Water

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https://hdl.handle.net/10388/14358

As the population continues to grow and as water becomes more and more an issue of political and social importance, well-managed safe drinking water and water quality are pervasive needs across Earth and environment. We are developing new interdisciplinary science, technology and policy to address these urgent issues.

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Climate Driven Trends in Historical Extreme LowStreamflows on Four Continents
(Wiley, American Geophysical Union, 2024-06-17) Hodgkins, Glenn; Renard, Benjamin; Whitfield, Paul; Laaha, Gregor; Stahl, Kerstin; Hannaford, Jamie; Burn, Donald; Westra, Seth; Fleig, Anne; Lopes, Walszon Terllizzie Araújo; Murphy, Conor; Mediero, Luis; Hanel, Martin
Understanding temporal trends in low streamflows is important for water management and ecosystems. This work focuses on trends in the occurrence rate of extreme low-flow events (5- to 100-year return periods) for pooled groups of stations. We use data from 1,184 minimally altered catchments in Europe, North and South America, and Australia to discern historical climate-driven trends in extreme low flows (1976–2015 and 1946–2015). The understanding of low streamflows is complicated by different hydrological regimes in cold, transitional, and warm regions. We use a novel classification to define low-flow regimes using air temperature and monthly low-flow frequency. Trends in the annual occurrence rate of extreme low-flow events (proportion of pooled stations each year) were assessed for each regime. Most regimes on multiple continents did not have significant (p < 0.05) trends in the occurrence rate of extreme low streamflows from 1976 to 2015; however, occurrence rates for the cold-season low-flow regime in North America were found to be significantly decreasing for low return-period events. In contrast, there were statistically significant increases for this period in warm regions of NA which were associated with the variation in the Pacific Decadal Oscillation. Significant decreases in extreme low-flow occurrence rates were dominant from 1946 to 2015 in Europe and NA for both cold- and warm-season low-flow regimes; there were also some non-significant trends. The difference in the results between the shorter (40-year) and longer (70-year) records and between low-flow regimes highlights the complexities of low-flow response to changing climatic conditions.
The 2021 heatwave results in simultaneous but different hydrological responses over Canada west of 100◦W
(Journal of Hydrology, 2024-02) Whitfield, Paul H; Abdelmoaty, Hebatallah; Nerantzaki, Sofia; Papalexiou, Simon Michael
The 2021 Western North America heatwave resulted in record high air temperatures over a large area of Canada west of 100°. The heatwave persisted from mid-June into July, depending upon the threshold used to define the heatwave. The heatwave was a weather event that was short lived but had a widespread transient impact on hydrology in this single year. These impacts were more evident in nival systems because of the prominent role of snowmelt. In normal years, the timing of hydrological processes, particularly snowmelt, is a function of latitude and elevation; in 2021 the heatwave resulted in simultaneous high rates of snowmelt across rivers where a snowpack existed at the time of the event, and strong diurnal melt signal was a diagnostic. In 2021, rivers throughout Canada west of 100°W responded strongly to the heatwave, but the response depended on three factors: location relative to the heat dome, the hydrologic regime, and the amount of snow present at the time. The melt signal was strongest in those basins that had not reached their annual peak often having discharges in the highest 5 % of historical observations for that day of the year. Discharges rapidly declined in basins already in recession indicating the rapid depletion of the snowpack. In basins with little or no remaining snow, streamflow often declined during the same period often to levels in the lowest 5 % of historical observations for that day of the year.
Evaluating Trace Fossils, Fluvial Architecture, and Colonization Patterns in Channel and Overbank Deposits from the Miocene Vinchina Formation, Vinchina Basin, Western Argentina
(Society for Sedimentary Geology (SEPM), 2024-10-24) Valencia, Gustavo L.; Buatois, Luis; Mangano, Maria Gabriela; Farina, Martin; Krapovickas, Verónica
Trace-fossil distribution within the framework of three-dimensional fluvial architecture has been commonly overlooked. The Miocene Vinchina Formation in western Argentina preserves extensive outcrops of fluvial deposits, including architectural elements of both anastomosing and braided systems identified along the Quebrada de La Troya. Multistorey sandy channels, amalgamated sandy channels, heterolithic multistorey channels, channels with gravel bars, abandoned channels, muddy floodplains, crevasse splays, and crevasse channels have been identified. Of these, only the deposits of three elements were bioturbated, namely crevasse splays, anastomosing abandoned channels, and braided abandoned channels. Vertical simple burrows (Skolithos isp.), large-sized J burrows (Capayanichnus vinchinensis), and simple horizontal burrows (Palaeophycus tubularis) are the most common trace fossils in the Vinchina Formation. Other elements include the horizontal meniscate trace Taenidium barretti and the vertebrate footprints Tacheria troyana, Macrauchenichnus troyana, and Ardeipeda isp. The trace-fossil assemblages identified in the Vinchina Formation collectively illustrate the Scoyenia Ichnofacies. In addition, five ichnofabrics are characterized. The position of the water table, substrate consistency, flow energy, and time between depositional events under arid to semi-arid climate conditions were the main parameters controlling bioturbation. Based on detailed observation of the cross-cutting relationship among ichnotaxa, the ichnofabric distribution and the preservation features of the trace fossils studied, a colonization sequence for each of the subenvironments of the Vinchina Formation is proposed in this study. In addition to integration with conventional facies analysis, articulating ichnologic data and fluvial architecture provides further insights into the application of trace fossils to unravel the sedimentary dynamics of alluvial systems.
Connecting hydrological modelling and forecasting from global to local scales: Perspectives from an international joint virtual workshop
(Journal of Flood Risk Management, 2023) Dasgupta, Antara; Arnal, Louise; Emerton, Rebecca; Harrigan, Shaun; Matthews, Gwyneth; Muhammad, Ameer; O'Regan, Karen; Pérez-Ciria, Teresa; Valdez, Emixi; van Osnabrugge, Bart; Werner, Micha; Buontempo, Carlo; Cloke, Hannah; Pappenberger, Florian; Pechlivanidis, Ilias G; Prudhomme, Christel; Maria-Helena, Ramos; Salamon, Peter
The unprecedented progress in ensemble hydro-meteorological modelling and forecasting on a range of temporal and spatial scales, raises a variety of new challenges which formed the theme of the Joint Virtual Workshop, ‘Connecting global to local hydrological modelling and forecasting: challenges and scientific advances’. Held from 29 June to 1 July 2021, this workshop was co-organised by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), the Copernicus Emergency Management (CEMS) and Climate Change (C3S) Services, the Hydrological Ensemble Prediction EXperiment (HEPEX), and the Global Flood Partnership (GFP). This article aims to summarise the state-of-the-art presented at the workshop and provide an early career perspective. Recent advances in hydrological modelling and forecasting, reflections on the use of forecasts for decision-making across scales, and means to minimise new barriers to communication in the virtual format are also discussed. Thematic foci of the workshop included hydrological model development and skill assessment, uncertainty communication, forecasts for early action, co-production of services and incorporation of local knowledge, Earth observation, and data assimilation. Connecting hydrological services to societal needs and local decision-making through effective communication, capacity-building and co-production was identified as critical. Multidisciplinary collaborations emerged as crucial to effectively bring newly developed tools to practice.
FROSTBYTE: a reproducible data-driven workflow for probabilistic seasonal streamflow forecasting in snow-fed river basins across North America
(Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 2024-09) Arnal, Louise; Clark, Martyn P.; Pietroniro, Alain; Vionnet, Vincent; Casson, David R; Whitfield, Paul; Fortin, Vincent; Wood, Andrew; Knoben, Wouter; Newton, Brandi W; Walford, Colleen
Seasonal streamflow forecasts provide key information for decision-making in fields such as water supply management, hydropower generation, and irrigation scheduling. The predictability of streamflow on seasonal timescales relies heavily on initial hydrological conditions, such as the presence of snow and the availability of soil moisture. In high-latitude and high-altitude headwater basins in North America, snowmelt serves as the primary source of runoff generation. This study presents and evaluates a data-driven workflow for probabilistic seasonal streamflow forecasting in snow-fed river basins across North America (Canada and the USA). The workflow employs snow water equivalent (SWE) measurements as predictors and streamflow observations as predictands. Gap-filling of SWE datasets is accomplished using quantile mapping from neighboring SWE and precipitation stations, and principal component analysis is used to identify independent predictor components. These components are then utilized in a regression model to generate ensemble hindcasts of streamflow volumes for 75 nival basins with limited regulation from 1979 to 2021, encompassing diverse geographies and climates. Using a hindcast evaluation approach that is user-oriented provides key insights for snow-monitoring experts, forecasters, decision-makers, and workflow developers. The analysis presented here unveils a wide spectrum of predictability and offers a glimpse into potential future changes in predictability. Late-season snowpack emerges as a key factor in predicting spring and summer volumes, while high precipitation during the target period presents challenges to forecast skill and streamflow predictability. Notably, we can predict lower-than-normal and higher-than-normal streamflows during spring to early summer with lead times of up to 5 months in some basins. Our workflow is available on GitHub as a collection of Jupyter Notebooks, facilitating broader applications in cold regions and contributing to the ongoing advancement of methodologies.
Observations and management implications of crop and water interactions in cold water-limited regions
(Journal of Hydrology, 2024-11) Harder, Phillip; Helgason, Warren D; Johnson, Bruce; Pomeroy, John W.
Crop and water interactions strongly influence crop production in water-limited dryland agricultural systems in cold regions, such as the Canadian Prairies. A water balance approach was used to quantify crop water use, identify the source of water and corresponding hydrological processes, and evaluate the effectiveness of management techniques to increase agricultural productivity. Detailed water balance observations for 19 site-years were collected at four sites. Crop water use was consistently greater than or equal to growing season precipitation and displayed substantial interannual variation. On average, growing season precipitation provided 66% of crop water use whilst antecedent soil moisture from water surpluses in shoulder and winter seasons and preceding wet years supplied the remainder. Up to 70% of crop water use was derived from non-growing season water sources when high precipitation winters preceded dry growing seasons. Observations of soil moisture, snow accumulation, precipitation, and evaporative fluxes showed substantial spatial and temporal variability in antecedent soil moisture contributions to crop growth, which has implications for agricultural management. The relative importance of antecedent soil water to crop growth decreased with increased growing season precipitation. The water balance observations were used to constrain the water-limited yield potential associated with the optimisation of stubble and crop residue management practices. Increasing retention of snowfall with stubble management and suppression of soil evaporation with increased crop residue cover was estimated to increase potential crop water availability on average by 20% but, depended on seasonal dynamics, ranging between 4 and 48%. These results articulate the complex interactions between cold and warm season hydrological processes that drive dryland agricultural production in Western Canada and constrain the potential for stubble and residue management practices to mitigate crop water extremes.
Developing a universal equation to estimate the mass of dewatered wastewater sludge during biological digestion at mesophilic and thermophilic temperatures
(Water Science & Technology, 2024-11) Poorasgari, Eskandar; Örmeci, Banu
A series of dewaterability tests were conducted on various types of sludges to establish a wholistic relationship between sludge water fractions. Sludge samples were obtained from batch and continuous sludge digesters, which were operated anaerobically and aerobically under mesophilic and thermophilic conditions. Dewaterability of the sludge samples and the distribution of water fractions were studied using centrifugation and thermal drying. Thickened waste activated sludge (T-WAS) contained 10-11 g bound water (BW)/g of total solids (TS), and it was more hydrophilic than primary and digested sludges. During anaerobic digestion, BW content fluctuated between 3.2 and 4.2 g BW/g TS. However, aerobic digestion at 55°C reduced the BW content of the mixed T-WAS + primary sludges from 3.7 to 2.1 g BW/g TS. A linear function was developed to correlate supernatant and BW mass fractions (R2 = 0.995). An equation was derived from the linear function to estimate the mass of dewatered sludge based on the TS concentration of the initial wet sludge. The developed expression is applicable to different kinds of wastewater sludges. Such an expression would be helpful for the designers and operators of sludge thickening and dewatering systems that use centrifugal separation.
A universal empirical equation to estimate the abundance of carbapenem-resistant genes during aerobic digestion of wastewater sludge
(Water Practice & Technology, 2024-11) Poorasgari, Eskandar; Örmeci, Banu
Carbapenem-resistant genes (CRGs) exist in wastewater and accumulate in wastewater sludge. Due to the potential threat posed by the CRGs, it is important to quantify CRGs and predict their removal and discharge concentrations during aerobic sludge digestion. Nonetheless, gene quantification is tedious, error-prone and expensive. This study aims to develop multiple regression models to estimate CRGs from sludge parameters that are routinely measured for the monitoring and design of aerobic sludge digesters. Batch reactors were operated at mesophilic and thermophilic temperatures for 20-35 days. Sludge samples were periodically taken during aerobic digestion. Three CRGs (blaGES, blaOXA-48 and blaIMP-27) together with 16S rRNA and integron class 1 genes were quantified. Aerobic digestion reduced the abundance of all target genes. Multiple regression modelling was conducted in linear (LM) and non-linear (NLM) modes. Sums of squared errors of the LM models were 0-0.048, whereas those of the NLM models were 0–0.003. Adjusted R2 ranges of the LM and NLM models were 0.774–0.931 and 0.986–1, respectively. Overall, the NLM models predicted the abundance of target genes more accurately than the LM models. NLM models may be used to modify the design and operational parameters of aerobic sludge digesters.
Prairie Wetland Drainage Infographic
(Global Water Futures: Prairie Water Project. University of Saskatchewan, 2022) Morrison, Alasdair; Whitfield, Colin; Spence, Christopher
‘Shallow or deep?’ Groundwater Infographic
(Global Water Futures: Prairie Water Project. University of Saskatchewan, 2024) Johnson, Connor; Miranda, Lauren
Biodiversity & Wetlands Infographic
(Global Water Futures: Prairie Water Project. University of Saskatchewan, 2022) Morrison, Alasdair; Clark, Bob
‘Do you know your prairie watershed?’ Infographic
(Global Water Futures: Prairie Water Project, University of Saskatchewan, 2024) Morrison, Alasdair
The Prairie ecozone has over 4000 sub-basins approximately 100 sq.km in area. We identified 7 classes of watershed, based on 35 biophysical characteristics. We use this classification to understand how water behaves on the prairies.
Has lake brownification ceased? Stabilization, re-browning, and other factors associated with dissolved organic matter trends in eastern Canadian lakes
(Water Research, 2024-11) Imtiazy, Md Noim; Paterson, Andrew; Higgins, Scott; Yao, Huaxia; Houle, Daniel; Hudson, Jeff J
The increase in dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations in freshwater systems has received considerable attention due to its implications for drinking water treatment and numerous limnological processes. While past studies have documented the influence of recovery from acidification and climate change on long-term DOC trends, the emerging importance of these explanatory factors remains less understood. In addition, few studies have followed up on recent trends in sites that have undergone increases in DOC. Using a dataset from 1980 to 2020, we investigated interannual variations in DOC and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) in 49 lakes across four eastern Canadian regions with a history of increases in DOC. We identified recent shifts in DOC patterns using LOESS smoothing and piecewise regression. We observed a stabilizing pattern or even a decrease (p < 0.001) in high acidification regions (Dorset and Nova Scotia), where increases in DOC were previously documented. At the low acid deposition region, IISD-Experimental Lakes Area, an increasing pattern in DOC stabilized in the early 2000s; however, DOC appears to be increasing again in recent years (p = 0.03). Our analysis identified precipitation and SO4 deposition as the primary explanatory variables for DOC patterns (explaining 56–71% of variance). However, because acid deposition has declined substantially, climate and local watershed factors are becoming increasingly influential, leading to the emergence of new DOC patterns. Long-term changes in DOC and DON were not always synchronous, as these were often correlated with different factors (e.g., DON with ammonium deposition). This resulted in observable shifts in DOC:DON ratios, indicative of changes in dissolved organic matter (DOM) composition. We underscore the importance of ongoing monitoring in diverse regions because of the changing nature of environmental variables and new emerging trends.
A novel biochar adsorbent for treatment of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) contaminated water: Exploring batch and dynamic adsorption behavior
(Journal of Water Process Engineering, 2024-11) Afrooz, Malihe; Zeynali, Rahman; Soltan, Jafar; McPhedran, Kerry
Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), like perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), are of concern worldwide given they are ubiquitous in the environment. In this study, the treatment of PFOA-contaminated water was assessed using biochar adsorbents produced from raw canola straw (RCS) through chemical activation with H3PO4 and ZnCl2 and microwave-assisted pyrolysis (MWP). MWP conditions were evaluated to create optimal H3PO4-treated (PBC) and ZnCl2-treated (ZnBC) biochar adsorbents with treatments determined using a central composite design (CCD) based on the response surface methodology (RSM) considering activator concentration, and microwave heating time and power. The highest PFOA removal efficiency for PBC (3.0 mol/L) was achieved at 92 % (368 μg/g), while for ZnBC (0.55 mol/L) it was 84 % (336 μg/g). In contrast, untreated biochar and RCS had markedly lower PFOA removals of 5 % and 1 %, respectively. Activation of biochar under optimal pyrolysis conditions (6 min at 600 W) led to increased chemical functional groups, porosity, and surface area, as confirmed by FT-IR, XPS, and BET. The kinetic study indicated that chemisorption was the primary PFOA adsorption mechanism, while the Freundlich isotherm model suggested heterogeneous multilayer adsorption for PFOA removal. Further, background salts enhanced PFOA adsorption through divalent bridges and salting-out mechanisms. PBC and ZnBC adsorbents performed well over a broad pH range of 3 to 9. Lastly, Yan and Yoon-Nelson models were used to assess adsorption breakthrough for a model fixed-bed adsorption system. This study exhibits that PBC and ZnBC adsorbents, derived from accessible biomass, offer an environmentally friendly solution to remove PFOA from contaminated water.
Comparing the Sources of Sediment Retained by Beaver Dams and Beaver Dam Analogs
(Wiley, 2024-10-14) Westbrook, Cherie; Cooper, David J.
Beavers modify riverine systems by building dams that alter downstream fluxes of water and sediment. Where beavers have been lost and stream channels degraded, beaver dam analogs (BDAs) are being used to mimic the effects of beaver engineering. Central to the success of these structures in accelerating stream recovery is creating similar ecosystem responses as beaver dams including sediment retention. Unknown is the relative importance of beaver actions versus erosion in the catchment in generating the retained sediment. This study tested the viability of sediment fingerprinting to determine the source of sediment retained by beaver dams and BDAs in a watershed in Alberta, Canada. Concentrations of 29 elements were measured as potential tracers from known sediment sources: upland, terrace, stream bank, and beaver canal. Virtual mixture tests, used to compare the computed source estimates with known source mixtures, revealed that sediment fingerprinting is a robust method for identifying sources of sediment retained by beaver ponds and BDAs. The un-mixing model results indicate that on average 56% of the sediment retained by the beaver dams originated from terraces, 23% from uplands, and 13% from beaver canals. About 89% of sediment retained by the BDAs originated from eroding stream banks. We conclude that the geomorphic effects of beavers and their dams are more diverse, resulting in more diverse sources of sediment retained by their dams. This differentiates beaver dams from BDAs. The study has implications for informing management practices that involve beavers and beaver mimicry.
Continental-scale nutrient and contaminant delivery by Pacific salmon
(Nature, 2024-10-09) Brandt, Jessica E.; Wesner, Jeff F.; Ruggerone, Gregory; Jardine, Timothy D; Eagles-Smith, Collin A.; Ruso, Gabrielle E.; Stricker, Craig A.; Voss, Kristofor A.; Walters, David M.
The movement of large amounts of nutrients by migrating animals has ecological benefits for recipient food webs that may be offset by co-transported contaminants. Salmon spawning migrations are archetypal of this process, carrying marine-derived materials to inland ecosystems where they stimulate local productivity but also enhance contaminant exposure. Pacific salmon abundance and biomass are higher now than in the last century, reflecting substantial shifts in community structure8 that probably altered nutrient versus contaminant delivery. Here we combined nutrient and contaminant concentrations with 40 years of annual Pacific salmon returns to quantify how changes in community structure influenced marine to freshwater inputs to western North America. Salmon transported tonnes of nutrients and kilograms of contaminants to freshwaters annually. Higher salmon returns (1976–2015) increased salmon-derived nutrient and contaminant inputs by 30% and 20%, respectively. These increases were dominated by pink salmon, which are short-lived, feed lower in marine food webs than other salmon species, and had the highest nutrient-to-contaminant ratios. As a result, the delivery of nutrients increased at a greater rate than the delivery of contaminants, and salmon inputs became more ecologically beneficial over time. Even still, contaminant loadings may represent exposure concerns for some salmon predators. The Pacific salmon example demonstrates how long-term environmental changes interact with nutrient and contaminant movement across large spatial scales and provides a model for exploring similar patterns with other migratory species.
Impacts of climate change on water-related mosquito-borne diseases in temperate regions: A systematic review of literature and meta-analysis
(Elsevier, 2024-07-14) Gizaw, Zemichael; Salubi, Eunice; Pietroniro, Alain; Schuster Wallace, Corinne
Mosquito-borne diseases are a known tropical phenomenon. This review was conducted to assess the mecha-nisms through which climate change impacts mosquito-borne diseases in temperate regions. Articles were searched from PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase databases. Identification criteria were scope (climate change and mosquito-borne diseases), region (temperate), article type (peer-reviewed), publication language (English), and publication years (since 2015). The WWH (who, what, how) framework was applied to develop the research question and thematic analyses identified the mechanisms through which climate change affects mosquito-borne diseases. While temperature ranges for disease transmission vary per mosquito species, all are viable for temperate regions, particularly given projected temperature increases. Zika, chikungunya, and dengue transmission occurs between 18–34 °C (peak at 26–29 °C). West Nile virus establishment occurs at monthly average temperatures between 14–34.3 °C (peak at 23.7–25 °C). Malaria establishment occurs when the consecutive average daily temperatures are above 16 °C until the sum is above 210 °C. The identified mechanisms through which climate change affects the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases in temperate regions include: changes in the development of vectors and pathogens; changes in mosquito habitats; extended transmission seasons; changes in geographic spread; changes in abundance and behaviors of hosts; reduced abundance of mosquito predators; interruptions to control operations; and influence on other non-climate factors. Process and stochastic approaches as well as dynamic and spatial models exist to predict mosquito population dynamics, disease transmission, and climate favorability. Future projections based on the observed relations between climate factors and mosquito-borne diseases suggest that mosquito-borne disease expansion is likely to occur in temperate regions due to climate change. While West Nile virus is already established in some temperate regions, Zika, dengue, chikungunya, and malaria are also likely to become established over time. Moving forward, more research is required to model future risks by incorporating climate, environmental, sociodemographic, and mosquito-related factors under changing climates.
Protecting and Managing Water Quality for Health
(Taylor and Francis, 2012) Schuster Wallace, Corinne
While the MDG target for access to improved water supply has been met, questions still exist around the potability and sustainability of those supplies. Moreover, the sanitation target is still unlikely to be met. In order to mitigate water-related health impacts, both now and post-MDGs, it is necessary to co-ordinate community interventions, focussing not only on water quantity and access, but water quality, sanitation/wastewater treatment and source water protection. While some interventions are technological, we need to invest more money and time in enhancing capacity, providing information and empowering communities to take ownership.
Safe Water as the Key to Global Health
(United Nations University International Network on Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH), 2008) Schuster Wallace, Corinne; Grover, Velma I.; Adeel, Zafar; Confalonieri, Ulisses E. C.; Elliott, Susan J.
We have great choices available to us for managing our water resources, treating water for drinking purposes, using innovative financing approaches to generate capital, protecting our ecosystems, and motivating communities to actively participate in these processes. And yet, there remains an almost insurmountable chasm between our self professed targets – such as those entwined in the various Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) – and the reality of a large number of people without a safe water source or an adequate sanitation system. Numerous statistics, such as those presented in this report, highlight the consequences for communities in developing countries as a result of non-provision of these very fundamental human needs. Lack of access to safe water and adequate sanitation are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality, particularly amongst children. Indirect and adverse consequences on education levels, nutrition and economy are also documented quite effectively. More recently, the benefits of water and sanitation provision have also been quantified. This measurement can be made in terms of improved well-being of people and communities, reduction in public health costs, and catalysis for local economic growth. Such benefits accrue in perpetuity and can potentially lift communities out of poverty and misery. And yet, global and national commitments to meet these challenges are far from adequate. This report explores why that is the case and how we can change the situation. Such change comes in two parts: First, we need to effectively change public and political perceptions of the nature of the problem, identify the stumbling blocks in responding effectively, and articulate the consequences of failure. Second, we need to mobilize human, technological and managerial resources that match the magnitude of the crisis. It is very important that we aim high. That is, the target should be to provide appropriate and sustainable supply of safe water and adequate sanitation to everyone. We believe that such a target is achievable by the year 2025, if we accept MDGs as a stepping stone and the year 2015 as a mid-term milestone. The first step in this direction must to be strengthen the capacity of developing countries, with the explicit aim of achieving 100% coverage. Such capacity should include human and technological development, but must also focus on nurturing institutions that can absorb and retain it. Over time, these institutions can enrich managerial skills as well. The second major step is to initiate out-of-the-box thinking on resource mobilization. Two roadblocks must be surpassed to achieve this. First, we have to accept that national governments in developing countries will likely never have sufficient resources at their disposal, even when counting the meagre overseas development aid; accepting this reality then opens up the door to considering real innovations. Second, some of the resources from the private sector must be engaged. Some bad experiences in privatization of public utilities and a general mistrust of potential profiteering by the private sector have led to effectively closing the door on this option. In the same vein, many community groups and civil society organizations need to re-think and shift their positions to better serve the public interest. A number of other processes also have to be triggered to achieve success. Greater mobilization of public opinion can lead to both better actions at the local level and improved steering of national political agenda. Previous examples of such interaction, like eradication of polio through community-centered, nationally-driven vaccination schemes, demonstrate that it is achievable. Greater cohesion in policies and a universal inclusion of water and sanitation provision in national development planning are the key elements to success. Examples in many developing countries, notably Madagascar, have demonstrated that political interests and public well-being converge very well when dealing with water and sanitation issues We also need to provide politicians and policymakers with the knowledge and tools essential for guiding policies in their own domain. We, at UNU-INWEH, are striving to develop such tools in close cooperation with our partners. Development of a global map of communities that are vulnerable to water-related diseases and a worldwide knowledge base of cheap, safe water provisioning options are two such initiatives. I hope that the ideas presented in this report help bring about the necessary changes in thinking, and the urgency to respond to this global crisis is driven home. This report is one step in an on-going dialogue on finding effective ways to move towards our ultimate goal – provision of safe water and adequate sanitation to every woman, man and child on this earth. Dr. Zafar Adeel Director UNU-INWEH 18 September 2008
Putting Water and Energy at the Heart of Sustainable Development
(UNU-INWEH, 2015) Schuster Wallace, Corinne; Qadir, Manzoor; Adeel, Zafar; Renaud, Fabrice G.; Dickin, Sarah K.
Water for energy; energy for water — as independent sectors and through their inextricable linkages, water and energy are key drivers of economic growth and social development. Benefits include poverty reduction, improvements in health and education, and a reduction in inequalities. Together, water and energy can promote stable societies and human dignity as well as realize basic human rights. Optimizing performance within the Water-Energy Nexus can increase energy efficiency, decrease water pollution, reduce costs of energy and water provision, increase access to services, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The effective deployment of renewable energy resources around the world can be a stabilizing driver within the context of fossil fuel availability and climate change. Hydropower, as a renewable and stable energy source is the epitome of nexus thinking, yet requires stable water supplies. Significant advances are required in policy, research, and practice to realize the nexus. The global challenges of climate change and food security create points of tension in the water-energy nexus which will have to be overcome in order to achieve development synergies. These challenges are exacerbated by population growth and urbanization, which create a dynamic baseline against which to address service access. In addition to some tensions in the nexus, the water and energy sectors are currently asymmetrical with respect to size and scale, and are often in competition with each other for capital investments and development resources. Diversification of energy sources and decentralization of water and wastewater services require policy prioritization, technology mobilization, and investment shifts. Economic tools, such as pricing, subsidies, and other incentives can motivate decentralized renewable energy generation. The private sector is an essential partner in the water-energy nexus and needs to be supported by an integrated and coherent policy approach — one that would enhance in- and cross-sector efficiencies and improve sector interfaces. New technology development must be supported and incubated, especially to address emerging challenges at the water-energy nexus. However, technology is only part of sustainable solutions; changing public opinion and behaviour is essential for long-term uptake. A dedicated water goal in the post-2015 development agenda, with key interlinked targets in the energy goal, is essential to achieving a sustainable future. The nexus will only be realized through capital mobilization around an integrated development agenda and synergistic actions. Once mobilized, sustained success will require joint accountability.

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