{"title":"Maximizing synergies between state and non‐state actors to enhance water governance in the Cubango‐Okavango River basin","authors":"Victoria Shifidi, Nadia Sitas, R. Meissner","doi":"10.1002/wwp2.12213","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wwp2.12213","url":null,"abstract":"The inherent complexity of governing transboundary social–ecological systems like the Cubango‐Okavango River Basin (CORB) has given rise to various governance frameworks like integrated water resource management (IWRM) and adaptive governance. While these may work in theory and some specific contexts, current discordance between formal (state) and informal (non‐state) governance systems, especially at the local level, still exists, resulting in significant inequities regarding water resource allocation, use, and sustainability. This research, therefore, is crucial in understanding why the disconnects between state and non‐state actors might be present in current governance arrangements and how they influence decision‐making processes linked to equitable and sustainable water governance. Through a mixed‐method, qualitative approach, this paper aimed to examine how state and non‐state actors influence water governance in the CORB from a Namibian perspective and explore current challenges and opportunities in governance structures to understand strategic intervention points for enhancing more just and sustainable governance outcomes. Data was collected from 63 participants through semi‐structured, in‐depth interviews, and an actor‐mapping questionnaire to understand key actors involved in the Namibian portion of the CORB and to determine the critical networks and relationships between them for enhancing water governance in the basin. Embedded within a grounded theory approach, thematic analysis was used to analyze data using Atlas.ti; a descriptive analysis was used to graphically organize, summarize, and present field data using Microsoft Excel; and a narrative analysis documented the participants' personal stories of water governance. The study identified key water governance breakdown points between state and non‐state actors, including resource grabs and inadequate bottom‐up approaches. The study further found that the active participation of non‐state actors in the water governance of the CORB is imperative for maximizing contextualized synergies between state and non‐state actors in transboundary water governance.","PeriodicalId":494699,"journal":{"name":"World Water Policy","volume":"3 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141797727","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}
Timothy O. Ogunbode, Victor O Oyebamiji, A. T. Akinkuolie, O. A. Adekiya, A. A. Oyelami, T. M. Taiwo, Oladokun T. Ademola, A. J. Ogundele, M. M. Ologunagba, O. V. Awolola, A. M. Abidogun, Ifabiyi I. Paul
{"title":"Evaluating water security in sub‐Saharan Africa: Examining a case study of water supply inventory, accessibility, and predictability on Iwo, Nigeria","authors":"Timothy O. Ogunbode, Victor O Oyebamiji, A. T. Akinkuolie, O. A. Adekiya, A. A. Oyelami, T. M. Taiwo, Oladokun T. Ademola, A. J. Ogundele, M. M. Ologunagba, O. V. Awolola, A. M. Abidogun, Ifabiyi I. Paul","doi":"10.1002/wwp2.12214","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wwp2.12214","url":null,"abstract":"The security of nations concerning water accessibility by 2030 is under threat due to climate change, potentially hindering global targets outlined in SDG 6. This study assesses the water security of the sub‐Saharan region, focusing on Iwo, Nigeria. Surveys on household water sources, availability, and use were conducted across 12 months among 937 households. Climatic data spanning 31 years (1992–2022) from the Nigeria Meteorological Agency were analyzed for water supply evaluation. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were applied to the datasets. Results revealed a predominant 95% involvement of female heads and individuals above 18 years old. Notably, 92.7% spent less than 10 min obtaining water, with 90.5% not paying water tariffs, indicating a predominantly domestic water use pattern, reflecting the agrarian nature of the study area. Analysis of climatic data highlighted water loss during dry season months and previously rainy months (March, April, and August), confirming climate change manifestations. Household water use consistently exceeded supply, ranging from 348.9 to 444.6 L/month, with a per capita value of 148.6 L (4.95 L/day) falling below the WHO recommendation of 10 to 20 L/day. Regression analysis identified three significant predictive models at p < .005, with Model 3 showing a notable predictability (R value of 42.3 at p < .005 and SE of ±79.05941), and it encompasses more of the variables analyzed. The generally low R value suggests the consideration of additional variables for model validity. Urgent and intentional efforts are required to exploit abundant surface water resources for enhanced justice in water accessibility in aligning with the SDG 6 target.","PeriodicalId":494699,"journal":{"name":"World Water Policy","volume":" 33","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141827526","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}
Ahmed Falih Al‐ysari, Mohammed Fouad Majeed, Yasser Yassin Khudair
{"title":"The effect of natural factors on changing soil uses in the marshes: An experimental study using Landsat satellite data","authors":"Ahmed Falih Al‐ysari, Mohammed Fouad Majeed, Yasser Yassin Khudair","doi":"10.1002/wwp2.12210","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wwp2.12210","url":null,"abstract":"The study aimed to analyze the effect of meteorological factors (rainfall rate and temperature) on the change in land use in the marshes of the Al‐Majar Al‐Kabir region in southern Iraq. Satellite images from Landsat 7 for 2012 and Landsat 8 for 2022 were used to monitor changes in the land coverings, the images taken from the Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) and Operational Land Imager (OLI) sensors of the Landsat satellite. Geometric correction was used to convert images into a format with precise geographic coordinates using ArcMap 10.5. The maximum likelihood classification method was used to examine satellite image data using a supervised approach, and the data were analyzed statistically. We obtained clear images of the area, through which we identified five types of lands (agriculture, bare, dry, wet, and water bodies) and calculated the differences that occurred in the land areas between 2012 and 2022. Then, we studied the change in atmospheric conditions (rainfall rate and temperature average) for the same period. The results showed that temperature increases negatively affected the types of ground cover, as the area of agricultural lands, water bodies, and wetlands decreased inversely with the temperature and directly with the rainfall. It also showed that the area of dry and bare land increased directly with the temperature rates and inversely with the rainfall, which makes these areas more susceptible to desertification. In addition, decreased rainfall highlights how crucial it is to manage water resources in marsh ecosystems. Water conservation and sustainable water use practices are two strategies that can encourage healthy plant growth, maintain appropriate soil moisture levels, and preserve the ecological functions that marshes offer.","PeriodicalId":494699,"journal":{"name":"World Water Policy","volume":"46 26","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141654485","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}
Melku Dagnachew, S. Gebrehiwot, W. Bewket, T. Alamirew, K. Charles, G. Zeleke
{"title":"Ensuring sustainable water security through sustainable land management: Research evidences for policy","authors":"Melku Dagnachew, S. Gebrehiwot, W. Bewket, T. Alamirew, K. Charles, G. Zeleke","doi":"10.1002/wwp2.12209","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wwp2.12209","url":null,"abstract":"Sustainable land management (SLM) practices is a key to reducing rates of land degradation and has proven to ensure water security by increasing soil moisture availability, decreasing surface runoff, decreasing soil erosion, increasing infiltration, and decreasing flood discharge. Land degradation is adversely affecting over 75% of the Earth's land surface and could exceed 90% by 2050. The rate of soil erosion will increase by 66% during the period 2015–2070. Over 85% of the land in Ethiopia is moderately to very severely degraded at an estimated cost of $4.6 billion annually. So far, only 18% of Ethiopia's cropland area is covered by SLM practices for the last 40 years of intensive interventions. Water security, in turn, is a powerful and multidimensional option that includes water availability, accessibility, use, and stability across time. In Ethiopia, though, the interconnections between SLM and water security are intimate and numerous, their linkage is very loose and yet to be understood. Ethiopia is among the 16 LDCs and is critically water‐insecure, implying that abundant natural water availability does not necessarily ensure water security as it might be poor water quality, inaccessible, and unsafe. Hence, national and local level of SLM and water security linkages, impacts, and policy implications must come on board in the least developing countries like Ethiopia. Therefore, SLM‐water security policy is crucial in successful SLM because governments/higher officials are capable of promoting well‐informed water security decisions.","PeriodicalId":494699,"journal":{"name":"World Water Policy","volume":" 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141676756","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}
N. Mouton, Tshepo Motshabi, Kafigi Jeje, Alfred Henrico
{"title":"Bulk water services delivery challenges in the Dr. Ruth Segomotsi Mompati district municipality in South Africa's North West Province","authors":"N. Mouton, Tshepo Motshabi, Kafigi Jeje, Alfred Henrico","doi":"10.1002/wwp2.12207","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wwp2.12207","url":null,"abstract":"This study thoroughly examines the difficulties in providing bulk water services in Dr. Ruth Segomotsi Mompati district municipality in the North West Province, with the end goal of giving comprehensive suggestions for operational and strategic improvements. The study adopted a qualitative research approach, employing semistructured interviews for gathering data from officials of various municipalities responsible for overseeing infrastructure within the geographical confines of the municipalities they serve. The findings identified themes indicative of the focus areas contributing to the bulk water services delivery challenges. These emphasized the importance of fostering a collaborative work environment, thus promoting organizational learning, and implementing effective change management to elevate service delivery standards. It identifies the necessity for heightened operational efficiency and advocates for a cultural shift within municipal operations. Strategic planning, marked by the creation and regular refinement of master plans, is highlighted alongside the implementation of robust project management practices. The study emphasizes the critical need for synchronizing municipal planning processes with statutory requirements and the changing demands of the local community. The research advocates for a flexible and responsive approach to master planning, which is indispensable for adapting to shifts in administrative frameworks and community needs. The study recommends the development of a dynamic master plan for water services, one that is regularly reviewed and updated to reflect the evolving legislative landscape and community priorities. It also suggests that municipal authorities should ensure that the planning process remains inclusive and responsive to the residents' needs. Furthermore, training and capacity‐building initiatives for municipal officials could be instrumental in enhancing their ability to adapt to these changing demands and legislative environments.","PeriodicalId":494699,"journal":{"name":"World Water Policy","volume":"29 20","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141684639","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":"Physicochemical and microbiological assessment of multi‐village drinking water source in diarrheal hotspot areas of north Shoa zone, Amhara region, Ethiopia","authors":"Tsegahun Asfaw Abebe, Zenawork Sahle, Belachew Tekleyohannes Wogayehu, Bizuneh Asfaw Abebe, Berhanu Yitayew, Demissew Shenkute Gebreyes","doi":"10.1002/wwp2.12203","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wwp2.12203","url":null,"abstract":"Quality water is essential to people's health and social and economic well‐being. Evaluation of the quality of the water sources provides benchmark data on quality status and insights into the development of further protective measures. A laboratory‐based cross‐sectional study design was conducted in the diarrheal hotspot area of the North Shewa zone. The contamination risks of water sources were assessed using the World Health Organization (WHO) sanitary inspection checklist. A grab water sample was collected from 138 multi‐village drinking water sources according to WHO guidelines. The collected sample was processed for physicochemical and microbiological analysis. Data were recorded and analyzed using SPSS version 25 software. The inspection survey indicated there was no proper handling of the water sources. The water temperature range was between 7 and 32°C, while the turbidity values ranged from 1.8 to 6 NTU. Electrical conductivity, pH, and total dissolved solutes were 100% within the acceptable limits of WHO and the Ethiopian Ministry of Health (EMoH) water quality guidelines. However, only (77/138, 55.79%) and (101/138, 73.29%) drinking water sources were within the acceptable range of temperature and turbidity, respectively. The mean bacteriological counts in multi‐village drinking water sources were a mean value of 72.14, 29.78, 21.09, and 15.64 for TMC, TCC, FC, and FSC, respectively. A total of (19/138, 13.8%) drinking water samples were positive for total coliform (Tc) and/or fecal coliforms (Fc). The remaining (119/138, 86.2%) water samples were bacteriologically potable. The physicochemical quality of the drinking water sources was consistent with WHO and national water quality standards, except that turbidity exceeded the acceptable range. The results also showed that some water sources were contaminated with fecal and total coliform, which was supported by an inspection survey in which most water sources were poorly protected. These research findings can serve as a valuable evidence base for informing policy decisions and guiding practical interventions aimed at ensuring access to safe drinking water in diarrheal hotspot areas.","PeriodicalId":494699,"journal":{"name":"World Water Policy","volume":" 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141367596","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":"Revisiting the global weights of the integrated watershed health assessment framework and Weyib watershed health analysis: Ethiopia's policy prospects","authors":"M. Aredo, T. K. Lohani, Abdella Kemal Mohammed","doi":"10.1002/wwp2.12205","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wwp2.12205","url":null,"abstract":"Watershed health study has been considered as a global issue embodied in the United Nations' 2030 agenda toward sustainable water resources development, paving the way for integrated water resources management (IWRM) application, and visualizing intervention techniques to comprehend existing challenges. The watershed faces tremendous pressure due to erratic rainfall patterns, drastic water demand increase, hydrological extremes, and natural‐anthropogenic activities. This study aims to re‐evaluate the recently developed Integrated Watershed Health Assessment Framework (IWHF) global weights, Weyib watershed health assessment, and Ethiopia's policy implications using the integration of numerous data and multiple tools. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) was used to estimate aggregate results from experts' survey responses, which depicted 50.89% priority for ecological conditions, followed by economic 23.30%, policy 13.82%, and 12% for socio‐cultural attributes. A slight discrepancy was exhibited when global weights were re‐evaluated, and the variables with substantial effects on IWHF in developing countries like Ethiopia were integrated. The majority of Weyib watershed health index (WWHI) indicators unveiled promising results except for stakeholders' collaboration and social obligation to restoration activities, information and educational campaigns, hydrology, wetland, and natural land‐cover. The water‐quality parameters laboratory findings were depicted as suitable for irrigation purposes. In general, the WWHI was in good health status, and a medium‐level priority was required for intervention activities to address deteriorated variables. Moreover, enhancing IWRM's application will contribute to tackling bottlenecks such as boost community awareness and stakeholder collaboration, legal and administrative gaps, overlapped mandates, and unpermitted water use resulting in undermining downstream demands and environmental low‐flow.","PeriodicalId":494699,"journal":{"name":"World Water Policy","volume":"28 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141271600","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":"Challenge or utopia? Reflections on integration in water management in Brazil","authors":"W. C. de Sousa Júnior","doi":"10.1002/wwp2.12196","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wwp2.12196","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000The article addresses the state of the art of IWRM in Brazil.\u0000The advances and gaps of IWRM in Brazil are highlighted.\u0000The author revisits the criticism of IWRM in light of its breadth and perspectives.\u0000The text questions the very viability of IWRM in Brazil based on a practical case.\u0000The author presents topics to consider for effective integration in water management in Brazil.\u0000","PeriodicalId":494699,"journal":{"name":"World Water Policy","volume":"113 42","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-05-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141126486","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}
Abera Shigute Nannawo, T. K. Lohani, Abunu Atlabachew Eshete
{"title":"Analyzing groundwater storage anomalies in data‐scarce areas of Ethiopia's Rift Valley Basin using artificial neural network","authors":"Abera Shigute Nannawo, T. K. Lohani, Abunu Atlabachew Eshete","doi":"10.1002/wwp2.12190","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wwp2.12190","url":null,"abstract":"Groundwater storage anomalies (GWSA) study requires the use of hydro‐climatic models coupled with Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment climate (GRACE) and GRACE Follow‐On (GRACE‐FO) Terrestrial Water Storage experiments. Understanding groundwater storage anomalies in the research area is difficult due to the restricted hydro‐meteorological data availability, especially, groundwater levels, changes in groundwater storage, and budgetary and technical constraints. No such investigation of GWS anomalies prior to this study in this Basin was conducted. The research focuses on GWSA investigations in the basin employing Global Land Data Assimilation Systems and Artificial Neural Networks‐Back Propagation Algorithm techniques are required. The ultimate objective of this study was to reduce the GRACE GWS from 1° to 0.25° and close the discontinuity between GRACE/GRACE‐FO observations. The results illustrated that GRACE/GRACE‐FO GWS throughout the basin were overall declining. The GWS anomaly significantly decreased between 2011 and 2013, with the highest monthly depletion in March 2011 (−158 mm). In contrast, from mid‐June to mid‐October, the maximum positive value varied from 20.80 mm in the southernmost basin to 39.49 mm in the central‐southeastern basin. The basin's eastern, central‐southeastern, northern, and southern areas displayed positive monthly GWS trends. The entire dry season has been influenced by negative anomalies. Hence, the identification of GWS variations and a comprehensive understanding of their effects provided valuable scientific insights. Identifying and analyzing anomalies in groundwater storage (GWS) can provide valuable information. This data can be efficiently used to develop appropriate regulatory frameworks, which may contribute to the long‐term viability of the availability of groundwater.","PeriodicalId":494699,"journal":{"name":"World Water Policy","volume":" 19","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141129282","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":"Enabling policy environment for water operator partnerships in the Southern African Development Community","authors":"Edith Malemba, Don Chiumya, I. Anyanwu, J. Camkin","doi":"10.1002/wwp2.12173","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wwp2.12173","url":null,"abstract":"Water service provision has typically been primarily regarded as a government endeavor, especially in developing countries. Various concepts of partnerships have been promoted over the past five decades in the sector, primarily to improve service provision. Among these partnerships, water operator partnerships (WOPs) have been distinguished as a leading concept that promotes easy access to water supply and sanitation. Several WOPs exist worldwide with varying partnership types and characteristics. For WOPs to thrive effectively globally, an enabling environment has to be provided. More so for developing countries that are more susceptible to socio‐economic and climate change factors that affect water service delivery. This paper evaluates the enabling policy environment for WOPs in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. Data used for the study include literature from the Global Water Operator Partnerships Alliance (GWOPA) WOPs database, as well as other online resources, enabling a detailed understanding of different case studies in the SADC region on a North–South and South–South basis. It must, however, be noted that data availability on the database is dependent on the utilities engaged in the WOP recording and uploading it, and this affected the scope of the study. The database provided three in‐depth case studies from Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe, and extensive literature review provided an additional in‐depth case study from Malawi. Strategies such as water reforms and multi‐stakeholder partnerships are highlighted in aiding the WOPs. Findings show that current policies in the region make provisions for partnerships but are not explicit or exhaustive on the different forms of partnerships. The lack of an intermediate third party in countries such as Malawi negatively affects the relationship between the utilities and, subsequently, the success of the WOP. Strategies such as capacity building and stakeholder participation can assist in creating a more enabling policy environment for WOPs.","PeriodicalId":494699,"journal":{"name":"World Water Policy","volume":" 15","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140383771","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}