WaterWired

Water, Volume 6, Issue 6 (June 2014) - Open Access

Back for another open-access issue!

Water, Volume 6, Issue 6 (June 2014), Pages 1482-1872

If you are unable to download the papers here, visit the issue's WWW site here.

Enjoy!

Caveat emptor: The publisher of this journal, MDPI, has been listed by librarian Jeffrey Beall as a 'questionable publisher'. 

 Table of Contents:

Article: Climatic Characteristics of Reference Evapotranspiration in the Hai River Basin and Their Attribution
by Lingling Zhao, Jun Xia, Leszek Sobkowiak and Zongli Li
Water 2014, 6(6), 1482-1499; doi:10.3390/w6061482 
http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/6/6/1482/

Article: Water Banks: Using Managed Aquifer Recharge to Meet Water Policy Objectives
by Sharon Megdal, Peter Dillon and Kenneth Seasholes
Water 2014, 6(6), 1500-1514; doi:10.3390/w6061500 
http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/6/6/1500/

Article: Urban Flood Vulnerability and Risk Mapping Using Integrated Multi-Parametric AHP and GIS: Methodological Overview and Case Study Assessment
by Yashon Ouma and Ryutaro Tateishi
Water 2014, 6(6), 1515-1545; doi:10.3390/w6061515 
http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/6/6/1515/

Article: Analysis of the Possible Use of Solar Photovoltaic Energy in Urban Water Supply Systems
by Bojan Đurin and Jure Margeta
Water 2014, 6(6), 1546-1561; doi:10.3390/w6061546 
http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/6/6/1546/

Article: Future Climate Forcings and Olive Yield in a Mediterranean Orchard
by Francesco Viola, Domenico Caracciolo, Dario Pumo, Leonardo Noto and Goffredo Loggia
Water 2014, 6(6), 1562-1580; doi:10.3390/w6061562 
http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/6/6/1562/

Article: Identifying Major Factors Affecting Groundwater Change in the North China Plain with Grey Relational Analysis
by Xue Li, Guomin Li and Yuan Zhang
Water 2014, 6(6), 1581-1600; doi:10.3390/w6061581 
http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/6/6/1581/

Article: Water Relationships in the U.S. Southwest: Characterizing Water Management Networks Using Natural Language Processing
by John Murphy, Jonathan Ozik, Nicholson Collier, Mark Altaweel, Richard Lammers, Andrew Kliskey, Lilian Alessa, Drew Cason and Paula Williams
Water 2014, 6(6), 1601-1641; doi:10.3390/w6061601 
http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/6/6/1601/

Article: Enhancing the Predicting Accuracy of the Water Stage Using a Physical-Based Model and an Artificial Neural Network-Genetic Algorithm in a River System
by Wen-Cheng Liu and Chuan-En Chung
Water 2014, 6(6), 1642-1661; doi:10.3390/w6061642 
http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/6/6/1642/

Article: The Economics of Groundwater Replenishment for Reliable Urban Water Supply
by Lei Gao, Jeffery Connor and Peter Dillon
Water 2014, 6(6), 1662-1670; doi:10.3390/w6061662 
http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/6/6/1662/

Article: Effect of Hydrograph Separation on Suspended Sediment Concentration Predictions in a Forested Headwater with Thick Soil and Weathered Gneiss Layers
by Naoki Kabeya, Akira Shimizu, Jian-Jun Zhang and Tatsuhiko Nobuhiro
Water 2014, 6(6), 1671-1684; doi:10.3390/w6061671 
http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/6/6/1671/

Technical Note: Use of Pollutant Load Regression Models with Various Sampling Frequencies for Annual Load Estimation
by Youn Park and Bernie Engel
Water 2014, 6(6), 1685-1697; doi:10.3390/w6061685 
http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/6/6/1685/

Article: Water Footprint and Impact of Water Consumption for Food, Feed, Fuel Crops Production in Thailand
by Shabbir Gheewala, Thapat Silalertruksa, Pariyapat Nilsalab, Rattanawan Mungkung, Sylvain Perret and Nuttapon Chaiyawannakarn
Water 2014, 6(6), 1698-1718; doi:10.3390/w6061698 
http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/6/6/1698/

Article: Exposure of Mediterranean Countries to Ocean Acidification
by Nathalie Hilmi, Denis Allemand, Mine Cinar, Sarah Cooley, Jason Hall-Spencer, Gunnar Haraldsson, Caroline Hattam, Ross Jeffree, James Orr, Katrin Rehdanz, Stéphanie Reynaud, Alain Safa and Sam Dupont
Water 2014, 6(6), 1719-1744; doi:10.3390/w6061719 
http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/6/6/1719/

Article: Assessing Climate Change Impacts on Water Resources and Colorado Agriculture Using an Equilibrium Displacement Mathematical Programming Model
by Eihab Fathelrahman, Amalia Davies, Stephen Davies and James Pritchett
Water 2014, 6(6), 1745-1770; doi:10.3390/w6061745 
http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/6/6/1745/

Article: Public Perception of Water Consumption and Its Effects on Water Conservation Behavior
by Liangxin Fan, Fei Wang, Guobin Liu, Xiaomei Yang and Wei Qin
Water 2014, 6(6), 1771-1784; doi:10.3390/w6061771 
http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/6/6/1771/

Article: Photocatalytic Degradation of Phenol and Phenol Derivatives Using a Nano-TiO₂ Catalyst: Integrating Quantitative and Qualitative Factors Using Response Surface Methodology
by Marissa Choquette-Labbé, Wudneh Shewa, Jerald Lalman and Saravanan Shanmugam
Water 2014, 6(6), 1785-1806; doi:10.3390/w6061785 
http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/6/6/1785/

Article: Effect of Selected Plant Extracts and D- and L-Lysine on the Cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa
by Miquel Lürling and Frank van Oosterhout
Water 2014, 6(6), 1807-1825; doi:10.3390/w6061807 
http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/6/6/1807/

Article: Investigation of Groundwater Flow Variations near a Recharge Pond with Repeat Deliberate Tracer Experiments
by Jordan Clark, Sheila Morrissey, Jason Dadakis, Adam Hutchinson and Roy Herndon
Water 2014, 6(6), 1826-1839; doi:10.3390/w6061826 
http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/6/6/1826/

Article: Species-Specific Variations in the Nutritional Quality of Southern Ocean Phytoplankton in Response to Elevated pCO₂
by Cathryn Wynn-Edwards, Rob King, Andrew Davidson, Simon Wright, Peter Nichols, Simon Wotherspoon, So Kawaguchi and Patti Virtue
Water 2014, 6(6), 1840-1859; doi:10.3390/w6061840 
http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/6/6/1840/

Article: Development of a Continuous Phytoplankton Culture System for Ocean Acidification Experiments
by Cathryn Wynn-Edwards, Rob King, So Kawaguchi, Andrew Davidson, Simon Wright, Peter Nichols and Patti Virtue
Water 2014, 6(6), 1860-1872; doi:10.3390/w6061860 
http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/6/6/1860/

“It’s always darkest before it becomes totally black.” - Unknown 

Tuesday Dutch Treats: Middle East Water, UN Water, Post-2015 Agenda, 'Living with Water Scarcity' & More

With the Dutch shredding their group in the 2014 FIFA World Cup (3 wins, no losses/draws, a blowout 5-1 win over defending champion Spain, and 10 total goals scored) I thought it would be appropriate to honor their expertise in water resources as well.

Friend and colleague Michael van der Valk of the Dutch Portal to International Hydrology sent this information my way. This portal is an excellent site for water resources information so check it often. It frequently has free downloads that cost money elsewhere. The title of each post is hot, so click to access downloads (if there are any).

Vanishing Water Landscapes in the Middle East
On 11 June 2014 Francesca de Châtel successfully defended her PhD thesis
on water in Syria. The Jordan River has been reduced to 2% of its historic size and is heavily polluted. Across Syria, rivers are shrinking, springs have dried up, and the desert is spreading. The water crisis in the Middle East, the most water-scarce region in the world, is rapidly worsening, yet decision-makers appear unwilling to acknowledge its severity and water remains low on the political agenda. How can this gap between the reality of growing scarcity on the ground and the continued illusion of plenty be explained?


Water, Drought, Climate Change, and Conflict in Syria
In May 2013, a year ago, Thomas Friedman, writing for the International Herald Tribune and New York Times, was one of the first to acknowledge the importance of drought, the lack of water and possibly climate change in the Syrian revolution. »Kids without books, teachers or classes for a long time ­ that’s trouble. Big trouble.«, he wrote. And »the drought and unemployment were important in pushing people toward revolution«, a Syrian lady was quoted. Building on this and on other information, Peter Gleick, in his paper "Water, Drought, Climate Change, and Conflict in Syria", to be published in July 2014, also concludes that drought, water and agricultural management, and climatic conditions are factors in the Syrian conflict.


United Nations Watercourses Convention enters into force
On 19 May 2014 Viet Nam acceded to the UN Watercourses Convention, making it the 35th country to join this global instrument. The accession by Viet Nam to the United Nations Watercourses Convention triggered its entry into force by bringing the number of Parties to the required total of 35. The 1997 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses (United Nations Watercourses Convention) will enter into force on 17 August 2014.


UN-Water’s technical advice on a possible Water Goal: Securing Sustainable Water for All
What should be to role of water in the Post-2015 Development Agenda? This was one of the questions in the expert consultation process that UN-Water undertook all year during 2013 to help UN Member States in their forthcoming intergovernmental negotiations. The outcome – an evidence-based paper and an Executive Summary – recommends a prioritization of water through a dedicated goal with five interlinked targets, that builds on and extends existing commitments such as the Millennium Development Goals and the priorities agreed at Rio+20. But what is the goal? Securing sustainable water for all!


Improving food security in the Sahel is difficult, but achievable
Africa’s Sahel suffers from degraded soils, erratic rainfall, and an exploding population – all of which hold huge implications for the region’s food security. This year the situation is especially dire. Valerie Amos, the United Nations coordinator for emergency relief, estimated that 20 million people in the Sahel will face hunger this year, requiring $2 billion in food aid. WRI’s Chris Reij writes about it.

Knowledge and capacity development in the water sector: special issue of Water Policy
Water management is particularly dependent on strong capacity, a solid knowledge base and awareness at all levels, including those of the individual, the organization, the sector institutions and the ‘enabling environment’. Yet getting all levels to operate in a coherent manner is challenging, and requires vision and leadership. A special issue of Water Policy seeks to further the understanding of leadership in knowledge and capacity development in the water sector. However, its theoretical and methodological insights will be of interest beyond that arena. The special issue resulted from selected papers presented at the 5th Delft Symposium on Water Sector Capacity Development held in Delft, The Netherlands. The best thing: they are free to download!

Collectively, the contributions examine knowledge and capacity development in both the water services and water resources sub-sectors. In order to be linked well to current local realities, the papers rely on both academic analyses based on empirical research as well as practitioners’ accounts based on their professional experience. They present an overview of the current state of the art in knowledge and capacity development in the water sector.

Living with Water Scarcity – new book
Do you worry that there is not enough water for people, the economy and environment? Do you wonder if the water in our taps and rivers is safe or polluted? Do you want to know if farmers waste water, utilities charge too much, or bottled water destroys ecosystems? You are not alone in asking questions. The headlines say "drought, pollution, conflict and insecurity," but the stories offer few solutions. Living with Water Scarcity [by David Zetland] clarifies the connections among personal and social water flows in an accessible style.

'Al draagt een aap een gouden ring, het is en blijft een lelijk ding.' - Dutch proverb  ["Although a monkey wears a golden ring, it remains an ugly thing."]

Elaine J. Hanford's Bulletin Boards: 1) Geosciences; 2) Enviro-Sciences - 23 June 2014

Another suite of fascinating news articles from Elaine and Spot.

Do you know of a colleague who would be interested in receiving these Bulletin Boards? Please forward to them. A quick email to [email protected] with the word "subscribe" in the subject line and the email address will be added to the listing. 

Elaine's previous Bulletin Boards are archived here. 

Geosciences Bulletin Board – 23 June 2014 - Compiled by Elaine J Hanford. Compilation of selected current news articles pertinent to the discipline. 

 

Workers once again digging for fossils at La Brea Tar Pits….you can go watch the work!

http://news.yahoo.com/scientists-resume-digging-la-brea-tar-pits-001531670.html

 

Once again, accusations of selective data management to prove global warming

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/environment/10916086/The-scandal-of-fiddled-global-warming-data.html

 

The CO2 debate related to fracking is over…but what about methane?

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/actually-one-last-thing-debate-140954524.html

 

Japan to set up research center for Fukushima decommissioning processhttp://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/06/19/national/japan-to-set-up-research-center-for-fukushima-decommissioning-process/#.U6RVGiLn-M8

 

Overall weather pattern if El Niño continues to develop…but Nevada may stay dry

http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/United_States_El_Nino_Impacts_999.html

 

6 million year relationship between ocean currents & climate

http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Scientists_discover_link_between_climate_change_and_ocean_currents_over_6_million_years_999.html

 

New Zealand rejects ocean floor mining project because of environmental concerns

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/19/business/international/new-zealand-rejects-mining-project-on-pacific-seafloor.html

 

New technology based on “muons” may help assess Fukushima damage

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/18/world/asia/measuring-damage-at-fukushima-without-eyes-on-the-inside.html

 

New behavior identified as water freezes…it splits into two liquid forms

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/06/140618140018.htm

 

Want to become famous by discovering impact crater on Earth? Good luck!

http://phys.org/news/2014-06-big-impact-craters-earth.html

 

Antarctic ice bergs are now scouring the ocean floor

http://news.sciencemag.org/climate/2014/06/antarctic-icebergs-decimating-seafloor-life

 

California declares Exide Technologies hazardous waste permit application to be deficient

http://www.latimes.com/science/la-me-exide-20140618-story.html

 

Something unexpected at a Bachelor’s Party --- finding a mastodon skull

http://www.livescience.com/46383-bachelor-party-discovers-mastodon-skull.html

 

NASA has now measured effect of gravitational pull on the shape of the moon

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/18/earth-gravity-moon_n_5506759.html

 

Two studies reveal variation in rates of plate motions over time

http://www.geologytimes.com/research/Studies_show_movements_of_continents_speeding_up_after_slow_middle_age.asp

 

GEER report: 2014 Cephalonia, Greece Earthquakes

http://www.geerassociation.org/GEER_Post%20EQ%20Reports/Cephalonia_Greece_2014/index.html

 

New study to look at five-dimensional modeling of sedimentary basins

http://sydney.edu.au/news/84.html?newsstoryid=13626

 

New ideas on the cause of repetitive slow earthquakes in subduction zones

http://www.livescience.com/46386-what-causes-slow-slip-earthquakes.html

 

New Burgess Shale fossil site found in Kootenay National Park may be richer than original

http://www.earthmagazine.org/article/new-burgess-shale-fossil-site-found-canada%E2%80%99s-kootenay-national-park

 

Earth was a boring place to be when algae & microbial slime ruled

http://www.livescience.com/46366-continents-life-boring-billion-tectonics.html

 

Melting & re-freezing produces warped layer cake structures in the Greenland Ice Sheet

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/weird-layer-cake-warps-found-in-greenland-s-ice/

 

Geology travel – trekking Tajikistan

http://www.earthmagazine.org/article/travels-geology-trekking-high-terrain-tajikistan

 

Swarm of moderate earthquake in Alaska is puzzling

https://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/20140616/strange-swarm-earthquakes-near-noatak-confounds-scientists-frightens-residents

 

Wind-whipped wildfire raging across Navajo Nation: Assayii Lake Fire in New Mexico

http://news.yahoo.com/mexico-wildfire-rages-native-american-reservation-064622430.html

 

Natural silicate-perovskite found in a meteorite & Earth mantle: named Bridgmandite

http://news.yahoo.com/earths-most-abundant-hidden-mineral-finally-seen-named-101832984.html

 

Several small earthquake swarms have occurred recently on Mauna Loa

http://news.yahoo.com/mauna-loa-volcano-may-rumbling-back-life-101802631.html

 

Enviro-Sciences Bulletin Board – 23 June 2014 - Compiled by Elaine J Hanford. Compilation of selected current news articles pertinent to the discipline. 

 

Rapidly approaching 7 Billion humans on Earth
http://www.ecori.org/beyond-the-region/2014/6/3/7-billion-and-counting-thats-a-lot-of-people.html

 

MERS – a clear and present danger that we need to address now

http://www.nature.com/news/present-danger-1.15414?WT.ec_id=NATURE-20140619 

 

Two MERS cases in the US did not spread to health workers or families

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/17/two-mers-cases-spreading-relatives-healthcare-cdc

 

One of the worst outbreaks of Ebola continues in West Africa…it is “out of control”

http://news.yahoo.com/doctors-without-borders-ebola-control-133729407.html

 

Chikungunya has now spread from the Caribbean to Central America

http://news.yahoo.com/chikungunya-virus-spreads-caribbean-c-america-213203766.html 
 
Third study links pre-natal exposure to pesticides with development of autism

http://news.yahoo.com/study-links-pesticide-exposure-pregnancy-autism-123742370.html

 

Eisenhower’s “Atoms for Peace” speech was written aboard the very first Air Force One

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehwvZXVKmPU  
 
Photo essay:   Cancer results from years of arsenic exposure from mining in China

http://finance.yahoo.com/photos/arsenic-pollution-sows-despair-in-chinese-cancer-village-1403529435-slideshow/

 

Oil drilling (and flaring) threatens Teddy Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota

http://news.yahoo.com/oil-drilling-threatens-solitude-national-park-141938095.html

 

Plundering of graves by medical students in late 1700s in NY led to medical revolution

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/gory-new-york-city-riot-shaped-american-medicine-180951766/

 

Minnesota copes with floods …disaster declarations….sewage systems affected

http://www.startribune.com/local/263954251.html 

 

Bacon preservative (far more toxic to pigs than people) tested as poison for feral hogs

http://news.yahoo.com/bacon-preservative-tested-feral-hog-poison-143035707.html

 

Pictorial:  America the Beautiful ever-changing

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/breathtaking-photographs-americas-ever-changing-landscapes-180951780/

 

Scientists trying to determine cause of die-offs of starfish along Western US coast

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/scientists-zero-whats-causing-starfish-die-offs/

 

Endangered species may stop proposed construction of Interstate Tollway in IN & IL

http://posttrib.suntimes.com/news/lake/28035815-418/opponents-hope-bat-mussel-can-stop-illiana-construction.html

 

New research focuses on breaking through protective barrier of drug-resistant bacteria

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/06/140618140014.htm

 

Two horses euthanized in Texas after being stung by swarm of Africanized bees

http://www.thehorse.com/articles/34069/texas-horses-dead-after-being-swarmed-by-bees

 
Passenger pigeon has been extinct for more than 100 years, but….

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SCI_EXTINCT_PIGEON

 

Identifying one mechanism that ants use when forming ant rafts in times of flood

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/when-fire-ants-build-rafts-there-are-no-free-loaders-180951738/

 

Personal Care Products with micro-beads may disappear from store shelves

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_GREAT_LAKES_PLASTIC_POLLUTION 

 

Millions of dollars of Homeland Security money been spent where there are no terrorists

http://www.allgov.com/news/where-is-the-money-going/south-dakota-has-raked-in-100-million-dollars-in-homeland-security-grants-despite-no-known-terrorist-threatsever-140617?news=853428

 

Four former EPA officials testifying before Congress do not support WH climate claims

http://www.glennbeck.com/2014/06/20/akward-four-former-epa-heads-refuse-to-corroborate-obamas-global-warming-claims/ 

 

If El Niño brings more rain to Western States, then incidences of diseases will change

http://www.treehugger.com/climate-change/el-nino-could-bring-rain-west-and-disease.html  

 

Like your macaroni & cheese?  It contains chemical dyes that are banned in Europe

http://www.allgov.com/news/top-stories/chemicals-that-are-banned-in-europe-but-widespread-in-us-140615?news=853409

 

One more year granted….potential for listing Great Barrier Reef as “in danger”

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/environment/conservation/australia-on-notice-over-great-barrier-reefs-environmental-damage-20140618-zsdts.html

 

“these are not your average bears” which show distinct sexual behavior

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/17/brown-bear-oral-sex_n_5500255.html

 

Los Angeles residents now have website to track air pollution from local factories

http://www.technology.org/2014/06/18/factory-near-spewing-toxins-ucla-students-create-website-tell/

 

In Austin, Texas, 2006 ban on pavement sealers protecting Lady Bird Lake

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/06/140618122253.htm

 

New Chesapeake Bay Water Agreement signed to restore & protect the watershed

http://cenews.com/post/5996/landmark-agreement-signed-to-restore-and-protect-chesapeake-bay-watershed

 

Canada approves Northern Gateway Oil Pipeline despite environmental opposition

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/18/business/energy-environment/canada-approves-northern-gateway-pipeline.html

 

Are you eating organic?  Understanding “Organic Certification”

http://www.resilience.org/stories/2014-06-16/why-grow-organic

 

Earthquake Insurance is now big business in the State of Oklahoma

http://time.com/2890114/oklahoma-earthquake-fracking-insurance/

 

Kayaking the North Carolina coast is marred by the raw sewage

http://www.onearth.org/articles/2014/06/dawsons-creek-is-full-of-shit-the-actual-creek-not-the-show

 

GEER report:  2014 Cephalonia, Greece Earthquakes

http://www.geerassociation.org/GEER_Post%20EQ%20Reports/Cephalonia_Greece_2014/index.html

 

Only humans are allergic to poison ivy…but killer fungus may help!

http://ens-newswire.com/2014/06/12/scientists-find-killer-fungus-that-attacks-poison-ivy/

 

Urban areas in the US may have reached “peak sprawl”

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/has-the-u-s-reached-peak-sprawl/

 

The distribution of unhealthy air across the world (interactive map)

http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/06/the-air-we-breathe/372411/

 

We know animals can migrate long distances…now there’s proof that trees can do it

http://www.nature.com/news/tree-hitched-a-ride-to-island-1.15419?WT.ec_id=NATURE-20140619

 

UNESCO to rule on Australian desire to revoke protected status and log forest

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-27857337

 

Exploring unconventional sources for fresh water supplies

http://www.nature.com/news/the-parched-planet-water-on-tap-1.15411

 

Efforts to ensure ethical treatment of patients using stem cell therapy

http://www.nature.com/news/stem-cells-taking-a-stand-against-pseudoscience-1.15408?WT.ec_id=NATURE-20140619

 

Perspective:  Why Americans need to “re-wild” and get back in touch with Nature

http://news.yahoo.com/why-humanity-must-rewild-op-ed-191930071.html

 

NECIR Report cites difficulties and problems associated with testing for Lyme disease

https://necir.creatavist.com/lymediseasetesting#

 

Ocean creatures believe in adapting & preparing for the upcoming El Niño

http://www.grindtv.com/outdoor/nature/post/early-signs-point-strong-disruptive-el-nino/

 

Under federal grant, New Hampshire to begin developing new disaster mitigation plan

http://www.claimsjournal.com/news/east/2014/06/16/250310.htm

 

In Amsterdam, they’re using massive 3-D printer to build a plastic house

http://inhabitat.com/worlds-first-3d-printed-house-under-construction-in-amsterdam/

 

Utah begins Environmental Impact Statement on railroad line to ship Uinta Basin crude oil

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/58065320-90/amp-rail-oil-mile.html.csp

 

Foods and medicines that should NOT be taken together…could be dangerous

http://health.yahoo.net/articles/mens-health/7-dangerous-drug-and-food-combinations

 

"Eternal boredom is the price of constant vigilance." - Unknown

Shilling for the World Coal Association? Cornerstone, Volume 2, Issue 1: Mike Hightower on Water & Energy

Shill alert? Moi?

Below I have posted a PDF of Cornerstone, the official journal of the World Coal Association, that was launched about a year ago.  

Download Cornerstone_Spring2014

You can read the issue online here.

What prompted me to post this 'house organ'? It was the cover story by a former New Mexico colleague, Mike Hightower of Sandia National Laboratories. Mike has been working on the water-energy interface long before it became fashionable and is one of the smartest guys in the room when it comes to this item. I do not view him as having an agenda supporting the coal industry, but his message may not find great favor with some.

Hightower, Michael, Reducing Energy’s Water Footprint, Driving a Sustainable Energy Future, in Cornerstone, the Official Journal of the World Coal Industry, Vol. 2, Issue 1, Spring 2014.

Water is an essential natural resource that impacts all aspects of life: Clean and abundant supplies of water are vital for supporting the production of food, public health, industrial and energy development, and a healthy environment. Water is an integral part of energy extraction, production, and generation. It is used directly in hydroelectric power generation and is used extensively for thermoelectric power plant cooling and emissions control. Water is also used for energy resource extraction such as gas shale fracking and development, biofuels production, coal and uranium mining and processing, as well as for oil and natural gas refining and energy resource transportation.

Click to enlarge this table:

Mike makes the point that the "water footprint, more so than the carbon footprint, could be the critical factor in defining a secure, resilient, and sustainable energy future for countries around the world".  

Besides the aforementioned article, there are several others related to water as well as an editorial. Feel free to take any of these with a lump of coal.

 Enjoy!

"Our mission is to defend and grow markets for coal based on its contribution to a higher quality of life globally, and to demonstrate and gain acceptance that coal plays a fundamental role in achieving the least cost path to a sustainable low carbon and secure energy future." - Michael Catelin, WCA Chief Executive

Cogent Comments from South Asia: SIWI, WWW, GWP & IWRM

Alphabet soup!

Happy solstice!

I received this email from a South Asian (Indian) friend (hydrogeologist) who congratulated me on being selected for the Steering Committee of the Stockholm-based Global Water Partnership. My appointment is not official until the GWP's Sponsoring Partners approve it at their September meeting. For that reason I have not told many people but I have been getting congratulatory emails so I guess it's fine to mention it.

Then, thinking I'm now some kind of big wheel, he made these comments about the Stockholm World Water Week and IWRM.  

1) While working in the SC of GWP, I request you to include ground water in the technical programs of the World Water Week in Stockholm. In early days of GWP when Dr. Ismail Serageldin (V.P. of World Bank) was with GWP, he understood the importance of ground water as a resource providing over 50% of irrigational supply and over 70% of rural domestic supply. He had invited me to Water Week in 1997-98 and 99. After his departure from GWP,  surface water, water quality, waste water treatment and economics have almost hijacked the Water Week.

2) As regards the IWRM, although a few cases could be cited as examples, it is still a topic which is more talked about than practiced in low-income countries. The Government [India] owns most of the surface water but is not able to manage it properly (political reasons) so that we are losing thousands of hectares each year due to water logging because of over-irrigation from Canal Water. On the other hand Government cannot manage ground water properly because it does not own it. Farmers do have a strong sense of ownership of whatever water occurs below their farms. Thus, the Government owns surface water but cannot manage it and the Government cannot manage ground water because it does not own it!

It should be noted that the World Water Week is organized by the Stockholm International Water Institute. Here is a list of the WWW's 2014 Scientific Programme Committee;  Will Sarni is a hydrogeologist and I know Prof. Jan Lundqvist has groundwater expertise. 

I have not been to a WWW since 2007 but based on that and my earlier (2005) experience I agree with my friend's assessment of the status of groundwater at the WWW. At the 2005 meeting I did mention the lack of groundwater to a former student in my groundwater hydrology class at the University of Nevada-Reno who had risen to a position of influence at WWW. Guess I wasn't very persuasive.

But then again, perhaps things have changed since 2007.

"If one listens to the wrong kind of music, he will become the wrong kind of person." - Aristotle (quoted in the New York Times, via The Week).