scholarly journals Haemodialysis therapy and sustainable growth: a corporate experience in France

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (12) ◽  
pp. 2154-2160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Georges Bendine ◽  
Fabien Autin ◽  
Bruno Fabre ◽  
Olivier Bardin ◽  
François Rabasco ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Treatment ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Power Consumption ◽  
Water Consumption ◽  
Environmental Parameters ◽  
High Water ◽  
Sustainable Growth ◽  
Action Plans ◽  
Dialysis Unit ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Introduction Sustainable growth and environmental issues are currently a topic for all human activities, and dialysis represents a real challenge in this field because of high water and power consumption and the production of large amounts of care-related waste. In this article we describe data collection implemented in the NephroCare centres in France and the changes observed during a 13-year period regarding environmental parameters. Methods Monthly data collection (eco-reporting) was implemented in NephroCare centres in France in 2005. It covers three topics designed as key performance indicators (KPIs): electricity and water consumption and care-related waste production expressed, respectively, as kilowatt-hour (kWh), litres (L) and kilograms per session. We report on the three action plans (2005–10, 2011–14 and 2015–18) and changes observed during this 13-year period. Results During the period, power and water consumption declined by 29.6% (from 23.1 to 16.26 kWh/session) and 52% (from 801 to 382 L/session), respectively. At the same time, the yearly number of dialysis sessions has increased from 169 335 to 399 336. The sources of savings came both from improvements in the dialysis technology (dialysis machines and water treatment systems) and from updating and remodelling of the dialysis unit equipment and buildings. The care-related waste decreased from 1.8 to 1.1 kg because of regular staff training and the retrofiltration system, allowing the voiding of the remaining saline solution after dialysis. These savings have been estimated as equivalent to 102 440 tons of carbon dioxide. Discussion Implementation of KPIs and their regular monitoring by trained staff to evaluate water and power consumption and the reduction of care-related water production are essential to implement actions to reduce the impact of dialysis on the environment. These data show the importance of water treatment and dialysis technology to decrease water and power consumption and the production of care-related waste as well as upgrading or remodelling of buildings housing dialysis units. Other measures are discussed, including the reuse of rejected water by reverse osmosis, as well as behavioural changes that are needed to reach sustainable development of dialysis. Conclusion The first step to reach ‘green’ dialysis is to collect precise information from defined KPIs. This is the only way to design action plans to reduce the impact of dialysis therapy on the environment. Beyond this, the nephrology community must be sensitized to this challenge to be proactive and to anticipate future regulations.

scholarly journals Treatment Method Assessment of the Impact on the Corrosivity and Aggressiveness for the Boiler Feed Water

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 1965 ◽  
Author(s):  
Skoczko ◽  
Szatyłowicz
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Water Treatment ◽  
Saturation Index ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
High Water ◽  
Feed Water ◽  
Exchange Cation ◽  
Boiler Water ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Boiler Feed Water

The aim of the study was the assessment of corrosivity and aggressiveness for boiler feed water. The negative effects of water corrosivity and aggressiveness may include silting up of the steel water supply system and the destruction of boiler equipment touched or washed by such water. They may cause the whole industrial production system to fail or be destroyed. That is why it was important to reach a high water purification level, including the calculation of water aggressiveness and corrosivity indicators. The carried out test showed that the simple system used before the modernization of the industrial water treatment plant is not sufficient to reach clean and stable water. The authors proposed modernization, including additional processes to improve boiler water quality, and designed new devices for water treatment. As a result of the new idea, groundwater taken as raw water was treated in individual and complex processes, such as pre-aeration, filtration, ion exchange (cation and anion exchange resigns), extra aeration, and extra degassing. The conducted research included chemical analyses of raw and treated water. In the conducted studies, the indirect method of water aggressiveness and corrosivity assessment was applied using mathematical calculation of the Langelier Saturation Index (LSI), the Ryznar Stability Index (RI), the Larson–Skold Index (LI), and the Singley Index (SI). The results proved that the new proposed processes for the boiler feed water treatment station allow reaching a high water quality and low level of water aggressiveness and corrosion.

The Use of Dishwashers in Commercial Enterprises – An Initial Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 58 (3) ◽  
pp. 177-186
Author(s):  
Svenja Kerschgens ◽  
Britta von Esmarch-Rummler ◽  
Rainer Stamminger
Keyword(s):  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Water Consumption ◽  
High Water ◽  
User Behaviour ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Initial Analysis ◽  
Comprehensive Data ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Main Factors ◽  
The Impact

Abstract The requirements for commercial dishwashers differ fundamentally from those for domestic dishwashers. For commercial dishwashers, capacity and programme duration are the main factors. Accordingly, different designs are offered for the different types of requirement. Comprehensive data on the usage behaviour of commercial dishwashers is scarcely available. Within the framework of face-to-face interviews, 200 companies in Germany and Denmark were visited to record their user behaviour. With the help of the data obtained, not only errors in the usage behaviour were found, but also indications of unnecessarily high water and energy consumption, which, inter alia, lead to increased costs for the companies. The results show that manual pre-rinsing in particular leads to increased water consumption. Furthermore, the dishwashers are only partially loaded, which leads to more wash cycles than necessary. In order to ensure the optimal utilisation and correct user behaviour of commercial dishwashers, while simultaneously reducing the impact on the environment, there is an urgent need to educate users better on how to use them correctly.

scholarly journals Water consumption from hydropower plants – review of published estimates and an assessment of the concept

2013 ◽  
Vol 17 (10) ◽  
pp. 3983-4000 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. H. Bakken ◽  
Å. Killingtveit ◽  
K. Engeland ◽  
K. Alfredsen ◽  
A. Harby
Keyword(s):  
Water Consumption ◽  
Calculation Method ◽  
Water Footprint ◽  
Power Production ◽  
High Water ◽  
Water Losses ◽  
Simplified Approach ◽  
Natural Lakes ◽  
Hydropower Plants ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. Since the report from IPCC on renewable energy (IPCC, 2012) was published; more studies on water consumption from hydropower have become available. The newly published studies do not, however, contribute to a more consistent picture on what the "true" water consumption from hydropower plants is. The dominant calculation method is the gross evaporation from the reservoirs divided by the annual power production, which appears to be an over-simplistic calculation method that possibly produces a biased picture of the water consumption of hydropower plants. This review paper shows that the water footprint of hydropower is used synonymously with water consumption, based on gross evaporation rates. This paper also documents and discusses several methodological problems when applying this simplified approach (gross evaporation divided by annual power production) for the estimation of water consumption from hydropower projects. A number of short-comings are identified, including the lack of clarity regarding the setting of proper system boundaries in space and time. The methodology of attributing the water losses to the various uses in multi-purpose reservoirs is not developed. Furthermore, a correct and fair methodology for handling water consumption in reservoirs based on natural lakes is needed, as it appears meaningless that all the evaporation losses from a close-to-natural lake should be attributed to the hydropower production. It also appears problematic that the concept is not related to the impact the water consumption will have on the local water resources, as high water consumption values might not be problematic per se. Finally, it appears to be a paradox that a reservoir might be accorded a very high water consumption/footprint and still be the most feasible measure to improve the availability of water in a region. We argue that reservoirs are not always the problem; rather they may contribute to the solution of the problems of water scarcity. The authors consider that an improved conceptual framework is needed in order to calculate the water footprint from hydropower projects in a more reasonable way.

scholarly journals Application of Regression Models on Panel Data in the Regional Analysis of Water Consumption

2018 ◽  
Vol 82 (3) ◽  
pp. 6-14
Author(s):  
А. М. Yerina ◽  
M. P. Ukrainets
Keyword(s):  
Panel Data ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Water Supply ◽  
Fresh Water ◽  
Water Consumption ◽  
High Water ◽  
Industrial Enterprises ◽  
Water Intensity ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Production Facilities

Water is a core component of the nature environment. The problem of good quality water supply to the humans has been aggravating because the available resources of fresh water in some regions of the planet proved to be insufficient for satisfying all the consumer needs. Lack of fresh water has been a structural factor affecting the global economic development, with drinking water acquiring the characteristics of a strategic commodity. These circumstances raise the importance of solutions on saving fresh water resources and ways of their rational use from the local level to the global one. The article contains a description of the current situation with water supply and water consumption in Ukraine. As regards water supply, Ukraine, according to the hydrological classification, is undergoing water stress, in parallel with extra water consumption and high water intensity in the domestic production sector. The subject of the study is water intensity of the gross domestic product, its main factors and ways of reduction. The object of the study is seven Ukrainian regions across which the river Dnieper flows, and the city of Kyiv. A significant variation of water intensity is observed in administrative and territorial units located in the Dnieper basin, which is caused by the varying industrial capacities, varying systems of technical water supply at industrial enterprises, and varying scopes of fresh water use in water supply for agricultural and utility needs, lack of advanced systems for water supply in some of the regions, which causes large losses of water and high water intensity in some production facilities. The impact from the above mentioned factors on the regional water intensity is assessed by the regression model on panel data. The specific conditions of the business operation in some regions of the Dnieper basin are represented in the model by dummy variables. By the model of water intensity of GDP, the largest one is the impact from industrial specialization of a region (especially Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kyiv and Kherson regions), the existence of water recycling systems at industrial enterprises, scopes of water drainage and capacities of sewage treatment plants. Effective use, rehabilitation and protection of water resources, improvement of water quality, and reduction of water intensity in the production facilities through taking technological and economic measures in water consumption are considered as important factors of the national security. 

scholarly journals Effects of water and fertilizer coupling on the physiological characteristics and growth of rabbiteye blueberry

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (7) ◽  
pp. e0254013
Author(s):  
Xiaolan Guo ◽  
Shuangshuang Li ◽  
Delu Wang ◽  
Zongsheng Huang ◽  
Naeem Sarwar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Treatment ◽  
Membership Function ◽  
Comprehensive Evaluation ◽  
Soluble Sugar ◽  
Maximum Level ◽  
High Water ◽  
Physiological Characteristics ◽  
Chlorophyll Contents ◽  
Water Plant ◽  
The Impact

Understanding the impact of irrigation and fertilizer on rabbiteye blueberry (Vaccinium virgatum) physiology is necessary for its precision planting. Here, we applied varied irrigation and fertilizer under completely randomized experimental design to see its impact on the physiological characteristics and bush growth of rabbiteye blueberries. A comprehensive evaluation of the membership function was used to establish the best water–fertilizer coupling regimes. Rabbiteye blueberry enhanced the net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and transpiration rate of leaf and improved its photosynthetic capacity at maximum level of irrigation water and fertilizer application (F3W4). The high fertilizer–medium water treatment (F3W3) increased leaf-soluble protein contents. The medium fertilizer–medium water treatment (F2W3, F2W2) increased leaf- soluble sugar, superoxide dismutase, and chlorophyll contents; decreased the malondialdehyde content; and enhanced leaf resistance and metabolism. It also promoted the growth of flower buds and new shoots. Combined membership function and cluster analyses revealed that the optimal water and fertilizer conditions for promoting rabbiteye blueberry plant growth were the medium fertilizer–medium water [(NH4)2SO4:Ca(H2PO4)2:K2SO4 at 59:10:20 g plant-1; 2.5 L water plant-1], medium fertilizer–medium-high water [(NH4)2SO4:Ca(H2PO4)2:K2SO4 at 59:10:20 g plant-1; 3.75 L water plant-1], and high fertilizer–medium-high water [(NH4)2SO4:Ca(H2PO4)2:K2SO4 at 118:20:40 g plant-1; 3.75 L water plant-1] treatments. The findings of this study could be used in improving the precision and efficacy of rabbiteye blueberry planting in Guizhou, China. Such an approach can increase the productivity and profitability for local fruit farmers.

Pathology quality improvement in British Columbia using performance measurement and knowledge mobilization.

2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (30_suppl) ◽  
pp. 54-54
Author(s):  
Nick van der Westhuizen ◽  
Cheng-Han Lee ◽  
Brigette Rabel ◽  
Katherine Young ◽  
Shaheena Mukhi
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Communities Of Practice ◽  
Performance Metrics ◽  
Comparative Data ◽  
Action Plans ◽  
Knowledge Mobilization ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Synoptic Reporting

54 Background: Pathology reporting content and formatting varies considerably in British Columbia (BC). The impact of this variability on the quality of care is unknown but it hinders effective data collection and measurement to guide quality improvement. A knowledge mobilization project that digitalized standardized reporting would ensure report completeness and generation of comparative performance data could be used within communities of practice to facilitate peer-to-peer conversations and create action plans to improve patient care. Methods: In 2014 BC adopted the College of American Pathologists cancer checklists as the standard for synoptic reporting using a single standalone electronic synoptic reporting program which interfaced with all five provincial laboratory information systems. Using the tool ensures all mandatory clinical prognostic indicators are reported. Discrete data elements were transmitted to a central data repository (CDR) which was mined to compile key performance indices reports for individual pathologists and generate comparative data reports at the institutional, regional and provincial level. Results: In the first six months of its implementation there was variation from 11-94% across different laboratories in their adoption of the reporting tool. The goal is to increase the average adoption rate from 76% to 90%. Analysis of data showed a highly comparable pattern of pathology practice across the major cancer sites/types and comparable to other Canadian provinces and the literature. Advisory committee reviews with interdisciplinary discussion of comparative data reports revealed potential areas for clinical improvement. For example, significant variation in the number of lymph nodes in colorectal resections was identified with some sites falling short of published recommendations. Conclusions: Population-based standardized digitalized pathology data reporting with centralized data collection can be achieved. Analysis of this data enables monitoring of performance metrics and meaningful discussions via communities of practice identify areas for quality improvement and create action plans.

scholarly journals Improvement of operation modes of water treatment systems using baromembrane technologies

2018 ◽  
Vol 212 ◽  
pp. 01022
Author(s):  
Ekaterina Samarkina ◽  
Anna Gudzenko ◽  
Svetlana Bondarenko ◽  
Anastasia Samarkina
Keyword(s):  
Water Treatment ◽  
Water Consumption ◽  
High Water ◽  
Chemical Contamination ◽  
Membrane Element ◽  
Membrane Systems ◽  
Laboratory Installation ◽  
Operation Modes

The paper touches upon the issues connected with the solutions of the problems arising at operation of membrane installations for water preparation, in particular high water consumption for own needs. The reasons leading to their occurrence are analyzed in the article. A comparison of the performance of membrane systems against the calculated values is made. The influence of aging of membranes on water consumption for own needs is studied. The tests of a membrane element have been carried out on a laboratory installation, the results of which are used for the analysis of the chemical contamination. The options of solving the identified problems are proposed.

scholarly journals CMOS – Shutterless Operation Boosts Speed and Quality

2014 ◽  
Vol 70 (a1) ◽  
pp. C682-C682
Author(s):  
Martin Adam ◽  
Eric Hovestreydt ◽  
Holger Ott ◽  
Bruce Noll ◽  
Michael Ruf
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Power Consumption ◽  
Cooling Water ◽  
Cmos Technology ◽  
X Ray Diffraction ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Cmos Sensors ◽  
Bucket Brigade ◽  
System Overhead ◽  
The Impact

CMOS technology based X-ray detectors offer numerous advantages compared to traditionally used CCD detectors: · CMOS sensors are available in larger sizes with a pixel size optimized for X-ray scattering and X-ray diffraction. · CMOS sensors have lower power consumption than CCDs and provide excellent signal-to-noise ratios even when only moderately cooled. This allows the design of air-cooled detectors. Both, low power consumption and no need for cooling-water, lead to minimized pre-installation requirements. · While CCDs use a bucket brigade read-out, CMOS technology does allow continuous direct sensor read-out. These features make modern CMOS based X-ray detectors, such as the PHOTON 100, an excellent solution for single crystal X-ray diffraction (SC-XRD) experiments. In particular, the capability to continually read out pixels provides a new approach for data collection. While CCDs require closing the shutter for each read-out step, introducing system overhead, CMOS based detectors can be operated in shutterless mode, which not only eliminates over-head time but it also reduces mechanical jitter. We will present details on the implementation of shutterless readout in the current state-of-the-art SC-XRD instrumentation, the D8 QUEST and D8 VENTURE systems. Furthermore, the impact of shutterless read-out on data quality and data collection speed will be discussed using examples from chemical crystallography and structural biology.

A multidimensional measurement of the health impact of community-based water treatment systems in Uganda

2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Jeffery L. Deal ◽  
Henry Massa ◽  
Kristen Check ◽  
Christiana Naaktgeboren ◽  
Alyson M. Malone ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Treatment ◽  
Research Methods ◽  
Water Consumption ◽  
Healthcare Facility ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
The Other ◽  
Health Impacts ◽  
Unique Combination ◽  
Community Based ◽  
The Impact

Using a unique combination of ethnographic methods, healthcare facility chart reviews, and individual waterborne parasite tests, the health impacts of providing water treatment systems for communities in Uganda are compared to the impact measured using identical water technology and similar research methods in Honduras. While self-reported diarrhea rates improved in the Ugandan test communities when compared to controls, no significant impact was detected in any of the other measures. This contrasts sharply with findings in Honduras where all measures demonstrated statistically significant improvement after installation of identical water treatment systems. Ongoing ethnographic work reveals that knowledge of waterborne pathogens was universal in both Uganda and Honduras while practices related to water consumption varied greatly. Additional factors effecting these outcomes will be discussed.

scholarly journals Water consumption from hydropower plants – review of published estimates and an assessment of the concept

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 8071-8115 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. H. Bakken ◽  
Å. Killingtveit ◽  
K. Engeland ◽  
K. Alfredsen ◽  
A. Harby
Keyword(s):  
Water Consumption ◽  
Calculation Method ◽  
Water Footprint ◽  
Power Production ◽  
High Water ◽  
Water Losses ◽  
Simplified Approach ◽  
Natural Lakes ◽  
Hydropower Plants ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. Since the report from IPCC on renewable energy (IPCC, 2012) was published; more studies on water consumption from hydropower have become available. The newly published studies do not, however, contribute to a more consistent picture on what the "true" water consumption from hydropower plants is. The dominant calculation method is the gross evaporation from the reservoirs divided by the annual power production, which appears to be an over-simplistic calculation method that possibly produces a biased picture of the water consumption of hydropower plants. This review paper shows that the water footprint of hydropower is used synonymously to water consumption, based on gross evaporation rates. This paper also documents and discusses several methodological problems when applying this simplified approach (gross evaporation divided by annual power production) for the estimation of water consumption from hydropower projects. A number of short-comings are identified, including the lack of clarity regarding the setting of proper system boundaries in space and time. The methodology of attributing the water losses to the various uses in multi-purpose reservoirs is not developed. Furthermore, a correct and fair methodology for handling water consumption in reservoirs based on natural lakes is needed, as it appears meaningless that all the evaporation losses from a close to natural lake should be attributed to the hydropower production. It also appears problematic that the concept is not related to the impact the water consumption will have on the local water resources, as high water consumption values might not be problematic per se. Finally, it appears to be a paradox that a reservoir might be accorded a very high water consumption/footprint and still be the most feasible measure to improve the availability of water in a region. We argue that reservoirs are not always the problem; rather they may contribute to the solution of the problems of water scarcity. The authors consider that an improved conceptual framework is needed in order to calculate the water footprint from hydropower projects in a more reasonable way.

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