Productivity Enhancement of Solar Water Desalination Unit Using a Solar Electric Water Heater

The biggest problem faced by the world these days is pure drinkable water, and in a few years pure drinkable water will not be easily available, as it is becoming brackish and saline due to pollution. By using solar energy, a solar still can produce pure water which can be used for drinking, cooking, and also for industrial purposes. In this research, a solar still based on clean technology using solar energy to drive the system is used. It can be operated easily and with an approximately negligible maintenance cost. A pyramid solar water desalination unit with modification of the solar electric water heater (used to increase water temperature) is developed to increase the water yield per day. A theoretical model of the solar still unit with and without an electric water heater is developed and performance is compared. Based on this theoretical design, fabrication is carried out and experiments are performed to predict the overall output. It is observed that the output distilled water has a TDS (total dissolved salts) value much lower than the TDS of groundwater. Additionally, the average output of a solar water desalination unit with an electric water heater is found to be enhanced compared with the unit without an electric water heater.

Modeling and Simulation of Either Co-Current or Countercurrent Operated Reverse-Osmosis-Based Air Water Generator

Technologies for obtaining drinkable water are becoming more important as global water consumption steadily increases and climate change progresses. One possibility for obtaining water is the extraction of water vapor from ambient air by means of air water generators (AWG). Previous studies in the field of AWG have mainly dealt with the condensation of humidity on cold surfaces with a cooling system or with absorption and thermal desorption. In this paper, another possibility for AWG is investigated, specifically AWG using absorption and reverse osmosis. For this purpose, models have been set up for an absorber operated in countercurrent and reverse osmosis membrane modules operated in co-current and countercurrent. With these models, simulations with different boundary conditions were then carried out using the programming language Python. The simulations have shown that the reverse osmosis membrane modules operated in countercurrent generally have a lower energy demand and require fewer reverse osmosis stages than those operated in co-current.

A RESEARCH PAPER ON SOLAR THERMAL CHIMNEY DESIGN

This work aims to focus on the real ground problem power and water the CAD design focused on the power in remote area and clean and drinkable water in coastline area of the world. This is conceptually investigating the solar chimney and designs the energy ow in evaluating the system's feasibility. The piece starts with creating a model of the solar chimney and its comparison to experimental observations, demonstrating that the results. The model represents a steady temperature and velocity inside the chimney, allowing for the development of a basic model of the chimney that provides accurate results. Finally, a modication of solar chimney and other systems put in a structure is simulated the uid collection and power generation.

A study on various pollutants in water and their effect on blood of the consumers

Water pollution is one of the most dangerous problems which is commonly ignored in our country. Pakistan ranks very low in the world, regarding drinkable water. Both surface and underground water are contaminated with toxic metals and pesticides and arsenic (μg/L) were found to be 50. The quality parameters set by the WHO are persistently violated. The water quality is seriously affected by improper disposal of industrial, domestic waste and agrochemicals. These pollutants are responsible alone, or along with other factors for a variety of health problems. This article discusses drinking water being supplied in Sahiwal (Pakistan) to students living in the hostel along with an emphasis on the major pollutants, their effects and consequent health problems. The data presented in this article have been collected in Sahiwal. The water samples were collected from the main supply and the blood samples were of the consumers of that water.

SARS-COV-2 invasion in lakes: A rare transferability of the dreaded virus by nature or manmade

SARS-CoV-2 is a highly transmissible and pathogenic viral infection. Its global spread has a profound effect on the lives of millions of people resulting to worldwide economic disruptions and increased death tolls. This has created fears and concerns within the health sector globally. Thus, understanding the mode of transmissions, aetiology, pathogenesis, environmental conditions and epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 will help in curbing and militating against further spread of the virus. It has also become imperative to look out for petty openings through which this virus may invade man's territories by nature or man-made via negligence. There is need for regular water treatment to prevent further spread that may undoubtedly predispose humans to COVID-19 in the long run as lakes often serve as the only source of drinkable water in rural communities particularly in developing countries. It is against this backdrop that we intended to investigate possible means of SARS-CoV-2 invasion in water bodies in support of the global fight against COVID-19 with a particular focus on lakes. Therefore, this article emphasizes on possible transmissions of SARS-CoV-2 from lakes and provided remedies in support of the views of some researchers that appeared to be inconclusive.

Use of Plant Protection Products in Lombardy, Italy and the Health Risk for the Ingestion of Contaminated Water

Pesticides used to protect agricultural crops may contaminate groundwater. This work aimed to identify the pesticides used in Lombardy, Italy, in 2016, their concentration in the groundwater and the risk for health associated with the intake of drinkable water in the adult population. The risk was evaluated for the presence of single and multiple active substances in the groundwater, calculating the hazard quotient (HQ) and the hazard index (HI), respectively. Lombardy utilises an agricultural area of 980,112 h, which is mainly cultivated with cereals (74%). Approximately 2354 pesticides (about 1.3 × 107 kg), containing 410 active substances (about 4.5 × 106 kg) were sold. There were groundwater contamination measurements in 158 monitoring points, which were investigated twice a year for 31 active substances, and a total of 9152 determinations. Only 17 currently used active substance were measured in the groundwater, among which three belonged to the 10 best-sold pesticides. The exceedance of the environmental quality standard was observed for about 1.5% determinations. The intake of contaminated water in the adult population resulted in a HQ typically ranging between 10−3 and 10−4 and a HI of about 10−3. Although the number of pesticides sold in 2016 in Lombardy was big, only a small fraction of active substances was monitored in the groundwater. Considering these monitored substances, the intake of contaminated groundwater in the adult general population posed an irrelevant risk for health.

Biological Early Warning Systems: The Experience in the Gran Sasso-Sirente Aquifer

Biological early warning systems (BEWS) are installed worldwide for the continuous control of water intended for multiple uses. Sentinel aquatic organisms can alert us to contaminant presence through their physiological or behavioural alterations. The present study is aimed at sharing the experience acquired with water biomonitoring of the Gran Sasso-Sirente (GS-S) aquifer. It represents the major source of the Abruzzi region surface water, also intended as drinkable and for irrigation use. Besides the biomonitoring of drinkable water of the Teramo Province made by Daphnia Toximeter and irrigation water of the L’Aquila Province by Algae Toximeter, a novel sensor named “SmartShell” has been developed to register the behaviour of the “pea clam” P. casertanum, an autochthonous small bivalve living in the Nature 2000 site “Tirino River spring”. The valve movements have been recorded directly on the field. Its behavioural rhythms have been analysed through spectral analyses, providing the basis for further investigations on their alterations as early warnings and allowing us to propose this autochthonous bivalve species as a novel sentinel organism for spring water.

Análisis hidrobiológico y sanitario de la quebrada Santa Mónica, Concordia Antioquia-Colombia

La Quebrada Santa Mónica es la fuente con el mayor aporte de agua al embalse la Nitrera, que abastece el consumo al municipio de Concordia, Antioquia; con el objetivo de conocer calidad de agua de la Quebrada y determinar si cumple con los criterios de calidad, se realizó la caracterización fisicoquímica y biológica empleando los macroinvertebrados acuáticos como bioindicadores. En tres estaciones de la quebrada, se tomaron muestras fisicoquímicas e hidrobiológicas durante tres campañas en el año 2017. Los resultados fisicoquímicos presentaron una variación espaciotemporal leve, se pudo determinar que el mes de noviembre se presentó el valor más alto de abundancia y riqueza de macroinvertebrados, siendo Phylloicus el taxa predominante. El índice BWWP/Col estuvo entre 52 y 119. La Quebrada Santa Mónica presenta una buena calidad de agua y la mayoría de los parámetros fisicoquímicos cumplen con la normatividad para ser fuente de abastecimiento de agua potable. The Santa Monica creek is the main source of the Nitrera reservoir, which supplies the drinking water to the municipality of Concordia. To determine the quality of the water in the Creek, and if it accomplish the standards, a physical-chemical and biological characterization was carried out using aquatic macroinvertebrates as bioindicators. Physical-chemical and hydro-biological samples were taken at three stations in the creek during three campaigns in 2017. The physicochemical results presented a slight spatial-temporal variation, and we determined that November presented the highest abundance and richness values of macroinvertebrates, being Phylloicus the predominant taxa. The BWWP/Col index values were between 52 and 119. Santa Mónica Creek has a good water quality, and most of the physical-chemical parameters accomplish the regulations to be a source for drinkable water supply.

The Challenge of Population

According to the most informed estimates, if humans continue to reproduce as predicted, there will be a population of 9.7 billion by 2050 and 10.9 billion by 2100. No one knows exactly what sort of life these future generations will live, but the consensus is that it will be bad: There will be shortages of everything, especially food and drinkable water. There will be violent conflict over resources. And it will be devastating for the natural world in a way that will redound upon the humans who are causing the destruction. Given this, what should be done? The obligation to future generations is to produce fewer members of those generations. And this is an obligation that overrides other considerations. People do not have a right to freedom of choice when the wrong choice will be so harmful to those yet to come. That said, there are ways to influence people’s choices that allow people to choose freely the appropriate course of action. Contraception can be made free and readily available. People who have fewer children could be awarded with tax benefits. The fact that the fertility rate has already been falling consistently shows that people respond to non-coercive pressure to reduce family size. However, if, in the long run, voluntary action is not enough, certain sorts of coercion are permissible and can be introduced in ways that are consistent with equity between peoples.