Water-Energy Nexus of Brackish Water Desalination for Mitigating Water Scarcity Region: Challenges, Performance, and Potential Solutions | Chapter 1 | Science and Technology - Recent Updates and Future Prospects Vol. 7

Water scarcity represents one of the greatest challenges facing the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Jordan is the second water-scarce country in the world, with only 100 m3 per capita, which is less than the minimum estimated limit for safe water supply (500 m3 per capita) by about five times. Thus, the water deficit in Jordan is alarming. It is projected to increase with the rapid progression in water demands associated with the unsustainable population and economic growth patterns. In the water-energy nexus (WEF-Nexus), the water challenges are associated with issues related to securing energy sources since the country imports about 97% of its energy supply. The pressure created in the water sector led to higher electricity tariffs, which negatively impacted the agricultural, domestic, and primarily industrial sectors. The high energy costs are hindering the industrial growth in Jordan. This study confirms that increasing water demands have imposed the exploitation of most groundwater sources in Jordan and deteriorated its quality, specifically by increasing salinization. Additionally, in the context of food-water-energy nexus, poor brine management, especially in the agricultural sector, has been identified as one of the primary causes of soil damage due to high salt concentrations, which is inducing the rate of desertification, leading to a drastic decline in the farming capacity in Jordan. The potential of brackish water reverse osmosis desalination to combat the water deficit in Jordan was assessed in this study in the context of the water-energy nexus. Interviews and surveyed questioners were employed to multiple stakeholders from different sectors in Jordan, including the agricultural, domestic, and industrial sectors. Challenges were faced in data collection as the brackish water reverse osmosis desalination technology is considered somehow new in Jordan.

 

Three brackish water desalination plants were assessed from the agricultural, domestic, and industrial sectors. The study shows that the capacity of medium-scale brackish water desalination plants powered by the electricity network was in the range of 460-1240 m3/day. They had a specific energy consumption of 2.7-5.6 kWh/m3, and the desalination cost was about 0.62-1.18 USD/m3. In comparison, the larger brackish water desalination plants had a 12,600-32,400 m3/day capacity. Their average specific energy consumption was about 3 kWh/m3, and approximately the desalination cost was 0.65 USD/m3. It was concluded that the larger the plant’s capacity, the less water production costs become. The brackish water desalination plants in the industrial sector were associated with the highest economic and energy consumption. In general, there is a need to improve the water and energy performance of the assessed brackish water desalination plants in Jordan. This reduces the pressure created by the over-pumping of groundwater sources and the associated operating costs. Jordan is blessed with an abundance of solar energy, so photovoltaic (PV) solar panels have been suggested to reduce the energy consumption patterns for the assessed brackish water reverse osmosis plants to get closer to our energy benchmark of 1.3 kWh/m3. In this study, the installation of PV panels showed about 50-54% energy and cost reduction in the lifetime period estimated as 15 years for the brackish water desalination plants in the industrial sector and 20 years for those in the agricultural and domestic sectors. The study showed promising results for the potential cost-effectiveness of brackish water reverse osmosis desalination powered by PV panels (PV-BWRO desalination).

 

Author(s) Details

Ahmed N. Bdour

Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The Hashemite University, Zarqa, Jordan.

Raha M. Al-Kharabsheh

R&I Centre for the Conservation of Biodiversity and Sustainable Development (CBDS), Faculty of Forestry and Natural Environment Engineering, Universidad Politecnica de Madrid, Spain.

 

Please see the link:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/strufp/v7/952

Economic Impact of Global Water Scarcity: An Overview |Chapter 5 | Science and Technology: Recent Updates and Future Prospects Vol. 10

 

The aim of this paper is to examine the economic impact of global water scarcity on both developed and developing nations. Water, like any other natural resource, is vital to a nation’s economic growth and existence. Water scarcity is dynamic and complex, emerging from the combined influences of climate change, basin-level water resources, and managed systems’ adaptive capacities. Beyond geophysical stressors and responses, it is critical to also consider how multi-sector, multi-scale economic teleconnections mitigate or exacerbate water shortages. Without adequate water supplies, a nation will face severe economic problems as well as social unrest and political instability. The current problem many nations face is their dwindling water supply. This paper will also examine how a lack of clean water will hurt a nation’s economic growth and its ability to be a viable player in global trade and be able to provide for its people. This study will also look at the causes of water scarcity and how the problem can be rectified. Policymakers and government leaders can act in a clear and decisive manner to improve the infrastructure in their respective cities, towns, states, and countries, global water scarcity will only get worse.  Improving infrastructure to provide abundant water is no longer an option, but a vital necessity.

 

Author(s) Details

Arthur S. Guarinoa
Department of Finance and Economics, Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey, USA.

 

Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/strufp/v10/1494

Assessing the Challenges of Crop Water Requirements on Agricultural Productivity and Food Security in Ghana: An Empirical Review | Chapter 12 | Research Advances and Challenges in Agricultural Sciences Vol. 2

This review delves into how crop water requirements affect crop production and food security of Ghana. The study used a sophisticated methodology that sources pertinent literature using several search engines. It sought to clarify the complex relationship involving crop yield and water availability by concentrating on elements including climate, crop type, growth stage, and management techniques. The study emphasizes the problems with water scarcity worldwide and how they directly affect agricultural productivity. Improving water productivity in agriculture is essential, as demonstrated by the countries that are experiencing domestic agricultural deficits because of water scarcity, including Greece, Italy, Mexico, Spain, and Italy. The article examines crop water requirements (CWR), how they vary throughout crops and geographies, and how climate change is predicted to affect them. Many scholars in Ghana have indicated how important agriculture is to the country's economy and food security. The productivity and sustainability of agriculture are threatened by changes in water supply and climate change. According to studies, climate change would increase the amount of water needed for irrigation and crops, increasing the danger of water scarcity and crop failure. Water availability, water quality, usage, and water governance are all positively and negatively impacted by large-scale land acquisitions (LSLAs), as is demonstrated by the assessment of LSLAs' effects. The paper closes with a discussion of the worldwide effects of climatic variability and change on food security and water shortages from a biophysical, socioeconomic, institutional, and political perspective. To solve these intricate difficulties, it is emphasized that effective water management, sustainable agriculture, and adaptive techniques are essential.

Author(s) Details:

Abdul-Ganiyu Shaibu,
University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana.

Please see the link here: https://stm.bookpi.org/RACAS-V2/article/view/13113

Rainwater Harvesting for Remote Rural Areas: Remote Sensing Data Based Approach Blue Nile Area, Sudan| Chapter 12 | Research Developments in Science and Technology Vol.4

Methods for collecting the volume of water necessary for long-term water supply are crucial. The bulk of physical water scarcity occurs in remote rural areas across the world that receive enough rainfall. In these locations, there are insufficient Surface Rainwater Harvesting Systems (SRHS) to collect the requisite water volume. To address this issue, a Surface Rainwater Harvesting Approach (SRHA) based on remote sensing data was provided. The suggested approach was tested on existing surface rainwater harvesting systems (SRHS) in residential and agricultural regions within the research area. The investigation's major goal is to show the importance of remote sensing data in reducing physical water shortage in rural regions. The research region is around 11,000 km2 and is limited by latitudes 11°-12° N and longitudes 33°-34° E. The SRTM90 DEM data in the research region was processed using the QGIS application program's hydrological components. The hydrological model for the area was created, catchment areas were identified, and drainage capacity for specific test sites was calculated. The findings showed that the remote sensing data-based approach can locate places with drainage capacities 82 and 8 times more than traditional systems in the residential and agricultural sectors, respectively. These findings revealed that the suggested technique can make selecting the optimum surface rainwater collection locations in remote rural regions easier, resulting in a more stable water supply and a reduction in physical water shortage.

Author(s) Details:

Gar Al-Nabi Ibrahim Mohamed,
Hydrographic Surveying Department, Faculty of Maritime Studies, King Abduazizi University, KSA.

Please see the link here: https://stm.bookpi.org/RDST-V4/article/view/6861

Predicting the Water Use Demand as a Climate Change Adaptation Solution for Rice Planting Crops in the Context of Climate Change | Chapter 2 | Cutting-edge Research in Agricultural Sciences Vol.2

 

This work investigates the impacts of climate change (ICC) on water use demand of rice planting
crops in the Long Xuyen Quadrangle (LXQ). Crop model was selected to evaluate the irrigation water
demand, actual evapotranspiration (ETc) and effective rainfall (ER) of rice planting crops based on the updated report on emission scenarios which are issued by Vietnam's Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment for three future time scales (2016-2035, 2046-2065 and 2080-2099) of
Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP) 4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios.
The results showed that the winter-summer and summer-autumn planting crops need more irrigation
water demand in the growing and developmental stage for time scales of RCP4.5 and RCP8.5
scenarios. Comparing current climate condition the tends to decrease of irrigation water demand in
the initial and development stages of autumn-winter planting crop with arranging from 2.9-12.9% and
10.0-18.2%, respectively corresponding to time scales of RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios is found and
a significant downward trend in the late stage approximately 5.8-20.0% and 13.6-20.7%, respectively
for RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios also recorded

Author(s) Details

Seung Kyu Lee
University of Science, VNU-HCM, 227 Nguyen Van Cu Str, 5 Dist., Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Truong An Dang
University of Science, VNU-HCM, 227 Nguyen Van Cu Str, 5 Dist., Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

View Book :- https://bp.bookpi.org/index.php/bpi/catalog/book/252