki Konsolaki, Evelina Kotsi, Dimitra Theodorakatou, Emmanuel Skourtsos, Haralambos Kranis, Marilia Gogou, Nafsika Ioanna Spyrou, Katerina-Navsika Katsetsiadou and Efthymios Lekkas
Water 2023, 15(6), 1026; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15061026 - 8 Mar 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2449
Abstract
Despite being relatively rare, Mediterranean tropical-like cyclones, also known as Medicanes, induce significant impacts on coastal Mediterranean areas. Under climate change, it is possible that these effects will increase in frequency and severity. Currently, there is only a broad understanding of the types [...] Read more.
Despite being relatively rare, Mediterranean tropical-like cyclones, also known as Medicanes, induce significant impacts on coastal Mediterranean areas. Under climate change, it is possible that these effects will increase in frequency and severity. Currently, there is only a broad understanding of the types and mechanisms of these impacts. This work studied Medicane Ianos (September 2020) and its effects on the Ionian Islands, in Greece, by developing a database of distinct impact elements based on field surveys and public records. Through this archive, the study explored the range of Ianos’ impacts to develop a systematic categorization. Results showed different types of effects induced on the natural and the built environment that can be grouped into 3 categories and 39 sub-categories in inland and coastal areas, indicating an extensive diversity of impacts, ranging from flooding and geomorphic effects to damages in various facilities, vehicles and infrastructure. The systematic description of the typology of Medicanes’ effects presented in this study is a contribution to a better understanding of their consequences as means to improve our ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from them, a necessary stepping stone in improving the overall preparedness of both the general public and relevant authorities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impacts of Extreme Hydrogeomorphological Events and Climate-Related Disasters)
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15 pages, 5831 KiB  
Article
Daily Streamflow Forecasts Based on Cascade Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) Model over the Yangtze River Basin
by Jiayuan Li and Xing Yuan
Water 2023, 15(6), 1019; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15061019 - 7 Mar 2023
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2147
Abstract
Medium-range streamflow forecasts largely depend on the accuracy of meteorological forecasts. Due to large errors in precipitation forecasts, most streamflow forecasts based on deep learning rely only on historical data. Here, we apply a cascade Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) model to forecast daily [...] Read more.
Medium-range streamflow forecasts largely depend on the accuracy of meteorological forecasts. Due to large errors in precipitation forecasts, most streamflow forecasts based on deep learning rely only on historical data. Here, we apply a cascade Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) model to forecast daily streamflow over 49 watersheds in the Yangtze River basin for up to 15 days. The first layer of the cascade LSTM model uses atmospheric circulation factors to predict future precipitation, and the second layer uses forecast precipitation to predict streamflow. The results show that the default LSTM model provides skillful streamflow forecasts over most watersheds. At the lead times of 1, 7, and 15 days, the streamflow Kling–Gupta efficiency (KGE) of 78%, 30%, and 20% watersheds are greater than 0.5, respectively. Its performance improves with the increase in drainage area. After implementing the cascade LSTM model, 61–88% of the watersheds show increased KGE at different leads, and the increase is more obvious at longer leads. Using cascade LSTM with perfect future precipitation shows further improvement, especially over small watersheds. In general, cascade LSTM modeling is a good attempt for streamflow forecasts over the Yangtze River, and it has a potential to connect with dynamical meteorological forecasts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section New Sensors, New Technologies and Machine Learning in Water Sciences)
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19 pages, 1223 KiB  
Review
Tracing COVID-19 Trails in Wastewater: A Systematic Review of SARS-CoV-2 Surveillance with Viral Variants
by Ananda Tiwari, Sangeet Adhikari, Shuxin Zhang, Tamunobelema B. Solomon, Anssi Lipponen, Md. Aminul Islam, Ocean Thakali, Sarawut Sangkham, Mohamed N. F. Shaheen, Guangming Jiang, Eiji Haramoto, Payal Mazumder, Bikash Malla, Manish Kumar, Tarja Pitkänen and Samendra P. Sherchan
Water 2023, 15(6), 1018; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15061018 - 7 Mar 2023
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 9926
Abstract
The emergence of new variants of SARS-CoV-2 associated with varying infectivity, pathogenicity, diagnosis, and effectiveness against treatments challenged the overall management of the COVID-19 pandemic. Wastewater surveillance (WWS), i.e., monitoring COVID-19 infections in communities through detecting viruses in wastewater, was applied to track [...] Read more.
The emergence of new variants of SARS-CoV-2 associated with varying infectivity, pathogenicity, diagnosis, and effectiveness against treatments challenged the overall management of the COVID-19 pandemic. Wastewater surveillance (WWS), i.e., monitoring COVID-19 infections in communities through detecting viruses in wastewater, was applied to track the emergence and spread of SARS-CoV-2 variants globally. However, there is a lack of comprehensive understanding of the use and effectiveness of WWS for new SARS-CoV-2 variants. Here we systematically reviewed published articles reporting monitoring of different SARS-CoV-2 variants in wastewater by following the PRISMA guidelines and provided the current state of the art of this study area. A total of 80 WWS studies were found that reported different monitoring variants of SARS-CoV-2 until November 2022. Most of these studies (66 out of the total 80, 82.5%) were conducted in Europe and North America, i.e., resource-rich countries. There was a high variation in WWS sampling strategy around the world, with composite sampling (50/66 total studies, 76%) as the primary method in resource-rich countries. In contrast, grab sampling was more common (8/14 total studies, 57%) in resource-limited countries. Among detection methods, the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)-based sequencing method and quantitative RT-PCR method were commonly used for monitoring SARS-CoV-2 variants in wastewater. Among different variants, the B1.1.7 (Alpha) variant that appeared earlier in the pandemic was the most reported (48/80 total studies), followed by B.1.617.2 (Delta), B.1.351 (Beta), P.1 (Gamma), and others in wastewater. All variants reported in WWS studies followed the same pattern as the clinical reporting within the same timeline, demonstrating that WWS tracked all variants in a timely way when the variants emerged. Thus, wastewater monitoring may be utilized to identify the presence or absence of SARS-CoV-2 and follow the development and transmission of existing and emerging variants. Routine wastewater monitoring is a powerful infectious disease surveillance tool when implemented globally. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pathogen Detection and Identification in Wastewater)
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20 pages, 5419 KiB  
Article
Historical Drought Events in the Early Years of Qing Dynasty in Shanxi Based on Hydrological Reconstructions
by Yanping Qu, Xuejun Zhang, Jingyu Zeng, Zhe Li and Juan Lv
Water 2023, 15(5), 995; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15050995 - 6 Mar 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2198
Abstract
Droughts are serious natural disasters that adversely affect water resources, agriculture, the economy, and the environment. Reconstructing historical drought records is necessary to assess the impact of droughts and their evolution and has become a top priority to support and improve sustainable water [...] Read more.
Droughts are serious natural disasters that adversely affect water resources, agriculture, the economy, and the environment. Reconstructing historical drought records is necessary to assess the impact of droughts and their evolution and has become a top priority to support and improve sustainable water management decisions. In this study, we used Shanxi Province as the research area, and meteorological data from the early years of Guangxu in the Qing Dynasty were reconstructed using historical rain and snow records. The Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) model is driven by the reconstruction of historical meteorological data. The study area’s monthly runoff and soil water sequence from 1875 to 1879 were simulated, and the hydrology and soil of the ancient historical period were reproduced in the absence of data. The results show the following: (1) The idea of reconstructing hydrological parameters using historical data is feasible and the VIC model can be used to study drought characteristics under specific scenarios. (2) The proportions of areas with runoff depths less than 10 mm throughout Shanxi from 1875 to 1879 were 55%, 48%, 58%, 19%, and 30%. The annual runoff depth in each region from 1875 to 1877 was less than 60 mm. The hydrological drought from 1875 to 1877 was very serious, and the area covered by the drought was relatively large. (3) The annual average soil water content of various regions was stable between 150 and 510 mm from 1875 to 1879. The soil water content had no apparent interannual variation. The area with soil water content less than 180 mm accounted for ratios as high as 31%. This research provides new ideas for ancient drought research and a scientific basis for regional drought prevention, mitigation, and water resources management, and ensures the orderly progress of agricultural production activities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Interrelationship between Climate Change, Human Activities and Hydrological Processes)
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25 pages, 1568 KiB  
Review
Impact of Antibiotic Pollution on the Bacterial Population within Surface Water with Special Focus on Mountain Rivers
by Klaudia Kulik, Anna Lenart-Boroń and Kinga Wyrzykowska
Water 2023, 15(5), 975; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15050975 - 3 Mar 2023
Cited by 27 | Viewed by 10814
Abstract
Environmental aquatic pollution with antibiotics is a global challenge that affects even pristine mountain environments. Monitoring the concentration of antibiotics in water is critical to water resource management. In this review, we present the sources and degradation routes of antibiotics polluting surface waters, [...] Read more.
Environmental aquatic pollution with antibiotics is a global challenge that affects even pristine mountain environments. Monitoring the concentration of antibiotics in water is critical to water resource management. In this review, we present the sources and degradation routes of antibiotics polluting surface waters, with particular focus on mountain environments and pristine areas. This pollution is strongly related to anthropopressure resulting from intensive tourism. An important aspect of the threat to the environment is water containing antibiotics at sub-inhibitory concentrations, which affects bacterial populations. Antibiotics are ecological factors driving microbial evolution by changing the bacterial community composition, inhibiting or promoting their ecological functions, and enriching and maintaining drug resistance. We paid attention to the stability of antibiotics and their half-lives in water related to biotic and abiotic degradation, which results from the structures of molecules and environmental conditions. Wastewater treatment combined with advanced treatment techniques significantly increase the efficiency of antibiotic removal from wastewater. Modern methods of wastewater treatment are crucial in reducing the supply of antibiotics to aquatic environments and enhancing the possibility of economic and safe reuse of wastewater for technical purposes. We provide a perspective on current research investigating antibiotic emergence in mountain areas and identify knowledge gaps in this field. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antibiotics in Water and Wastewater and Their Effects on Microbial Communities)
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50 pages, 1699 KiB  
Review
A Review of the Application of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) in Karst Watersheds
by Ibrahim Al Khoury, Laurie Boithias and David Labat
Water 2023, 15(5), 954; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15050954 - 1 Mar 2023
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 10924
Abstract
Karst water resources represent a primary source of freshwater supply, accounting for nearly 25% of the global population water needs. Karst aquifers have complex recharge characteristics, storage patterns, and flow dynamics. They also face a looming stress of depletion and quality degradation due [...] Read more.
Karst water resources represent a primary source of freshwater supply, accounting for nearly 25% of the global population water needs. Karst aquifers have complex recharge characteristics, storage patterns, and flow dynamics. They also face a looming stress of depletion and quality degradation due to natural and anthropogenic pressures. This prompted hydrogeologists to apply innovative numerical approaches to better understand the functioning of karst watersheds and support karst water resources management. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) is a semi-distributed hydrological model that has been used to simulate flow and water pollutant transport, among other applications, in basins including karst watersheds. Its source code has also been modified by adding distinctive karst features and subsurface hydrology models to more accurately represent the karst aquifer discharge components. This review summarizes and discusses the findings of 75 SWAT-based studies in watersheds that are at least partially characterized by karst geology, with a primary focus on the hydrological assessment in modified SWAT models. Different karst processes were successfully implemented in SWAT, including the recharge in the epikarst, flows of the conduit and matrix systems, interbasin groundwater flow, and allogenic recharge from sinkholes and sinking streams. Nonetheless, additional improvements to the existing SWAT codes are still needed to better reproduce the heterogeneity and non-linearity of karst flow and storage mechanisms in future research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrogeology and Geochemistry of Karst Aquifers)
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27 pages, 5225 KiB  
Article
Streamflow Estimation in a Mediterranean Watershed Using Neural Network Models: A Detailed Description of the Implementation and Optimization
by Ana Ramos Oliveira, Tiago Brito Ramos and Ramiro Neves
Water 2023, 15(5), 947; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15050947 - 1 Mar 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2093
Abstract
This study compares the performance of three different neural network models to estimate daily streamflow in a watershed under a natural flow regime. Based on existing and public tools, different types of NN models were developed, namely, multi-layer perceptron, long short-term memory, and [...] Read more.
This study compares the performance of three different neural network models to estimate daily streamflow in a watershed under a natural flow regime. Based on existing and public tools, different types of NN models were developed, namely, multi-layer perceptron, long short-term memory, and convolutional neural network. Precipitation was either considered an input variable on its own or combined with air temperature as another input variable. Different periods of accumulation, average, and/or delay were considered. The models’ structures were optimized and automatically showed that CNN performed best, reaching, for example, a Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency of 0.86 and a root mean square error of 4.2 m3 s−1. This solution considers a 1D convolutional layer and a dense layer as the input and output layers, respectively. Between those layers, two 1D convolutional layers are considered. As input variables, the best performance was reached when the accumulated precipitation values were 1 to 5, and 10 days and delayed by 1 to 7 days. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Hydrology)
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17 pages, 6467 KiB  
Article
Investigation of Hillslope Vineyard Soil Water Dynamics Using Field Measurements and Numerical Modeling
by Vedran Krevh, Jannis Groh, Lutz Weihermüller, Lana Filipović, Jasmina Defterdarović, Zoran Kovač, Ivan Magdić, Boris Lazarević, Thomas Baumgartl and Vilim Filipović
Water 2023, 15(4), 820; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15040820 - 20 Feb 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2440
Abstract
Soil heterogeneities can impact hillslope hydropedological processes (e.g., portioning between infiltration and runoff), creating a need for in-depth knowledge of processes governing water dynamics and redistribution. The presented study was conducted at the SUPREHILL Critical Zone Observatory (CZO) (hillslope vineyard) in 2021. A [...] Read more.
Soil heterogeneities can impact hillslope hydropedological processes (e.g., portioning between infiltration and runoff), creating a need for in-depth knowledge of processes governing water dynamics and redistribution. The presented study was conducted at the SUPREHILL Critical Zone Observatory (CZO) (hillslope vineyard) in 2021. A combination of field investigation (soil sampling and monitoring campaign) and numerical modeling with hydrological simulator HYDRUS-1D was used to explore the water dynamics in conjunction with data from a sensor network (soil water content (SWC) and soil-water potential (SWP) sensors), along the hillslope (hilltop, backslope, and footslope). Soil hydraulic properties (SHP) were estimated based on (i) pedotransfer functions (PTFs), (ii) undisturbed soil cores, and (iii) sensor network data, and tested in HYDRUS. Additionally, a model ensemble mean from HYDRUS simulations was calculated with PTFs. The highest agreement of simulated with observed SWC for 40 cm soil depth was found with the combination of laboratory and field data, with the lowest average MAE, RMSE and MAPE (0.02, 0.02, and 5.34%, respectively), and highest average R2 (0.93), while at 80 cm soil depth, PTF model ensemble performed better (MAE = 0.03, RMSE = 0.03, MAPE = 7.55%, R2 = 0.81) than other datasets. Field observations indicated that heterogeneity and spatial variability regarding soil parameters were present at the site. Over the hillslope, SWC acted in a heterogeneous manner, which was most pronounced during soil rewetting. Model results suggested that the incorporation of field data expands model performance and that the PTF model ensemble is a feasible option in the absence of laboratory data. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Identification and Quantification of Water Flow and Solute Transport Processes in Agricultural, Natural and Artificial Hillslopes)
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18 pages, 2432 KiB  
Article
The Influence of Circular Economy and 4IR Technologies on the Climate–Water–Energy–Food Nexus and the SDGs
by Mohamed Sameer Hoosain, Babu Sena Paul, Wesley Doorsamy and Seeram Ramakrishna
Water 2023, 15(4), 787; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15040787 - 17 Feb 2023
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4127
Abstract
The United Nations Member States created a common roadmap for sustainability and development in 2015. The UN-SDGs are included in the 2030 Plan as an immediate call to action from all nations in the form of global partnerships. To date, a handful of [...] Read more.
The United Nations Member States created a common roadmap for sustainability and development in 2015. The UN-SDGs are included in the 2030 Plan as an immediate call to action from all nations in the form of global partnerships. To date, a handful of countries have achieved substantial progress toward the targets. The climate–water–energy–food nexus is being advocated as a conceptual method for achieving sustainable development. According to research, frameworks for adopting nexus thinking have not been the best solution to clearly or sufficiently include thoughts on sustainability. Therefore, there is much room for other solutions; these are in the form of newer Fourth Industrial Revolution digital technologies, as well as transitioning from a linear economy to a circular economy. In this paper, we come to understand these two models and their linkages between climate, water, energy, and food; their application and challenges, and, finally, the effects on the UN-SDGs. It was found that both circular economy and newer Fourth Industrial Revolution digital technologies can positively support the nexus as well as directly address the UN-SDGs, specifically SDGs 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, and 13. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Understanding Circular Economy Complexities and the Climate–Water–Food–Energy Nexus in an SDG Framework: Interactions and Alternatives for Decision Making)
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19 pages, 3717 KiB  
Article
Effect of Sand Co-Presence on CrVI Removal in Fe0-H2O System
by Marius Gheju and Ionel Balcu
Water 2023, 15(4), 777; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15040777 - 16 Feb 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1986
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to provide new knowledge regarding the effect of non-expansive inert material addition on anionic pollutant removal efficiency in Fe0-H2O system. Non-disturbed batch experiments and continuous-flow-through column tests were conducted using CrVI [...] Read more.
The aim of the present study was to provide new knowledge regarding the effect of non-expansive inert material addition on anionic pollutant removal efficiency in Fe0-H2O system. Non-disturbed batch experiments and continuous-flow-through column tests were conducted using CrVI as a redox–active contaminant in three different systems: “Fe0 + sand”, “Fe0 only” and ”sand only”. Both experimental procedures have the advantage that formation of (hydr)oxide layers on Fe0 is not altered, which makes them appropriate proxies for real Fe0-based filter technologies. Batch experiments carried out at pH 6.5 showed a slight improvement of CrVI removal in a 20% Fe0 system, compared to 50, 80 and 100% Fe0 systems. Column tests conducted at pH 6.5 supported results of batch experiments, revealing highest CrVI removal efficiencies for “Fe0 + sand” systems with lowest Fe0 ratio. However, the positive effect of sand co-presence decreases with increasing pH from 6.5 to 7.1. Scanning electron microscopy—energy dispersive angle X-ray spectrometry and X-ray diffraction spectroscopy employed for the characterization of Fe0 before and after experiments indicated that the higher the volumetric ratio of sand in “Fe0 + sand” system, the more intense the corrosion processes affecting the Fe0 grains. Results presented herein indicate the capacity of sand at sustaining the efficiency of CrVI removal in Fe0-H2O system. The outcomes of the present study suggest that a volumetric ratio Fe0:sand = 1:3 could assure not only the long-term permeability of Fe0-based filters, but also enhanced removal efficiency of CrVI from contaminated water. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Remediation Using Metallic Iron: Quo Vadis?)
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14 pages, 3319 KiB  
Article
Used Filter Cartridges as Potential Adsorbents of Organic Pollutants
by Martyna Szymańska and Piotr Nowicki
Water 2023, 15(4), 714; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15040714 - 11 Feb 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2091
Abstract
The main objective of this study was to assess the usefulness of exhausted activated carbon-based filter cartridges for the removal of organic pollutants from aqueous solutions using the example of two model pollutants: synthetic dyes with different particle sizes, i.e., methylene blue (MB) [...] Read more.
The main objective of this study was to assess the usefulness of exhausted activated carbon-based filter cartridges for the removal of organic pollutants from aqueous solutions using the example of two model pollutants: synthetic dyes with different particle sizes, i.e., methylene blue (MB) and malachite green (MG). In order to determine the organic dyes’ adsorption mechanism, the effects of phase contact time, initial dye concentration, pH, and temperature of the system were investigated. Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models were employed to analyze the experimental data. Additionally, all adsorbents were characterized in terms of the ash content, type of porous structure, presence of surface functional groups, pH value, and iodine adsorption number—which is one of the quality control parameters of activated carbons. Adsorption tests have shown that carbonaceous materials from bottle filters and filter jugs can be successfully used for the removal of organic dyes from the liquid phase. The maximum sorption capacity of this type of adsorbent towards methylene blue was 333.06 mg/g, while in the case of malachite green it was 308.75 mg/g. For all carbonaceous materials, a better fit to the experimental data was achieved with a Langmuir isotherm than a Freundlich one. It has also been shown that the efficiency of MB and MG adsorption from aqueous solutions decreases with increasing temperature of the system—the best results were obtained at 25 °C. A better fit of the kinetics data was achieved using the pseudo-second order model. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sorption Procesess in Wastewater Treatment: Current State of Knowledge and Future Opportunities)
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20 pages, 1327 KiB  
Review
Full-Scale Sewage Sludge Reduction Technologies: A Review with a Focus on Energy Consumption
by Roberta Ferrentino, Michela Langone, Luca Fiori and Gianni Andreottola
Water 2023, 15(4), 615; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15040615 - 4 Feb 2023
Cited by 31 | Viewed by 8612
Abstract
In recent years, increasing attention has been paid to the problem of sewage sludge management and the relevant energy consumption, which represent the main cost items in wastewater treatment plants. Therefore, implementation of technologies that can reduce sludge production and ensure a positive [...] Read more.
In recent years, increasing attention has been paid to the problem of sewage sludge management and the relevant energy consumption, which represent the main cost items in wastewater treatment plants. Therefore, implementation of technologies that can reduce sludge production and ensure a positive impact on the energy of the entire sewage treatment plant has gained considerable importance in the scientific and technical community. The objective of this study was thus to screen full-scale sludge reduction technologies integrated into both the water line and the sludge line of a municipal sewage treatment plant with a sustainable impact on the overall balance of the plant. The results showed that, within the water line, ultrasound in the recirculation line of the activated sludge allowed for greater reductions in sludge production than the Cannibal and UTN systems, despite the higher energy consumption. CAMBITM, BioThelysTM, ExelysTM and TurboTec® enabled the greatest reductions in sludge production among the technologies integrated into the sludge line, and although they required a large amount of energy, this was partially offset by energy recovery in terms of additional biogas production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sewage Sludge: Treatment and Recovery)
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13 pages, 748 KiB  
Article
Euryhalinity and Geographical Origin Aid Global Alien Crayfish Invasions
by Aldona Dobrzycka-Krahel and Maria Leonor Fidalgo
Water 2023, 15(3), 569; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15030569 - 1 Feb 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2691
Abstract
Salinity tolerance is a determinant of a narrow or wide distribution range of organisms. Crayfishes are important key species in many aquatic environments so require a better understanding of their ability to live in different saline regimes. We identified all alien crayfish and [...] Read more.
Salinity tolerance is a determinant of a narrow or wide distribution range of organisms. Crayfishes are important key species in many aquatic environments so require a better understanding of their ability to live in different saline regimes. We identified all alien crayfish and examined their habitats (freshwater and/or saline) and origins to test whether these factors predict their dispersal. We used contingency tables populated with raw frequency data with χ2—tests and assessed statistical significance at α of 0.05. We identified 21 alien crayfishes and we found that alien crayfish species were disproportionately freshwater (71%), with significantly lower proportions of euryhaline crayfishes inhabiting freshwater to saline environments (29%). Alien crayfishes also significantly disproportionally originate from America (67% of these taxa) when compared to all ‘other’ grouped regions (33%). In total, 36% of American crayfishes represent euryhaline species inhabiting freshwater to saline habitats against only 14% of crayfishes from all “other” grouped regions. This suggests that binomial euryhalinity/origin can help understand the potential of spread. We discussed obtained results with known experimental data on salinity tolerance, osmoregulation, growth, and reproduction of American alien crayfish. The paper will help in the management of crayfish spread. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Ecosystem: Problems and Benefits)
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31 pages, 1951 KiB  
Article
Contaminant Back Diffusion from Low-Conductivity Matrices: Case Studies of Remedial Strategies
by Julie Blue, Thomas Boving, Mary Ellen Tuccillo, Jonathan Koplos, Jason Rose, Michael Brooks and David Burden
Water 2023, 15(3), 570; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15030570 - 1 Feb 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3078
Abstract
Recalcitrant groundwater contamination is a common problem at hazardous waste sites worldwide. Groundwater contamination persists despite decades of remediation efforts at many sites because contaminants sorbed or dissolved within low-conductivity zones can back diffuse into high-conductivity zones, and therefore act as a continuing [...] Read more.
Recalcitrant groundwater contamination is a common problem at hazardous waste sites worldwide. Groundwater contamination persists despite decades of remediation efforts at many sites because contaminants sorbed or dissolved within low-conductivity zones can back diffuse into high-conductivity zones, and therefore act as a continuing source of contamination to flowing groundwater. A review of the available literature on remediation of plume persistence due to back diffusion was conducted, and four sites were selected as case studies. Remediation at the sites included pump and treat, enhanced bioremediation, and thermal treatment. Our review highlights that a relatively small number of sites have been studied in sufficient detail to fully evaluate remediation of back diffusion; however, three general conclusions can be made based on the review. First, it is difficult to assess the significance of back diffusion without sufficient data to distinguish between multiple factors contributing to contaminant rebound and plume persistence. Second, high-resolution vertical samples are decidedly valuable for back diffusion assessment but are generally lacking in post-treatment assessments. Third, complete contaminant mass removal from back diffusion sources may not always be possible. Partial contaminant mass removal may nonetheless have potential benefits, similar to partial mass removal from primary DNAPL source zones. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diffusion Processes in Water Pollution and Remediation)
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16 pages, 5014 KiB  
Article
Investigating Climate Change Effects on Evapotranspiration and Groundwater Recharge of the Nile Delta Aquifer, Egypt
by Mohamed Galal Eltarabily, Ismail Abd-Elaty, Ahmed Elbeltagi, Martina Zeleňáková and Ismail Fathy
Water 2023, 15(3), 572; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15030572 - 1 Feb 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3801
Abstract
Climate change (CC) directly affects crops’ growth stages or level of maturity, solar radiation, humidity, temperature, and wind speed, and thus crop evapotranspiration (ETc). Increased crop ETc shifts the fraction of discharge from groundwater aquifers, while long-term shifts in [...] Read more.
Climate change (CC) directly affects crops’ growth stages or level of maturity, solar radiation, humidity, temperature, and wind speed, and thus crop evapotranspiration (ETc). Increased crop ETc shifts the fraction of discharge from groundwater aquifers, while long-term shifts in discharge can change the groundwater level and, subsequently, aquifer storage. The long-term effect of CC on the groundwater flow under different values of ETc was assessed for the Nile Delta aquifer (NDA) in Egypt. To quantify such impacts, numerical modeling using MODFLOW was set up to simulate the groundwater flow and differences in groundwater levels in the long term in the years 2030, 2050, and 2070. The model was initially calibrated against the hydraulic conductivity of the aquifer layers of the groundwater levels in the year 2008 from 60 observation wells throughout the study area. Then, it was validated with the current groundwater levels using an independent set of data (23 points), obtaining a very good agreement between the calculated and observed heads. The results showed that the combination of solar radiation, vapor pressure deficit, and humidity (H) are the best variables for predicting ETc in Nile Delta zones (north, middle, and south). ETc among the whole Nile Delta will increase by 11.2, 15.0, and 19.0% for the years 2030, 2050, and 2070, respectively. Zone budget analysis revealed that the increase of ETc will decrease the inflow and the groundwater head difference (GWHD). Recharge of the aquifer will be decreased by 19.74, 27.16, and 36.84% in 2030, 2050, and 2070, respectively. The GWHD will record 0.95 m, 1.05 m, and 1.40 m in 2030, 2050, and 2070, respectively when considering the increase of ETc. This reduction will lead to a slight decline in the storage of the Nile Delta groundwater aquifer. Our findings support the decision of the designers and the policymakers to guarantee a long-term sustainable management plan of the groundwater for the NDA and deltas with similar climate conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Assessment and Management of Hydrological Risks Due to Climate Change)
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21 pages, 1245 KiB  
Review
A Review of Hydrodynamic and Machine Learning Approaches for Flood Inundation Modeling
by Fazlul Karim, Mohammed Ali Armin, David Ahmedt-Aristizabal, Lachlan Tychsen-Smith and Lars Petersson
Water 2023, 15(3), 566; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15030566 - 1 Feb 2023
Cited by 32 | Viewed by 7560
Abstract
Machine learning (also called data-driven) methods have become popular in modeling flood inundations across river basins. Among data-driven methods, traditional machine learning (ML) approaches are widely used to model flood events, and recently deep learning (DL) approaches have gained more attention across the [...] Read more.
Machine learning (also called data-driven) methods have become popular in modeling flood inundations across river basins. Among data-driven methods, traditional machine learning (ML) approaches are widely used to model flood events, and recently deep learning (DL) approaches have gained more attention across the world. In this paper, we reviewed recently published literature on ML and DL applications for flood modeling for various hydrologic and catchment characteristics. Our extensive literature review shows that DL models produce better accuracy compared to traditional approaches. Unlike physically based models, ML/DL models suffer from the lack of using expert knowledge in modeling flood events. Apart from challenges in implementing a uniform modeling approach across river basins, the lack of benchmark data to evaluate model performance is a limiting factor for developing efficient ML/DL models for flood inundation modeling. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Flood Frequency and Inundation Modeling: Application of Statistical, Hydrodynamic, Remote Sensing, and Machine Learning Tools)
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11 pages, 2765 KiB  
Article
Analysis of Optimal Sensor Placement in Looped Water Distribution Networks Using Different Water Quality Models
by Stefania Piazza, Mariacrocetta Sambito and Gabriele Freni
Water 2023, 15(3), 559; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15030559 - 31 Jan 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2286
Abstract
Urban looped water distribution systems are highly vulnerable to water quality issues. They could be subject to contamination events (accidental or deliberate), compromising the water quality inside them and causing damage to the users’ health. An efficient monitoring system must be developed to [...] Read more.
Urban looped water distribution systems are highly vulnerable to water quality issues. They could be subject to contamination events (accidental or deliberate), compromising the water quality inside them and causing damage to the users’ health. An efficient monitoring system must be developed to prevent this, supported by a suitable model for assessing water quality. Currently, several studies use advective–reactive models to analyse water quality, neglecting diffusive transport, which is claimed to be irrelevant in turbulent flows. Although this may be true in simple systems, such as linear transport pipes, the presence of laminar flows in looped systems may be significant, especially at night and in the peripheral parts of the network. In this paper, a numerical optimisation approach has been compared with the results of an experimental campaign using three different numerical models as inputs (EPANET advective model, the AZRED model in which diffusion–dispersion equations have been implemented, and a new diffusive–dispersive model in dynamic conditions using the random walk method, EPANET-DD). The optimisation problem was formulated using the Monte Carlo method. The results demonstrated a significant difference in sensor placement based on the numerical model. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Water Networks Modelling and Monitoring, Volume II)
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17 pages, 4311 KiB  
Article
Research on Parameter Regionalization of Distributed Hydrological Model Based on Machine Learning
by Wenchuan Wang, Yanwei Zhao, Yong Tu, Rui Dong, Qiang Ma and Changjun Liu
Water 2023, 15(3), 518; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15030518 - 28 Jan 2023
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2467
Abstract
In the past decade, more than 300 people have died per year on average due to mountain torrents in China. Mountain torrents mostly occur in ungauged small and medium-sized catchments, so it is difficult to maintain high accuracy of flood prediction. In order [...] Read more.
In the past decade, more than 300 people have died per year on average due to mountain torrents in China. Mountain torrents mostly occur in ungauged small and medium-sized catchments, so it is difficult to maintain high accuracy of flood prediction. In order to solve the problem of the low accuracy of flood simulation in the ungauged areas, this paper studies the influence of different methods on the parameter regionalization of distributed hydrological model parameters in hilly areas of Hunan Province. According to the terrain, landform, soil and land use characteristics of each catchment, we use Shortest Distance, Attribute Similarity, Support Vector Regression, Generative Adversarial Networks, Classification and Regression Tree and Random Forest methods to create parameter regionalization schemes. In total, 426 floods of 25 catchments are selected to calibrate the model parameters, and 136 floods of 8 catchments are used for verification. The results showed that the average values of the Nash–Sutcliffe coefficients of each scheme were 0.58, 0.64, 0.60, 0.66, 0.61 and 0.68, and the worst values were 0.27, 0.31, 0.25, 0.43, 0.35 and 0.59. The random forest model is the most stable solution and significantly outperforms other methods. Using the random forest model to regionalize parameters can improve the accuracy of flood simulation in ungauged areas, which is of great significance for flash flood forecasting and early warning. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Flash Floods: Forecasting, Monitoring and Mitigation Strategies)
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24 pages, 1945 KiB  
Review
Green Infrastructure for Urban Flood Resilience: A Review of Recent Literature on Bibliometrics, Methodologies, and Typologies
by Mina Khodadad, Ismael Aguilar-Barajas and Ahmed Z. Khan
Water 2023, 15(3), 523; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15030523 - 28 Jan 2023
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 7909
Abstract
Urban flood resilience can critically diminish the negative effects of extreme climatic conditions. In recent decades, green infrastructure has been gaining attention among researchers and authorities in terms of its use in urban contexts to enhance urban resilience. This paper tries to provide [...] Read more.
Urban flood resilience can critically diminish the negative effects of extreme climatic conditions. In recent decades, green infrastructure has been gaining attention among researchers and authorities in terms of its use in urban contexts to enhance urban resilience. This paper tries to provide knowledge on how urban flood resilience has been recently approached through green infrastructure. To do this, the distribution of the topics of interest, authors, and sources/regions of publication are investigated through a systematic review of recent articles. Additionally, the methodological approaches and green infrastructure typologies are examined. Findings show an agglomeration of publications in developed countries. It was also observed that there is a predominance of quantitative methodological approaches and a low connectivity for some hot topics within this field of research (e.g., biodiversity). The most common green infrastructure typologies used in urban flood resilience research are also discussed. It is noticeable that more than half of the papers used general terms (e.g., urban park/open space) to describe green infrastructure rather than using technical typologies providing more information on water flow management characteristics. The outcomes are discussed to give an overview of the latest hotspots and gaps in this field of research, which gives some future directions/expectations to be followed in forthcoming investigations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Review Papers of Urban Water Management)
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18 pages, 6616 KiB  
Article
Intercomparing LSTM and RNN to a Conceptual Hydrological Model for a Low-Land River with a Focus on the Flow Duration Curve
by Alexander Ley, Helge Bormann and Markus Casper
Water 2023, 15(3), 505; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15030505 - 27 Jan 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3076
Abstract
Machine learning (ML) algorithms slowly establish acceptance for the purpose of streamflow modelling within the hydrological community. Yet, generally valid statements about the modelling behavior of the ML models remain vague due to the uniqueness of catchment areas. We compared two ML models, [...] Read more.
Machine learning (ML) algorithms slowly establish acceptance for the purpose of streamflow modelling within the hydrological community. Yet, generally valid statements about the modelling behavior of the ML models remain vague due to the uniqueness of catchment areas. We compared two ML models, RNN and LSTM, to the conceptual hydrological model Hydrologiska Byråns Vattenbalansavdelning (HBV) within the low-land Ems catchment in Germany. Furthermore, we implemented a simple routing routine in the ML models and used simulated upstream streamflow as forcing data to test whether the individual model errors accumulate. The ML models have a superior model performance compared to the HBV model for a wide range of statistical performance indices. Yet, the ML models show a performance decline for low-flows in two of the sub-catchments. Signature indices sampling the flow duration curve reveal that the ML models in our study provide a good representation of the water balance, whereas the HBV model instead has its strength in the reproduction of streamflow dynamics. Regarding the applied routing routine in the ML models, there are no strong indications of an increasing error rising upstream to downstream throughout the sub-catchments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Application of Artificial Intelligence in Hydrology, Volume II)
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21 pages, 4274 KiB  
Article
Spatial Interpolation of Soil Temperature and Water Content in the Land-Water Interface Using Artificial Intelligence
by Hanifeh Imanian, Hamidreza Shirkhani, Abdolmajid Mohammadian, Juan Hiedra Cobo and Pierre Payeur
Water 2023, 15(3), 473; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15030473 - 25 Jan 2023
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2978
Abstract
The distributed measured data in large regions and remote locations, along with a need to estimate climatic data for point sites where no data have been recorded, has encouraged the implementation of spatial interpolation techniques. Recently, the increasing use of artificial intelligence has [...] Read more.
The distributed measured data in large regions and remote locations, along with a need to estimate climatic data for point sites where no data have been recorded, has encouraged the implementation of spatial interpolation techniques. Recently, the increasing use of artificial intelligence has become a promising alternative to conventional deterministic algorithms for spatial interpolation. The present study aims to evaluate some machine learning-based algorithms against conventional strategies for interpolating soil temperature data from a region in southeast Canada with an area of 1000 km by 550 km. The radial basis function neural networks (RBFN) and the deep learning approach were used to estimate soil temperature along a railroad after the spline deterministic spatial interpolation method failed to interpolate gridded soil temperature data on the desired locations. The spline method showed weaknesses in interpolating soil temperature data in areas with sudden changes. This limitation did not improve even by increasing the spline nonlinearity. Although both radial basis function neural networks and the deep learning approach had successful performances in interpolating soil temperature data even in sharp transition areas, deep learning outperformed the former method with a normalized RMSE of 9.0% against 16.2% and an R-squared of 89.2% against 53.8%. This finding was confirmed in the same investigation on soil water content. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers of Water-Energy Nexus)
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17 pages, 17872 KiB  
Article
Trend Analysis and Identification of the Meteorological Factors Influencing Reference Evapotranspiration
by Tagele Mossie Aschale, David J. Peres, Aurora Gullotta, Guido Sciuto and Antonino Cancelliere
Water 2023, 15(3), 470; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15030470 - 24 Jan 2023
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2406
Abstract
Investigating the trends of reference evapotranspiration (ETo) is fundamental importance for water resource management in agriculture, climate variability analysis, and other hydroclimate-related projects. Moreover, it would be useful for understanding the sensitivity of such trends to basic meteorological variables, as the modifications of [...] Read more.
Investigating the trends of reference evapotranspiration (ETo) is fundamental importance for water resource management in agriculture, climate variability analysis, and other hydroclimate-related projects. Moreover, it would be useful for understanding the sensitivity of such trends to basic meteorological variables, as the modifications of these variables due to climate change are more easily predictable. This study aims to analyze ETo trends and sensitivity in relation to different explanatory meteorological factors. The study used a 17 year-long dataset of meteorological variables from a station located in Piazza Armerina, Sicily, a region characterized by a Mediterranean climate. First, the FAO-Penman-Monteith method was applied for estimation of ETo. Next, the Mann-Kendall test with serial autocorrelation removal by Trend-free pre-whitening (TFPW) was applied to analyze ETo trends and the basic meteorological variables on which they depend. Sen’s slope was also used to examine the magnitude of the trend of monthly ETo and its related meteorological variables. According to the obtained results, ETo only showed a downward trend of 0.790 mm per year in November, while no trend is shown in other months or on seasonal and annual time scales. Solar radiation (November and Autumn) and rainfall (Autumn) showed a downward trend. The other meteorological variables (minimum temperature, maximum temperature, mean temperature, wind speed, and relative humidity) showed an upward trend both at monthly and seasonally scale in the study area. The highest and lowest sensitivity coefficients of ETo in the study area are obtained for specific humidity and wind speed, respectively. Specific humidity and wind speed give the highest (44.59%) and lowest (0.9%) contribution to ETo trends in the study area. These results contribute to understanding the potential and possible future footprint of climate change on evapotranspiration in the study area. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecohydrological Response to Environmental Change)
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18 pages, 2885 KiB  
Article
Comparison of Hydrological Platforms in Assessing Rainfall-Runoff Behavior in a Mediterranean Watershed of Northern Morocco
by Mourad Aqnouy, Mohamed Ahmed, Gebiaw T. Ayele, Ismail Bouizrou, Abdelmounim Bouadila and Jamal Eddine Stitou El Messari
Water 2023, 15(3), 447; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15030447 - 22 Jan 2023
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3689
Abstract
This research evaluates the applicability of different types of hydrological models to simulate discharge behavior scenarios in a northern Moroccan watershed, Oued Laou Watershed (OLW). In this context, an improved understanding of the runoff mechanisms through hydrological modeling of the OLW can assist [...] Read more.
This research evaluates the applicability of different types of hydrological models to simulate discharge behavior scenarios in a northern Moroccan watershed, Oued Laou Watershed (OLW). In this context, an improved understanding of the runoff mechanisms through hydrological modeling of the OLW can assist in the hazard risk management and facilitate the effective planning of water resources. For that end, a multitude of hydrological models were used to perform a very efficient modelling, and a comparative approach was adopted. Comparison of the models allowed the determination of potential sources of uncertainty in hydrological modelling of a subhumid watershed. Three models (ATelier Hydrologique Spatialisé (ATHYS), Hydrologic Modeling System (HEC-HMS), and Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT)) with different characteristics were employed for a continuous modelling approach. The models were calibrated and validated using observed daily rainfall and streamflow data for 4 years (2004–2008) and 3 years (2009–2011), respectively. The multi-criteria model comparison (R², NSE, RSR, and PBIAS) showed that all three models are capable of reproducing the observed flows. The SWAT model performed well over both periods (NSE = 0.76 for calibration), with an improvement in validation (NSE = 0.84). A good agreement was also observed in the HEC-HMS model outputs, with an approximately stable NSE of 0.77 and 0.78 for calibration and validation phases, respectively. The ATHYS model showed a NSE value of 0.67 during the calibration, with a decrease of 0.06 towards the validation period. The other performance criteria confirmed these findings. Additionally, results suggest that semi-distributed and conceptual hydrological models are particularly suitable for the OLW given their physical heterogeneity. Generally, the integration of these models may be suitable for water resources assessment in OLW. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Hydrology)
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18 pages, 1432 KiB  
Review
Porous Biochar Materials for Sustainable Water Treatment: Synthesis, Modification, and Application
by Ruichenzhi Li, Yujiao Wu, Xujun Lou, Haorui Li, Jing Cheng, Bin Shen and Lei Qin
Water 2023, 15(3), 395; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15030395 - 18 Jan 2023
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 6578
Abstract
In the current world, the increasingly developed industries of mankind have caused huge pollution to the earth on which we live. And the water resources, which are the source of human life, are also being seriously polluted and destroyed. Water pollution has become [...] Read more.
In the current world, the increasingly developed industries of mankind have caused huge pollution to the earth on which we live. And the water resources, which are the source of human life, are also being seriously polluted and destroyed. Water pollution has become an urgent need to deal with in today’s world. In order to achieve sustainable development, people are constantly using new materials in the process of water treatment. Biochar material is one of them. In the thermochemical process, biomass produces a common by-product coke, which is also called biochar as a result of biomass decomposition. Due to the low price and large specific surface area which can reach over 1000 m2·g−1, it has many applications and advantages in catalysis, adsorption, fuel cell, soil improvement, etc., and has a wide range of application prospects. Therefore, effectively prepared and used biochar in water treatment has become a method to improve the efficiency and economic benefits of thermochemical processes. In this overview, we first introduced the preparation methods of different new types of biomass materials, we then classified and discussed the various modification strategies, and finally discussed the application potential of biochar material for wastewater treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Wastewater Resourcezation)
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18 pages, 5152 KiB  
Article
Quantification of Evapotranspiration by Calculations and Measurements Using a Lysimeter
by Branislav Kandra, Andrej Tall, Milan Gomboš and Dana Pavelková
Water 2023, 15(2), 373; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15020373 - 16 Jan 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3935
Abstract
Evapotranspiration is one of the key elements of water balance in nature. It significantly influences the water supply in the unsaturated zone of a soil profile. The unsaturated zone is a water source for the biosphere. The aim of this study is to [...] Read more.
Evapotranspiration is one of the key elements of water balance in nature. It significantly influences the water supply in the unsaturated zone of a soil profile. The unsaturated zone is a water source for the biosphere. The aim of this study is to measure, calculate and analyze the course of actual evapotranspiration, precipitation and dew totals as well as the totals of water flows at the lower boundary of unsaturated zone and the change in water content in specified soil volume. The measurements are used for verifying the results of numerical simulation. The methods used in the study were chosen based on the hypothesis that dynamics of water supply changes in the unsaturated zone is the result of the interactions between atmosphere, soil and plant cover. The elements of water balance were quantified by the methods of water balance, lysimeter measurements and numerical simulation on the model HYDRUS-1D, version 4. The abovementioned parameters were quantified for the East Slovakian Lowland, with an hourly time step during the years 2017, 2018 and 2020. The measurements have shown that evapotranspiration exceeded precipitation during all monitored periods, specifically by 22% in 2017, by 14% in 2019, and by 10% in 2020. The deficit was compensated for by capillary inflow from the groundwater level and the water supply in the unsaturated zone. A verification by measurement has shown that numerical simulation is imprecise in relation to the quantification of water flows at the lower boundary of the unsaturated zone. This inaccuracy is manifested in the higher value of the actual evapotranspiration, which is on average exceeded by 11%. The performance of the mathematical model is assessed as satisfactory for the analysis of the soil water regime. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Sustainable Agriculture Progress under Climate Change)
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18 pages, 2445 KiB  
Review
Recent Advances in Bacterial Degradation of Hydrocarbons
by Emiliana Pandolfo, Anna Barra Caracciolo and Ludovica Rolando
Water 2023, 15(2), 375; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15020375 - 16 Jan 2023
Cited by 26 | Viewed by 10836
Abstract
Hydrocarbons occur in fossil fuels such as crude oil and consist mainly of hydrogen and carbon. Although they are natural chemicals, crude oil refining results in commercial products with new physico-chemical properties, which can increase their complexity and toxicity, and hamper their degradation. [...] Read more.
Hydrocarbons occur in fossil fuels such as crude oil and consist mainly of hydrogen and carbon. Although they are natural chemicals, crude oil refining results in commercial products with new physico-chemical properties, which can increase their complexity and toxicity, and hamper their degradation. The presence of biodiverse natural microbial communities is a prerequisite for an effective homeostatic response to the various hydrocarbons, that contaminate ecosystems. However, their removal depends on the compartment contaminated (water, sediment, soil), their molecular weight, and their toxicity not hampering microbial activity. This paper reports different bacterial species involved in the biodegradation of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons. Hydrocarbon contamination is generally due to the co-presence of a mixture of these chemicals, and their removal from the environment cannot rely on only a single species but generally requires bacterial consortia. Versatile bacterial metabolism relies on specific genes encoding the key enzymes involved in the peripheral metabolic and central metabolic pathways for degrading aliphatic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Although microbial metabolism can have the potential for natural attenuation of these contaminants, hydrocarbon bioremediation, through biostimulation (e.g., use of surfactants, plants, earthworms, and nanoparticles) and bioaugmentation, can be a valid tool for removing them from actually contaminated soil, freshwater, groundwater, and seawater. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Soil and Water)
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17 pages, 4451 KiB  
Article
Research on the Uplift Pressure Prediction of Concrete Dams Based on the CNN-GRU Model
by Guowei Hua, Shijie Wang, Meng Xiao and Shaohua Hu
Water 2023, 15(2), 319; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15020319 - 12 Jan 2023
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2719
Abstract
Dam safety is considerably affected by seepage, and uplift pressure is a key indicator of dam seepage. Thus, making accurate predictions of uplift pressure trends can improve dam hazard forecasting. In this study, a convolutional neural network, (CNN)-gated recurrent neural network, (GRU)-based uplift [...] Read more.
Dam safety is considerably affected by seepage, and uplift pressure is a key indicator of dam seepage. Thus, making accurate predictions of uplift pressure trends can improve dam hazard forecasting. In this study, a convolutional neural network, (CNN)-gated recurrent neural network, (GRU)-based uplift pressure prediction model was developed, which included the CNN model’s feature extractability and the GRU model’s learnability for time series correlation data. Then, the model performance was verified using a dam as an example. The results showed that the mean absolute errors (MAEs) of the CNN-GRU model were 0.1554, 0.0398, 0.2306, and 0.1827, and the root mean square errors (RMSEs) were 0.1903, 0.0548, 0.2916, and 0.2127. The prediction performance was better than that of the particle swarm optimization–back propagation (PSO-BP), artificial bee colony optimization–support vector machines (ABC-SVM), GRU, long short-term memory network (LSTM), and CNN-LSTM models. The method improves the utilization rate of dam safety monitoring results and has engineering utility for safe dam operations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Safety Monitoring and Management of Reservoir and Dams)
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16 pages, 4273 KiB  
Article
Experimental Study of Geometric Shape and Size of Sill Effects on the Hydraulic Performance of Sluice Gates
by Rasoul Daneshfaraz, Reza Norouzi, Parisa Ebadzadeh, Silvia Di Francesco and John Patrick Abraham
Water 2023, 15(2), 314; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15020314 - 11 Jan 2023
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2372
Abstract
The present research was conducted to investigate the effect of sill geometry and sill width on the discharge coefficient and hydraulic jump characteristics. For this purpose, sills with semi-cylindrical, cylindrical, pyramidal, and rectangular cube geometries with widths of 0.075, 0.10, 0.15, and 0.2 [...] Read more.
The present research was conducted to investigate the effect of sill geometry and sill width on the discharge coefficient and hydraulic jump characteristics. For this purpose, sills with semi-cylindrical, cylindrical, pyramidal, and rectangular cube geometries with widths of 0.075, 0.10, 0.15, and 0.2 m were installed under a sluice gate. Results showed that increasing the sill width increased the sluice gate discharge coefficient compared to the no-sill mode. The results of placing a sill with different geometric shapes under a sluice gate indicate that using a semi-cylindrical sill increases the discharge coefficient. The ranked order of other sills, from the largest to smallest discharge coefficient, is: cylindrical, pyramidal, and rectangular cubic sills, respectively. The results show that the use of a sill increases the energy dissipation. Examining sills of different widths indicates that with increasing width, the increase in velocity and consequent decrease in the depth of the hydraulic jump causes an increase in energy loss. When employing sills of maximum width (b = 0.20 m) for pyramidal, semi-cylindrical, cylindrical, and rectangular shapes, the energy loss increased by 125, 119, 116, and 125% in section A, respectively. The semi-cylindrical sill is most effective in increasing the discharge coefficient, while the pyramidal sill is most effective for increasing energy dissipation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Hydraulics and Hydrodynamics)
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16 pages, 1715 KiB  
Article
Zeolite Adsorbents for Selective Removal of Co(II) and Li(I) from Aqueous Solutions
by Eduardo Díez, Cinthya Redondo, José María Gómez, Ruben Miranda and Araceli Rodríguez
Water 2023, 15(2), 270; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15020270 - 9 Jan 2023
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 5502
Abstract
Cobalt and lithium are critical metals because of its shortage, difficulty of extraction and huge economic impact due to their market value. The purpose of this work is to study their selective removal from aqueous solutions in different conditions using two commercial FAU [...] Read more.
Cobalt and lithium are critical metals because of its shortage, difficulty of extraction and huge economic impact due to their market value. The purpose of this work is to study their selective removal from aqueous solutions in different conditions using two commercial FAU zeolites as adsorbent materials. These solids were characterized by XRD, XRF and BET analysis, to follow up of their FAU structure integrity, their Si/Al ratio, and their specific surface area evolutions through their preparation process. The kinetic study indicates that using both zeolites with a dosage of 5 g/L a 100% cobalt removal from aqueous solutions is achievable, while lithium removal is kept around 30% (separation factor of 3.33). This selectivity is important as these two metals frequently appear together in leaching solutions form, for example, ion-Li batteries. In relation to the adsorption equilibrium, cobalt adsorption presents a finite adsorption capacity while this behavior is not observed in lithium adsorption. For this reason, Langmuir model is the most adequate to represent cobalt adsorption, while lithium adsorption is better represented by Freundlich model. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Adsorbents for Water and Wastewater Treatment and Resource Recovery, 2nd Edition)
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14 pages, 2517 KiB  
Article
Analysis of Water Resource Carrying Capacity and Obstacle Factors Based on GRA-TOPSIS Evaluation Method in Manas River Basin
by Anfuding Gulishengmu, Guang Yang, Lijun Tian, Yue Pan, Zhou Huang, Xingang Xu, Yongli Gao and Yi Li
Water 2023, 15(2), 236; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15020236 - 5 Jan 2023
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 1640
Abstract
The investigation of water resource carrying capacity (WRCC) in oasis cities in Northwest China is useful for guiding the sustainable development of arid regions. To quantify the WRCC of Shihezi, an oasis city in the Manas River Basin (MRB), Northwest China, a total [...] Read more.
The investigation of water resource carrying capacity (WRCC) in oasis cities in Northwest China is useful for guiding the sustainable development of arid regions. To quantify the WRCC of Shihezi, an oasis city in the Manas River Basin (MRB), Northwest China, a total of 21 indicators from three subsystems were selected to construct an evaluation index system based on the theory of the water resource–socio-economic–ecological complex system. Our study utilized a combination of the CRITIC method and the entropy weight method to determine the synthesis weight, the GRA-TOPSIS approach to comprehensively evaluate the WRCC, and the obstacle degree model to identify its main obstacle factors. Our results showed that the WRCC of Shihezi showed an increasing trend from 2011 to 2020, with the compositive index increasing from 0.3454 to 0.5210. The carrying capacities of the ecological environment and socio-economic subsystems were generally on the rise, but the rate of change was relatively gentle from 2017 to 2020. The carrying capacity index of the water resource subsystem dropped significantly from year to year from 2016 to 2020. The irrigation coverage rate, the proportion of agricultural water, water consumption per 10,000 CNY of GDP, the modulus of water production, water resource development and its utilization ratio, the water supply modulus, and the proportion of ecological water were the seven most significant obstacles. Our findings could serve as scientific references for enhancing WRCC and promoting the sustainable development of oasis cities in arid regions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Water Resources Management, Policy and Governance)
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28 pages, 2436 KiB  
Review
A Review of the Hydraulic Performance of Permeable Reactive Barriers Based on Granular Zero Valent Iron
by Stefania Bilardi, Paolo Salvatore Calabrò and Nicola Moraci
Water 2023, 15(1), 200; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15010200 - 3 Jan 2023
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2777
Abstract
Permeable reactive barriers (PRBs) based on the use of zero valent iron (ZVI) represent an efficient technology for the remediation of contaminated groundwater, but the literature evidences “failures”, often linked to the difficulty of fully understanding the long-term performance of ZVI-based PRBs in [...] Read more.
Permeable reactive barriers (PRBs) based on the use of zero valent iron (ZVI) represent an efficient technology for the remediation of contaminated groundwater, but the literature evidences “failures”, often linked to the difficulty of fully understanding the long-term performance of ZVI-based PRBs in terms of their hydraulic behavior. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the long-term hydraulic behavior of PRBs composed of ZVI mixed with other reactive or inert materials. The literature on the hydraulic performance of ZVI-based PRBs in full-scale applications, on long-term laboratory testing and on related mathematical modeling was thoroughly analyzed. The outcomes of this review include an in-depth analysis of factors influencing the long-term behavior of ZVI-based PRBs (i.e., reactive medium, contamination and the geotechnical, geochemical and hydrogeological characteristics of the aquifer) and a critical revision of the laboratory procedures aimed at investigating their hydraulic performance. The analysis clearly shows that admixing ZVI with nonexpansive granular materials is the most suitable choice for obtaining a long-term hydraulically efficient PRB. Finally, the paper summarizes a procedure for the correct hydraulic design of ZVI-based PRBs and outlines that research should aim at developing numerical models able to couple PRBs’ hydraulic and reactive behaviors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Remediation of Groundwater Polluted by Metals)
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23 pages, 5152 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of Groundwater Quality for Irrigation in Deep Aquifers Using Multiple Graphical and Indexing Approaches Supported with Machine Learning Models and GIS Techniques, Souf Valley, Algeria
by Mohamed Hamdy Eid, Mohssen Elbagory, Ahmed A. Tamma, Mohamed Gad, Salah Elsayed, Hend Hussein, Farahat S. Moghanm, Alaa El-Dein Omara, Attila Kovács and Szűcs Péter
Water 2023, 15(1), 182; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15010182 - 2 Jan 2023
Cited by 34 | Viewed by 4360
Abstract
Irrigation has made a significant contribution to supporting the population’s expanding food demands, as well as promoting economic growth in irrigated regions. The current investigation was carried out in order to estimate the quality of the groundwater for agricultural viability in the Algerian [...] Read more.
Irrigation has made a significant contribution to supporting the population’s expanding food demands, as well as promoting economic growth in irrigated regions. The current investigation was carried out in order to estimate the quality of the groundwater for agricultural viability in the Algerian Desert using various water quality indices and geographic information systems (GIS). In addition, support vector machine regression (SVMR) was applied to forecast eight irrigation water quality indices (IWQIs), such as the irrigation water quality index (IWQI), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), sodium percentage (Na%), soluble sodium percentage (SSP), potential salinity (PS), Kelly index (KI), permeability index (PI), potential salinity (PS), permeability index (PI), and residual sodium carbonate (RSC). Several physicochemical variables, such as temperature (T°), hydrogen ion concentration (pH), total dissolved solids (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC), K+, Na2+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Cl−, SO42−, HCO3−, CO32−, and NO3−, were measured from 45 deep groundwater wells. The hydrochemical facies of the groundwater resources were Ca–Mg–Cl/SO4 and Na–Cl−, which revealed evaporation, reverse ion exchange, and rock–water interaction processes. The IWQI, Na%, SAR, SSP, KI, PS, PI, and RSC showed mean values of 50.78, 43.07, 4.85, 41.78, 0.74, 29.60, 45.65, and −20.44, respectively. For instance, the IWQI for the obtained results indicated that the groundwater samples were categorized into high restriction to moderate restriction for irrigation purposes, which can only be used for plants that are highly salt tolerant. The SVMR model produced robust estimates for eight IWQIs in calibration (Cal.), with R2 values varying between 0.90 and 0.97. Furthermore, in validation (Val.), R2 values between 0.88 and 0.95 were achieved using the SVMR model, which produced reliable estimates for eight IWQIs. These findings support the feasibility of using IWQIs and SVMR models for the evaluation and management of the groundwater of complex terminal aquifers for irrigation. Finally, the combination of IWQIs, SVMR, and GIS was effective and an applicable technique for interpreting and forecasting the irrigation water quality used in both arid and semi-arid regions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Hydrogeology)
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18 pages, 2086 KiB  
Review
Real-Time Urban Flood Forecasting Systems for Southeast Asia—A Review of Present Modelling and Its Future Prospects
by Detchphol Chitwatkulsiri and Hitoshi Miyamoto
Water 2023, 15(1), 178; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15010178 - 1 Jan 2023
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 5116
Abstract
Many urban areas in tropical Southeast Asia, e.g., Bangkok in Thailand, have recently been experiencing unprecedentedly intense flash floods due to climate change. The rapid flood inundation has caused extremely severe damage to urban residents and social infrastructures. In addition, urban Southeast Asia [...] Read more.
Many urban areas in tropical Southeast Asia, e.g., Bangkok in Thailand, have recently been experiencing unprecedentedly intense flash floods due to climate change. The rapid flood inundation has caused extremely severe damage to urban residents and social infrastructures. In addition, urban Southeast Asia usually has inadequate capacities in drainage systems, complicated land use patterns, and a large vulnerable population in limited urban areas. To reduce the urban flood risk and enhance the resilience of vulnerable urban communities, it has been of essential importance to develop real-time urban flood forecasting systems for flood disaster prevention authorities and the urban public. This paper reviewed the state-of-the-art models of real-time forecasting systems for urban flash floods. The real-time system basically consists of the following subsystems, i.e., rainfall forecasting, drainage system modelling, and inundation area mapping. This paper summarized the recent radar data utilization methods for rainfall forecasting, physical-process-based hydraulic models for flood inundation prediction, and data-driven artificial intelligence (AI) models for the real-time forecasting system. This paper also dealt with available technologies for modelling, e.g., digital surface models (DSMs) for the finer urban terrain of drainage systems. The review indicated that an obstacle to using process-based hydraulic models was the limited computational resources and shorter lead time for real-time forecasting in many urban areas in tropical Southeast Asia. The review further discussed the prospects of data-driven AI models for real-time forecasting systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Water-Related Problems)
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15 pages, 13938 KiB  
Article
Impact of Inorganic Solutes’ Release in Groundwater during Oil Shale In Situ Exploitation
by Qingyu Li, Laijun Lu, Quansheng Zhao and Shuya Hu
Water 2023, 15(1), 172; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15010172 - 31 Dec 2022
Cited by 36 | Viewed by 1792
Abstract
Oil shale can produce oil and shale gas by heating the oil shale at 300–500 °C. The high temperature and the release of organic matter can change the physical and mechanical properties of rocks and make the originally tight impervious layer become a [...] Read more.
Oil shale can produce oil and shale gas by heating the oil shale at 300–500 °C. The high temperature and the release of organic matter can change the physical and mechanical properties of rocks and make the originally tight impervious layer become a permeable layer under in situ exploitation conditions. To realize the potential impact of the in situ exploitation of oil shale on groundwater environments, a series of water–rock interaction experiments under different temperatures was conducted. The results show that, with the increase of the reaction temperature, the anions and cations in the aqueous solution of oil shale, oil shale–ash, and the surrounding rock show different trends, and the release of anions and cations in the oil shale–ash solution is most affected by the ambient temperature. The hydrochemical type of oil shale–ash solution is HCO3-SO4-Na-K at 80 °C and 100 °C, which changes the water quality. The main reasons are that (1) the high temperature (≥80 °C) can promote the dissolution of FeS in oil shale and (2) the porosity of oil shale increases after pyrolysis, making it easier to react with water. This paper is an important supplement to the research on the impact of the in situ exploitation of oil shale on the groundwater environment. Therefore, the impacts of in situ mining on groundwater inorganic minerals should be taken into consideration when evaluating in situ exploitation projects of oil shale. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil-Groundwater Pollution Investigations)
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19 pages, 853 KiB  
Review
Arsenic Occurrence and Cycling in the Aquatic Environment: A Comparison between Freshwater and Seawater
by Ningxin Wang, Zijun Ye, Liping Huang, Chushu Zhang, Yunxue Guo and Wei Zhang
Water 2023, 15(1), 147; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15010147 - 30 Dec 2022
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 7509
Abstract
Owing to the toxicity and adverse effects of arsenic on human health, its levels in aquatic environments are among the most serious threats to humans globally. To improve our understanding of its occurrence and cycling in aquatic environments, herein we review the concentration, [...] Read more.
Owing to the toxicity and adverse effects of arsenic on human health, its levels in aquatic environments are among the most serious threats to humans globally. To improve our understanding of its occurrence and cycling in aquatic environments, herein we review the concentration, speciation, and distribution of arsenic in freshwater, seawater, and sediments. Many natural processes, such as rock weathering and geothermal activities, contribute to the background arsenic concentrations in the natural environment, whereas metal mining and smelting are anthropogenic sources of arsenic in the water. The high solubility and mobility of arsenic in aquatic environments affects its global cycling. Furthermore, the biological processes in the aquatic environment are discussed, especially the possible microbe-mediated reactions of arsenic in sediments. In addition, various environmental factors, such as redox conditions, pH, and salinity, which influence the transformation of arsenic species, are summarized. Finally, the differences between freshwater and seawater with reference to the concentration as well as speciation and distribution patterns of arsenic are addressed. This review provides deep insights into arsenic occurrence and cycling between freshwater and seawater aquatic environments, which can more accurately distinguish the risks of arsenic in different water environments, and provides theoretical guidance for the prevention and control of arsenic risks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Water Quality and Contamination)
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34 pages, 6190 KiB  
Article
Assessment of Surface Water Quality Using the Water Quality Index (IWQ), Multivariate Statistical Analysis (MSA) and Geographic Information System (GIS) in Oued Laou Mediterranean Watershed, Morocco
by Hamza El Azhari, El Khalil Cherif, Otmane Sarti, El Mustapha Azzirgue, Houria Dakak, Hasna Yachou, Joaquim C. G. Esteves da Silva and Farida Salmoun
Water 2023, 15(1), 130; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15010130 - 29 Dec 2022
Cited by 24 | Viewed by 5364
Abstract
Surface water is used for a variety of purposes, including agriculture, drinking water, and other services. Therefore, its quality is crucial for irrigation, human welfare, and health. Thus, the main objective is to improve surface water quality assessment and geochemical analysis to evaluate [...] Read more.
Surface water is used for a variety of purposes, including agriculture, drinking water, and other services. Therefore, its quality is crucial for irrigation, human welfare, and health. Thus, the main objective is to improve surface water quality assessment and geochemical analysis to evaluate anthropogenic activities’ impact on surface water quality in the Oued Laou watershed, Northern Morocco. Thirteen surface water samples were characterized for 26 physicochemical and biological parameters. In this aspect, emerging techniques such as multivariate statistical approaches (MSA), water quality indices (WQI), irrigation water quality (IWQI), and Geographic Information System (GIS) were employed to identify the sources of surface water pollution, their suitability for consumption, and the distribution of surface water quality. The results showed that the major ion concentrations were reported in the following order: Ca2+, Na+, Mg2+, and K+; and HCO3− > CO32− > Cl− > SO42− > NO3− > F− > PO43− > NO2−. It was also demonstrated that almost all parameters had concentrations lower than World Health Organization (WHO) limits, except for bicarbonate ions (HCO3−) and the biochemical oxygen demand for five days (BOD5), which exceeded the WHO limits at 120 mg/L and 3 mg/L, respectively. Furthermore, the types of Ca2+-HCO3− (Calcium-Bicarbonate) and Ca2+-Mg2+-HCO3− (Calcium-Magnesium-Bicarbonate) predominated in surface water. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) indicates that the Oued Laou river was exposed to two forms of contamination, the first being attributed to anthropogenic activities such as agriculture, while the second reflects the water-sediment interaction. The Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA), reflecting the mineralization in the study area, has classified the samples into four clusters. The Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) of the WQI indicates that 7.69% and 38.46% of the surface water represent, respectively, excellent and good quality for drinking. At the same time, the IWQI revealed that 92.30% of the water surface is good for irrigation. As a result, the combination of WQIs, PCA, IWQI, and GIS techniques is effective in providing clear information for assessing the suitability of surface water for drinking and its controlling factors and can also support decision-making in susceptible locations such as the Oued Laou river in northern Morocco. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Water Quality and Contamination)
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23 pages, 11776 KiB  
Commentary
Assessing and Mitigating Ice-Jam Flood Hazards and Risks: A European Perspective
by Karl-Erich Lindenschmidt, Knut Alfredsen, Dirk Carstensen, Adam Choryński, David Gustafsson, Michał Halicki, Bernd Hentschel, Niina Karjalainen, Michael Kögel, Tomasz Kolerski, Marika Kornaś-Dynia, Michał Kubicki, Zbigniew W. Kundzewicz, Cornelia Lauschke, Albert Malinger, Włodzimierz Marszelewski, Fabian Möldner, Barbro Näslund-Landenmark, Tomasz Niedzielski, Antti Parjanne, Bogusław Pawłowski, Iwona Pińskwar, Joanna Remisz, Maik Renner, Michael Roers, Maksymilian Rybacki, Ewelina Szałkiewicz, Michał Szydłowski, Grzegorz Walusiak, Matylda Witek, Mateusz Zagata and Maciej Zdralewiczadd Show full author list remove Hide full author list
Water 2023, 15(1), 76; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15010076 - 26 Dec 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3946
Abstract
The assessment and mapping of riverine flood hazards and risks is recognized by many countries as an important tool for characterizing floods and developing flood management plans. Often, however, these management plans give attention primarily to open-water floods, with ice-jam floods being mostly [...] Read more.
The assessment and mapping of riverine flood hazards and risks is recognized by many countries as an important tool for characterizing floods and developing flood management plans. Often, however, these management plans give attention primarily to open-water floods, with ice-jam floods being mostly an afterthought once these plans have been drafted. In some Nordic regions, ice-jam floods can be more severe than open-water floods, with floodwater levels of ice-jam floods often exceeding levels of open-water floods for the same return periods. Hence, it is imperative that flooding due to river ice processes be considered in flood management plans. This also pertains to European member states who are required to submit renewed flood management plans every six years to the European governance authorities. On 19 and 20 October 2022, a workshop entitled “Assessing and mitigating ice-jam flood hazard and risk” was hosted in Poznań, Poland to explore the necessity of incorporating ice-jam flood hazard and risk assessments in the European Union’s Flood Directive. The presentations given at the workshop provided a good overview of flood risk assessments in Europe and how they may change due to the climate in the future. Perspectives from Norway, Sweden, Finland, Germany, and Poland were presented. Mitigation measures, particularly the artificial breakage of river ice covers and ice-jam flood forecasting, were shared. Advances in ice processes were also presented at the workshop, including state-of-the-art developments in tracking ice-floe velocities using particle tracking velocimetry, characterizing hanging dam ice, designing new ice-control structures, detecting, and monitoring river ice covers using composite imagery from both radar and optical satellite sensors, and calculating ice-jam flood hazards using a stochastic modelling approach. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Surface Water Quality Modelling)
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