Participative Methodology for Local Development: The Contribution of Engineers Without Borders from Italy and Colombia: Towards the Improvement of Water Quality in Vulnerable Communities

2010 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
María Catalina Ramírez ◽  
Irene Bengo ◽  
Riccardo Mereu ◽  
Astrid Ximena Bejarano R. ◽  
Juan Camilo Silva
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Local Development ◽  
Vulnerable Communities ◽  
Engineers Without Borders

scholarly journals Flow and Transport Numerical Model of a Coastal Aquifer Based on the Hydraulic Importance of a Dyke and Its Impact on Water Quality. Manglaralto—Ecuador

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 443
Author(s):  
Paúl Carrión-Mero ◽  
F. Javier Montalván ◽  
Fernando Morante-Carballo ◽  
Carolina Loor-Flores de Valgas ◽  
Boris Apolo-Masache ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Numerical Model ◽  
Coastal Aquifer ◽  
Transport Model ◽  
Local Development ◽  
Resource Scarcity ◽  
Database Analysis ◽  
Flow And Transport ◽  
Vulnerable Communities

Coastal aquifers are part of the natural resources contributing to local development and promote resilience in the most vulnerable communities near the sea. Manglaralto, an Ecuadorian coastal parish, is affected by water resource scarcity. The increase in salinity and deterioration of the water quality is generated by the local and floating population’s demand, causing an increase in the Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) concentrations and decreasing the aquifer’s piezometric levels. The aim is to establish a numerical model of flow and transport of the Manglaralto coastal aquifer by using hydrogeological data and Visual Transin software, relating the hydraulic importance of a dyke’s design (“tape”) and its impact on the quality of the water. The methodology is (i) hydrogeological database analysis, (ii) the system’s recharge concerning the soil water balance, (iii) the boundary conditions of the flow and transport model and, (iv) the results and validation of the numerical simulation. The results configure the importance of the coastal aquifer’s artificial recharge in the area where the tape is located, as reflected in the increase in piezometric levels and the decrease in salinity in wells near the sea. In conclusion, the numerical model of flow and transport allows expanding the knowledge of the variation of the piezometric levels and TDS concentrations over time, the importance of recharge in the hydrogeological system’s operation, and correct community management resilience and projection to sustainable development.

scholarly journals Water Quality Threats, Perceptions of Climate Change and Behavioral Responses among Farmers in the Ethiopian Rift Valley

Climate ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 92
Author(s):  
Tewodros R. Godebo ◽  
Marc A. Jeuland ◽  
Christopher J. Paul ◽  
Dagnachew L. Belachew ◽  
Peter G. McCornick
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Water Quality ◽  
Surface Water ◽  
Water Availability ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Local Development ◽  
Irrigated Agriculture ◽  
Ethiopian Rift ◽  
Adaptation Mechanism ◽  
Main Ethiopian Rift

This work aims to assess water quality for irrigated agriculture, alongside perceptions and adaptations of farmers to climate change in the Main Ethiopian Rift (MER). Climate change is expected to cause a rise in temperature and variability in rainfall in the region, reducing surface water availability and raising dependence on groundwater. The study data come from surveys with 147 farmers living in the Ziway–Shala basin and water quality assessments of 162 samples from groundwater wells and surface water. Most groundwater samples were found to be unsuitable for long term agricultural use due to their high salinity and sodium adsorption ratio, which has implications for soil permeability, as well as elevated bicarbonate, boron and residual sodium carbonate concentrations. The survey data indicate that water sufficiency is a major concern for farmers that leads to frequent crop failures, especially due to erratic and insufficient rainfall. An important adaptation mechanism for farmers is the use of improved crop varieties, but major barriers to adaptation include a lack of access to irrigation water, credit or savings, appropriate seeds, and knowledge or information on weather and climate conditions. Local (development) agents are identified as vital to enhancing farmers’ knowledge of risks and solutions, and extension programs must therefore continue to promote resilience and adaptation in the area. Unfortunately, much of the MER groundwater that could be used to cope with declining viability of rainfed agriculture and surface water availability, is poor in quality. The use of saline groundwater could jeopardize the agricultural sector, and most notably commercial horticulture and floriculture activities. This study highlights the complex nexus of water quality and sufficiency challenges facing the agriculture sector in the region, and should help decision-makers to design feasible strategies for enhancing adaptation and food security.

scholarly journals A Vulnerability Assessment in Scant Data Context: The Case of North Horr Sub-County

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (15) ◽  
pp. 6024 ◽  
Author(s):  
Velia Bigi ◽  
Alessandro Pezzoli ◽  
Elena Comino ◽  
Maurizio Rosso
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Shallow Water ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Local Development ◽  
Local Population ◽  
Water Sources ◽  
Nitrate Contamination ◽  
Intergovernmental Panel ◽  
Fecal Matter ◽  
Data Context

In Kenyan rural areas belonging to the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs), water quantity and water quality are major issues for the local population. In North Horr Sub-County water quality is threatened by nitrate contamination due to fecal matter pollution. This research, hence, aims at assessing the vulnerability of open shallow water sources to nitrate contamination due to fecal intrusion following flooding events and nitrate percolation in groundwater. The present research, indeed, provides, on one hand, new insights into the analysis of the vulnerability in a scant data context; on the other hand, it assesses the adaptation measures contained in the local development plan. Applying the reference definition of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the results demonstrate that the open shallow water sources in the northern part of the sub-county are more vulnerable to nitrate contamination. Furthermore, the consistency of the results proves the suitability of the methodology selected. Understanding the vulnerability at the local scale is key to planning risk-reduction strategies as well to increasing the local population’s knowledge about flood-related risks and water quality.

scholarly journals Verifying the Representativeness of Water-Quality Monitoring to Manage Water Levels in the Wicheon River, South Korea

Processes ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 295
Author(s):  
Jung Min Ahn ◽  
Yong-Seok Kim
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
South Korea ◽  
Local Development ◽  
Monitoring Network ◽  
Water Quality Monitoring ◽  
Water Levels ◽  
Quality Monitoring ◽  
Self Organizing Maps ◽  
Load Duration ◽  
Water Quality Monitoring Network

Changes in water level between the mainstems and tributaries of a river can create backflow effects that alter the representativeness of water-quality monitoring data. In South Korea, 16 multi-functional weirs intended to manage water levels were constructed on 4 major rivers as part of a restoration project. However, they are causing backwater effects in tributaries that coincide with poorer water-quality measurements at monitoring stations along these tributaries despite there being no change in upstream pollution sources. Therefore, this study developed a new methodology for verifying the representativeness of a water-quality monitoring network via spatiotemporal observations of electrical conductivity, self-organizing maps for monthly pattern analysis, locally weighted scatter plot smoothing for trend analysis, load duration curves, and numerical modeling. This approach was tested on the Wicheon River, a primary tributary of the Nakdong River, because the measured decline in water quality there has the potential to trigger major policy changes in the basin including limits on local development. The results clearly show that the monitoring station in the lower Wicheon is negatively affected by weir-derived backwater from the Nakdong, suggesting that this station needs to be moved upstream or a new station established upstream, beyond the backwater effects. Our approach was able to assess clearly the representativeness of an existing water-quality monitoring network using widely accessible data and methods, making this type of assessment applicable to many other situations around the world.

Accuracy Investigation of Engineers Without Borders Water Quality Field Testing Kit (WaFTK)

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 (17) ◽  
pp. 7303-7319
Author(s):  
John Watson ◽  
Alexander Hardaway ◽  
Daniel Mosiman ◽  
Sara Glade
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Field Testing ◽  
Engineers Without Borders

scholarly journals Use of the Water Quality Index as indicator of tourism impact management in Paraty, Rio de Janeiro/Brazil

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 466-474
Author(s):  
Estefan Monteiro da Fonseca ◽  
José Antônio Baptista Neto ◽  
Carlos Marclei Arruda Rangel ◽  
Leonardo Da Silva Lima ◽  
Priscila S de Oliveira
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Water Quality Index ◽  
Rio De Janeiro ◽  
Quality Index ◽  
Local Development ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
Natural State ◽  
Tourism Impact ◽  
Surrounding Water ◽  
Starting Point

HighlightsTourism development on the south coast of Rio de Janeiro;Water quality impacts resulted from human presence;We selected 20 water sampling stations and evaluated the seasonal water quality variation;Water quality changes between seasons became clear;The Water Quality Index (WQI) was very useful for the classification of the waters monitored. PurposeThe main objective of the present paper is to detect the tourism influence in the water quality of the municipality of Paraty and surrounding water bodies, analyze individual parameters and use the WQI.Design/methodology/approachIn the present paper a simple management tool was applied in order to prevent future tourism impacts in coastal areas.FindingsAlthough considered in its natural state, the area already showed impact signals.Research limitations/implicationsThe analysis need to be more enhanced for finding the spatiotemporal evolution in the estuarine environment.Practical implicationsThe paper provides a starting point for minimizing the negative impacts of tourism.Originality/valueThe present paper contributes so that tourism may become a positive factor of local development. 

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