Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Water sustainability'
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Tortajada, Cecilia. "Environmental Sustainability of Water Projects." Doctoral thesis, Stockholm : Tekniska högsk, 2001. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-3202.
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Rock, Channah, Chuck Graf, Christopher Scott, Jean E. McLain, and Sharon Megdal. "Arizona's Blue Ribbon Panel on Water Sustainability." College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/225867.
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Franks, Tom R., and Frances D. Cleaver. "Analysing Water Governance: A Tool for Sustainability." Institution of Civil Engineers / Thomas Telford, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10454/4187.
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yesManaging global water resources and providing water services to the world¿s people raises a continuing series of challenges, driven by increasing expectations, and a growing competition for water, which will be exacerbated by climate change. This paper explores how concepts of water governance and sustainability may help us to meet those challenges. Water governance is often equated with the role of government or management in the provision of water services. By contrast, we see governance as the system of actors, resources, mechanisms and processes, which mediate society¿s access to water. A broad conceptual framework is presented for the analysis of water governance, based on linkages between the resources available to society, the mechanisms that shape access to water and the outcomes of those mechanisms, both for people and the ecosystem. These linkages are mediated both by stakeholders and by management processes. It is argued that this conceptual framework offers a robust analytical tool for planning for sustainability as it is able to account for the complexities of water governance (of contexts, stakeholders, arrangements and uses). The paper concludes with observations about the ways in which the framework can be used to understand how different water governance arrangements produce variable outcomes in terms of sustainability.
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Uhlmann, Vikki. "An approach to sustainability management for water utilities /." [St. Lucia, Qld.], 2004. http://www.library.uq.edu.au/pdfserve.php?image=thesisabs/absthe19069.pdf.
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Katz, Ashley. "SOCIAL DISCOUNTING OF CLEAN WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY." OpenSIUC, 2019. https://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/theses/2619.
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The purpose of this study was to examine choice-making as it relates to providing a source of clean water to those at varying social distances. A discounting survey was completed by 65 participants asking them to choose between spending a specified about of money on plastic water bottles that have a 100% chance of harming the environment or spending $1000 on a water filtration system that has a 0% chance of harming the environment. Results indicated that as social distance increased, responding became more impulsive as evident by a steeper amount of discounting. For “Person #1”, 27.69% of participants chose to spend money on plastic water bottles while for “Person #100”, 53.8% of participants chose to spend money on plastic water bottles. The R2 calculated was 0.8633. Results also indicated that there was a positive correlation between frequency of behaving in sustainable ways and how much one valued the environment, as well as how concerned one was with the environment. Implications, strengths and limitations, and future research opportunities are discussed.
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Boshoff, Brian Charles. "Conceptualizing Sustainability: the Case of Johannesburg and Water." Diss., Virginia Tech, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/39338.
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Johannesburg, South Africa has stated ambitions of becoming a “sustainable city” and a “world-class African city.” Many factors may contribute to the realization of these aims. One is a “sustainable” water supply, since water is fundamental to life and to economic activity. But South Africa (SA) is a “water-stressed” country, indeed, globally, it is one of the twenty most water-deficient countries and Gauteng province (where Johannesburg is located) may run out of water by 2015.
Many demand and supply factors conspire to affect adversely the “sustainability” of water and any “sustainable development” trajectory in SA. Accordingly, I survey the literature on “sustainability” and “sustainable development” (S/SD) to see if it might offer some way out of SA's water dilemma. This is a vast, complex and contested body of literature, but overall, S/SD appears to be “common cause.“ But this does not necessarily mean that S/SD concepts are either well understood or integrated, especially as applied to the water sector in SA. I suggest that a comprehensive understanding of what might be contemplated by S/SD concepts as regards the water sector is lacking, so I seek to determine how the concepts of S/SD “play out,“ how they can be translated and understood, and what import selected S/SD concepts may have in terms of the water sector in Johannesburg.
This is accomplished by means of a broad literature review and by conducting interviews with mostly senior personnel in Johannesburg who are responsible for water and sustainability public policy and issues in Johannesburg and in SA.
This research describes several major ramifications of water and sustainability in Johannesburg and contributes empirically, by examining the intersection of S/SD, water and Johannesburg and theoretically, by developing a heuristic model (HM), so that understanding of S/SD (especially as it relates to water in SA) can be crystallized and provide a platform for further debate, contestation, interpretation and implementation. The lexicon emerging from the HM will help leaders to balance the competing claims and tensions during conception and implementation of relevant water policies. The model depicts the interplay of sustainability premises with actual conditions in an important developing nation.Ph. D.
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Amini, Adib. "The Sustainability of Ion Exchange Water Treatment Technology." Scholar Commons, 2017. http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/6640.
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This research investigated using a life cycle environmental and economic approach to evaluate IX technology for small potable water systems, allowing for the identification and development of process and design improvements that reduce environmental impacts and costs. The main goals were to evaluate conventional IX in terms of life cycle environmental and economic sustainability, develop a method for improving designs of IX systems from a environmental and economic sustainability standpoint, evaluate potential design improvements, and make the research findings accessible to water professionals through user-friendly tools and frameworks that take into account their feedback. This research provides an understanding, from the perspective of life cycle environmental impacts and costs, of the tradeoffs between various reactor designs of IX, the effects of scale, key contributors to impact and cost, design trends that improve sustainability, and how combined cation anion exchange compares to conventional IX. Furthermore, tools were developed that can be used to identify design choices that improve sustainability of IX systems. These tools were made into a user-friendly format to better bridge the gap between research and practice.
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Liner, Barry. "Goal programming for sustainability in total water management." Fairfax, VA : George Mason University, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/1920/4589.
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Thesis (Ph.D.)--George Mason University, 2009.Vita: p. 162. Thesis director: Sharon deMonsabert. Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Information Technology. Title from PDF t.p. (viewed Oct. 11, 2009). Includes bibliographical references (p. 153-161). Also issued in print.
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Kwong, Pui-ki. "Surface water quality indicators in China and their implications for sustainability." Click to view the E-thesis via HKUTO, 2006. http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkuto/record/B36618718.
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Dawson, Quentin L. "Low-lying agricultural peatland sustainability under managed water regimes." Thesis, Cranfield University, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/1826/1405.
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The combined effects of ditchwater management regime and sub-irrigation spacing on water table fluctuation have been investigated for two low lying agricultural peatlands in England, West Sedgemoor in the Somerset Moors and Methwold Fen in the
Norfolk Fenlands. The consequence of the resulting soil moisture regimes for
microbially mediated mineralisation of soil organic matter has been examined on peat
samples collected from the upper metre of peat profile from these two test sites.
It is shown that sub-surface tile spacing has a strong influence on the transference of
ditchwater regime to the mid-tile point in the field. Where sub-irrigation spacing is
greater than 40 m the mid-point water table falls to similar levels experienced without
any form of sub-irrigation intervention. Where sub-irrigation is at 10 m intervals the
mid-point water table was found to be close to the water regime maintained in the
ditches.
Differences in field water-table level can lead to considerable variation in the matric
potential experienced at different depths in the peat profile. As a consequence, peats
at different stages of degradation (linked to depth) and under different land uses can
exhibit variable physical and hydraulic properties. The von Post scale, which
describes the degradation status of peats, has been linked to these physical properties
but no simple model has been found between these properties and the von Post score.
A good relationship has been found between saturated hydraulic conductivity and the
van Genuchten alpha value which itself was related to the air entry value for all peats
except the amorphous (unstructured) peat from Methwold fen.
The water management regime, in conjunction with variations in physical and hydraulic properties of different peat types, influences the peat microbial community
structure. At West Sedgemoor those peats that are wetter have predominantly
anaerobic species, whilst those in drier environments have a greater proportion of
aerobic species. At Methwold Fen the variable nature of the water management
strategy appears to have homogenised the microbial community throughout the entire
peat profile, resulting in more aerobic microbes in the deeper peat deposits. The type of microbial community and the degree of peat aeration dictate the efficiency with which soil organic matter is mineralised. Over the period October 2004 - July 2005 the rate of mineralisation in Methwold Fen peat samples averaged 0.40 g CO2-C m-2 hr-1 in saturated samples whilst in drier peat it averaged 0.72 g CO2-C m-2 hr-1. This clearly demonstrates that a wetter peat profile minimises the rate of microbially mediated organic matter mineralisation.
Land use exerts an equally strong influence on microbial activity and can mask the
true extent of soil organic matter mineralisation. Root exudates may offer an
alternative source of organic carbon for microbial metabolic processes. Where the
water table was maintained at 0.3 m below the soil surface respiration rates on grass
covered West Sedgemoor peat samples was, at maximum, 1.46 g CO2-C m-2 hr-1 whilst on bare Methwold Fen peat samples it was less, at 1.06 g CO2-C m-2 hr-1. After removal of all surface vegetation the average rate of respiration switched, with Methwold Fen peats exhibiting a greater rate of organic matter mineralisation (7.27 µg CO2-C g soil-1 hr-1) than West Sedgemoor peats (3.8 µg CO2-C g soil-1 hr-1).
Sub-irrigation modelling, using a drainage theory based water table model, can
adequately simulate the soil water balance. Coupling the output of a comparable
hydrological model (SWAP) with a process based model of nutrient dynamics(ANIMO) demonstrates that under future climate scenarios closely spaced subirrigation
could reduce the mineralisation of soil organic matter to the atmosphere and
reduce subsidence by up to 2mm year-1, thus reducing agricultural peatland contributions to greenhouse gas emissions and improving peatland sustainability1.
Even partial aeration of a moist soil profile can lead to high rates of
mineralisation. However, a combination of ditchwater management and sub-irrigation can, improve the sustainability of low lying peatlands if the management regime maximises the period of complete peatland inundation.
1 Sustainability being defined as maintenance and/or improvement of peat soil resource quality and/or
longevity through the reduction of present day rates of subsidence and mineralisation.
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Klostermann, Judith Elisabeth Maria. "The social construction of sustainability in Dutch water companies." Wageningen : Rotterdam : Alterra Green World Research ; Erasmus University Rotterdam [Host], 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/1765/1073.
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Lee, Wing-sum, and 李穎琛. "Sustainability of the water supply system in Hong Kong." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 2003. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B31255577.
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Kuhn, David Dwight. "Enhancing Aquaculture Sustainability Through Water Reuse and Biological Treatment." Diss., Virginia Tech, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/26723.
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Overfishing of natural fisheries is a global issue that is becoming more urgent as the human population increases exponentially. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, over 70% of the worldâ s seafood species are fully exploited or depleted. This high demand for seafood protein is not going away; and, in fact, an astonishing one out of five people in this world depend on this source of protein. Traditional aquaculture practices use pond and flow-through systems which are often responsible for discharging pollutants into the environment. Furthermore, aquacultural feeds often contain high levels of fish protein, so the demand on wild fisheries is not completely eased. Even though traditional aquaculture has these drawbacks, there is a significant movement towards more sustainable practices. For example, implementing recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) maximizes the reuse of culture water which decreases water demand and minimizes the levels of pollutants being discharged to the environment. And, alternative proteins (e.g., soy bean) are replacing the fish and seafood proteins in aquaculture diets.
Accordingly, the research described in this dissertation focused on maximizing the reuse of freshwater fish effluent to culture marine shrimp. More specifically, by using suspended-growth biological reactors to treat a tilapia effluent waste stream and to generate microbial flocs that could be used to support shrimp culture. This RAS technology will decrease water consumption by increasing the amount of recycled water and will also improve effluent water quality. The biomass generated in the bioreactors could be used to feed shrimp with an alternative source of protein. Treating fish effluent to be reused to culture shrimp while producing this alternative feed, could significantly decrease operational costs and make these operations more sustainable.
Understanding which ions are critical for the survival and normal growth of marine shrimp in freshwater effluents is essential. It is also very important to understand how to convert an effluentâ s organic matter into food for shrimp. Results from studies revealed that the marine shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, can be raised in freshwater effluent when supplemented with specific ions and wet microbial flocs fed directly to shrimp can enhance growth in shrimp fed a restricted ration of commercial feed. The treatability of the tilapia effluent using suspended-growth, biological reactors and nutritional analysis of the generated biomass were also reported. Carbon supplementation enhanced reactor performance and microbial floc generation. These microbial flocs also proved to be a superior feed ingredient when dried and incorporated into a pellet feed.Ph. D.
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Stenekes, Nyree Civil & Environmental Engineering Faculty of Engineering UNSW. "Sustainability and participation in the governing of water use: the case of water recycling." Awarded by:University of New South Wales. School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2006. http://handle.unsw.edu.au/1959.4/28292.
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Urban water recycling has been promoted as one of several ways that water use efficiency could be improved in Australia???s cities, but few such schemes have been introduced. Many urban water-recycling schemes have been proposed, but often, these projects have been rejected because of community opposition. These difficulties suggest that recycling water is not just about having the right answer to any problem, but about the way in which the question is addressed. It is concerned with how practice is institutionalised; not just the rule making, but also the understandings and values that make the rule-making possible. In this thesis, the question of how the system of water governance could be strengthened to encourage sustainable water use through water recycling is examined. An analysis of experiences in three Australian case studies is conducted, in which recycled water was proposed for sustainability, to illuminate the way in which water use is institutionalised. Particular attention is given to the construction of meaning in relation to water use, by considering how water problems are framed and negotiated by different stakeholders and groups and the significance of the multiplicity of interpretive frameworks in use for the institutionalisation of practice. The analysis draws on institutional organisational theory and interpretive methods, which regard interpretation as one element (cognitive) in the stabilisation of social practice and closely linked to organisation (regulative) and values (normative). The study findings suggest meaning was a very important part of institutional change. Participants tended to construct policy issues as they became involved by drawing on different interpretive frameworks embodying different values and expectations. These interpretations reflected the organisational structuring of practice, such that the position/role in the organisational field reflected an actor???s interpretation of problems and/or solutions. Outcomes of the study suggest that institutionalising change in water management is problematic and depends on changes in the regulative, normative and cognitive dimensions of practice, as part of a continuous feedback loop between interpretation and practice. This view of change contrasts with existing research, which tends to see the problem in terms of influencing attitudes of specific groups and assumes preferences precede the action.
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Ng, Kwok-hung Wilson. "Environmental sustainability of grey water recycling in Hong Kong housing /." View the Table of Contents & Abstract, 2006. http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkuto/record/B37117191.
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Alali, Emad Hussain. "Implementing a treated wastewater recharge technique and reverse osmosis unit system for water sustainability." Access citation, abstract and download form; downloadable file 37.69 Mb, 2004. http://wwwlib.umi.com/dissertations/fullcit/3131649.
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Ng, Kwok-hung Wilson, and 吳國雄. "Environmental sustainability of grey water recycling in Hong Kong housing." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 2006. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B4501355X.
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Aslam, Muhammad Sagheer. "Sustainability of community-based drinking water systems in developing countries." Thesis, McGill University, 2014. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=121365.
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A basic framework for sustainable community-based drinking water systems (CBDWS) is studied in this research program; it is based on the performance of existing water supply systems and on the responses to a survey by the various stakeholders. A model for overall sustainability was developed and validated through its application to about 70 CBDWS in rural settings of northern areas of Pakistan (as part of a developing country case study). In addition, analyses and scenario projections of environmental component of sustainability were made along with detailed analyses and syntheses of statistical surveys to gauge stakeholder perspectives and priorities and to incorporate the results in overall sustainability. The study concluded that sustainable CBDWS can be developed and operated only with active participation of stakeholders (grouped by experience as technical, environmental, economic, social, and institutional). The system must maintain safe and drinkable water resources (environmental considerations) and also maintain the potential for renewability through technically optimized design, high quality execution and regular infrastructure maintenance in an economically beneficial and self-reliant set-up. Social and institutional involvement must also be an integral part of the system. Failure of any of these components can affect the sustainability of the entire system. A relevant definition for sustainable CBDWS was formulated, along with the development of a new model for CBDWS sustainability. The model showed that properly maintained sources, proper infrastructure, aware society, stable economy, and effective institutions are linked components of a sustainable CBDWS, and failure of any of these components can affect the sustainability of the entire system. Scenarios for population that would be without access to improved drinking water in 2015 were also projected on the basis of the field studies. The field studies concluded that environmental sustainability in terms of capacity, quality, reliability and protection of drinking water sources is critical. Projection of these findings to a broader level shows that unless urgent measures are undertaken, serious "fallbacks" may occur in the established Millennium Development Goals (MDG) of the United Nations. In the context of the relevant MDG, such fallbacks can reverse the situation to a previously unsustainable condition.The stakeholder subjectivities and priorities for the various elements of CBDWS were examined and quantitatively incorporated into the system. The environmental and institutional components appeared as higher priorities among the various group stakeholders. The environmental component is a higher priority among stakeholders with natural sciences and engineering backgrounds, whereas institutional component (related to community institutions) is the foremost priority for stakeholders with social sciences backgrounds. Finally, for monitoring and evaluating CBDWS, a cost-effective and user-friendly applied framework capable of accommodating field data with varying levels of quality was developed.Un cadre de base pour les systèmes d'eau potable communautaires durables (CBDWS) est étudié dans ce programme de recherche, il est basé sur la performance des systèmes d'approvisionnement en eau existantes et sur les réponses à une enquête menée par les différents intervenants. Un modèle de durabilité globale a été développée et validée par son application à environ 70 CBDWS en milieu rural des régions du nord du Pakistan (dans le cadre d'une étude de cas de pays en développement). En outre, les analyses et les projections du scénario de composante environnementale du développement durable ont été faites ainsi que des analyses et des synthèses détaillées des enquêtes statistiques pour évaluer les perspectives et les priorités parties prenantes et d'intégrer les résultats en matière de durabilité globale. L'étude conclut que CBDWS durables peuvent être développés et exploités uniquement avec la participation active des parties prenantes (défini dans l'étude: techniques, environnementales, économiques, sociales et institutionnelles). Le système doit conserver des ressources en eau salubre et potable (considérations environnementales) et aussi de maintenir le potentiel de renouvellement grâce à une conception techniquement optimisé, l'exécution de haute qualité et un entretien régulier de l'infrastructure d'une manière économiquement avantageuse et autonomes set-up. L'engagement social et institutionnel doit également faire partie intégrante du système. Défaillance d'un de ces composants peut affecter la durabilité de l'ensemble du système. Une définition pertinente pour CBDWS durable a été élaboré, avec le développement d'un nouveau modèle de durabilité CBDWS. Le modèle indique que les sources sont bien entretenus, infrastructures adéquates, la société consciente, une économie stable et des institutions efficaces sont des éléments nécessaires et liés d'une CBDWS durables, et l'échec de l'un de ces composants peut affecter la durabilité de l'ensemble du système. Scénarios pour la population qui seraient sans accès à l'eau potable en 2015 ont également été projetées sur la base d'une étude de terrain. L'étude de terrain a conclu que la durabilité de l'environnement en termes de capacité, la qualité, la fiabilité et la protection des sources d'eau potable est essentielle. Projection des conclusions de l'étude sur le terrain à une plus grande échelle montre que si des mesures urgentes ne sont pas prises, solutions de repli graves peuvent survenir dans les Objectifs du Millénaire pour le développement établis (OMD) des Nations Unies. Dans le contexte des OMD pertinents, ces solutions de repli peuvent inverser la situation d'un état précédemment insoutenable. Les subjectivités des parties prenantes et des priorités pour les différents éléments de CBDWS ont été examinés et quantifiable incorporés dans le système. Les composantes environnementales et institutionnelles sont apparues comme des priorités plus importantes entre les différentes parties prenantes du groupe. La composante environnementale est une priorité plus élevée chez les intervenants en sciences naturelles et en génie milieux, alors que composante institutionnelle (par rapport aux institutions communautaires) est la priorité pratique pour les parties prenantes avec les sciences sociales milieux. Enfin, pour suivre et évaluer CBDWS, un cadre appliqué rentable et convivial, mais bien définie et systématique capable de recevoir des données de terrain avec différents niveaux de qualité a été développé.
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Touchan, Ramzi, and David M. Meko. "Role of Dendroclimatology in Water Sustainability in Semi-Arid Regions." Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/296701.
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Kwong, Pui-ki, and 鄺沛琪. "Surface water quality indicators in China and their implications for sustainability." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 2006. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B36618718.
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Jin, Yizheng. "Essays on the Risks and Returns of Water Investments." Thesis, Griffith University, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10072/367605.
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Water is a vital commodity; essential to life, agriculture and industry. The water industry is one of the largest industries in the world, and is continuously expanding. Humans have been facing substantial water scarcity, especially those in developing countries. However, the severe water stress is not primarily a result of the lack of water resources, but surprisingly, a product of financial underinvestment. Researchers tackle this problem with water mainly from a policymaking perspective, and the driving force of private investments – profit – has been ignored. Hence, there is a need to examine the water industry from the point of view of risks and returns.
To fill this gap, the thesis conducts three studies. The first study investigates the profitability and diversification effect of water investments. Value at Risk and Conditional Value at Risk are estimated for optimal risky portfolios. The results indicate that the water asset class outperforms the traditional asset classes (stocks and bonds), and has the capacity to produce diversification effects in portfolios primarily comprised of listed equity and bond assets. To further understand the factors associated with expected returns, the second study investigates the impact of asset liquidity risk on water companies’ stock returns.Thesis (PhD Doctorate)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Griffith Business School
Griffith Business School
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Brazeau, Randi Hope. "Sustainability of Residential Hot Water Infrastructure: Public Health, Environmental Impacts, and Consumer Drivers." Diss., Virginia Tech, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/26537.
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Residential water heating is linked to the primary source of waterborne disease outbreaks in the United States, and accounts for greater energy demand than the combined water/wastewater utility sector. To date, there has been little research that can guide decision-making with regards to water heater selection and operation to minimize energy costs and the likelihood of waterborne disease.
We have outlined three types of systems that currently dominate the marketplace: 1) a standard hot water tank with no hot water recirculation (STAND), 2) a hot water tank with hot water recirculation (RECIRC), and 3) an on-demand tankless hot water system with no hot water recirculation (DEMAND).
Not only did the standard system outperform the hot water recirculation system with respect to temperature profile during flushing, but STAND also operated with 32 – 36% more energy efficiency. Although RECIRC did in fact save some water at the tap, when factoring in the energy efficiency reductions and associated water demand, RECIRC actually consumed up to 7 gpd more and cost consumers more money. DEMAND operated with virtually 100% energy efficiency, but cannot be used in many circumstances dependent on scaling and incoming water temperature, and may require expensive upgrades to home electrical systems.
RECIRC had greater volumes at risk for pathogen growth when set at the lower end of accepted temperature ranges, and lower volumes at risk when set at the higher end when compared to STAND. RECIRC also tended to have much lower levels of disinfectant residual (40 -850%), 4-6 times as much hydrogen, and 3-20 times more sediment compared to standard tanks without recirculation. DEMAND had very small volumes of water at risk and relatively high levels of disinfection.
A comparison study of optimized RECIRC conditions was compared to the baseline modes of operation. Optimization increased energy efficiency 5.5 – 60%, could save consumers 5 – 140% and increased the disinfectant residual up to 560% higher disinfectant residual as compared to the baseline RECIRC system. STAND systems were still between 3 – 55% more energy efficient and could save consumers between $19 - $158 annual on water and electrical costs. Thus, in the context of “green” design, RECIRC systems provide a convenience to consumers in the form of nearly instant hot water, at a cost of higher capital, operating and overall energy costs.Ph. D.
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Popely, Deborah R. "Strategies to Maintain Adequate Hotel Water Supplies." ScholarWorks, 2018. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/5931.
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Hotel guests can use 2 to 3 times more water than community residents. Hotels are water-intensive businesses, and water scarcity presents a pressing problem for managers who rely on an uninterrupted supply of water to meet guests' needs and maintain profitability. Using the resource-based view (RBV) as a conceptual framework, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies that hotel managers used to successfully maintain adequate water supplies in the Spanish Canary Islands, an historically arid site and a tourism destination. Data were collected from semistructured interviews and hotel water usage reports. Yin's 5-step approach of examining, categorizing, tabulating, testing, and recombining evidence to draw conclusions guided the data analysis. Four key themes emerged from the findings: value water as a strategic business resource, mitigate risks of natural resources scarcity, promote water efficiency and conservation, and sustain supplies through corporate water stewardship. This study may contribute to positive social change by illuminating processes that hotel managers, employees, guests, and partners, can take to improve environmental stewardship and align their practices with sustainable water governance.
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Gonzalez, Paola Andrea. "Water, Sanitation, and Citizenship: Perceptions of Water Scarcity, Reuse, and Sustainability in Valparaiso de Goias, Brazil." Scholar Commons, 2017. https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/7403.
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Access to reliable water and sanitation are two important goals to improve livelihoods around the world. Providing access to improved and safe water resources that are equitable and appropriate to local needs is important to improve sustainability long-term. In addition, framing access to water and sanitation as basic human rights is often used as a rationale in developing new water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions in developing countries around the world. But not all countries consider access to safe water and sanitation as a human right. In the thesis, the politics of improving and investment in water access and sanitation provision are considered. The socio-cultural impacts of lack of sanitation in the lives of residents of Valparaiso de Goias, Brazil are explored. During a period of nine months, I also assessed perceptions of water scarcity and insecurity, and documented ideas of water reuse and sustainability in the area. I found that access to water and sanitation are not viewed as human rights, but as part of a discourse of citizenship and a social right. These services are viewed as a responsibility of the State to its residents because they are Brazilian and because it ensures improved livelihoods for the country’s residents. I also found that access to wastewater treatment infrastructure varied throughout the city, though treatment of wastewater remains very important to the study site community. In addition, the feasibility of implementing sustainable alternatives to address community needs is unlikely, given the infrastructural, financial, and space constraints. Political will and support have an important role in increasing and improving access to sanitation infrastructure. Perceptions of water scarcity varied between local residents and water service providers and other professionals interviewed. Though water is not perceived as scarce, Valparaiso and the Federal District of Brazil are located in a water stressed area, and are therefore more susceptible to water shortages and decreased water availability. Finally, community-based solutions to address water shortages should be included in the expansion of water reservoirs to collect rainwater, the usage of fines and bonuses to encourage appropriate water consumption.
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Beletse, Yacob Ghebretinsae. "The environmental impact and sustainability of irrigation with coal-mine water." Pretoria : [s.n.], 2008. http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-05242009-125253.
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Carr, Gemma. "Water Reuse for Irrigation in Jordan : Soil Sustainability, Perceptions and Management." Thesis, University of Reading, 2009. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.511676.
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Osborne, A. T. "Assessing and improving the sustainability of the Northern Ireland Water Service." Thesis, Queen's University Belfast, 2003. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.483488.
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Al-Shueili, Ali Abdullah Mohamed. "Financial sustainability of the water sector in the Sultanate of Oman." Thesis, Loughborough University, 2014. https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/2134/16132.
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Many of the water sectors in developing countries are facing challenges and obstacles in providing potable water to their customers. These challenges resulted from many reasons such as; shortage of water, huge population, low water tariff, regulations, unplanned development, shortage of financing, absence of commercial orientation and others. Therefore, these sectors are requested to work innovatively to overcome these problems and find out proper solutions. One effective option to address these challenges is appropriate pricing of water. Setting up appropriate water price aims to recover service cost, reduce rate of subsidy and achieve financial sustainability. This research was carried out to determine how to achieve financial sustainability in the water sector in the Sultanate of Oman. The study is based on three main issues, improving the water tariff structure, the role of the customer and his expectation to increase the chance of financial sustainability. Two stages of qualitative and quantitative data collection methods were adopted in order to answer the research question. 22 semi-structured interviews were conducted with PAEW key staff and other relevant parties outside PAEW. 610 quantitative surveys were returned from a total of 1600 PAEW customers to get their views about the role of the customer and his expectations of PAEW in order to increase the chance of financial sustainability. Findings from qualitative data showed the appropriate water tariff is the cost reflective tariff which increases the chance of financial sustainability and cost recovery. The quantitative findings present the willingness of customers' participation and his expectation. Customer participation is expressed in three main roles: leakage and defect reporting, payment and conservation. In all of these, the research outcomes prove the role of the customer and the importance of these roles to increase the chance of financial sustainability. Customer expectations are expressed in customer service, billing system and water service. The outcomes reflect the customer expectations in terms of satisfaction and identify the gap that should be filled by PAEW to make the customer satisfied and loyal.
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Beletse, Yacob Ghebretinsae. "The environmental impact and sustainability of irrigation with coal-mine water." Thesis, University of Pretoria, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/24935.
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The environmental impact and sustainability of irrigation with coal-mine water was investigated from an agricultural point of view on different coal-mines in the Republic of South Africa. Field trials were carried out on a commercial and plot scale, on sites that could offer a range of soil, crop, weather conditions and water qualities such as gypsiferous, sodium sulphate and sodium bicarbonate waters. Crop production under irrigation with gypsiferous mine water is feasible on a field scale and sustainable if properly managed. No symptoms of foliar injury due to centre pivot sprinkler irrigation with gypsiferous water were observed. The presence of high Ca and Mg in the water suppressed plant uptake of K. This could be corrected by regular application of K containing fertilizers. The bigger problem experienced was waterlogging due to poor site selection, especially during the summer months. The problem is not related to the chemistry of the gypsiferous water used for irrigation. Pasture production with Na2SO4 rich mine effluent was also feasible, at least in the short term, but would need a well-drained profile and large leaching fraction to prevent salt build up. Forage quality was not affected by the Na2SO4 water used. NaHCO3 water was of very poor quality for irrigation and is not recommended for irrigation. Salt tolerant crops that are not susceptible to leaf scorching can be produced with this water, but only with very high leaching fractions and careful crop management. Regular gypsum application will be required to prevent structural collapse of the soil. Most of the salts applied will leach from the soil profile, and will probably need to be intercepted for treatment or reuse. The Soil Water Balance (SWB) model was validated successfully. The model predicted crop growth, soil water deficit to field capacity and soil chemistry reasonably well, with simulated results quite close to measured values. Soluble salts have to be leached from the soil profile, so that crop production can be sustainable, but will externalize the problem to the receiving water environment. To assess the environmental impact of irrigation with coal-mine water, it is valuable to develop a tool that can assist with prediction of offsite effects. SWB was validated for runoff quantity and quality estimations, and was found to give reasonable estimates of runoff quantity and quality. SWB also predicted the soil water and salt balance reasonably well. This gives one confidence in the ability of the model to simulate the soil water and salt balance for long-term scenarios and link the output of SWB to ground and surface water models to predict the wider impact of large scale irrigation. This will also link the findings of this work to other research oriented towards the management of mine water and salt balances on a catchment scale. It will also help authorities make informed decisions about the desirability and consequences of permitting mine water irrigation on a large scale. Irrigation with gypsiferous mine water can be part of finding the solution to surplus mine water problems. Appropriate irrigation management of mine water is essential for the long-term sustainability of irrigation.Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2009.
Plant Production and Soil Science
unrestricted
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Xu, Li. "Sustainability science for water: Bibliometric analysis and social-ecological resilience thinking." Thesis, Curtin University, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/1707.
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Incorporating resilience thinking, the thesis uses bibliometric analysis to identify emerging approaches and technology in sustainability science for water resources. It conducts a resilience-based assessment of a Chinese freshwater lake exposed to the disturbances and impacts of the Three Gorges Dam. A new resilience assessment framework is developed and applied in the case of Dongting Lake. Social networks for community resilience to the environmental changes triggered by the dam are also explored.
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Beveridge, Meghan. "Proposing A Water Ethic: A Comparative Analysis of Water for Life: Alberta's Strategy for Sustainability." Thesis, University of Waterloo, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/10012/2907.
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Because water is basic to life, an ethical dimension persists in every decision related to water. By explicitly revealing the ethical ideas underlying water-related decisions, human society's relationship with water, and with natural systems of which water is part, can be contested and shifted or be accepted with conscious intention. Water management over the last century has privileged immediate human needs over those of future generations, other living beings, and ecosystems. In recent decades, improved understanding of water's importance for ecosystem functioning and ecological services for human survival is moving us beyond this growth-driven, supply-focused management paradigm. Environmental ethics challenge this paradigm by extending the ethical sphere to the environment. This research in water ethics considers expanding the conception of whom or what is morally considerable in water policy and management. First, the research proposes a water ethic to balance among intragenerational equity, intergenerational equity, and equity for the environment. Second, the proposed ethic acts as an assessment tool with which to analyse water policy. Water for Life: Alberta's Strategy for Sustainability is the focal policy document for this analysis. This document is an example of new Canadian policy; it represents the Government of Alberta's current and future approach to water issues; and it implicitly embodies the ethical ideas that guided the document's production. To assess Water for Life's success in achieving the principles of the proposed water ethic, this case study used discourse analysis, key informant interviews, and comparison to a progressive international policy document, Securing Our Water Future Together, the 2004 White Paper of Victoria, Australia.
Key conclusions show that Water for Life is progressive by embracing full public participation, a watershed approach, knowledge-generation initiatives, a new planning model, and water rights security. However, barriers exist that can disrupt the strategy's success, including the first-in-time first-in-right water allocation system, the strategy's lack of detail, inadequate protection of aquatic ecosystems, ambiguity of jurisdiction over water in First Nations communities, and under-developed connections between substantive issues. The thesis also outlines recommendations for Alberta and implications for other jurisdictions. Additionally this research offers guidelines and an assessment tool grounded in broad ethical concepts to water policy development; and it encourages making ethical ideas explicit in assessment and formation of equitable and sustainable water policy.
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Money, Alex Luxman Narayanan. "Corporate water risk - and return." Thesis, University of Oxford, 2014. http://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:ddc0441c-ac54-471a-9741-301cb6b21c4a.
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Corporate water risk is a function of resource dependence, which exposes firms to uncertainty. Firms rationally seek to reduce this risk, and this shapes their disclosure strategies. However, the consequence is that corporate water risk disclosure is becoming increasingly unfit for purpose. As current approaches begin to acquire institutional legitimacy and the path-dependent label of best practice, a status quo is becoming embedded, reinforced through mimetic behaviour. The agency problem that this creates is unchecked; in part because of the legitimacy acquired by the disclosure strategies, but also because of temporal myopia exhibited by investors, which contributes to unpredictable decision-making. The status quo also results in sub-optimal resource allocation, a problem that is compounded by the large and growing global infrastructure deficit for water supply and services. This thesis sets out a framework by which the disclosure of corporate water risk can be meaningfully evaluated by investors and other stakeholders; and proposes how the water infrastructure investment gap could be narrowed by the development and application of the corporate water return concept. The research builds on empirical foundations to offer new approaches that address the problems of the status quo. First, it empirically explores perceptions of best practice in terms of water risk disclosure, from the perspective of both listed firms and leading institutional investors (Chapters 3 and 4). Second, it proposes a methodology through which firms can disclose water risks in a systematic format; and advances corporate water return as a complementary concept to water risk, in order to catalyse corporate investment in water infrastructure (Chapters 5 and 6). Resource dependence theory, institutional theory, and stakeholder theory are combined to create a trio of integrative, explicative conceptual narratives that form the overarching thesis structure. The research also draws on other themes from economic geography, including proximity; strategic cognition; transaction costs; and real options theory.
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Rinne, John N. "Hydrology, Geomorphology and Management: Implications for Sustainability of Native Southwestern Fishes." Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science, 2002. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/296590.
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Isberg, Ulrika & Karin Nilsson. "Life Cycle Assessment and Sustainability Aspects of Solvatten, a Water Cleaning Device." Thesis, KTH, Industriell ekologi, 2011. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-127693.
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Solvatten is a water cleaning device for households in developing countries. As a Master Thesis forthe Master of Science in Engineering Programme at Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan a Life CycleAssessment of Solvatten has been conducted. The primary aim was to investigate the environmentalimpacts of Solvatten and compare it with two other common methods of accessing safe water;boiling and bottled water. Information has been gathered by contacting manufacturers and suppliersand analysed in the computer software SimaPro. The stand-‐alone LCA of Solvatten showed that theproduct gives almost no impact on ecosystem quality and human health. As the product mostly ismade of different plastic materials (i.e. fossil fuels), Solvatten has its highest impact in the damagecategory of resources. Hence, most of Solvatten’s environmental impact comes from the materialsand production processes of the black container and the transparent lid. The disposal phase ofSolvatten has been left out of the data analysis as there is a large uncertainty in waste scenarios ofdeveloping countries. Instead, a comparison was made between three different waste scenarios;landfill, incineration, and recycling with European standards. It is clear that recycling is the bestalternative, and Solvatten should show their corporate social responsibility by organizing this. Thecomparative studies conducted for Solvatten, boiling water with firewood and buying bottled waterindicated that due to Solvatten’s long lifetime, the environmental impact for Solvatten is lower. Alsodiscussed in the report are the economic and social aspects of Solvatten, which are a great advantagefor Solvatten since both time and money can be saved. Solvatten is concluded to be a goodalternative for accessing safe water.Solvatten är en produkt för att rena vatten i hushåll i utvecklingsländer. En livscykelanalys avSolvatten har gjorts som examensarbete för civilingenjörsprogrammet på Kungliga TekniskaHögskolan. Det främsta målet med analysen var att utreda Solvattens miljöpåverkan samt att jämföraden med två andra sätt att få tag på rent vatten; kokning och flaskvatten. Information har samlats ingenom att kontakta producenter och leverantörer och sedan analyserat med datorprogrammetSimaPro. Den fristående LCA:n av Solvatten visade att produkten nästan inte ger någon inverkan påekosystem kvalité och hälsa. Eftersom produkten mestadels är gjord utav olika plastmaterial (d.v.s.fossila bränslen), visar analysen högst påverkan i kategorin för råvaror (eng: resources). Den störstadelen av Solvatten’s miljöpåverkan kommer ifrån materialen och produktions processerna för densvarta delen av dunken samt de genomskinliga locken. Avfallshanteringen för Solvatten fickutelämnas ur dataanalysen, då osäkerheten kring olika metoder för avfallshantering är för stor iutvecklingsländer. Istället gjordes en jämförelse mellan tre olika avfallsscenarion; deponering,förbränning och återvinning med europeiska standarder. Det är tydligt att återvinning är det bästaalternativet, och att Solvatten AB borde visa sitt samhällsansvar genom att organisera detta. Denjämförande studien mellan Solvatten, kokning och flaskvatten indikerar att Solvatten har den lägstamiljöpåverkan, på grund av produktens långa livslängd. Rapporten diskuterar även Solvattenshållbarhet ur ekonomiska och sociala perspektiv. De visar att Solvatten har stora fördelar i att bådetid och pengar kan sparas. Slutsatsen är att Solvatten är ett bra alternativ för att få tillgång till rentvatten.
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Isberg, Ulrika, and Karin Nilsson. "Life Cycle Assessment and Sustainability Aspects of Solvatten, a Water Cleaning Device." Thesis, KTH, Industriell ekologi, 2011. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-127694.
Full textAbstract:
Solvatten is a water cleaning device for households in developing countries. As a Master Thesis forthe Master of Science in Engineering Programme at Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan a Life CycleAssessment of Solvatten has been conducted. The primary aim was to investigate the environmentalimpacts of Solvatten and compare it with two other common methods of accessing safe water;boiling and bottled water. Information has been gathered by contacting manufacturers and suppliersand analysed in the computer software SimaPro. The stand-‐alone LCA of Solvatten showed that theproduct gives almost no impact on ecosystem quality and human health. As the product mostly ismade of different plastic materials (i.e. fossil fuels), Solvatten has its highest impact in the damagecategory of resources. Hence, most of Solvatten’s environmental impact comes from the materialsand production processes of the black container and the transparent lid. The disposal phase ofSolvatten has been left out of the data analysis as there is a large uncertainty in waste scenarios ofdeveloping countries. Instead, a comparison was made between three different waste scenarios;landfill, incineration, and recycling with European standards. It is clear that recycling is the bestalternative, and Solvatten should show their corporate social responsibility by organizing this. Thecomparative studies conducted for Solvatten, boiling water with firewood and buying bottled waterindicated that due to Solvatten’s long lifetime, the environmental impact for Solvatten is lower. Alsodiscussed in the report are the economic and social aspects of Solvatten, which are a great advantagefor Solvatten since both time and money can be saved. Solvatten is concluded to be a goodalternative for accessing safe water.Solvatten är en produkt för att rena vatten i hushåll i utvecklingsländer. En livscykelanalys avSolvatten har gjorts som examensarbete för civilingenjörsprogrammet på Kungliga TekniskaHögskolan. Det främsta målet med analysen var att utreda Solvattens miljöpåverkan samt att jämföraden med två andra sätt att få tag på rent vatten; kokning och flaskvatten. Information har samlats ingenom att kontakta producenter och leverantörer och sedan analyserat med datorprogrammetSimaPro. Den fristående LCA:n av Solvatten visade att produkten nästan inte ger någon inverkan påekosystem kvalité och hälsa. Eftersom produkten mestadels är gjord utav olika plastmaterial (d.v.s.fossila bränslen), visar analysen högst påverkan i kategorin för råvaror (eng: resources). Den störstadelen av Solvatten’s miljöpåverkan kommer ifrån materialen och produktions processerna för densvarta delen av dunken samt de genomskinliga locken. Avfallshanteringen för Solvatten fickutelämnas ur dataanalysen, då osäkerheten kring olika metoder för avfallshantering är för stor iutvecklingsländer. Istället gjordes en jämförelse mellan tre olika avfallsscenarion; deponering,förbränning och återvinning med europeiska standarder. Det är tydligt att återvinning är det bästaalternativet, och att Solvatten AB borde visa sitt samhällsansvar genom att organisera detta. Denjämförande studien mellan Solvatten, kokning och flaskvatten indikerar att Solvatten har den lägstamiljöpåverkan, på grund av produktens långa livslängd. Rapporten diskuterar även Solvattenshållbarhet ur ekonomiska och sociala perspektiv. De visar att Solvatten har stora fördelar i att bådetid och pengar kan sparas. Slutsatsen är att Solvatten är ett bra alternativ för att få tillgång till rentvatten.
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Sandhyavitri, Ari. "Fundamental elements of sustainability in urban water supply : case studies in Indonesia." Thesis, University of Manchester, 2002. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.488130.
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Smith, Hazel. "Improving the sustainability of water use in baby leaf salad cropping systems." Thesis, University of Southampton, 2013. https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/354419/.
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Future food security is under threat from both climate change and human population growth. Water scarcity is a major limitation to crop production worldwide and the effects of climate change are likely to exacerbate this. Furthermore, an ever increasing human population is driving our demand for food, fuel and fibre. In combination, climate change and population growth, and their interaction, creates a complex problem with regards to improving plant productivity with which to maintain food security. If crop production can be made more efficient, agricultural intensification can be achieved without the need to expand the world’s cropped area, which is unfeasible. Leafy salad crops are of significant nutritional value and are eaten globally, thus making them an exciting target for improving resource use efficiency in agriculture. This research focuses on water as a resource and takes two complementary approaches. Firstly, to improve the crop genetically so it produces more ‘crop per drop’ without a detrimental impact on yield. Secondly, the aim was to improve irrigation management in a commercial setting in order to use water more efficiently while attaining optimal crop yield and quality. Candidate SNPs within the lettuce genome have been elucidated which control both fresh weight and water use efficiency and these can now be used to inform a marker assisted selection breeding program. This breeding will produce a more water use efficient lettuce crop, which is not compromised in its ability to produce biomass, while also retaining the favoured traits of currently used commercial crops. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated using thermal imagery that water savings of almost 20% can be made in a commercial setting without any impact on crop yield or quality. The water savings which we have provided, if extended commercially, will confer significant savings in terms of water, waste and money.
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Tu, Qingshi. "Assessment of Selected Sustainability Aspects of Biodiesel Production: Water and Waste Conservation." University of Cincinnati / OhioLINK, 2012. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1342730602.
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Liu, Lu. "Carbon dioxide and water speciation in hydrated cements, a focus on sustainability." Pullman, Wash. : Washington State University, 2009. http://www.dissertations.wsu.edu/Thesis/Spring2009/l_liu_1042009.pdf.
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Thesis (M.S. in environmental engineering)--Washington State University, May 2009.Title from PDF title page (viewed on May 14, 2009). "Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering." Includes bibliographical references (p. 71-74).
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Teschner, Na'ama. "Integrated transitions toward sustainability : the case of water and energy in Israel." Thesis, University of Leeds, 2012. http://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/12752/.
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Water and energy sectors encompass large infrastructural systems, face increased scarcities and have been argued to have locked-in structures. Questions of how technological breakthroughs occur and how the underlying policies and institutional structures change are therefore important for responding to socioeconomic pressures and to improve environmental sustainability. This thesis aims to re-theorise the interplay of technology, policies and discourses within sociotechnical regimes and to examine the merits of these relations from an intersectoral perspective. This dissertation combines insights from the literature on science and technology studies, policy dynamics and policy integration and uses the integrated approach to examine parallel and interrelated dynamics in the Israeli water and energy regimes, making use of the interpretative policy analysis methodology and a range of qualitative methods. The dissertation makes three analytical contributions. Firstly, the dissertation highlights how the power of technology in shaping and transforming policy regimes has been underestimated in the current literature about policy dynamics. The dissertation exemplifies this by the case of desalination technology which had the capacity to transform the Israeli water sector. I suggest that technological breakthroughs that rendered seawater desalination economically feasible, undermined long-lasting hydro-ideological support for agriculture, introduced new ideas about water abundance, and engendered changes in paradigms, institutional structures and constellation of actors. Desalination technology contributed to this shift by destabilizing the existing structure through re-framing and dis-placing important issues, such as environmental externalities, economic costs and hard political choices, to other policy sectors and levels of governance as well as reallocated them between politicians, bureaucrats and water professionals. Secondly, the dissertation argues that the focus of the sociotechnical transitions literature has been on structural changes with predefined objectives and suggests that a more fluid and agency-based ideas about discourses - as presented by discursive institutionalism - can provide contrast and complement. The dissertation exemplifies the usefulness of this cross-fertilisation by analysing the rise of four technological alternatives to current Israel's coal-based energy regime. I suggest that the regime is shifting away from the traditional scarcity discourse towards a new discourse on energy abundance. The new energy abundance discourse was created by policy networks, who promote natural gas, oil shale, nuclear energy and solar energy as energy alternatives although their mainstreaming still faces formidable uncertainties and various constraints. The findings also support the premise that a change from constructed scarcity of energy resources to their abundance potentially reconstructs socio-technical transitions, future pathways or technological trajectories and institutional arrangements at large. Thirdly, the dissertation examines how sectoral transitions may be coupled and technological regimes may co-evolve. The dissertation demonstrates that while transition management literature examines how long-term structural changes could be directed toward greater sustainability, it has, however, mostly taken a sectoral approach which neglects the potential interdependencies between sociotechnical changes and policy dynamics in different sectors. The thesis examines the water-energy nexus in Israel and suggests that transitions of the water and energy sectors in Israel are physically, spatially and financially coupled. Yet, inter-sectoral institutional structures, management apparatus and niche-induced innovations were found to be lacking integrative capacities, driven by an inherent strategy of supply- side management and around the unaltered, implicit, core belief in the need to secure independent and ultimately unlimited sources of water and energy. In practice, integrated transitions management could therefore play a crucial role in re-orienting trajectories in the water and energy sectors, re-designing transition arenas and articulating transition pathways. This could encourage technology-mediated policy realignments on the basis of more comprehensive and longer-term problem solving rather than on the opportunities technologies offer for problem avoidance or postponement. Further policy recommendations highlight the merits and pitfalls of greater cohesion in the policy arena, including the effectiveness of procedural tools such as the regulatory impact assessment.
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Ries, Matthew Paul. "Sustainability at U.S. Urban Water Utilities: A Framework to Assess Key Attributes." Scholar Commons, 2016. https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/6367.
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Urban water utilities in the United States face challenges due to a combination of external drivers. These include urbanization and population growth, which are stressing a system of aging infrastructure. Compliance with increasing regulations is also a challenge in a fiscally-constrained economic environment. A changing climate threatens infrastructure and past assumptions for water supply and quality. Urban utilities provide clean water and sanitation services to over 80% of the country’s population and its industrial centers. Therefore, the sustainability of these water utilities are crucial to the country’s and the public’s well-being.
New operating models are emerging for a “utility of the future.” Future utilities will recover resources, reduce their overall environmental impact, partner in the local economy, and deliver watershed-wide benefits to improve quality of life. These are all elements of a sustainable utility, but the sector has not agreed upon an applicable definition of sustainability, which intuitively incorporates an inter-generational approach to utility operations. For the purposes of this research, a sustainable utility is defined as one that will provide its crucial services for current and future generations, protect public and environmental health, and enable economic growth, all while minimizing resource consumption. Previous research provided little guidance on the most important sustainable practices for U.S. urban water utilities or the key attributes of those utilities that enable the shift toward sustainability. Additionally, the practice of sustainability measurement, and the closely-related practice of performance measurement, has not been widely adopted in the U.S. water sector.
This research program addressed the challenge of providing guidance on, and measurement of, sustainability by developing a framework to quickly and quantitatively assess a utility’s sustainability and key organizational attributes. A mixed methods approach to this research used qualitative and quantitative methodologies. The approach utilized accepted anthropological methods to assess engineering and business concepts at water utilities. Data originated from semi-structured interviews of an external advisory committee of 12 widely-recognized, progressive, U.S. water utility leaders along with online surveys of water utility professionals.
The analyzed data revealed the most important sustainable practices for sustainable utilities and organizational attributes that enable the shift toward sustainable operations. Practices are actionable, quantitative, and in some cases, unique to the water sector. Attributes are generally qualitative; largely controlled by internal decisions and actions; and influence a utility’s ability to operate sustainably. Datasets for sustainable practices and organizational attributes were generated using the techniques of discourse analysis on the semi-structured interview transcripts and freelisting on the online survey results. Top results from each dataset were cross-compared to generate the final, consolidated list of top practices and attributes.
A sustainability index was developed from the top eight sustainable practices, measured via a total of 14 indicators. Indices were tailored to water, wastewater, and combined utilities. The top sustainable practices were: Education and Communication; Financial Management; Green Infrastructure; Habitat/Watershed Protection; Long-term Resource Plan; Resource Recovery; and Water Conservation. These eight practices provided sufficient coverage of the economic, social, environmental, and infrastructure components of the triple bottom line-plus concept used to frame sustainability for this research.
This research also established the top six organizational attributes that enable the shift toward sustainability. These attributes were: Board Support / Political Will; Flexible Staff; Innovative Culture; Leadership; Organizational Commitment; and Staff Training / Development. These six attributes were assessed via a total of seven indicators, with guidance and scaling similar to the practices for ease of use by the end user.
Current sustainability and performance measurement frameworks were analyzed for indicators and measurement approaches that matched the top practices and attributes. Some of the practices and only one of the six attributes matched an existing framework. When there was a match, the existing assessment was used to help with ease of use. In other cases, new indicators, guidance, and scaling (for assessment) were developed. Practices and attributes without a match suggests these aspects of sustainable utilities are relatively new to the sector, or at least, measurement of these practices and attributes is not widespread.
The practices and attributes were combined into the final framework, a survey tool, which was pilot tested with three water utilities. The pilot testing demonstrated that the survey was comprehensive, yet at the same time, concise enough that it could be completed in under two hours by a limited number of utility staff. The application of this framework to a representative sample of U.S. urban water utilities can generate data to establish which attributes correlate to sustainable utilities. This will help utilities focus their limited resources on attributes which are shown to enable the shift toward sustainability.
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Klinchuch, Matthew Timothy. "Coupled Surface Water-Groundwater Model to Analyze Sustainability of the Atascadero Subbasin." DigitalCommons@CalPoly, 2012. https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/theses/785.
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The Atascadero Subbasin, located on the central coast of California, is a small, hydraulically separated sub-region of the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin. Three local cities operate approximately 40 wells to pump the Subbasin for their entire water supply needs. Past studies have questioned sustainability of the Subbasin as the combined pumping rate by the three cities is nearing the perennial yield of the Subbasin. The studies have been inconclusive as some areas of the Subbasin have seen increases in water table elevation thus questioning the assessment that consumption is nearing perennial yield. The objective of this research was to perform a water balance study for the aquifer and examine sustainability of the Subbasin. Surface water and groundwater models were developed to investigate the interaction between the Salinas River Alluvium Soils and the deeper Paso Robles Formation based on pumping from different shallow and deep wells. Surface water hydrology of the Subbasin was studied using HEC-HMS, and Visual MODFLOW was used to model the aquifer. Both HEC-HMS and Visual MODFLOW was calibrated to improve simulation accuracy. HEC-HMS was used to quantify natural recharge to the aquifer and to simulate streamflow and water level for the Salinas River. HEC-GeoHMS was used to delineate the watershed, create sub-watersheds and channel networks, and to extract sub-watershed inputs that were used to build HEC-HMS from geospatial data including land use, soil and topography data. Different hydrogeologic layers were defined to represent the alluvium and deeper soils. Results show that currently the Atascadero Subbasin does not appear to be in overdraft as shallow groundwater wells pump Salinas River underflow and the alluvium appears to be providing some recharge to the deeper aquifer. These findings would provide municipal and water managers better understanding of where their water comes from, the effects of their pumping, and could help with developing sustainable management strategies for the Subbasin.
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Springer, Adam C. "Creating Water Conscious Communities: An Examination of Household Water Conservation in a Decade of Drought." Diss., The University of Arizona, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/205213.
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Water security is becoming an increasing concern for communities in the southwestern United States. Projected decreases in water availability due to climate change combined with increased demands from a rapidly growing population have many concerned about the sustainability of the water supply in coming years. As water availability becomes an increasing concern, greater efficiencies must be made to increase the resilience of the water supply system. This dissertation analyzes the efforts of Tucson, Arizona households to conserve water during the hottest and driest decade in the city's recorded history, between 2000 and 2009. This study utilizes survey data to statistically examine the motivations for household adoption of five conservation methods: rainwater harvesting systems, graywater systems, xeriscaping, high-efficiency devices and volunteerism for public water conservation projects. Following the statistical analysis, interviews were conducted with participants to provide further context for analyzing the results. This mixed method approach reveals that drought alone did little to directly encourage household water conservation over the decade. However, public water conservation initiatives that were launched during the decade made a significant contribution to increasing household water conservation. Households consistently cited a desire for more information about the implications of the current drought status as well as additional information about their individual household's water use.
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Dong, Jodi Vanessa. "Splintering Urbanism and Sustainable Urban Water Management in Sydney and Melbourne." Thesis, Griffith University, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10072/367918.
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In Australia, examination of water problems has traditionally centred on the country’s frequent droughts and their impact on agricultural communities. However, since the 1980s, weather patterns have shifted and urban water storages have reached the lowest levels on record. Further, pollution from industry, agriculture and urban regions into waterways, creeks and rivers is degrading entire ecosystems. Studies have been carried out in the 1990s and early 2000s on the tools, techniques and policies to overcome these urban water problems. However, a major barrier to implementation is that the analyses remain largely situated in the fields of engineering, biology, and chemistry. Although some literature examines governance issues, it deals primarily with the professional water management sector, and the actions to be taken on a local scale (within Australia). The goal of this thesis was to transcend this boundary and consider whether barriers to sustainability are a symptom of broader political, social and economic shifts occurring in urban infrastructure in industrialised countries. Accounting for these shifts would provide a comprehensive understanding of the context in which these barriers occur, and improve the implementation of sustainable urban water management. Graham and Marvin’s Splintering Urbanism (Graham & Marvin, 2001) provides this comprehensive framework. Splintering Urbanism is an exploration of how complex social and economic shifts such as globalisation and privatisation intersect with rapidly evolving technologies and transform urban infrastructure networks from a singular centralised, public network to a more fragmented, complex set of networks that are ‘unbundled’. This thesis applied components of the Splintering Urbanism framework related to unbundling in an Australian urban water context. Two case studies in Sydney and Melbourne were conducted. The case studies found that the trends identified in Splintering Urbanism may act as a barrier to sustainable urban water management. However, it also found that the mere presence of these dynamics does not preclude the failure of sustainable urban water management. Rather, the effect depends on the context and institutional conditions. These conditions include: biophysical makeup of the region; the historical and contemporary culture of planning; political leadership; and the relationship between social and environmental advocates and the state and local water authorities. In both case studies, environmental sustainability has not been achieved. In Melbourne, due to a strong social advocacy sector and culture of state-wide planning, the effect on social sustainability, at least, has been minimal. Sydney, in contrast, has experienced a greater impact due to the institutional conditions. These include a lesser degree of state-wide planning and a ii divided policy culture that make the city vulnerable to fragmentation and unbundling. An additional finding showed that the environmental movement facilitates fragmentation and unbundling in Australia. It does so three ways. First, it advocates private sector participation, mechanisms, and ownership of urban water supply and treatment systems. Second, the “neoliberalisation” of environmental groups creates a philosophical division between environmental and social advocates in their solutions to water problems. Third, environmental advocates promote a decentralised approach to water supply and treatment. While decentralised systems may have environmental benefits, they also open institutional pathways to unbundling. Though the findings are specific to these regions, they can be generalised to comment on the effect of unbundling and the privatisation of public infrastructure and services. That is, without leadership and planning, the processes driving splintering become barriers to sustainability. If institutions continue to follow the paths identified in this study, greater fragmentation and social unsustainability may occur, resulting in increased ecological unsustainability.Thesis (PhD Doctorate)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
School of Environment
Science, Environment, Engineering and Technology
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Lara, Cervantes René Fernando. "Assessment of Policy Changes of the Impacts of Urbanization, Economic Growth and Decentralization of Water Services with Regard to Water Quality in Mexico." Doctoral thesis, Vysoká škola ekonomická v Praze, 2011. http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-264067.
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The thesis studies the case of water quality in Mexico as a crucial factor to prevent water scarcity. This is an important issue for Mexico since more than half of its territory is arid or semi-arid; moreover, the most productive regions are located in areas with significant water resources stress. In this regard, the current situation of water scarcity is studied from the changes in water management derived from the evolution of institutions in the country. The institutional changes were analyzed mostly in the transition from a centralized water supply and sanitation services with strong state intervention to the decentralization of such services that were transferred to municipalities. Decentralization was addressed by analyzing the performance of water supply and sanitation services in urban areas that are expected to continue growing in the near future. The literature shows that the decentralization process has been partial and has not improved as expected the performance of water supply and sanitation services, moreover, due to political reasons, limited human and financial resources it introduced more challenges to the accomplishment of sustainable water management. More importantly, the federal government is still the main agent for the development of the water sector in Mexico. The next part of the analysis consist of a quantitative and qualitative evaluation regarding water quality for the three most productive Hydrological-Administrative Regions (HARs) of Mexico in the period of 2003-2013. The HARs chosen are the HAR VI Río Bravo, HAR VIII Lerma Santiago Pacific and HAR XIII Waters of the Valley of Mexico which are very similar in terms GDP share and water stress degree. Through OLS regression models for each HAR the impacts of demographic, economic, water supply and sanitation services aspects were tested to known their effects on water quality. In order to improve the discussion of the results, additional to the comparison with the results of the literature review, three experts were asked to answer a questionnaire about the regressions outcome. The discussion showed different impacts of the independent variables in the dependent variable of each HAR, sometimes leading to unexpected results. The main conclusions of the thesis relate to the improvement of decentralization of water and sanitation services, to the need to improve data for future analyses and pay more attention to water quality issues. In this regard, decentralization requires to consider contextual differences in order to seize its advantages to improve the performances of water supply and sanitation services, moreover, at the operative level water management decisions must be taken without political interests involved. The statistical analyses stressed the need to develop more reliable data about water management issues to improve the understanding of factors that could potentially affect water quality. In this regard, the creation of useful statistical indicators to assess the evolution towards sustainability in water management. The considerations for future research must consider more seriously water quality issues. This topic has been often ignored, however, it is crucial for water scarcity abatement.
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Springer, Adam C., and Steiguer J. E. De. "Enhancing the Sustainability of Community-Based Watershed Initiatives through Social Network Analysis." Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/296702.
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Van, Wyk Hendrik C. "Water Wise Centre, Prinshof - Pretoria." Diss., Pretoria : [s.n.], 2003. http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-11242003-142554.
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Gardner, Ambar Alexis, and Ambar Alexis Gardner. "Sustainability Toolkit: An Education Tool for Behavioral Change Strategies." Thesis, The University of Arizona, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/625288.
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Purpose: There is a worldwide movement towards sustainability. A stepping-stone towards a sustainability conscience population starts in the education of the younger generation. Focusing on improving sustainability education will shift and shape youths' interests and lifestyles into an educated community that will work sustainably. A sustainability conscience community will continue to make moral sustainable decisions in their future endeavors.
The gap between theory and practice of sustainability is substantial. Educational institutions must be the leaders in this subject to mold future generations’ incoming leaders into sustainability conscious critical thinkers. Current environmental issues such as climate change, CO2 Emissions, poverty and so on must impact these educational institutions to make sustainability education a priority in its curriculum. Addressing this problem requires a holistic approach which integrates sustainability education earlier on to grasp further understanding of sustainability actions in higher education and in society.
Sustainability education exists in all levels. Although, sustainability education is much more prominent in higher education institutions as opposed to Elementary, Middle, and High Schools. Consequently, less students are prepared with the desired sustainability knowledge needed in higher education and students' future careers to instill in their disciplines since behavior is achieved through repetitive actions that were not set as a foundation earlier in their education.
Approach: There were two approaches in this research. The first research approach was conducting a survey in 120 students, half of them in secondary education and the other half in higher education. The survey was formatted to analyze three different questions: 1) whether students in high school and higher education knew about sustainability 2) whether students' lifestyle consisted of pro-environmental actions, 3) and whether they learned to perform these actions in secondary education or higher education. The second approach was to create an educational tool to implement sustainability behavioral change strategies in their everyday lifestyles.
Findings: Study found that most students are aware about sustainability. However, most students engage in pro-environmental actions in higher education because they started learning about them in higher education. Therefore, although most secondary education students are aware about sustainability, they aren't engaging in pro-environmental actions. In conclusion, a sustainability toolkit was created based on behavioral change strategies to reduce water usage, CO2 emissions, energy consumption, and waste output in their school and everyday lifestyles.
Value: The efforts of sustainability in Higher Education have been clear in most recent years, although, there is still much resistance to change, transform and reimagine society and education for sustainability. The future of life and social world on Earth is in jeopardy since poverty, climate change, and lack of peace is occurring worldwide. Sustainability education must respond and act on this challenge subsequently to respect all forms of life and future generations. The mission of the sustainability toolkit is to create a pedagogy to assist educational institutions and communities to develop the skills and knowledge to work sustainably.
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Thaller, de Zarate Celina. "Silent waters – Diving beyond the resource nexus : A critical case study of clothing brands on water sustainability issues." Thesis, Uppsala universitet, Institutionen för geovetenskaper, 2020. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-419420.
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The clothing industry can be linked to problematic issues of social equity and environmental sustainability worldwide. This is manifested in the every-day consumer behavior of industrialized societies, which heavily relies on geographically distant labor and resources. Therefore, this thesis looked at the interconnection of social equity and environmental sustainability from a nexus perspective. Nexus approaches are increasingly defining the pathway to sustainable development, yet they typically represent resource-efficient and technological solutions. This form of problematizing water sustainability can keep long-term societal justice problems ‘beneath the surface’, meaning that they are less considered. The WPR approach was used as an analysis tool to understand underlying implications of water sustainability problematizations in the clothing industry. An embedded single case study on the Sweden Textile Water Initiative (STWI) was conducted, which included and integrated literature review, brand document analysis and semi-structured interviews. The initiative’s goal is to help clothing brands to address water sustainability issues along the supply chain. The results show that water sustainability stands in connection to four overarching themes; environmental issues, economic issues, technological issues and socio-political issues. There is a consensus in the literature and amongst the industry representatives that the problems connected to water sustainability in the clothing industry mainly occur on factory level in producing countries. Additionally, the results show that brands have difficulties to act on their responsibility as strong influencers of the supply chain if there is not a business case. Overall this thesis concludes that the classical nexus approach is not a sufficient solution to water sustainability issues if resources make up the center of analysis and social implications are only considered secondary effects.
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Ramsey, Scott C. "The Effects of Living Water on Participants' Connection to Nature." Thesis, Prescott College, 2018. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=10815090.
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In recent years a surge in research focused on the influences of water on humans. However, few have studied the effects of water on our relationship with nature, particularly to explore enduring impressions from a longitudinal perspective. Addressing these gaps, this qualitative exploratory research enlisted a case study methodology that employed multiple methods to investigate how a multi-day wilderness trip on the Tatshenshini River might affect participants’ connection to nature and position toward a sustainable lifestyle. The 12 participants were administered the Kellert Shorb Biophilic Indicator (KSBVI) questionnaire prior to the trip and reflected in journals during the experience. Six months after the trip ended a survey was administered. After 16 months, in-depth interviews were conducted. The results suggest that immersion into river time, an experience conceptualization that connected participants to nature’s rhythm, generally equated with a flow state and a condition of blue mind, positively influenced their connection to nature. It appears that living water in concert with awe-inspiring encounters in the natural world enhanced and affirmed participants’ position toward a sustainable lifestyle. Furthermore, this multi-day wilderness experience seemed to inform their orientation toward sustainability. The findings suggest that further research into the lasting effects of river time and awe within these types of contexts is warranted.