A Methodology for Industrial Water Footprint Assessment Using Energy-Water-Carbon Nexus

Recent national government policy in Ireland proposes a radical transformation of the energy sector and a large reduction in CO2 emissions by 2050. Water and energy form the water–energy nexus, with water being an essential component in energy production. However, the connection between the production of energy and water is rarely made. In particular, the end-user processes are generally excluded because they occur outside the water industry. The present study includes two simple approaches for industrial sites to calculate their carbon footprint in the water sector. The assessment of the milk powder manufacturing using both approaches indicates that the combined emission factor of the water supply and treatment is approximately 1.28 kg CO2 m−3 of water. The dairy production among steel, textile, and paper industries appears to be the most carbon-emitting industry. However, the results show that the carbon intensity of the water supply and treatment can be minimized by the integration of renewable energy sources for the onsite heat/steam and electricity generation. The uniqueness of our approaches compared to calculations illustrated by the ecoinvent and other governmental databases is its simplicity and a focus on the main energy consuming manufacturing steps in the entire industrial process. We believe that the management of water and energy resources will be more efficient when “active water citizens” raise environmental awareness through promoting measures regarding data monitoring and collection, observed leaks and damages, dissimilation and exchange of information on sustainable water stewardship to public and various industrial stakeholders.

Catastrophes, fractals and chaos in geoengineering and water treatment systems

The present paper provides the assessing scale of the actual state of the geoengineering complexes and the model for predicting the behavior of supporting structures. To predict accidents in geoengineering and water treatment facilities it is proposed to apply the results of the theory of catastrophe theory, fuzzy sets, chaos theory and the theory of possibilities for the selection of optimal models of system behavior for a particular situation. It is shown that determination the limit boundaries in which the operation of the system can exist is impossible without the consideration of geoengineering treatment facilities and their components as fractal structures, functioning under conditions of “chaos”. To minimize risks of damages of sewage geoengineering systems the monitoring with measurement of the toxic gases concentration and comparing it with the obtained one should be provided. The use of models of internal and external corrosion which includes the elements of the theory of fuzzy sets helps to evaluate completely the state of water supply and treatment facilities network.

Associated Effects and Efficiency Evaluation between Wastewater Pollution and Water Disease Based on the Dynamic Two-Stage DEA Model

The lack of basic water supply and treatment facilities during China’s urbanization and industrialization process has resulted in a large amount of wastewater pollution, with the most serious water diseases being water-borne endemic fluorosis and arsenic poisoning, which have affected more than 20 million people. This research therefore uses the improved modified undesirable dynamic network model to analyze data of 31 provincial administrative regions to focus on the associated effects and efficiency evaluation between wastewater pollution and water disease in China. The results show that the efficiency of water pollution disease in all four regions of the country and the total efficiency in the east, west, and central regions all show a decreasing trend, while the efficiency scores and rankings of all provinces and cities within the region fluctuate greatly. The eastern region with the most developed economy has the best overall performance, with higher efficiency in water consumption and water disease control. However, the efficiency of wastewater treatment in northeast China is stable and better. Given the high level of the nation’s economic development and the results of efficiency in water pollution and water diseases, improving the efficiency and quality of wastewater treatment in China is regarded as an important factor for achieving the strategic goal of green growth.

Determination of optimum operational conditions for the removal of 2-MIB from drinking water by peroxone process: a pilot-scale study

Taste and odor in drinking water are one of the main problems of the water supply and treatment sector. Peroxone is an effective advanced oxidation process, which combines ozone with hydrogen peroxide to create hydroxyl radicals that decompose organic compounds. 2-Methylisoborneol (2-MIB) is one of the significant taste and odor causing compounds, which can be removed with the peroxone process. In this study, removal of a 2-MIB compound by peroxone process was investigated in a pilot-scale treatment plant and optimum operational conditions were determined. For safety reasons, it is important that residual O3 and H2O2 concentrations in the water leaving the reactor should not exceed 0.1 and 0.5 mg/L, respectively. Results indicate that while dissolved ozone concentration was below the indicated limit for all experiments, concentrations over 0.5 mg/L residual H2O2 were observed during the experiments with an H2O2:O3 ratio of 0.5. This limit exceedance affected the decision on the ideal peroxone ratio along with the 2-MIB removal results. Therefore; optimum H2O2:O3 ratio was determined as 0.3. 2-MIB removal efficiency of 81% was achieved at the optimum H2O2:O3 ratio with a contact time of 15 min. According to the results, 2-MIB removal rate had a linear correlation with the contact time.

Análise espacial da morbimortalidade humana associada ao saneamento, destinação do lixo,abastecimento e tratamento de água

A negligência relacionada ao saneamento inadequado e à destinação incorreta de lixo tornam-se fatores que contribuem para a contaminação hídrica, assim como, a problemática da poluição ambiental é notória. O objetivo do estudo consistiu em analisar e estabelecer o grau de risco dos municípios do Rio Grande do Sul em relação à morbimortalidade humana associada ao saneamento, destinação do lixo e abastecimento e tratamento de água.A análise das áreas mais suscetíveis é relevante, uma vez que possibilita o planejamento e execução das ações emergentes, bem como, estratégias de promoção da saúde. Trata-se de um estudo quantitativo e ecológico, cuja unidade de análise caracteriza-se pelo conjunto de internações hospitalares e de óbitos, ocasionados pelas doenças de transmissão hídrica e alimentar (DTHA), em relação às condições de abastecimento e tratamento de água, condições sanitárias e de destinação de lixo.Para a análise, utilizou-se a correlação de Pearson, o Índice de Moran Global e a Interpolação Linear Simples. Como resultados mapas de distribuição espacial das variáveis e mapa final de suscetibilidade às DTHA foram organizados. Aponta-se associação significativa entre a destinação de fezes/urina em esgoto e, o consumo de água sem tratamento com os coeficientes de internação e de óbito pelas DTHA. Os resultados apresentam a escala do cálculo de risco, para as DTHA, em mapa temático. Existe associação entre a morbimortalidade com variáveis de saneamento, assim como a existência de municípios com grau máximo de suscetibilidade para as DTHA. Spatial analysis of human morbidity and mortality associated with sanitation, waste disposal, water supply and treatmentABSTRACTNeglect related to inadequate sanitation and improper disposal of waste become factors that contribute to water contamination, as well as the problem of environmental pollution is notorious. The objective of the study was to analyze and establish the degree of risk of the municipalities of Rio Grande do Sul in relation to human morbidity and mortality associated with sanitation, waste disposal and water supply and treatment. The analysis of the most susceptible areas is relevant, since it allows the planning and execution of the emergent actions, as well as health promotion strategies. This is a quantitative and socioenvironmental study, whose unit of analysis is characterized by the set of hospital admissions and deaths, caused by water and food transmission diseases (DTHA), in relation to water supply and treatment conditions, conditions sanitation and waste disposal. For the analysis, the Pearson correlation, the Moran Global Index and the Simple Linear Interpolation were used. As results spatial distribution maps of the variables and final map of susceptibility to DTHA were organized. A significant association between the use of feces / urine in sewage and the consumption of untreated water with the hospitalization and death coefficients by DTHA is indicated. The results show the scale of the risk calculation, for the DTHA, in the thematic map. There is an association between morbidity and mortality with sanitation variables, as well as the existence of municipalities with a maximum degree of susceptibility to DTHA.Keywords: water contamination, environmental pollution, water and food transmission diseases, environment and development, sustainability.

A CHOLERA METAPOPULATION MODEL INTERLINKING MIGRATION WITH INTERVENTION STRATEGIES — A CASE STUDY OF ZIMBABWE (2008–2009)

Cholera is a water-borne disease and a major threat to human society affecting about 3–5 million people annually. A considerable number of research works have already been done to understand the disease transmission route and preventive measures in spatial or non-spatial scale. However, how the control strategies are to be linked up with the human migration in different locations in a country are not well studied. The present investigation is carried out in this direction by proposing and analyzing cholera meta-population models. The basic dynamical properties including the domain basic reproduction number are studied. Several important model parameters are estimated using cholera incidence data (2008–2009) and inter-provincial migration data from Census 2012 for the five provinces in Zimbabwe. By defining some migration index, and interlinking these indices with different cholera control strategies, namely, promotion of hand-hygiene and clean water supply and treatment, we carried out an optimal cost effectiveness analysis using optimal control theory. Our analysis suggests that there is no need to provide control measures for all the five provinces, and the control measures should be provided only to those provinces where in-migration flow is moderate. We also observe that such selective control measures which are also cost effective may reduce the overall cases and deaths.

Epidemiological investigation into the source of water contamination at a tertiary care cancer hospital

Background: Water quality impacts the performance of the hospitals and leads to drastic health service deterioration affecting infection control programs, along with safety of the patients and staff. Good quality water is an essential prerequisite to ensure optimal patient care, and the well-being of the staff and visitors in a hospital environment. Objectives was to study the current water supply and treatment system in the cancer hospital. Also, to carryout root cause analysis of the causes of episodes of diarrhoea amongst patients and staff and to identify the source of infection and suggest improvement in the existing system to prevent recurrence.Methods: There were 25 reported cases of diarrhoea and other gastrointestinal symptoms between May 12 and June 2 2017, allegedly due to water contamination occurring in admitted patients and staff of a tertiary care cancer hospital in north India. This was reported to Hospital Administration, which prompted an epidemiological investigation.Results: Formation of Biofilms on the plastic taps was found to be the main reason for contamination of water.Conclusions: It was very clear that deposition of biofilm within the plastic taps was the main reason of diarrhea among the patients.