Water Management in the Age of Climate Change

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

Water is a precious and unique resource for agriculture, domestic use, industry, and ecosystems. Climate change includes extreme weather, prolonged droughts, severe floods, and shifting precipitation patterns. Freshwater only accounts for 3% of the water resources, among which much is inaccessible. Therefore, the effective utilization and optimal management of these scarce water resources is critical for ecosystem sustainability, human well-being, and economic growth. The degradation of freshwater ecosystems, intensified by competing demands from agriculture, industry, and urbanization, highlights the urgent need for innovative solutions.

This collection focuses on the key challenges brought on by the impact of climate change on water resource management, in addition to the integration of traditional practices with advanced tools such as numerical modeling, machine learning, and hydro-informatics. We welcome contributions addressing the following:

• Groundwater modeling and management under climate change;
• Surface water and groundwater interactions and allocation;
• Machine learning and simulations for hydrologic dynamics;
• Multiphysics and multiphase systems in water resource management;
• Restoration of freshwater ecosystems and environmental flows;
• Precise agriculture and water-saving technologies;
• GIS and remote sensing in water resource planning;
• Rainwater harvesting and green infrastructure solutions;
• Hydro-informatics and heuristic tools for decision-making.

We invite original research and reviews that advance sustainable water management and propose actionable solutions for these pressing challenges.

Prof. Dr. Yun Yang
Dr. Chong Chen
Dr. Hao Sun
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Agriculture agriculture	3.6	6.3	2011	18 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Remote Sensing remotesensing	4.1	8.6	2009	24.9 Days	CHF 2700	Submit
Sustainability sustainability	3.3	7.7	2009	19.3 Days	CHF 2400	Submit
Water water	3.0	6.0	2009	19.1 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Hydrology hydrology	3.2	5.9	2014	15.7 Days	CHF 1800	Submit
Limnological Review limnolrev	-	1.4	2001	20.4 Days	CHF 1000	Submit
Earth earth	3.4	5.9	2020	19.4 Days	CHF 1400	Submit

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Published Papers (10 papers)

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All Agriculture Remote Sensing Sustainability Water Hydrology Limnological Review Earth

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18 pages, 30918 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Beyond Local Indicators: Integrating Aggregated Runoff into Rainwater Harvesting Potential Mapping

by Christy Mathew Damascene, Irene Pomarico, Aldo Fiori and Antonio Zarlenga

Water 2025, 17(19), 2866; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17192866 - 1 Oct 2025

Viewed by 329

Abstract

Water scarcity, driven by over-consumption, population growth, climate change, and pollution, poses severe threats to both human health and ecosystems. Rainwater harvesting (RWH) has emerged as a sustainable solution to mitigate these impacts, offering environmental, social, and economic benefits. Traditional RWH site selection [...] Read more.

Water scarcity, driven by over-consumption, population growth, climate change, and pollution, poses severe threats to both human health and ecosystems. Rainwater harvesting (RWH) has emerged as a sustainable solution to mitigate these impacts, offering environmental, social, and economic benefits. Traditional RWH site selection methods rely heavily on GIS-based Multi-Criteria Approaches, such as the Analytical Hierarchy Process, which typically assess runoff potential at the pixel scale using proxy indicators like runoff coefficients or drainage density. However, these methods often overlook horizontal water fluxes and temporal variability, leading to underestimation of the actual runoff available for harvesting. This study introduces an innovative enhancement to AHP/GIS-based methodologies for rainwater harvesting (RWH) site selection by incorporating Aggregated Runoff (AR) as a key criterion. Unlike traditional approaches, the use of AR—representing the total upstream surface water collected at each pixel—enables a more realistic and accurate assessment of RWH potential without increasing data or computational requirements. The proposed criterion is independent of the specific methodology or data layers adopted, making it broadly applicable and easily integrable into existing frameworks. The methodology is applied to the upper Tiber River catchment in Central Italy, demonstrating that AR-based assessments yield more realistic RWH potential maps compared to conventional methods. Additionally, the study proposes a quantile-based scoring system to account for inter-annual hydrological variability, enhancing the robustness of site selection under changing climate conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Water Management in the Age of Climate Change)

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25 pages, 4999 KB  

Open AccessReview

Water and Waste Water Treatment Research in Mexico and Its Occurrence in Relation to Sustainable Development Goal 6

by Liliana Reynoso-Cuevas, Adriana Robledo-Peralta, Naghelli Ortega-Avila and Norma A. Rodríguez-Muñoz

Earth 2025, 6(4), 114; https://doi.org/10.3390/earth6040114 - 25 Sep 2025

Viewed by 867

Abstract

In Mexico, 95% of the population has access to drinking water sources, but only about 65% of domestic waste water is treated to safe levels. This study analyzes forty years of Mexican scientific production on water and waste water treatment through a bibliometric [...] Read more.

In Mexico, 95% of the population has access to drinking water sources, but only about 65% of domestic waste water is treated to safe levels. This study analyzes forty years of Mexican scientific production on water and waste water treatment through a bibliometric and conceptual approach, evaluating its contribution Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6. The analysis identified three major research clusters: (1) biological processes for water treatment, (2) development and optimization of physical–chemical processes, and (3) water quality and management. These themes reflect the evolution of biological approaches for identifying and removing organic contaminants, the application of advanced techniques for improving water quality, and the promotion of sustainable water use. The study also highlights the growing attention to emerging contaminants, nanotechnology, integrated water resource management, and persistent challenges in sanitation. With respect to SDG 6, Mexican research has mainly focused on targets 6.1 (universal and equitable access to drinking water), 6.3 (water quality), and 6.5 (water resources management), while targets 6.2 (sanitation), 6.a (international cooperation), and 6.b (community participation) remain underrepresented compared with the international benchmarks, where the research trend is on water management, resources, and the water–food–energy nexus. Finally, the findings also show synergies with SDGs 11 (sustainable cities and communities), 9 (industry, innovation, and infrastructure), and 3 (good health and well-being), although gaps persist in addressing equitable access to water and society participation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Water Management in the Age of Climate Change)

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16 pages, 14433 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Groundwater Fluoride Prediction for Sustainable Water Management: A Comparative Evaluation of Machine Learning Approaches Enhanced by Satellite Embeddings

by Yunbo Wei, Rongfu Zhong and Yun Yang

Sustainability 2025, 17(18), 8505; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17188505 - 22 Sep 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 389

Abstract

Groundwater fluoride contamination poses a significant threat to sustainable water resources and public health, yet conventional water quality analysis is both time-consuming and costly, making large-scale, sustainable monitoring challenging. Machine learning methods offer a promising, cost-effective, and sustainable alternative for assessing the spatial [...] Read more.

Groundwater fluoride contamination poses a significant threat to sustainable water resources and public health, yet conventional water quality analysis is both time-consuming and costly, making large-scale, sustainable monitoring challenging. Machine learning methods offer a promising, cost-effective, and sustainable alternative for assessing the spatial distribution of fluoride. This study aimed to develop and compare the performance of Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Artificial Neural Network (ANN) models for predicting groundwater fluoride contamination in the Datong Basin with the help of satellite embeddings from the AlphaEarth Foundation. Data from 391 groundwater sampling points were utilized, with the dataset partitioned into training (80%) and testing (20%) sets. The ANOVA F-value of each feature was calculated for feature selection, identifying surface elevation, pollution, population, evaporation, vertical distance to the rivers, distance to the Sanggan river, and nine extra bands from the satellite embeddings as the most relevant input variables. Model performance was evaluated using the confusion matrix and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC-AUC). The results showed that the SVM model demonstrated the highest ROC-AUC (0.82), outperforming the RF (0.80) and MLP (0.77) models. The introduction of satellite embeddings improved the performance of all three models significantly, with the prediction errors decreasing by 13.8% to 23.3%. The SVM model enhanced by satellite embeddings proved to be a robust and reliable tool for predicting groundwater fluoride contamination, highlighting its potential for use in sustainable groundwater management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Water Management in the Age of Climate Change)

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30 pages, 7914 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Climate Change on Water-Sensitive Urban Design Performances in the Wet Tropical Sub-Catchment

by Sher Bahadur Gurung, Robert J. Wasson, Michael Bird and Ben Jarihani

Earth 2025, 6(3), 99; https://doi.org/10.3390/earth6030099 - 19 Aug 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 640

Abstract

Existing drainage systems have limited capacity to mitigate future climate change-induced flooding problems effectively. However, some studies have evaluated the effectiveness of integrating Water-Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) with existing drainage systems in mitigating flooding in tropical regions. This study examined the performance of [...] Read more.

Existing drainage systems have limited capacity to mitigate future climate change-induced flooding problems effectively. However, some studies have evaluated the effectiveness of integrating Water-Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) with existing drainage systems in mitigating flooding in tropical regions. This study examined the performance of drainage systems and integrated WSUD options under current and future climate scenarios in a sub-catchment of Saltwater Creek, a tropical catchment located in Cairns, Australia. A combination of one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (1D2D) runoff generation and routing models (RORB, storm injector, and MIKE+) is used for simulating runoff and inundation. Several types of WSUDs are tested alongside different climate change scenarios to assess the impact of WSUD in flood mitigation. The results indicate that the existing grey infrastructure is insufficient to address the anticipated increase in precipitation intensity and the resulting flooding caused by climate change in the Engineers Park sub-catchment. Under future climate change scenarios, moderate rainfall events contribute to a 25% increase in peak flow (95% confidence interval = [1.5%, 0.8%]) and total runoff volume (95% confidence interval = [1.05%, 6.5%]), as per the Representative Concentration Pathway 8.5 in the 2090 scenario. Integrating WSUD with existing grey infrastructure positively contributed to reducing the flooded area by 18–54% under RCP 8.5 in 2090. However, the efficiency of these combined systems is governed by several factors such as rainfall characteristics, the climate change scenario, rain barrel and porous pavement systems, and the size and physical characteristics of the study area. In the tropics, the flooding problem is estimated to increase under future climatic conditions, and the integration of WSUD with grey infrastructure can play a positive role in reducing floods and their impacts. However, careful interpretation of results is required with an additional assessment clarifying how these systems perform in large catchments and their economic viability for extensive applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Water Management in the Age of Climate Change)

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17 pages, 2032 KB  

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of Hydrological Streamflow Drought on Pollutant Concentration and Its Implications for Sustainability in a Small River in Poland

by Leszek Hejduk, Ewa Kaznowska, Michał Wasilewicz and Agnieszka Hejduk

Sustainability 2025, 17(15), 6995; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17156995 - 1 Aug 2025

Viewed by 488

Abstract

The paper presents the results of investigations into the relationship between selected water quality parameters and hydrological streamflow drought in a small river situated in the Mazovian Lowlands in Poland. As hydrological streamflow drought periods become more frequent in Poland, investigations about the [...] Read more.

The paper presents the results of investigations into the relationship between selected water quality parameters and hydrological streamflow drought in a small river situated in the Mazovian Lowlands in Poland. As hydrological streamflow drought periods become more frequent in Poland, investigations about the relationship between flow and water quality parameters can be an essential contribution to a better understanding of the impact of low flow on the status of water rivers. Data from a three-year study of a small lowland river along with significant agricultural land management was used to analyze the connection between low flows and specific water quality indicators. The separation of low-flow data from water discharge records was achieved using two criteria: Q90% (the discharge value from a flow duration curve) and a minimum low-flow duration of 10 days. During these periods, the concentration of water quality indicators was determined based on collected water samples. In total, 30 samples were gathered and examined for pH, suspended sediments, dissolved substances, hardness, ammonium, nitrates, nitrites, phosphates, total phosphorus, chloride, sulfate, calcium, magnesium, and water temperature during sampling. The study’s main aim was to describe the relation between hydrological streamflow droughts and chosen water quality parameters. The analysis results demonstrate an inverse statistically significant relationship between concentration and low-flow values for total hardness and sulfate. In contrast, there was a direct relationship between nutrient indicators, suspended sediment concentration, and river hydrological streamflow drought. Statistical tests were applied to compare the datasets between years, revealing statistical differences only for nutrient indicators. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Water Management in the Age of Climate Change)

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28 pages, 2566 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Simulating Effectiveness of Low Impact Development (LID) for Different Building Densities in the Face of Climate Change Using a Hydrologic-Hydraulic Model (SWMM₅)

by Helene Schmelzing and Britta Schmalz

Hydrology 2025, 12(8), 200; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology12080200 - 31 Jul 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1098

Abstract

To date, few studies have been published for cities in Germany that take into account climate change and changing hydrologic patterns due to increases in building density. This study investigates the efficiency of LID for past and future climate in the polycentric agglomeration [...] Read more.

To date, few studies have been published for cities in Germany that take into account climate change and changing hydrologic patterns due to increases in building density. This study investigates the efficiency of LID for past and future climate in the polycentric agglomeration area Frankfurt, Main (Central Germany) using observed and projected climate (model) data for a standard reference period (1961–1990) and a high emission scenario (RCP 8.5) as well as a climate protection scenario (RCP 2.6), under 40 to 75 percent building density. LID elements included green roofs, permeable pavement and bioretention cells. SWMM₅ was used as model for simulation purposes. A holistic evaluation of simulation results showed that effectiveness increases incrementally with LID implementation percentage and inverse to building density if implemented onto at least 50 percent of available impervious area. Building density had a higher adverse effect on LID efficiency than climate change. The results contribute to the understanding of localized effects of climate change and the implementation of adaption strategies to that end. The results of this study can be helpful for the scientific community regarding future investigations of LID implementation efficiency in dense residential areas and used by local governments to provide suggestions for urban water balance revaluation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Water Management in the Age of Climate Change)

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13 pages, 6867 KB  

Open AccessArticle

A Closed-Form Solution for Water Inflow into Deeply Buried Arched Tunnels

by Yunbo Wei, Qiang Chang and Kexun Zheng

Water 2025, 17(14), 2121; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17142121 - 16 Jul 2025

Viewed by 366

Abstract

The analytical solutions for groundwater inflow into tunnels are usually developed under the condition of circular tunnels. However, real-world tunnels often have non-circular cross-sections, such as arched, lens-shaped, or egg-shaped profiles. Accurately assessing water inflow for these diverse tunnel shapes remains challenging. To [...] Read more.

The analytical solutions for groundwater inflow into tunnels are usually developed under the condition of circular tunnels. However, real-world tunnels often have non-circular cross-sections, such as arched, lens-shaped, or egg-shaped profiles. Accurately assessing water inflow for these diverse tunnel shapes remains challenging. To address this gap, this study developed a closed-form analytical solution for water inflow into a deeply buried arched tunnel using the conformal mapping method. When the tunnel circumference degenerates to a circle, the analytical solution degenerates to the widely used Goodman’s equation. The solution also showed excellent agreement with numerical simulations carried out using COMSOL. Based on the analytical solution, the impact of various factors on water inflow Q was further discussed: (1) Q decreases as the boundary distance $D^{\ast }$ increases. And the boundary inclination angle ($\alpha -\pi /2$) significantly affects Q only when the boundary is close to the tunnel ($D^{\ast }<20$); (2) Q increases quickly with the upper arc radius $r_1^{\ast }$, while it shows minimal variation with the change in the lower arc radius $r_2^{\ast }$. The findings provide a theoretical foundation for characterizing water inflow into arched tunnels, thereby supporting improved tunnel planning and grouting system design. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Water Management in the Age of Climate Change)

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29 pages, 28377 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of Future Drought Characteristics Using Various Temporal Scales and Multiple Drought Indices over Mekong Basin Under Climate Changes

by Vo Quang Tuong, Bui Anh Kiet and Thu T. Pham

Water 2025, 17(10), 1507; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17101507 - 16 May 2025

Viewed by 1026

Abstract

This study evaluates the performance of CMIP6 models in simulating drought characteristics in the Mekong region, including drought duration, intensity, and severity, using the SPI and SPEI indices. The results show that CMIP6 models are capable of accurately reproducing past drought conditions, with [...] Read more.

This study evaluates the performance of CMIP6 models in simulating drought characteristics in the Mekong region, including drought duration, intensity, and severity, using the SPI and SPEI indices. The results show that CMIP6 models are capable of accurately reproducing past drought conditions, with a high agreement between model data and actual data from ERA5. This study projects that future droughts will become more prolonged and severe which could lead to long-term agricultural and hydrological droughts tending to increase. In the SSP585 scenario, drought intensity will increase sharply in the southern and central regions by the end of the century. The SSP245 and SSP585 climate scenarios have distinct differences in drought trends, with SSP245 showing a strong drought trend, while SSP585 indicates a potential increase in precipitation. The SPEI indices show a clear improvement in wet conditions, with the highest drought variability in zone 2 and stable trends across scenarios. Ecosystems influence drought impacts and management needs. These results highlight the importance of accurately assessing drought characteristics to develop effective water resource and agricultural management measures, especially in the context of climate change. However, this study also points out some limitations, including the imperfect accuracy in future projections and the use of only SPI and SPEI indices without combining them with other indices which may reduce the comprehensiveness of drought impact assessment. This requires future studies to improve and expand to overcome the above limitations, thereby enhancing the reliability of drought forecasts and water resource management strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Water Management in the Age of Climate Change)

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16 pages, 3608 KB  

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Changes in Regional Practices and Their Effects on the Water Quality of Portuguese Reservoirs

by Ivo Pinto, Luísa Azevedo and Sara C. Antunes

Earth 2025, 6(2), 29; https://doi.org/10.3390/earth6020029 - 15 Apr 2025

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1055

Abstract

At the global level, numerous reservoirs exhibit a pronounced water degradation. Inadequate land use and climate change effects contribute to freshwater degradation and disrupt the ecosystem balances. This study aimed to evaluate the temporal and spatial effects of the surrounding area on two [...] Read more.

At the global level, numerous reservoirs exhibit a pronounced water degradation. Inadequate land use and climate change effects contribute to freshwater degradation and disrupt the ecosystem balances. This study aimed to evaluate the temporal and spatial effects of the surrounding area on two Portuguese reservoirs: Rabagão and Aguieira. For each reservoir sub-watershed scale, the evolution of land use and soil occupation and the pressures reported over the past decade were analyzed. Additionally, official records of water quality parameters were collected, and water quality was assessed according to the Water Framework Directive (WFD). Both reservoirs show anthropogenic pressure, reflected in the water quality. Rabagão has good water quality, associated with undeveloped lands (47%), agriculture (26%), and one pressure on the aquaculture sector. Aguieira is characterized by high nutrient concentrations, low transparency, and phytoplankton. This is linked to various land uses, including forestry (75%), and agriculture (19%), as well as multiple environmental pressures. Key contributors include urban discharge (27 sites) and water catchments allocated for agricultural purposes (89 sites) and others. The long-term data showed an increase in chlorophyll a concentration, water temperature, and pH values, and a decrease in the concentration of total phosphorus, but higher than the reference value. Additionally, the usage of the surrounding area of the hydrographic basin shows that it is extremely important for water quality and should be included in the WFD. Addressing the problems in the surrounding areas reservoirs is essential to adopting measures that improve water quality, therefore guaranteeing the health of the environment as expected under the One Health concept. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Water Management in the Age of Climate Change)

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27 pages, 11601 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Monitoring and Evaluation of Ecological Restoration Effectiveness: A Case Study of the Liaohe River Estuary Wetland

by Yongli Hou, Nanxiang Hu, Chao Teng, Lulin Zheng, Jiabing Zhang and Yifei Gong

Sustainability 2025, 17(7), 2973; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17072973 - 27 Mar 2025

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1238

Abstract

The Liaohe River Estuary Wetland, located in Panjin City, plays a critical role in reducing pollution loads, maintaining biodiversity, and ensuring ecological security in China’s coastal regions, contributing significantly to the implementation of the land–sea coordination strategy. As key components of ecological restoration [...] Read more.

The Liaohe River Estuary Wetland, located in Panjin City, plays a critical role in reducing pollution loads, maintaining biodiversity, and ensuring ecological security in China’s coastal regions, contributing significantly to the implementation of the land–sea coordination strategy. As key components of ecological restoration projects, monitoring and evaluating restoration effectiveness provide a reliable basis for decision-making and ecosystem management. This study established an innovative three-dimensional integrated monitoring and evaluation system combining satellite imagery, UAV aerial photography, and field sampling surveys, addressing the technical gaps in multi-scale and multi-dimensional dynamic ecological monitoring. Through systematic monitoring and the assessment of key indicators, including water environment, soil environment, biodiversity, water conservation capacity, and carbon sequestration capacity, we comprehensively evaluated the enhancement effects of ecological restoration projects on regional ecosystem structure, quality, and service functions. The findings demonstrated that the satellite–airborne–ground integrated monitoring technology significantly improved water quality and soil properties, enhanced soil–water conservation capabilities, and increased biodiversity indices and carbon sequestration potential. These results validate the scientific validity of ecological protection measures and the comprehensive benefits of restoration outcomes. The primary contributions of this research lie in the following: developing a novel monitoring framework that provides critical data support for decision-making, project acceptance, effectiveness evaluation, and adaptive management in ecological restoration; establishing transferable methodologies applicable not only to the Liaohe River Estuary wetlands, but also to similar ecosystems globally, showcasing broad applicability in ecological governance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Water Management in the Age of Climate Change)

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