Search Results (21)

This paper presents a novel study of the Nature-based Solutions (NbSs) approach to analyze and propose mitigation measures for extreme floods. The study area is the Llobregat River in Catalonia, which crosses urban areas. We have selected one section in the final stretch of 4.5 km in the Barcelona Metropolitan Area. The section has suffered several damages in the last floods (e.g., 2016, 2018 and 2019), and we propose measures to reduce flood risk. Therefore, we proposed the following three specific objectives: (a) the identification of critical areas in the river stretches; (b) the identification of NbS opportunities and utilities; and (c) the mitigation measures in concrete areas from NbSs. The effectiveness of a NbS is based on the 2D simulation of the Gloria flood event (20–21 January 2020) with HEC-RAS software (version 6.0) for the better management of stormwater, and it is influenced by design and placement aspects; however, the better use of NbSs can improve flood mitigation and enhance urban resilience. Full article

A youth-centric participatory mapping approach was employed to monitor the lower Mill Creek, an urban waterway located in Cincinnati, Ohio, by collecting geospatial data points on surface water quality and ecological assets. Utilizing the ArcGIS Field Maps application, a digital survey-based tool was developed to identify key areas related to ecological assets and urban water management challenges. The purpose of this citizen science approach was to allow researchers to capture and understand community perspectives and insights while engaging in scientific research that focuses on identifying geographic vulnerability areas and ecological assets. The primary objective was to empower local community groups and residents in an environmental justice neighborhood to understand the current opportunities and constraints of the adjacent waterbody, enabling informed decision-making for future planning initiatives that benefit both conservation and remediation efforts aligned with local values and needs. A youth-centric participatory mapping approach was employed to monitor the lower Mill Creek, an urban waterway in Cincinnati, Ohio, through the collection of geospatial data on surface water quality and ecological assets. The findings, based on hotspot analysis, revealed significant spatial clustering of heavy debris near the barrier dam and the lower portion of Mill Creek, where it converges with the Ohio River. This accumulation is attributed to the structural features of the barrier dam’s inner flood catchment area, which traps debris during rainfall events. Although no areas showed spatial significance for perceived ecological services, students identified specific areas with esthetic and biodiversity value, particularly at Mill Creek’s confluence with the Ohio River and along the northern stretch of the stream corridor. These findings provide valuable insights for guiding future conservation and remediation efforts that reflect both community values and environmental priorities. Full article

The need to find a trade-off between protecting water-related ecosystems and increasing safe water-use for human society is recognized in the 2030 Agenda of the European Union. We assess the ecological status of a riverine system in order to mitigate human impacts, considering its importance for supplying drinking water to more than 4 million users in Rome. We used an integrated approach, analyzing animal and plant communities at riverbanks and the riverbed. A macrobenthos analysis revealed a well-structured community with a good ecology for all sampling stations. The highest value was found immediately upstream and downstream of the springs collection system, while the lowest richness value was where the river collects urban wastewater. A floristic inventory showed Hemicryptophytes composing almost 45% of all species, and prevalence of Euroasiatic (35%) and Orophilous (34%) chorotypes. A positive correlation between riverbed vegetation and the quality of the benthic community was revealed, while tree height seems to have a negative trend. Our data suggest a river stretch affected by resurgence and water abstraction did not highlight irreversible alterations to the landscape. Indeed, the composition of vegetation and correlated animal communities mirrored a clinal gradient expected for an Apennine river system. Our study has the potential to improve the approach used to monitor the impacts of humans on freshwater ecosystems, aiming at preserving the integrity of the water-related landscape. Full article

Rapid urbanization has triggered nutrient loading, which will inevitably lead to the eutrophication of water bodies and further affect the structure of aquatic populations. At present, eutrophication is a significant challenge for urban aquatic ecosystems. However, we still know little about the correlation between eutrophication in urban rivers and the composition of aquatic functional groups. The effects of urban river eutrophication on rotifer communities were investigated using an annual field survey of the Jinan section of the Xiaoqing River, a typical urban river in northern China. Using functional diversity (FD) and beta diversity, the spatiotemporal variation of the aquatic biological functional groups regime along stretches subject to different eutrophication was investigated. The functional evenness (FEve) and functional divergence (FDiv) decreased significantly with the increment of the trophic level index. Functional diversity exhibits an extremely low level across functional groups, with the richness difference (RichDiff) being an important component. The results indicate that eutrophication led to the homogenization of rotifer communities. This can be attributed to the functional homogenization of the rotifer community in the Jinan section of the Xiaoqing River. The observed homogenization may be due to widely distributed species complementing the ecological niche space. Our findings provide valuable information on the conservation of the urban river under the threat of eutrophication caused by high-intensity human activities. Full article

The increasing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of pathogens is a significant threat to human and animal health, but it is also an environmental challenge for water resources. The present study aimed to quantify heterotrophic bacteria resistant to five groups of antibiotics (ABs) in a selected Yantra River stretch (including its tributary, the Belitsa River); to assess AMR prevalence among Enterobacteriaceae; and to assess the impact of urban effluents or rural runoff on AMR prevalence along the river course at eight sampling points. Culture-dependent methods were used in a population-based study of total AMR and for AB susceptibility testing of Enterobacteriaceae isolates. The data reveal significant differences in AMR dissemination and a lower (up to 10%) proportion of different types of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) in the Yantra River water compared to the Belitsa River (up to 20%). The incidence of resistant Enterobacteriaceae isolates was in the range of 1% to gentamicin to 36% to ampicillin, including multidrug resistance of 19%, and different AMR patterns of isolates from each river. The prevalence of AMR among aquatic bacteria highlights the need for adequate waste water treatment and for management, monitoring and control of treatment processes to limit anthropogenic pressure through discharge of untreated or incompletely treated waste water and to ensure the ecological well-being of receiving waters. Full article

Water shortage has been an issue for urbanized areas. For the Penang state in Malaysia, it is forecast that there will be a significant increase in water demand in the future. Penang authorities in Malaysia are trying to find an alternative water source to overcome the problem, with one of the options being the Perai River catchment. However, the river water quality was found to be polluted and not suitable to be used for water extraction for domestic consumption. This paper aims to study the pollution level variation due to changes in rainfall during the year in the Perai River Basin, and estimate the TMDL of the river in a particular case for BOD, COD, and NH₃N parameters. A water quality model was developed for the Perai River, Jarak River and Kulim River using InfoWorks ICM. The year 2016 was selected as a model event due to data availability. BOD, COD and NH₃N concentrations were used for TMDL calculation, and the load duration curve approach was used to estimate TMDL. The tidal effect at the downstream of the Perai River was found to impact the data analysis in the river stretch. It was found that pollutant load exceedance was the highest during the rainy season and the problematic pollutant was NH₃N. Thus, local authorities need to focus on tidal and seasonal change factors when developing action plans to manage water quality issues in this basin. Full article

This paper aims to present the main trends of an eco-study for a possibly challenging future inland waterway transportation project. The study will prove if Torun and its Vistula stretch represent a viable and profitable spot on this inland waterway, and its outcomes will constitute a sound baseline that can be used for the project itself but also for many scientific, educational and economic purposes. The eco-multilayer research will comprise the following elements: hydrology and biology of the Torunian Vistula (TV) stretch, and water quality; a public opinion survey; the urban functions of the TV segment (social, educational, urban planning, aesthetical, recreational, cultural, utilitarian and economical). The conclusion is that the eco-research and the project will improve Torun City’s image as a Green Urban Space, in terms of respect towards the environment, a sustainable form of transport, and attractive ways of relaxation and spending leisure time by Torun’s population and visitors. The eco-study and the project will contribute to promoting the Torun region by supporting the possibility of watching beautiful landscapes (sightseeing tours) spread along the Vistula River. The project itself will have a positive impact on the Torunian economy and on the lifestyle of Torun’s citizens. Full article

Landslides are critical natural disasters characterized by a downward movement of land masses. As one of the deadliest types of disasters worldwide, they have a high death toll every year and cause a large amount of economic damage. The transition between urban and rural areas is characterized by highways, which, in rugged Himalayan terrain, have to be constructed by cutting into the mountains, thereby destabilizing them and making them prone to landslides. This study was conducted landslide-prone regions of the entire Himalayan belt, i.e., National Highway NH-44 (the Jammu–Srinagar stretch). The main objectives of this study are to understand the causes behind the regular recurrence of the landslides in this region and propose a landslide early warning system (LEWS) based on the most suitable machine learning algorithms among the four selected, i.e., multiple linear regression, adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS), random forest, and decision tree. It was found that ANFIS and random forest outperformed the other proposed methods with a substantial increase in overall accuracy. The LEWS model was developed using the land system parameters that govern landslide occurrence, such as rainfall, soil moisture, distance to the road and river, slope, land surface temperature (LST), and the built-up area (BUA) near the landslide site. The developed LEWS was validated using various statistical error assessment tools such as the root mean square error (RMSE), mean square error (MSE), confusion matrix, out-of-bag (OOB) error estimation, and area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC). The outcomes of this study can help to manage landslide hazards in the Himalayan urban–rural transition zones and serve as a sample study for similar mountainous regions of the world. Full article

Stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) is an endangered species in Catalonia. It has disappeared from most of its historical range, including at least five whole basins, and the remaining populations continue to decline. Our monitoring, carried out on most Catalan populations in the north-east of the country, indicates that over the last 15 years there has been a reduction of between 50% and 75% everywhere. Even worse, many of the remaining populations are in heavily modified Mediterranean river stretches, subjected to multiple anthropogenic pressures or highly vulnerable to increasingly drastic droughts due to climate change. In this context, in 2018 we started a project that aims to implement a long-term, low-cost strategy for the conservation of this species in Catalonia. We have opted for a combination of broad-spectrum alternative measures: (1) Strategic restoration of small stretches of river of high interest to the species, mainly intended to ensure the maintenance of flooded pools during extreme droughts. (2) Reintroduction in river stretches with historical presence, firstly in watersheeds with extant populations. (3) Gradually, application of assisted migration to water bodies without historical presence, but with good ecological conditions for a probable successful establishment. (4) Creation of new ex-situ populations in small artificial water bodies, from urban ornamental ponds to small irrigating reservoirs, reaching agreements with the owners, and often carrying out essential previous actions, such as the exotic fish removal. (5) Continuation and extension of regular sampling, in order to implement a permanent monitoring of its trends, and expand the specific knowledge on some key aspects of its ecology. (6) Implementation of a specific environmental awareness and education campaign, as well as environmental volunteering, for the involvement of society in the conservation of this small fish and its habitats. The known genetic differentiation of the remaining populations is being taken into account in the planning of these actions. We will present the results achieved so far, and the plans for the coming years. Full article

Human actions in the drainage network of hydrographic basins interfere with the functioning of ecosystems, causing negative impacts on the environment. Among these impacts, mass loads with a high concentration of phosphorus (P) have a significant potential for point and diffuse pollution of freshwater. The objective of this work was to model P spatially in the Paraopeba River basin, namely in the main water course and 67 sub-basins, and temporally in the years of 2019, 2020, and 2021, after the rupture of B1 tailings dam of Vale, SA company in Brumadinho (Minas Gerais Brazil). The distribution of total phosphorus concentrations (Pt) in relation to environmental attributes (terrain slope, soil class, and land use) and stream flow was assessed with the help of SWAT, the well-known Soil and Water Assessment Tool, coupled with box-plot and cluster analyses. The Pt were obtained from 33 sampling points monitored on a weekly basis. Mean values varied from 0.02 to 1.1 mg/L and maximum from 0.2 to 15.9 mg/L across the basin. The modeling results exposed an impact on the quality of Paraopeba River water in a stretch extending 8.8–155.3 km from the B1 dam, related with the rupture. In this sector, if the contribution from the rupture could be isolated from the other sources, the average Pt would be 0.1 mg/L. The highest Pt (15.9 mg/L) was directly proportional to the urban area of a sub-basin intersecting the limits of Betim town and Belo Horizonte Metropolitan Region. In general, urban sprawl as well as forest-agriculture and forest-mining conversions showed a close relationship with increased Pt, as did sub-basins with a predominance of argisols and an accentuated slope (>20%). There were various moments presenting Pt above legal thresholds (e.g., >0.15 mg/L), mainly in the rainy season. Full article

River contamination is due to a chemical mixture of point and diffuse pollution, which can compromise water quality. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and emerging compounds such as pharmaceuticals and antibiotics are frequently found in rivers flowing through big cities. This work evaluated the presence of fifteen priority PAHs, eight pharmaceuticals including the antibiotics ciprofloxacin (CIP) and sulfamethoxazole (SMX), together with their main antibiotic resistant genes (ARGs) and the structure of the natural bacterioplankton community, in an urbanized stretch of the river Danube. SMX and diclofenac were the most abundant chemicals found (up to 20 ng/L). ARGs were also found to be detected as ubiquitous contaminants. A principal component analysis of the overall microbiological and chemical data revealed which contaminants were correlated with the presence of certain bacterial groups. The highest concentrations of naphthalene were associated with Deltaproteobacteria and intI1 gene. Overall, the most contaminated site was inside the city and located immediately downstream of a wastewater treatment plant. However, both the sampling points before the river reached the city and in its southern suburban area were still affected by emerging and legacy contamination. The diffuse presence of antibiotics and ARGs causes particular concern because the river water is used for drinking purposes. Full article

The sustainable management of fluvial systems requires reliable knowledge of the mechanisms that control the basins and their drainages, which in turn must be prioritized for the application of measures for flood-risk reduction. Thus, given the need to develop methodological frameworks capable of integrating remote sensing technologies at different scales, as well as traditional metrics and anthropic variables, in this study, a multiscale method is proposed for the characterization and prioritization of river stretches for fluvial risk management. This methodology involves the study of drivers at the watershed level, and a detailed morphometric and hydrogeomorphological analysis of the main channel for fluvial landscape classification, segmentation, and aggregation into units, considering also anthropic variables. Therefore, it includes the use of LiDAR data and exploration GIS tools, whose results are corroborated through fieldwork, where ephemeral and topographic evidence of fluvial dynamics are collected. The procedure is validated in the Carrión river basin, Palencia, Spain, where a high degree of maturity and geomorphological development are determined. Hence, the main channel can be classified into eight geomorphic units and divided into homogeneous segments, which, according to categorical elements such as urban interventions, are prioritized, obtaining, as a result, six stretches of main interest for river risk management. Full article

Globally, the frequency of fishkill episodes is increasing, owing to natural and human-induced modification of aquatic ecosystems. A massive fishkill took place on 22 October 2017 along an approximately 1.5 km stretch of the Jhelum River in Srinagar City, India. Thousands of fish died during this specific event, not lasting more than three hours, creating chaos and panic among the local population and government circles. In this context, affected fish were assessed for three morphological parameters, which include skin color, eye appearance, and skin texture. To back our findings, three critical water-quality parameters, including pH, water temperature, and dissolved oxygen essential for the survival of fishes were assessed in the affected river stretch. This study assumes importance given that water-quality observation stations for monitoring the health of the Jhelum River are lacking in the highly urbanized Srinagar City. The morphological examination of fish samples revealed discoloration, bulging eyes, and rough skin texture, indicating chemical contamination of waters in the affected river stretch. The water quality analysis revealed neutral pH (7.2), normal temperature (15.6 °C), and mildly depleted dissolved oxygen (6 mg L⁻¹) levels. While the morphological examination of the affected fish indicated chemical contamination, the physicochemical parameters exhibited a typical scenario of river water. For avoiding any such further incident and to precisely ascertain the cause of such fishkill episodes in future, it is suggested that a few continuous water-quality monitoring sites along Jhelum River should be set up, supplemented with robust ecological modeling simulations. Full article

The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic has not only resulted in immense loss of human life, but it also rampaged across the global economy and socio-cultural structure. Worldwide, countries imposed stringent mass quarantine and lockdowns to curb the transmission of the pathogen. While the efficacy of such lockdown is debatable, several reports suggest that the reduced human activities provided an inadvertent benefit by briefly improving air and water quality. India observed a 68-days long, nation-wide, stringent lockdown between 24 March and 31 May 2020. Here, we delineate the impact of the lockdown on groundwater and river sourced drinking water sustainability in the arsenic polluted Ganges river basin of India, which is regarded as one of the largest and most polluted river basins in the world. Using groundwater arsenic measurements from drinking water wells and water quality data from river monitoring stations, we have studied ~700 km stretches of the middle and lower reaches of the As (arsenic)-polluted parts of the river for pre-lockdown (January–March 2020), syn-lockdown (April–May), and post-lockdown periods (June–July). We provide the extent of As pollution-free groundwater vis-à-vis river water and examine alleviation from lockdown as an opportunity for sustainable drinking water sources. The overall decrease of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentrations and increase of pH suggests a general improvement in Ganges water quality during the lockdown in contrast to pre-and-post lockdown periods, potentially caused by reduced effluent. We also demonstrate that land use (agricultural/industrial) and land cover (urban-periurban/rural) in the vicinity of the river reaches seems to have a strong influence on river pollutants. The observations provide a cautious optimistic scenario for potentially developing sustainable drinking water sources in the arsenic-affected Ganges river basin in the future by using these observations as the basis of proper scientifically prudent, spatially adaptive strategies, and technological interventions. Full article

Urbanisation changes the water cycle and affects the parameters of transported, suspended and dissolved matter, especially in small river catchments. This paper presents the reasons why river runoff and fluvial transport rapidly increase during rainfall-induced summer floods in the stretch of the Silnica River that flows through the centre of Kielce, a city with a population of 200,000. Examples of implemented hydrotechnical solutions that aim to reduce the height of flood waves and eliminate water accumulation are also presented. The 18.05 km long Silnica River drains a catchment area of 49.4 km². It flows through areas of varied land use, which have determined the location of five hydrometric stations (outlets) at different sub-catchments: Dabrowa(forest), Piaski (suburbia) and Jesionowa (includes a reservoir), as well as Pakosz and Bialogon (largely impervious areas in the city centre). Specific runoff, suspended and dissolved solids concentration and the specific load of these two types of fluvial transport were determined. It was found that the maximum specific runoff in the outlets of urban sub-catchments was significantly higher during floods than those of the sub-catchments upstream of the city centre; the suspended solids concentration was several times higher, and the suspended solids load was approximately 200 times higher. Recognition of the basic parameters of rainfall-induced flood waves, as well as the dynamics and size of fluvial transport at the hydrometric stations, especially at the outlets of sub-catchments with a large proportion of impervious area (approximately 30%), has become the basis for the development and implementation of modernisation projects and the construction of hydrotechnical facilities and devices in the river channel in the centre of Kielce. Full article