Articles tagged with Water Quality
Researchers at Colorado State University developed a decision support prototype to help fire managers tailor suppression responses to local conditions. The tool addresses complexities by organizing information on ecological, social, and policy factors.
A 4-year NSF-funded project will investigate how intermittent streams support both the environment and humans, focusing on hydrology, microbiology, and microbial activity. The project aims to inform policy debates and boost workforce development in data science methods.
A publicly available water quality database has been created for nearly 12,000 freshwater lakes worldwide, providing insights into lake health and the effects of human activity, climate warming, and land use on water quality. The database can help scientists monitor and manage lake health, informing environmental management decisions.
Researchers found over 40 species of dragonflies and more than a year of effluent-fed river flow led to a biodiversity comeback in the Santa Cruz River. The river's return was attributed to upgraded wastewater treatment plants providing better reclaimed water quality, supporting high levels of aquatic life.
A study found that freshwater turtles, like Emydura macquarii, help clean up fish carcasses and improve water quality by removing toxic ammonia. Turtles accelerated carp decomposition and restored ecosystem balance.
A nationwide survey of land use impacts on water quality in Brazil reveals that agriculture and urbanization are the main culprits behind river pollution. The study found that degradation varies according to scale or dimension used to evaluate it, and that catchment analysis appears to best reflect overall water quality.
Researchers investigate dynamic water storage in the critical zone, exploring its role in forest ecology, rock chemistry, and water quality. The team aims to predict how climate change affects these interactions, ultimately improving our understanding of the complex relationships within Western ecosystems.
A new federal rule leaves millions of miles of unconnected US streams and acres of wetlands unprotected, potentially undermining decades of taxpayer investment in improving water quality. The move risks higher floods, loss of biodiversity, and threats to drinking water and recreational fishing.
A portable testing lab that fits into a suitcase has been developed by Newcastle University experts to detect waterborne hazards. The lab enables quick and affordable screening of millions of bacteria in a single water sample, providing critical data for public health officials to identify and deal with local hazards.
A new platform technology can assess water safety and quality with just a single drop and minutes. The platform tests for 17 different contaminants, including toxic metals, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics, providing fast and easy results.
A nationwide analysis found Southwestern US correctional facilities' drinking water contains average arsenic concentrations twice as high as other community systems. This puts inmates at risk for chronic diseases like hypertension and diabetes.
A study by University of Seville experts found an important decrease in total metal concentrations and a shift towards less toxic forms in the River Guadiamar sediment. The research suggests that measures taken after the disaster have improved water quality, but ongoing monitoring is necessary to maintain this progress.
Researchers analyzed 23 years of data on native tallgrass prairie and crop-livestock systems in Oklahoma, finding that cropping systems increased nitrogen and phosphorus levels. The study highlights the importance of long-term research in understanding land management impacts on water quality.
Hurricane flooding can lead to widespread water pollution, affecting human health and ecosystems. Researchers have developed an algorithm to identify flooded areas beyond state-mapped hazard zones, with a focus on vulnerable communities and potential sources of pollution.
A new study by Duke University researchers finds that reusing oilfield water in California's Kern County does not pose major health risks. The water can be safely used for irrigation if mixed with surface water, but farmers must plant boron-tolerant crops and monitor soil quality to avoid potential issues.
A recent study found disease-causing E. coli in recreational waters across Ireland, including those rated excellent under EU criteria. The research highlights the limitations of current water quality assessments, which only consider total E. coli counts without accounting for pathogenic variants.
A new algorithm allows researchers to determine dominant phytoplankton types and identify toxic algal blooms using satellite data. This breakthrough can assess water quality and impact the fishing industry, as well as inform conclusions on global warming's effects on marine plankton.
A new study by researchers from the University of Michigan found that several commercially available arsenic test kits performed poorly, with some underestimating arsenic levels by a factor of two. The most accurate kits returned field-test values closest to lab-tested arsenic values, while others produced lighter color test strips tha...
A team of researchers created a small, self-powered sensor cube that monitors multiple water quality characteristics, including pH, temperature, salinity, and ammonia levels, to help prevent fish deaths due to pollution.
A new device called SEPSTAT can absorb trace contaminants from water and preserve them in a dry state, allowing for easy mail-in testing. This technology has the potential to improve water quality monitoring, particularly in resource-constrained regions.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin found that oil plays produce significantly more water than natural gas plays, posing a challenge for managing produced water. The studies project water demand and produced water volumes for eight major oil-producing areas in the US.
A study found that drinking water quality in homes differs by room and changes with seasons, raising concerns about water safety. Researchers collected data 58 times at a single house over a year, logging 222,000 hours and 2.4 billion records.
Northwestern University researchers Julius Lucks and Sera Young present innovative solutions for monitoring water quality and addressing household water insecurity. The Household Water Insecurity Experiences Scale (HWISE.org) measures experiences of household-level water access and use globally.
Residents value green infrastructure due to its environmental benefits, including improved water quality and reduced flooding. They are willing to contribute time and money to support such features.
Recent studies have reported dramatic declines in mayfly emergence over major North American waterways, with up to 87.9 billion mayflies observed emerging annually. Deteriorating water quality, including warming water and nutrient-rich runoff, is believed to be the primary cause of these declines.
A recent Kansas State University study found large increases in nitrate levels in shallow wells of the Great Bend Prairie Aquifer, a part of the High Plains Aquifer. The study, which compared water chemistries over 40 years, revealed that twenty of 21 wells had increased nitrate concentrations, with seven exceeding EPA standards.
Research published in Injury Prevention found that US states with comprehensive regulations for open water swim sites have significantly lower drowning death rates. States with stricter regulations tend to have lower drowning rates, particularly among high-risk groups such as people of non-white ethnicity and children/teens.
China's inland surface water quality improved significantly from 2003-2017 due to reduced pollution emissions in industrial, rural, and urban residential sectors. Annual mean concentrations of chemical oxygen demand and ammonium nitrogen declined by 63% and 78%, respectively, at the national level.
A team from Colorado State University has created a novel dataset, AquaSat, by merging large public datasets of water quality observations with satellite imagery. This 'symphony of data' provides over 6 million water quality observations, unlocking powerful new applications in remote sensing of water quality. The study aims to improve ...
Researchers at UC Santa Barbara have developed integrated pest management strategies to combat aquatic invasive species, such as quagga and zebra mussels, in California's waterways. The studies focus on using biological control methods, like sunfish, to target early life stages of these pests, reducing harm to people and the environment.
The annual Chesapeake Bay Dead Zone Report Card shows hypoxia in 2019 was within the normal range despite record river flow and light winds. This suggests that nutrient reductions since the 1980s have successfully improved water quality, with the dead zone lasting longer than in recent years.
The NUS team developed a portable, easy-to-use, and low-cost device that can detect toxin-producing algae in water within 15 minutes. The system uses a smartphone and generates real-time results, enabling quick and convenient water quality monitoring.
Researchers investigating the effects of dam removal on water quality and nutrient processing in streams and rivers. Removing antiquated dams may harm or help water quality depending on the scenario. The study aims to identify hotspots of nitrogen processing and develop a new model for stream and riparian processes.
The UCLA report grades Los Angeles County's water systems, assigning a C+ mark overall due to poor groundwater and surface water quality grades. However, expected funding for stormwater capture projects is seen as a positive step towards improvement.
A team of researchers from the University of Delaware examined the age, origin, and sustainability of fossil aquifers in the Mega Aquifer System (MAS) in the Arabian Peninsula. They used a combination of geochemical analysis, satellite data, and field investigations to determine the quality and age of the water.
A study found that water contamination violations associated with immediate health risks led to a 14% increase in bottled water sales. However, low-income rural communities did not show a significant response to nitrate violations, which pose a risk to infants.
A new tool, HWISE Scale, measures household water insecurity in low- and middle-income countries. It provides actionable information to address the global water crisis, strongly associated with food insecurity, stress, and economic productivity.
The UMD CONSERVE Center develops safe, alternative irrigation strategies to sustain food production in a changing climate. Non-traditional water sources like reclaimed water, brackish water, and return flows hold promise, but require additional treatments to reduce microbial and chemical contaminants.
Historical phosphorus sources contribute to persistent nutrient pollution in rivers, masking efforts to improve surface water quality. The study highlights the need for long-term accounting of total historical phosphorus storage and reductions in contemporary surpluses.
A new study estimates that toxic chemicals in tap water could cause more than 100,000 cancer cases nationwide. The Environmental Working Group analyzed 48,363 community water systems and found increased cancer risk due to contaminants such as arsenic and radioactive elements.
Despite increasing public and private resources for aquatic ecosystems, decades of watershed restoration projects have had mostly perceived impacts with relatively undocumented or missing data. Researchers suggest setting stricter monitoring standards and partnering with conservation groups to improve water quality measurement.
A new study by University of Illinois researchers suggests that Chicago's water pollution is likely keeping invasive silver carp out of the Great Lakes. The study found that certain compounds in the water flowing downstream from Chicago induce avoidance behaviors in fish, causing them to stop moving upstream.
Paul Westerhoff, an ASU Regents Professor, has been awarded the 2019 Clarke Prize for his contributions to water science and technology. He will receive a medal and a $50,000 prize, recognizing his work on nanomaterials and machine learning in solving global water problems.
Researchers at IST Austria developed a new method to produce realistic water wave animations, now possible without sacrificing computational efficiency. The technique, which models wave-surface interactions, enables detailed scenes such as ripples forming around islands or boats passing by.
A new study by UC Santa Barbara Bren School professor Arturo Keller links reforestation to significant benefits in water quality. Reforestation of marginal croplands can reduce nutrient loading, biodiversity, and sediments in streams and rivers.
Researchers developed a portable technology to detect four common types of cyanotoxins, including microcystin-LR and cylindrospermopsin, which meet EPA's recreational water quality criteria. The device can be used to assess recreational water quality but not yet viable for drinking water safety.
The University of Texas at San Antonio is working on three water sustainability projects in San Antonio. The projects aim to improve rain infiltration, manage water runoff, filter toxic pollutants and mitigate inner city flooding using permeable pavements and grass.
A new study by Cardiff University and the University of Vermont found that efforts to improve water quality can counteract the effects of climate warming on river invertebrates. Over a 20-year period, average water temperatures increased, but improvements in water quality offset the biological effects of warming.
A large-scale study has investigated the composition of microorganisms in the digestive tract of animals, revealing evolutionary relationships between host species and their gut microbiomes. The study found that closely related species share similar microbial communities, while diet also plays a significant role in shaping the gut micr...
A study by Brazilian researchers shows that the Tietê River's water quality improves steadily as it flows through a series of dams along its 1,100 km course. The filtration process retains matter in suspension, affecting light absorption and ultimately making the river transparent at its downstream end.
Complex federal food safety rules are being clarified to assess agricultural water use, with potential cost savings of $37 million annually nationwide. The Produce Safety Alliance is developing new ways to evaluate and manage water sources to reduce contamination risks.
A study by Hisahiro Naito and Annie Mwayi Mapulanga found that deforestation in Malawi is associated with lower safe drinking water usage, despite increased runoff. The authors estimate a 9% decrease in precipitation equivalent to a 14% loss of forest area, highlighting the importance of preserving forests for water source protection.
Researchers are studying the effects of climate change on glacier-fed rivers in Peru, which provide water for food, power and industry to remote communities. The study aims to understand the potential impacts on future water resources and develop strategies to mitigate them.
A recent study found that climate change is reducing waterbird habitats across the Great Basin, resulting in fewer birds in the region. The research, published in Scientific Reports, examined temperature and precipitation data from over a century and compared it with 50 years of bird surveys.
Chronic exposure to poor water quality limits coral recovery rates across the Great Barrier Reef. Improving water quality can enhance recovery rates, but it won't suffice to rescue the reef from threats like climate change and pollution.
Researchers found that reducing carbon emissions through biofuels or increasing domestic food production can increase nitrogen runoff into US waterways, causing water quality problems. However, scenarios involving sustainable growth and conservation proved to be the most successful in minimizing water quality risks.
The study found that anthropogenic nitrogen discharge significantly increased DIN in US rivers due to fertilizer use, while European rivers were affected by point source pollution. The total anthropogenic impact on Pacific Ocean export has risen from 10% to 30% over the past 20 years.
The Collaborative Laboratories for Environmental Analysis and Remediation at UTA is analyzing surface and groundwater quality in West Texas, supported by Apache Corporation's continued sponsorship. The research aims to comprehensively monitor water resources in the region, including San Solomon Springs.
Scientists discovered that Antarctic meltwater streams retain their chemical composition regardless of flow rate, with high levels of chemical weathering being the primary mechanism. This finding has implications for understanding stream behavior and predicting water quality changes in temperate watersheds.
A new study found that over 5.6 million Americans are at risk of health problems due to high nitrate levels in their drinking water. Hispanic communities are particularly vulnerable, with higher proportions serving water systems with elevated nitrate levels.