scholarly journals The Role of Water Supply Development in the Earth System

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 3349
Author(s):  
Slobodan P. Simonovic ◽  
Patrick A. Breach

The ANEMI model is an integrated assessment model of global change that emphasizes the role of water resources. Securing water resources for the future is a key issue of global change and ties into global systems of population growth, climate change carbon cycle, hydrologic cycle, economy, energy production, land use and pollution generation. The focus of the presented work is on the development of global water supplies necessary to keep pace with a growing population and global economy. With the structure of the ANEMI model, a series of experiments are conducted in order to assess: (i) the current role of water supply in the global Earth system; (ii) the level of water stress that can be expected in the future; and (iii) what are the potential effects of water quality on global surface water supply and the distribution of water supply types. The results of model simulations show that surface water resources were sufficient to meet the water demand and water quality is not shown to be a significant factor for the development of surface water supplies. Due to globally aggregated scale, these impacts are averaged and likely understated.

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. e0251489
Author(s):  
Patrick A. Breach ◽  
Slobodan P. Simonovic

The ANEMI model is an integrated assessment model of global change that emphasizes the role of water resources. The model is based on the principles of system dynamics simulation to analyze changes in the Earth system using feedback processes. Securing water resources for the future is a key issue of global change, and ties into global systems of population growth, climate change, carbon cycle, hydrologic cycle, economy, energy production, land use and pollution generation. Here the third iteration of the model–ANEMI3 is described, along with the methods used for parameter estimation and model testing. The main differences between ANEMI3 and previous versions include: (i) implementation of the energy-economy system based on the principles of system dynamics simulation; (ii) incorporation of water supply as an additional sector in the global economy that parallels the production of energy; (iii) inclusion of climate change effects on land yield and potentially arable land for food production, and (iv) addition of nitrogen and phosphorus based nutrient cycles as indicators of global water quality, which affect the development of surface water supplies. The model is intended for analyzing long-term global feedbacks which drive global change. Because of this, there are limitations related to the spatial scale that is used. However, the model’s simplicity can be considered a strength, as it allows for the driving feedbacks to be more easily identified. The model in its current form allows for a variety of scenarios to be created to address global issues such as climate change from an integrated perspective, or to examine the change in one model sector on Earth system behaviour. The endogenous structure of the model allows for global change to be driven entirely by model structure rather than exogenous inputs. The new additions to the ANEMI3 model are found to capture long term trends associated with global change, while allowing for the development of water supplies to be represented using an integrated approach considering global economy and surface water quality.


Hydrology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 93 ◽  
Author(s):  
Winfred Kilonzo ◽  
Patrick Home ◽  
Joseph Sang ◽  
Beatrice Kakoi

Urbanization has caused limitations on water resources, while climate change has reduced amounts of surface water in some parts of the world. Kikuyu, a suburban area in Kiambu county, Kenya, is facing this challenge. The major challenge in the study is scarcity of potable water, resulting in inadequate water supply to Kikuyu residents. Currently, only 63.6% of the population is being supplied with water by Kikuyu Water Company, the company mandated to supply water to the area. Water demand was 2972 m3/day in 2015 and was projected to be 3834 m3/day by 2025. This has put pressure on the already exploited clean water resources, making it necessary to seek additional sources of domestic water. Storage capacity and water quality of surface water bodies, especially small reservoirs whose water can be used to ease the demand, need to be assessed for supplemental water supply. This study aimed at assessing the suitability of the abandoned quarry reservoir as a source of potable urban water by determining its storage capacity characteristics and water quality status. Volume characteristics were determined using bathymetry survey in January 2019. Water samples were collected in January and August 2019 and analyzed for chemical, physical, and bacteriological quality, as per the American Public Health Association (APHA) standard methods for water and wastewater. Parameters were evaluated based on World Health Organization (WHO) and Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) guidelines for drinking water, and rated based on the drinking water quality index (WQI). The reservoir’s maximum storage capacity was found to be 128,385 m3, the surface area was 17,699 m2, and the maximum depth was 15.11 m. Nineteen of the twenty-five investigated parameters were within the acceptable standards. However, the concentrations of manganese (Mn), cadmium (Cd), iron (Fe), turbidity, total coliforms, and Escherichia coli (E. coli) were above the acceptable limits. Manganese and iron levels increased with depth. The overall WQI of the reservoir was 82.51 and 85.85 in January and August, respectively. Therefore, based on WQI rating, the water scored a good quality rating and could be used for domestic supply upon treatment. The original achievement of this study is establishment of the volume of the water in the quarry as an additional source of water to the nearby community, along with water quality status.


2013 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 340-353 ◽  

Groundwater plays an important role for urban and agricultural water supply in northern part of Peloponnesus. Despite increasing environmental awareness in this area, groundwater is a resource that is being stressed. Groundwater provides about 80% the total quantity of water supply. Distribution of water resources is nonhomogeneous in this region. In general the eastern part is semiarid, whereas the western part is supplied with abundant water. Surface water potential in North Peloponnesus estimated to be 0.9- 1.2x109 m3 y-1. Overexploitation of groundwater and the extensive agriculture has created environmental problems in some aquifers (sea water intrusion, nitrate pollution). Seawater intrusion occurs in some coastal aquifers, where negative water balance has been established. High percentage of the examined samples exceeded the maximum admissible nitrate concentration of 50 mg l-1, set by EU for drinking water. Groundwater in urban areas has been contaminated to varying degrees. The water quality is classified into Ca-HCO3 type (fresh water) and Na-HCO3 or Na-Cl type (brackish waters) in the coastal part, due to seawater intrusion. Some recommendations are made in order to safeguard high water quality and to develop new ways of providing water source in the study area. Moreover, an integrated and comprehensive management scheme should be applied, aiming at sustainability of water resources and based on surface water and groundwater exploitation, simultaneously.


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