Articles tagged with Water Resources
Researchers propose a new approach to operationalize the Water Planetary Boundary to guide water management and planning at the river-basin level. The framework focuses on key water functions and considers local social and environmental needs to prevent water overuse and cascading effects.
A global study analyzed high-resolution groundwater models to determine drought recovery patterns, finding 57% of locations exhibit resilient systems. Vulnerable regions face frequent, successive drought events, while unstable areas show reduced recovery capacity and strong impacts.
African water conflicts are driven by uncertainty over water availability under extreme climate conditions, rather than an absolute lack of water. Advanced water modeling can provide a shared foundation for managing transboundary water resources and resolving disputes.
Researchers found that montmorillonite inhibits chloropyromorphite aggregation by increasing negative surface charge, while goethite promotes rapid aggregation through charge neutralisation. Divalent calcium ions accelerate CPY settling through charge screening and cation bridging.
The total volume of water in rivers worldwide has consistently been lower than during the comparable period from 1991 to 2020, with 36 percent of world's basin areas carrying less water in 2025. Groundwater levels have also decreased, with 65 percent of all monitoring stations showing lower levels in 2025.
A global analysis of catchments reveals complex behavior in 87% of rivers, with rainfall rhythm and water availability playing key roles in determining runoff responses. Simple catchments with consistent behavior are rare, concentrated in areas with steep terrain.
Researchers found that the river has not settled into a stable state, with species disappearing and new ones arriving, despite 23 campaigns of monitoring
Two UCD researchers, Dr Alan Seltzer and Dr Seungkuk Ahn, receive €4M ERC Starting Grants for their groundbreaking research projects on groundwater and skin biology. The funding will support the development of new tools and models to better understand and predict critical resource management.
A global initiative, Global Wastewater Day, was launched to harness wastewater as an early warning system for public health protection. The initiative brings together scientists, governments, and public health organisations to establish a coordinated global wastewater intelligence network.
Irrigated mountain hayfields act as large filtration systems, reducing nutrient concentrations in runoff and improving water quality. This study found that voluntary adoption of best management practices can effectively mitigate the impacts of agricultural nutrient use in mountain meadow hay systems.
Researchers argue that policymakers in Colombia can adopt a similar cooperative strategy to solve the country's current water management crisis. The pre-Hispanic field systems of La Mojana cover an astonishing 500,000 hectares and were likely built by local communities in a short period of time through cooperation.
Researchers developed a systematic approach to evaluate the potential of forecast-informed reservoir operations (FIRO) in watersheds across the US. Applying this framework to 32 California and Nevada reservoirs, they found that operational flexibility is generally more constrained in snowmelt-dominated rivers.
Researchers analyzed millions of high-frequency turbidity measurements to reconstruct daily sediment movement, revealing a major shift: Rivers are becoming more 'bursty', with a 20-day decrease in the time it takes to transport 90% of their annual sediment. This change can overwhelm water treatment systems and damage aquatic habitats.
The 36th annual State of the Climate report reveals record highs in greenhouse gas concentrations, global sea level, and ocean heat content. Greenhouse gas concentrations reached a 53% increase from preindustrial levels, with fossil fuel emissions reaching a record high in 2025.
Climate change will exacerbate water scarcity, not just due to reduced supply, but also due to poor quality, affecting different sectors differently. Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East face particularly challenging prospects, with increased demand for clean water by 1225%.
Blending moderate amounts of organic cleaning wastewater with coal lowers ignition temperature and reduces combustion activation energy, but excessive addition weakens overall combustion. The study suggests a practical balance between easier ignition and stable combustion can be achieved.
A new study reveals how cannabis farming in California's Emerald Triangle is changing streams by pumping groundwater for irrigation. Researchers found that this practice can cause seasonal streams to stop flowing up to five weeks earlier and dry out streams that normally flow year-round, threatening salmon habitat.
A China-wide study reveals that hospital characteristics do not significantly shape nearby water resistomes, with geography and broader urban pollution being the main factors influencing antibiotic resistance gene patterns. Proper wastewater treatment can substantially reduce the environmental release of resistance genes from hospitals.
A new study from the University of Surrey found that shower habits, such as applying shampoo or pausing water while washing, contribute significantly to household water waste. Showers account for between 25% and 45% of indoor water use, making them a major contributor to domestic water consumption.
Researchers used Landsat thermal infrared imagery to study river temperatures over 250 dams in the US, finding temperature differences in 71% of observations and varying impacts based on dam type and season. This new approach can help better understand freshwater ecology and water resource management.
Two Lehigh University AI projects have been selected for funding from the Department of Energy's Genesis Mission. The RIVER-AI project will improve flood- and water-level prediction, while the REACT project aims to accelerate reactor-scale fusion energy by developing an AI-enabled digital twin. These awards strengthen Lehigh University...
A University of Utah-led survey found that 69% of Salt Lake County residents are concerned about the Great Salt Lake's decline, with habitat loss and risks to human health ranking as top issues. Concern varies by social group, birthplace, and personal experiences.
A multidisciplinary study assesses the Guadalquivir River's water quality along its entire course, combining physicochemical and biological parameters. The results show a gradual decline in quality, with specific sections identified as deteriorated, highlighting the importance of integrated analysis for risk assessment.
A new study from the University of Washington highlights the potential consequences of losing roadless protections on rivers and drinking water supply. The study found that over 80,000 miles of rivers receive some protection from the rule, reaching 25 million people across the country.
A simple outdoor flood alarm is being developed by a UT Hydrology professor to detect life-threatening floods as water rises on individual properties. The low-tech alarm triggers a loud warning and light when water reaches a preset height, making it reliable during emergencies.
Researchers developed an AI model to optimize water usage in agriculture and semiconductor manufacturing. The model identifies cause-and-effect relationships between water availability, crop needs, and industrial expansion, generating recommendations for each state.
Researchers found that anaerobic decolorization of RB5 dye by Clostridium sp. strain T4 increased acute toxicity, despite efficient color removal. The study highlights the importance of integrating subsequent aerobic or oxidative treatment to achieve further detoxification in azo dye-containing wastewater management systems.
A new study at North Carolina State University reveals the widely-used Stream Visual Assessment Protocol (SVAP) is not effective in detecting water quality problems. SVAP scores were strongly correlated with physical characteristics but showed few correlations with water quality data, highlighting its limitations.
This study found that households in metropolitan areas with higher population density and income levels show stronger voluntary water conservation during drought. The AI-based scenario analysis showed that increased drought-related news coverage leads to significant water savings in these regions, but has a limited impact on rural areas.
Researchers developed a machine learning framework to account for water quality differences, enabling accurate MC-LR measurements without repeated calibration. The model achieved a Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency of 0.89 and improved analytical efficiency while reducing time, labor, and sensor consumption.
Researchers found that mulberry branch biochar improved digestive enzyme activity, strengthened intestinal barrier function, and reduced harmful bacteria in largemouth bass. The study also showed that dietary biochar can lower ammonia nitrogen and nitrite nitrogen levels in aquaculture water without negatively affecting fish growth.
A recent study reveals that over 90% of the Mar Menor's key nutrients degrading the ecosystem come from recirculated underground flows, not traditional sources like streams or groundwater. This discovery highlights a previously overlooked pathway of contamination and its impact on eutrophication episodes.
A Korea University study reveals that reusable beverage systems can deliver significant environmental benefits when paired with efficient washing technologies. The research finds that automatic tumbler washers can maximize sustainability, while manually washed tumblers have the highest impacts among reusable options.
The UN has launched an initiative calling on AI companies to publicly disclose their environmental impacts, including carbon, water and land footprint. The move comes after a report highlighted the massive electricity demand and environmental impacts of AI systems.
Researchers have developed a new three-dimensional photothermal structure that greatly improves solar evaporation efficiency, achieving a record rate of 38.14 kg m-2 h-1. The material's unique microstructure maximizes sunlight capture and reduces energy consumption by 45.7%.
Climate change is projected to increase frequency and intensity of hydroclimatic whiplash events, with regions experiencing both floods and droughts. This may lead to increased flash flooding, water quality deterioration, and soil erosion, as well as challenges for flood and drought planning.
A new tool, utilizing hourly soil moisture data from the SNOTEL Network, provides unprecedented insight into storm impacts on mountain snowpacks. This enables water managers to optimize reservoir operations and reduce uncertainty around flooding events.
A new study by researchers from the Institute of Atmospheric Physics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences reveals that reforestation has varying effects on water resources under different warming scenarios. Under low-warming conditions, reforestation slightly increases global water but widens the gap between wet and dry regions. In contr...
Scientists have developed a framework combining multiscale reservoir ecological operations, ecological flow reconstruction, and innovative irrigation techniques to balance ecological sustainability with socioeconomic demands. The approach has successfully revitalized ecosystems in China's Tarim and Irtysh River Basins, offering lessons...
A new survey by the Annenberg Public Policy Center finds Americans sharply divided over the use of fluoride in public drinking water. Supporters of the Make America Healthy Again movement are notably more skeptical about fluoridation's health effects, while a majority trust the American Dental Association's stance on its safety.
A new study by Tulane University researcher Sönke Dangendorf found that human-caused sea-level rise has significantly increased the frequency of extreme coastal flooding worldwide. Coastal flooding events expected once every 100 years now occur on average about 12 times more likely to occur globally.
The global data centers powering artificial intelligence are projected to consume nearly triple the combined annual electricity use of Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nigeria by 2030. AI's environmental cost is being systematically mismeasured, with its water footprint equaling the basic annual domestic water needs of all 1.3 billion people ...
Thawing permafrost is causing Arctic rivers to turn toxic with orange iron particles, suffocating insects and smothering fish. The process also involves acid rock drainage, where pyrite breaks down into sulfuric acid and sulfate, creating rust-like particles.
Researchers found that textile wastewater treatment produces high levels of toxic byproducts, including chloroform and bromoform, which pose significant health risks to workers and the environment. The study suggests that alternative treatment methods or improved worker protections may be necessary to mitigate these hazards.
A new Northwestern University study finds that most proposed US lithium mines could face significant water shortages, posing challenges to the country's growing industry. Climate change and competition for resources exacerbate existing water stress in areas like southern California and Nevada.
A new study by University of East London researchers aims to gather data on microplastic contamination across the Thames, combining new sampling with existing datasets. The findings could inform discussions around wastewater management, river protection, and plastic pollution policy.
A new coating method keeps bacteria submerged throughout the manufacturing process, increasing survival rates by around 500 times. The research enables concentrated bacterial activity in less space, addressing a persistent problem with biocoatings.
A new framework, 'gentle power,' introduces a collaborative approach to conservation that combines trust, shared expertise, and ecological outcomes. This approach has been successful in Tokyo's Zushi-Onoji satoyama landscape, supporting biodiversity while maintaining water cycles and agricultural productivity.
A study by Dartmouth researchers shows that annual rainfall is increasingly concentrated into bigger and wetter storms with longer dry periods in between. This means less water is available for land, soil can only absorb so much at once, and what's not soaked up evaporates more readily.
A new report by University of Cambridge researchers highlights the human context of conservation efforts, finding that protecting 30% of the world's land and seas by 2030 will impact nearly half of the global population. The team suggests substantial investment and local involvement are crucial for successful implementation.
A new UN report reveals that poor water quality is closely linked to poverty and gender inequality in the Global South. The study finds that 84 countries face a combination of unsafe drinking water, limited financial resources, and gender inequality, affecting nearly 2 billion people.
University of Missouri researchers developed an irrigation strategy that allows farmers to conserve water while maintaining crop quality. By tailoring water amounts based on plant growth stages, farmers can reduce water usage and costs.
Snow cover on Greek mountains has declined by 58% over the past four decades due to rising temperatures. The research found that warmer air causes more precipitation to fall as rain instead of snow at high altitudes.
A new report highlights the catastrophic risks of nature loss on food systems, economies and societies. Chronic pressures like soil degradation and water scarcity are already reducing crop yields and increasing food prices.
A new report by the UN University finds that critical minerals extraction is causing severe environmental and health crises in vulnerable communities, while benefits accumulate mainly in wealthy nations. The investigation highlights intense water requirements, contaminated water, lost livelihoods and serious health consequences.
A new study reveals that freshwater fish are accumulating antidepressants, opioids, and other drugs of abuse in their bodies, which can alter their behavior, development, and reproduction. The research uses a novel analytical method to detect these substances in small fish living in rivers receiving urban wastewater.
New research from the American Meteorological Society explores AI forecasting limits, the impact of climate change on hurricane trends, and simplifies the heat index. The studies find that machine learning can outperform numerical physics-based models in certain conditions, but not universally.
Researchers found that nearly half of Prairie lakes, wetlands, and reservoirs may be degraded by decades of urea use, which increases growth of microscopic plants and drains essential oxygen out of ponds. Sustainable sources of water are threatened due to agricultural impacts, drainage of wetlands, and climate change.
A recent study reveals that over-abstraction of groundwater and rising sea levels are causing significant changes in coastal groundwater levels globally. The study, which analyzed data from approximately 480,000 wells, found that more than 20% of coastal areas showed significant changes in groundwater levels between 1990 and 2024.
Researchers from UConn and Yale have developed a compact, solar-powered water disinfection system that combines existing methods. The system effectively utilizes photosensitizers to kill viruses and bacteria in water, providing a clear indication of when the water is safe to drink.