Articles tagged with Water Supply
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A team of scientists has developed a solar-powered water filter that can remove pathogens, pesticides, and micropollutants from contaminated water. The filter uses titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanowires and carbon nanotubes to produce reactive oxygen species that kill bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms.
A new framework by Stanford University could help policymakers spend billions on federal infrastructure funding more wisely. The study optimizes hourly demand and supply of power and water with integrated neighborhood-based power and water plants, significantly reducing costs and pollution.
A new study finds that Amazon deforestation causes a substantial reduction in evapotranspiration, leading to drier lower atmosphere and severe atmospheric desiccation. The study suggests an emerging transition in the Amazon hydrological cycle, but also highlights the potential for forest conservation to prevent ecosystem collapse.
A study published in PLOS Water found that office buildings with low-consumption plumbing may experience chemical and microbiological safety issues due to weekend stagnation. The research highlights the need for regular water testing in commercial buildings, even those designed as 'green' to reduce water consumption.
Research led by Dr. Petra Holden from the University of Cape Town found that catchment restoration through alien tree management can reduce climate change's impact on drought streamflow. The study shows that clearing moderate levels of invasion can result in a 3-16% amelioration of human-derived climate change impact.
The Bureau of Reclamation is providing $5.6 million in funding to 15 projects focused on improving desalination and water purification technologies. These advancements aim to expand access to otherwise unusable water resources, addressing the climate crisis and meeting Western communities' needs for a new source of water.
The Bureau of Reclamation released a new report evaluating current and emerging snow measurement technologies to enhance water supply forecasting. The report identifies under-utilized emerging technologies with potential to improve forecast accuracy in the near term.
A study led by the University of Texas at Austin found that groundwater levels in Sub-Saharan Africa frequently increased over time, with most aquifers replenishing their water supply during rainy periods. The research tracked long-term water storage gains and losses across Africa's major aquifers using NASA's GRACE satellites.
A study published in AGU Advances found that water depletion from rivers and lakes accelerates near urban centers due to factors like increased evaporation and groundwater exploitation. Researchers analyzed satellite imagery of the US from 1984 to 2018 and developed a model predicting surface water loss proximity to cities.
The Bureau of Reclamation has invested $1.6 million in nine innovative desalination technologies aiming to make water treatment more affordable and sustainable. The projects focus on reducing energy requirements and environmental impacts, providing communities with a new source of usable water.
Researchers discover Amazon basin as main mechanism for precipitation in Atacama Desert, accounting for 40-80% of total precipitation. The findings reveal a new pathway of water supply for the driest region on Earth, aside from summer rain, through moist easterly winds and winter storms.
The study reveals Himalayan glaciers are shrinking far more rapidly than glaciers in other parts of the world, losing around 40% of their area and massive amounts of ice. The accelerating melting threatens the water supply of millions of people in Asia.
The USPSTF recommends oral fluoride supplementation starting at age 6 months for children whose water supply is deficient in fluoride. Fluoride varnish applications are also recommended for all children at primary tooth eruption. The current evidence is insufficient to recommend routine cavity screening exams for children under 5.
Researchers emphasize the need for monitoring drinking water for HIV medications, as they can contaminate rivers and streams through wastewater. The lack of regulation on pharmaceuticals in wastewater treatment plants poses a significant challenge in ensuring safe drinking water.
Research led by VUB team shows that global changes in lake temperature and ice cover are caused by human-induced climate change, posing a threat to water quality and native fish species.
Groundwater recovery time varies by region and human activity, with some areas taking up to 15 years to recharge. Excessive pumping can cause land subsidence, contaminant mobilization, and decreased water quality.
A new study suggests that keeping reservoir levels low during droughts can exacerbate the problem and contribute to Brazil's current water and energy crisis. Storing more water in reservoirs could increase precipitation and river flow, alleviating the crisis.
The Bureau of Reclamation has awarded $3.1 million in grants to develop improved water data, modeling and forecasting capabilities for water managers in western states. The selected projects will provide accurate and reliable information to support informed decision-making in a changing climate.
A study by North Carolina State University found that surface waters in eastern North Carolina were more likely to face dual contamination from human and swine waste after Hurricane Florence. The presence of Arcobacter, a pathogen not associated with human or swine fecal markers, was also discovered.
A new study from Monash University finds that some Victoria water catchments still behave like they're in a drought even after nearly eight years without rain. The research, published in Science, challenges the common view that rivers and underground water supplies eventually replenish following periods of severe drought or flood.
Researchers studied the 426-kilometer-long Aqueduct of Valens and found that it was cleaned of carbonate deposits just a few decades before abandonment. The double-construction system over 50 kilometers likely enabled constant operation for maintenance, highlighting the ingenuity of ancient engineers.
A study by researchers from the University of Leeds and colleagues found that 80% of community water supply systems in Ghana, Mali, and Niger had at least one lead-containing component. Sixty percent of tested water samples contained lead, with nine percent exceeding World Health Organisation guidelines.
The study found a 30% decrease in dust and soot on snow and ice, leading to the retention of 6.6 km3 of meltwater. The COVID-19 lockdowns delayed the onset of melt by absorbing less solar radiation.
A comprehensive study finds that many global groundwater wells are at risk of running dry due to declining water levels. The researchers analyzed construction records and monitoring well data from 40 countries, finding that 6-20% of wells may dry up if water levels continue to decline.
New research suggests Himalayan rock glaciers, which account for 1/25 of glacial ice, will resist global warming more than traditional 'true' ice glaciers. These slow-moving glaciers are well-insulated and contain about 51 cubic kilometers of ice.
Researchers from the University of Calabria developed a predictive control scheme that can identify and protect against replay attacks in distributed networks. The approach uses a 'receding horizon' model to predict future system behavior and detect unexpected events, allowing for swift protection against malicious actors.
The Bureau of Reclamation released final technical reports supporting the Water Reliability in the West - 2021 SECURE Water Act Report, assessing climate change impacts on 17 western states. The reports provide detailed information on adaptation strategies to increase water supply reliability.
A UBCO researcher suggests a systematic approach to forest-water research to better understand the impact of human activities on natural filtration systems. The study highlights the need to consider multiple variables and their interactions when assessing the effects of deforestation, urbanization, and other disturbances on forest-wate...
The Rappbode Reservoir in Germany is facing new challenges due to climate change, with projected temperature increases that could lead to significant changes in the reservoir's physical structure. This could result in increased oxygen demand, intensified nutrient dissolution, and algae growth, posing a risk to the drinking water supply.
The US EPA has listed 1,4-dioxane as a likely carcinogen due to its persistence in water. Advanced oxidation processes can remove it, but are expensive and energy-intensive. Communities using wells for public drinking water are especially prone to contamination.
A new study by the Environmental Working Group estimates that more than 200 million Americans could have toxic PFAS in their drinking water. The analysis found high levels of PFAS in major metropolitan areas and dozens of U.S. cities, highlighting the widespread contamination issue.
The Community Water Model is a large-scale hydrological and water resources model that simulates global and regional water availability. It considers various sectors' demands and environmental needs, providing insights into the impact of climate change on water supply.
A Texas A&M University report warns that the state will experience drier summers and decreasing water supplies for decades to come. The researchers predict that parts of West Texas will be hit hardest by drought conditions.
Researchers have created iron-based and organic building blocks that connect to form tetrahedral cages, capturing certain PFAS. The traps bind to the outside of the cages instead of getting caught inside, providing insights into how they work.
A new initiative aims to provide affordable drinking water to Pakistan's South Punjab region, utilizing a raw nanoclay with potential health-giving applications. The project has the potential to improve economic conditions and create employment opportunities for locals.
University of Wyoming researchers contributed to the first quantifiable observation of cloud seeding using radar and gauges, which demonstrated significant snowfall increase in a western U.S. region. The study, dubbed SNOWIE, used modern technology to track seeding plumes and isolate snow added through cloud seeding.
Researchers found that using a leaching fraction test can justify the amount of irrigation applied and provide a way to monitor irrigation efficiency. The study also showed that small daily adjustments to evapotranspiration-based scheduling programs are not beneficial for saving water compared to adjustments made every 1 to 3 weeks.
Yu Zhang is studying how to assess costly economic and ecological impacts of natural disasters on industries and waterways around the Neches River basin in southeast Texas. He's investigating whether wetlands can filter out pollutants that enter Texas waterways following extended flooding.
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 new paper proposes a simple yet powerful model to understand why some water suppliers turn off their supply at certain times, highlighting both benefits and drawbacks of intermittent systems. The model can help guide global efforts to meet UN's Sustainable Development Goals and its Human Right to Water.
A new study recommends four cost-effective methods to reduce arsenic contamination in Bangladesh, including testing and drilling medium-depth wells. The strategies could help more people at a lower cost, with the goal of improving public health and lives.
Researchers at Ohio State University warn that climate change is causing widespread and consistent warming in glaciers across the Andes and Himalayas, leading to a decline in water supply for millions of people. The melting glaciers can trigger hazards like avalanches and floods, and have long-lasting effects on regional water supplies.
Research found that global water supplies are shrinking as soils dry out due to climate change, leading to drought-like conditions. Despite intense rain, large rivers are drying out, and urban flooding is becoming more common.
The Bureau of Reclamation has released a report identifying innovative approaches to improve drought resiliency in the Washita Basin. The study used tree ring data to develop a new reservoir operations model, predicting that paleo droughts could have far greater impacts on reservoir yield than observed droughts.
Agricultural irrigation accounts for 70% of water use in some regions, and increased efficiency can lead to more water extraction, not less. Higher irrigation efficiency may even increase on-farm water use and groundwater extraction, argues a recent study by the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
A UC Davis study found significant variation in how water managers engage with climate information, with perspectives clustering by cultural terms. The researchers identified three types of manager's temporalities, from those who closely model futures to those who disregard climate change.
A recent study reveals that giant panda conservation has a substantial economic value, with estimates suggesting the reserves provide $2.6-6.9 billion per year in ecosystem services. The research suggests that expanding these reserves and investments in natural capital could be a worthwhile strategy for conservation.
Scientists from the University of Leeds developed a global index identifying peatland-fed water as a significant source of drinking water in the UK and Republic of Ireland. The study estimates that peatlands support the equivalent of 71.4 million people globally, with most of these areas being in the British Isles.
A University of Oklahoma study analyzes 370,000 Landsat images to reveal divergent trends in US surface water bodies from 1984 to 2016. Climate was the primary driver behind decreasing trends in southwest and northwest states and increasing trends in southeast and northern Great Plains states.
A study by Colorado State University found that 19 megacities worldwide depend on evaporation from surrounding lands for more than one-third of their water supplies. Cities such as Karachi and Shanghai are among those most dependent on moisture recycling, while others like Cairo and Paris have less vulnerable systems.
Study finds that 17 state oil and gas regulations leave the nation's water supply vulnerable to contamination. Groundwater resources are increasingly being used for drinking, food-crop irrigation, and household uses due to increased demand and climate change impacts.
A study led by Colorado State University researchers found that a change in the city's drinking water supply from Lake Huron to the Flint River likely caused the 2014-15 Legionnaires' disease outbreak. The majority of cases, estimated at 80%, were attributed to this change.
Researchers conducted a comprehensive study on cloud seeding, tracing the transition of ice crystals into snowflakes and observing the effects of silver iodide on cloud seeding. The study provides direct, quantifiable observations for the first time, shedding light on the effectiveness of cloud seeding in increasing winter snowfall.
A University of Wyoming researcher led a study on cloud seeding, demonstrating direct observation of cloud seeding for the first time. The research, dubbed SNOWIE, took place in Idaho and provided quantifiable observations of cloud seeding processes.
Drexel University researchers found associations between acute gastrointestinal illness and water turbidity, even at low levels. Cloudy drinking water provides a place for germs like norovirus, Giardia, and Cryptosporidium to hide, increasing the risk of illness.
A new robotic system developed by MIT researchers can find even tiny leaks in water or gas pipes with high accuracy, helping to alleviate water shortages and structural damage. The system uses a small, rubbery robot that moves passively through the pipe, detecting pressure variations to locate leaks.
Climate change and increased demand will outstrip freshwater supply in Iqaluit, even with stagnant population growth. Researchers predict the city may run out of fresh water by 2024 unless alternative sources are found to extend the water supply.
A new study found that warmer temperatures have deepened the decline in streamflow in the Upper Rio Grande watershed since the mid-1980s. The research suggests that incorporating temperature into water supply forecasts could improve their accuracy, especially in the face of climate change.
A collaboration between NASA and the Colorado Basin River Forecast Center uses satellite data to improve stream flow forecasts, reducing errors by up to 70 percent. This enhances decision-making for managing water resources and reservoir facilities in the basin.
A new study finds that earlier snowmelt periods hinder forest carbon regulation, reducing CO2 uptake by 45% by mid-century. Earlier snowmelt also affects streamflow, agriculture, and recreational opportunities in the western US.