{"title":"Micro‐irrigation technologies as management tool to support the “water–energy–food” nexus","authors":"Ahmed Elshaikh, Razaz Murtada","doi":"10.1002/wwp2.12149","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wwp2.12149","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract This paper investigates the potential of micro‐irrigation technologies' adoption as tools to achieve integrated management for the water–energy–food (WEF) nexus. In addition, the study examines policy aspects of a nexus approach with a focus on the linkages between water, food, and energy systems, which are essential for management and policymaking. The WEF nexus policies effectively highlighted the trade‐offs and interactions at the nexus of water, energy, and food in ecosystem services. Sustainable agricultural production requires irrigation policies and strategies to minimize losses through optimizing water, land, and energy use competencies. Systematic approaches such as the WEF nexus assist in improving the performance of irrigated agriculture through irrigation modernization. The article provides a conceptual framework for considering the nexus approach in relation to micro‐irrigation technology adoption, discusses the policies synergies and trade‐offs, and offers a broader framework for making adaptation responses more effective. The evidence‐based perspectives of this approach consider the factors of agricultural productivity, water use efficiency, and energy consumption. It could be concluded that a nexus‐based adaptation approach that integrates water, energy, and food within irrigation systems is crucial for the effective and sustainable use of different resources. This can promote inclusive and sustainable irrigation development, especially with the great challenges of climate change. Such situations need urgent action from policymaking, contradictory strategies, and the different levels of resources managers.","PeriodicalId":285503,"journal":{"name":"World Water Policy","volume":"76 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135944364","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Urgent call for protection and use of transboundary watercourses. Some legal reflections","authors":"Thanh Hoa Ha, Van Tuan Vu","doi":"10.1002/wwp2.12136","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wwp2.12136","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The use of transboundary water resources has received special international attention in recent years. Although riparian countries recognize the benefits of cross‐border rivers and enter into agreements with countries sharing the transboundary rivers by means of legal rules, treaties, and principles, they have done excessive riverine exploitation activities to maximize their socio‐economic benefits, causing the imbalance in the ecosystems and peace. This study aims to conduct a secondary analysis of primary qualitative data to research the common legal frameworks on international water law such as Helsinki Rules, UN Watercourses Conventions, and UNECE Water Convention, together with a case study on the Mekong River Agreement. Bilateral, multilateral, international treaties and principles are currently not enforceable enough to compel riparian countries strictly to comply with these legal rules and principles on equitable and sustainable water coordination and development. Besides, there are still internal conflicts among the upper and lower riparian countries over the equitable and reasonable use of transboundary river watercourses due to lack of punitive sanctions. There is an urgent need to establish a specialized international water management commission designated by all nations with the utmost power to regulate human‐related activities concerning transboundary watercourses to govern equitable and sustainable management and development of the transboundary water use. Besides, current international law principles have to be revised to fill the gap of disagreement and potential conflicts between upstream, middle stream and downstream countries.","PeriodicalId":285503,"journal":{"name":"World Water Policy","volume":"56 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135063246","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Exploring groundwater–climate change interactions: A critical review of <i>Groundwater and Climate Change: Multi‐Level Law and Policy Perspectives</i> by Philippe Cullet","authors":"Kulsum Fatima","doi":"10.1002/wwp2.12142","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wwp2.12142","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract In recent years, climate change has gained much attention worldwide, emphasizing the need to find sustainable solutions to protect the planet's resources. One of the primary resources affected by climate change is groundwater, a vital source of freshwater for agriculture and domestic use worldwide. In his book Groundwater and Climate Change: Multi‐Level Law and Policy Perspectives , Philippe Cullet discusses the complex relationship between groundwater and climate change and its legal and policy implications at various levels of interventions. Cullet's book provides comprehensive insights into the legal and governance frameworks needed to protect and sustainably manage groundwater in the face of climate change. This book review will examine the key arguments presented by Cullet, providing a critical analysis of the book's contribution to the field of environmental law and policy. It aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the legal and policy framework related to groundwater management in the context of climate change with a special focus on interaction between climate change and groundwater lessons in Indian context.","PeriodicalId":285503,"journal":{"name":"World Water Policy","volume":"207 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135438551","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A review on plankton as a bioindicator: A promising tool for monitoring water quality","authors":"Palak Chandel, Danish Mahajan, Kushal Thakur, Rakesh Kumar, Sunil Kumar, Bhavna Brar, D. Sharma, Ajay Sharma","doi":"10.1002/wwp2.12137","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wwp2.12137","url":null,"abstract":"Bioindicators have become increasingly popular and have contributed significant amounts of useful information to the process of managing water resources. The ability of a species (or species assemblage) to adapt to a certain range of chemical, physical, and biological conditions is one criterion that can be used to assess the quality of its surrounding environment. Planktons that react quickly to changes in their environment have proven to be particularly valuable, and the identification of certain indicator species has become increasingly common in the process of determining the quality of the water. The “health” of an aquatic system can be inferred from the presence or absence of plankton, which act as early warning signals. When compared with the expense of assessing harmful contaminants, the overall cost of conducting routine monitoring of biological communities is far lower and has a higher degree of reliability. The ability of bioindicators to identify indirect biotic effects of pollutants, which is something that many physical or chemical tests are unable to do, is another advantage of using bioindicators. Different aquatic species as bioindicators tolerate different environmental conditions, and their different tolerances to particular environments help in identifying a particular environmental condition. Phytoplankton species like Euglena viridis, Oscillatoria limosa, Nitzschia palea, and Scenedesmus quadricauda, and zooplankton species like Branchionus sp., Molina sp., Keratella cochlearis, Daphnia sp., and Cyclopus sp. indicate water pollution. This review's objective is to highlight some recent research on planktons, focusing on their capabilities and opportunities for application as bioindicators of water quality.","PeriodicalId":285503,"journal":{"name":"World Water Policy","volume":"60 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"127534108","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Doaa M. Salman Abdou, Mohamad Mussad Ibrahim Rajab
{"title":"Water stress and sustainability challenges: Evidence from sub‐Saharan Africa","authors":"Doaa M. Salman Abdou, Mohamad Mussad Ibrahim Rajab","doi":"10.1002/wwp2.12140","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wwp2.12140","url":null,"abstract":"Sub‐Saharan Africa is considered one of the hotspots most likely to be affected by water problems due to the region's heavy reliance on agriculture. This study has three objectives. First, it aims to assess the driving factors that influence environmental performance in Sub‐Saharan countries. Second, it investigates the impact of water scarcity on sustainable development in sub‐Saharan nations by utilizing available data on the environmental performance index (EPI) from 2000 to 2010, which is the only complete and accessible time series. Third, it seeks to identify the effect of carbon dioxide emissions on the EPI. To achieve these objectives, the study employs an empirical dynamic autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) approach and a panel of selected countries in sub‐Saharan Africa to examine long‐term equilibrium and short‐term adjustments. The results indicate a positive correlation between population growth and EPI in Angola, Cameroon, Ghana, and South Africa. In the long term, the population coefficient exhibits a negative and significant relationship with EPI. Maternal mortality rates were found to have 1% relevance, while health spending was deemed irrelevant. Both carbon emissions and the proportion of the population with improved water sources had a negative and significant impact on the environmental index. The findings underscore the conflicts between water demand and other explanatory variables on water stress in sub‐Saharan countries. Thus, the study recommends the urgent formulation of regional policies to effectively safeguard future generations from the threat of water poverty.","PeriodicalId":285503,"journal":{"name":"World Water Policy","volume":"126 1-2","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"120918036","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Assessment of flood in Nandigama, Andhra Pradesh, using hydrological and hydraulic models","authors":"Poli Sainath Reddy, R. Bhavani","doi":"10.1002/wwp2.12133","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wwp2.12133","url":null,"abstract":"The rapid and frequent mapping of flood areas is crucial for monitoring and mitigating flood disasters. This study aimed to devise a flood inundation map for Nandigama City, located in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. To analyze flood inundation, the HEC‐HMS hydrologic model was used to assess the effects of land‐use changes on runoff. The analysis of land use and land cover (LULC) revealed a significant increase in urban expansion around the study area over the last 30 years. The rise in urbanization and impervious surfaces has led to an 11.85% increase in the average peak discharge, from 4.39 m3/s in 2000 to 4.91 m3/s in 2020. These findings can provide significant insights for urban policymakers in the planning and management of flood control infrastructure in Nandigama.","PeriodicalId":285503,"journal":{"name":"World Water Policy","volume":"10 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"130035486","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Rural household's willingness to pay for irrigation water use: An application of contingent valuation method, in the case of North Shewa zone, Ethiopia","authors":"Biruk Kemaw Shenkute, Yitea Seneshaw Getahun, Alebachew Shumye Moges, Mekonnen Aklilu Tesfaye","doi":"10.1002/wwp2.12132","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wwp2.12132","url":null,"abstract":"This study aimed to evaluate household's willingness to pay (WTOP) for irrigation water use (IWU) per timad (0.25 ha) of the irrigable land per year and to analyze determinants of WTOP for IWU at individual households based on the contingent valuation method (CVM). The primary data collected for this study was from 120 households using two‐stage sampling techniques such as simple random sampling and purposive from four peasant associations of the Efratana Gidim and Kewit districts by semistructured questionnaire. The secondary dataset was collected from several sources. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive, inferential, and Tobit econometric models. In addition, a seemingly unrelated bivariate probit (SUBP) model was applied to calculate the average WTOP for IWU per timad/year. The CVM survey indicated that from the total sample collected data, 80% of the households showed WTOP for IWU, while the remaining 20% did not show WTOP. The econometric result of the Tobit model showed that the education level of the household, household family size, Irrigation experience, total annual income, and credit utilization influenced farmers' WTOP positively and significantly, while only initial bid price affected the farmer negatively and significantly. Hence, the above variables should be given high emphasis in designing irrigation water‐related projects in the districts. The SUBP model result revealed that the household's average annual WTOP was 854.74 Ethiopia Birr/0.25 ha/year. The estimated MWTOP for IWU is a huge amount of money. Hence, the concerned body has to collect money from households, which has to be used in the development of irrigation systems in the study area. This study recommends that different stakeholders of government should collaborate in raising revenue from the local community and apply it for the desired community development purposes, particularly for food security enhancement as the districts are highly dependent on rainfed agriculture.","PeriodicalId":285503,"journal":{"name":"World Water Policy","volume":"17 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"125386513","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A comparison of riparian buffer designs incorporating short‐rotation Salix viminalis to mitigate surface water pollution in the Dunk River watershed on Prince Edward Island","authors":"Holly D. M. Wilts, D. Burton, A. Farooque","doi":"10.1002/wwp2.12138","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wwp2.12138","url":null,"abstract":"Riparian buffers protect surface water from diffuse pollutants, mitigating sediment, nutrient, and chemical losses from agricultural landscapes. Prince Edward Island, Canada, has legislated 15‐m riparian buffers, yet stream contamination from agriculture remains widespread. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool and Riparian Ecosystem Management Model were used to simulate 12 years of nutrient and sediment loads from five potato Hydrologic Response Units in the Dunk River watershed on PEI and evaluate water quality impacts of 30 m three‐zone buffers incorporating shrub willow relative to existing 15 m grass and forest buffers and assess optimal buffer width. Willow buffers (30 m) removed 49.9 T ha−1 year−1 sediment, 18.5 kg ha−1 year−1 total N (TN) and 7.8 kg ha−1 year−1 total P (TP). This was 5.6% and 4.1% more sediment and TP than existing 15 m grass buffers and 7.5%, 12.6%, and 16.8% more sediment, TP, and TN than existing 15 m forest buffers. Willow buffers removed significantly more particulate contaminants than forest and significantly more soluble than grass. Optimal willow buffer width downslope of potato fields was 40 m. Overall, incorporating shrub willow and/or riparian widening can have considerable water quality benefits, particularly in regard to sediment retention, and maximize both soluble and particulate pollutant removal on PEI.","PeriodicalId":285503,"journal":{"name":"World Water Policy","volume":"39 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"120977902","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Investigating the impact of prepaid meters on communal water points in Malawi: A case study of Lilongwe peri‐urban areas","authors":"Don Chiumya, J. Gumbo","doi":"10.1002/wwp2.12141","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wwp2.12141","url":null,"abstract":"In the peri‐urban areas of Lilongwe, the capital city of Malawi, water is mostly obtained from communal points. Increased indebtedness resulted in the disconnection of more water points. This prompted the Lilongwe Water Board (LWB) to implement a new prepaid metering system to provide access to water 24 h a day and increase revenue collection. This study investigated the impact of prepaid meters on communal water points. Specifically, the impact of prepaid meters on water affordability, users' perceptions of the new system, the influence of prepaid meters on revenue collection, and the reliability of the new system were examined. A mixed‐methods approach was employed in this study. In total, 111 households were sampled. A questionnaire and focus group discussion were used to collect data. The results of the study indicated a high level of satisfaction with the new system, as 98.2% (109) of the sampled households expressed their contentment. Chi‐square was employed to check the relationship between household income and preference of the system in terms of accessibility and affordability. The p value of the chi‐square test was 0.956, indicating no significant relationship between household income and the preferred metering system. Hence, the prepaid system has proved affordable as low‐ and high‐income people are satisfied with the system, while 1.8% (2) are dissatisfied because they resist drawing water on credit. The LWB reported that the new system increased revenue collection and guaranteed residents' access to clean water. Additionally, 68.5% (76) of the households had functional hand‐washing facilities that ensured hygiene practices. The system suffers from low pressure at the water point during cloudy weather. The study recommends that the LWB consider resizing the system to ensure water access during cloudy days. In conclusion, clean water leads to good health for citizens. Generally, citizens in good health are more productive in developing a nation.","PeriodicalId":285503,"journal":{"name":"World Water Policy","volume":"50 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"129803910","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Adoption of rainwater harvesting as a sustainable approach to improving the climate resilience of small landholders in Kenya","authors":"Kristin Mutschinski, N. Coles","doi":"10.1002/wwp2.12134","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wwp2.12134","url":null,"abstract":"The African Water Vision 2025 emphasized the disadvantages of the rural population in the context of water supply infrastructure, water management, and access. The vision extolled the virtues of providing improved decentralized governance and localized actions to deliver on this agenda. Furthermore, policies and investment should support climate resilience, by strengthening the security and availability of adequate water quality and quantity in rural communities, for example, by mainstreaming the adoption of rainwater harvesting systems. This is reflected in the government policy alignment towards enabling a devolution of responsibilities to regional and local political structures, while addressing concerns linked with water availability, climate change, and its impact on a country's water resources in Kenya. Despite efforts through different strategic plans and policies, there is a perceived gap between the general understanding of the importance of the RWH system at the national level and actions at the operational level in the counties. An absence of formal policy frameworks and coordination of investments has resulted in insufficient adoption and implementation of RWH systems in Kenya to date. This is despite the fact that in some counties, RWH systems are considered a key solution for increasing climate resilience and suggestions for improvement have been formulated by the affected communities. This analysis shows that RWH systems strengthen the resilience of rural populations but are dependent on a well‐formulated governmental structure, which could be improved by refining national policies and investment in RWH systems.","PeriodicalId":285503,"journal":{"name":"World Water Policy","volume":"41 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"132390820","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}