• Energy Research
• environmental engineering close
• 12. Responsible consumption close
• GB close

The basins of the Indus and Ganges rivers cover 2.20 million km2 and are inhabited by more than a billion people. The region is under extreme pressures of population and poverty, unregulated utilization of the resources and low levels of productivity. The needs are: (1) development policies that are regionally differentiated to ensure resource sustainability and high productivity; (2) immediate development and implementation of policies for sound groundwater management and energy use; (3) improvement of the fragile food security and to broaden its base; and (4) policy changes to address land fragmentation and improved infrastructure. Meeting these needs will help to improve productivity, reduce rural poverty and improve overall human development.

A computational network heat transfer model was utilised to model the potential of heat energy recovery at multiple locations from a city scale combined sewer network. The uniqueness of this network model lies in its whole system validation and implementation for seasonal scenarios in a large sewer network. The network model was developed, on the basis of a previous single pipe heat transfer model, to make it suitable for application in large sewer networks and its performance was validated in this study by predicting the wastewater temperature variation across the network. Since heat energy recovery in sewers may impact negatively on wastewater treatment processes, the viability of large scale heat recovery was assessed by examining the distribution of the wastewater temperatures throughout a 3000 pipe network, serving a population equivalent of 79500, and at the wastewater treatment plant inlet. Three scenarios; winter, spring and summer were modelled to reflect seasonal variations. The model was run on an hourly basis during dry weather. The modelling results indicated that potential heat energy recovery of around 116, 160 & 207 MWh/day may be obtained in January, March and May respectively, without causing wastewater temperature either in the network or at the inlet of the wastewater treatment plant to reach a level that was unacceptable to the water utility.

SummaryDuring the last three decades, the expansion of irrigation using both surface water and groundwater resources has had an important positive impact on Syria’s agricultural production. It is an example of success in achieving food policy objectives, but it has also introduced the challenge of groundwater sustainability. This paper examines the trends in groundwater abstraction for irrigation and the effect of government policies, including input subsidies – such as the diesel fuel subsidy and the crop procurement price support. The fuel subsidy is an important driving force in groundwater depletion and over-abstraction. This analysis examines the interaction between policy signals and the use and allocation of water by farmers. The rapid decline in groundwater resources shows the limitations of this agricultural development strategy and questions its sustainability unless policies change and the rate of abstraction is changed so as not exceed the recharge rate.

Endorheic basins (i.e., land-locked drainage networks) and their lakes can be highly sensitive to variations in climate and adverse anthropogenic activities, such as overexploitation of water resources. In this review paper, we provide a brief overview of one major endorheic basin on each continent, plus a number of endorheic basins in Central Asia (CA), a region where a large proportion of the land area is within this type of basin. We summarize the effects of (changing) climate drivers and land surface–atmosphere feedbacks on the water balance. For the CA region, we also discuss key anthropogenic activities, related water management approaches and their complex relationship with political and policy issues. In CA a substantial increase in irrigated agriculture coupled with negative climate change impacts have disrupted the fragile water balance for many endorheic basins and their lakes. Transboundary integrated land and water management approaches must be developed to facilitate adequate climate change adaptation and possible mitigation of the adverse anthropogenic influence on endorheic basins in CA. Suitable climate adaptation, mitigation and efficient natural resource management technologies and methods are available, and are developing fast. A number of these are discussed in the paper, but these technologies alone are not sufficient to address pressing water resource issues in CA. Food–water–energy nexus analyses demonstrate that transboundary endorheic basin management requires transformational changes with involvement of all key stakeholders. Regional programs, supported by local governments and international donors, which incorporate advanced adaptation technologies, water resource research and management capacity development, are essential for successful climate change adaptation efforts in CA. However, there is a need for an accelerated uptake of such programs, with an emphasis on unification of approaches, as the pressures resulting from climate change and aggravated by human mismanagement of natural water resources leave very little time for hesitation.

AbstractThis paper presents a new methodology for optimal staged development of water supply systems that ensures robust and sustainable solutions. This problem is formulated as a multi-objective optimisation problem under uncertainty with objectives being the minimisation of average present value of intervention costs and greenhouse gas emissions, and the maximisation of supply robustness. The above methodology was validated and demonstrated on southern portion of the regional water supply system of Adelaide. The results obtained illustrate the importance of identifying optimal staged solutions to ensure robustness and sustainability of water supply into uncertain long-term future.

For the last two decades, water security has been in the spotlight as a key concept for sustainable development. However, due to its wide interpretation range, the understanding of what water security is and what it encompasses can change considerably with different perspectives. By means of a review of both academic and grey literature, this paper presents an in-depth global overview of what water security means and how assessment is being carried out. These aspects are put together in the present work with the aim to facilitate access to this complex concept for academics but also policymakers and other stakeholders involved in water management and governance. Aiming to provide a groundwork for water security understanding, we examine definitions, scales of application, frequent approaches and methodologies used to study water security. We also present indicators and aspects being included in water security frameworks. A summary of important actions towards water security improvement is also presented. As a dynamic and multi-faceted concept, water security requires an equally multi-dimensional and flexible interpretation. Understanding and measuring are key to improving water security levels. Bringing attention to how climate change, environmental needs, demographics, economics and governance are linked to water security can boost impact by prompting science, policies and innovation to come together.

Study region: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) Study focus: Water demand in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi (EAD) has increased significantly over the last few decades. Hence, a main challenge for the EAD water policy makers is to develop long-term resilient water resources strategies. This study evaluates future water supply-demand condition in the EAD and identifies water management strategies that support a sustainable future. A dynamic water budget modelling framework is used to evaluate future water demand as affected by population growth, economic growth, proposed water related policies, consumption patterns, and climate change. The Abu Dhabi Dynamic Water Budget Model (ADWBM) is used to construct future water scenarios and assess the status of the EAD water system until 2050 in terms of water supply-demand balance. This study presents four suites of water scenarios, namely: Business as Usual (BAU), Policy First (PF), Sustainability by Conservation (SC), and Rainfall Enhanced Sustainability (RES) scenarios. New hydrological insights: Simulation results indicate that both SC and RES scenarios achieved balanced water budget without any shortage throughout the entire period until 2050. The RES scenario is recommended for adoption because of the reasonable and achievable proposed consumption reductions needed in the different demand sectors. The obtained results should be valuable for devising appropriate strategies to prevent potential future water shortages in the Emirate.