WaterWired

Water 4(1) - March 2012: Flood Risk Management, Recycling & Reuse, Climate Change & More!

  Looks like a great issue. If you have trouble accessing the material, go directly to the issue's homepage.

Enjoy!

Adam Dassey and Chandra Theegala

Article: Optimizing the Air Dissolution Parameters in an Unpacked Dissolved Air Flotation System

Water 2012, 4(1), 1-11; doi:10.3390/w4010001

Received: 22 November 2011; in revised form: 19 December 2011 / Accepted: 22 December 2011 / Published: 27 December 2011
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 Vudipong Davivongs, Makoto Yokohari and Yuji Hara
Article: Neglected Canals: Deterioration of Indigenous Irrigation System by Urbanization in the West Peri-Urban Area of Bangkok Metropolitan Region
Water 2012, 4(1), 12-27; doi:10.3390/w4010012
Received: 20 October 2011; in revised form: 7 December 2011 / Accepted: 21 December 2011 / Published: 9 January 2012
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Saloua Rochdane, Barbara Reichert, Mohammed Messouli, Abdelaziz Babqiqi and Mohammed Yacoubi KhebizaArticle: Climate Change Impacts on Water Supply and Demand in Rheraya Watershed (Morocco), with Potential Adaptation StrategiesWater 2012, 4(1), 28-44; doi:10.3390/w4010028 Received: 12 October 2011; in revised form: 5 December 2011 / Accepted: 31 December 2011 / Published: 9 January 2012
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Vasilis Kanakoudis, Stavroula Tsitsifli and Anastasia PapadopoulouArticle: Integrating the Carbon and Water Footprints’ Costs in the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC Full Water Cost Recovery Concept: Basic Principles Towards Their Reliable Calculation and Socially Just AllocationWater 2012, 4(1), 45-62; doi:10.3390/w4010045 Received: 27 October 2011; in revised form: 14 December 2011 / Accepted: 29 December 2011 / Published: 16 January 2012Show/Hide Abstract | Download PDF Full-text (727 KB)

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Managing Water Resources and Development in a Changing Climate)

 Tingju Zhu and Claudia RinglerArticle: Climate Change Impacts on Water Availability and Use in the Limpopo River BasinWater 2012, 4(1), 63-84; doi:10.3390/w4010063Received: 30 November 2011; in revised form: 8 January 2012 / Accepted: 10 January 2012 / Published: 16 January 2012Show/Hide Abstract | Download PDF Full-text (1068 KB) 
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Managing Water Resources and Development in a Changing Climate)
 

Daniel Gilles, Nathan Young, Harvest Schroeder, Jesse Piotrowski and Yi-Jia Chang

Article: Inundation Mapping Initiatives of the Iowa Flood Center: Statewide Coverage and Detailed Urban Flooding Analysis

Water 2012, 4(1), 85-106; doi:10.3390/w4010085

Received: 2 November 2011; in revised form: 31 December 2011 / Accepted: 6 January 2012 / Published: 16 January 2012

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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Flood Risk Management)

 

Valentina Lazarova, Vincent Sturny and Gaston Tong Sang

Article: Relevance and Benefits of Urban Water Reuse in Tourist Areas

Water 2012, 4(1), 107-122; doi:10.3390/w4010107

Received: 30 December 2011; in revised form: 7 January 2012 / Accepted: 7 January 2012 / Published: 31 January 2012
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water Recycling and Reuse)
 

Laurent Ahiablame, Bernard Engel and Taisha Venort

Article: Improving Water Supply Systems for Domestic Uses in Urban Togo: The Case of a Suburb in Lomé

Water 2012, 4(1), 123-134; doi:10.3390/w4010123

Received: 22 November 2011; in revised form: 10 January 2012 / Accepted: 20 January 2012 / Published: 1 February 2012

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Marc Daniel Heintz, Maria Hagemeier-Klose and Klaus Wagner

Article: Towards a Risk Governance Culture in Flood Policy—Findings from the Implementation of the “Floods Directive” in Germany

Water 2012, 4(1), 135-156; doi:10.3390/w4010135

Received: 1 December 2011; in revised form: 16 January 2012 / Accepted: 16 January 2012 / Published: 2 February 2012

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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Flood Risk Management)

Jay R. Lund

Article: Flood Management in California

Water 2012, 4(1), 157-169; doi:10.3390/w4010157

Received: 13 December 2011; in revised form: 29 January 2012 / Accepted: 3 February 2012 / Published: 14 February 2012

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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Flood Risk Management)

Sönke Dangendorf, Thomas Wahl, Hartmut Hein, Jürgen Jensen, Stephan Mai and Christoph Mudersbach

Article: Mean Sea Level Variability and Influence of the North Atlantic Oscillation on Long-Term Trends in the German Bight

Water 2012, 4(1), 170-195; doi:10.3390/w4010170

Received: 9 January 2012; in revised form: 30 January 2012 / Accepted: 13 February 2012 / Published: 24 February 2012

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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Flood Risk Management)

Bruno Mazzorana, Laura Levaggi, Omar Formaggioni and Claudio VolcanArticle: Physical Vulnerability Assessment Based on Fluid and Classical Mechanics to Support Cost-Benefit Analysis of Flood Risk Mitigation StrategiesWater 2012, 4(1), 196-218; doi:10.3390/w4010196Received: 28 December 2011; in revised form: 8 February 2012 / Accepted: 13 February 2012 / Published: 28 February 2012Show/Hide Abstract | Download PDF Full-text (319 KB)

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Flood Risk Management)

Amos Bick, Leonid Gillerman, Yossi Manor and Gideon Oron

Article: Economic Assessment of an Integrated Membrane System for Secondary Effluent Polishing for Unrestricted Reuse

Water 2012, 4(1), 219-236; doi:10.3390/w4010219

Received: 23 January 2012; in revised form: 17 February 2012 / Accepted: 20 February 2012 / Published: 5 March 2012

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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water Recycling and Reuse)

Andrew A. Mather and Derek D. Stretch

Article: A Perspective on Sea Level Rise and Coastal Storm Surge from Southern and Eastern Africa: A Case Study Near Durban, South Africa

Water 2012, 4(1), 237-259; doi:10.3390/w4010237

Received: 3 February 2012 / Accepted: 20 February 2012 / Published: 5 March 2012

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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Flood Risk Management)

Iosif E. Kapellakis, Nikolaos V. Paranychianakis, Konstantinos P. Tsagarakis and Andreas N. Angelakis

Article: Treatment of Olive Mill Wastewater with Constructed Wetlands

Water 2012, 4(1), 260-271; doi:10.3390/w4010260

Received: 6 February 2012 / Accepted: 17 February 2012 / Published: 12 March 2012

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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water Recycling and Reuse)

Dongya Sun, Dawei Zhang and Xiaotao Cheng Article: Framework of National Non-Structural Measures for Flash Flood Disaster Prevention in China Water 2012, 4(1), 272-282; doi:10.3390/w4010272 Received: 6 February 2012; in revised form: 22 February 2012 / Accepted: 12 March 2012 / Published: 19 March 2012 Show/Hide Abstract | Download PDF Full-text (1121 KB) (This article belongs to the Special Issue Flood Risk Management)

"Water is the earth's eye, looking into which the beholder measures the depth of his own nature." ~ Henry David Thoreau (thanks to Dorian Roffe-Hammond)

Texas Twofer: 1) Grace (@KHayhoe); and 2) GRACE (Jay & His Satellites)

Two people who are making a difference - both with Texas connections, but two different types of 'grace'.

1) Grace (@KHayhoe)

An evangelical Christian in West Texas? Tell me something I don't know!

Okay. How about an evangelical Christian climate scientist in West Texas? Now you're talking something special! Like Daniel in the lion's den.

That would be Dr. Katharine Hayhoe, a bright, personable (although I've never met her, but after all, she is Canadian) climate scientist at Texas Tech University in Lubbock. I have enjoyed following her on Twitter (@KHayhoe) for some time now and reading her material. She has a great 'Resources' page.

So what prompts this post about her, and why am I invoking her religion? A recent article in the LA Times 'Spreading the global warming gospel' featured her 'global warming evangelical' work among evangelical Christians and other conservative folks in West Texas and elsewhere.

Here are the first few paragraphs from Neela Banerjee's story:

When Katharine Hayhoe was faced with telling a group of petroleum engineers in the heart of the Texas oil patch that the main culprit for climate change is humanity's consumption of fossil fuels, she expected pushback.

"Aren't you scientists just in this for the money?" one older man asked — the latest insult after a string of anonymous emails asserting that she and other climatologists were corrupt liars.

Most climatologists refuse to answer skeptics, preferring to let the research speak for itself. Hayhoe is one of a small but growing number of scientists willing to engage climate change doubters face to face. Unlike most of her colleagues, she is driven as much by the tenets of her faith as the urgency of the science.

A rising star among climatologists, Hayhoe, the daughter of missionaries, is also an evangelical Christian. Though the science supporting climate change grows ever more compelling, fewer Americans now accept the scientific consensus than they did three years ago. No group is more resistant than political conservatives, especially white evangelical Christians, who often say that climate change is a hoax.

Besides teaching at Texas Tech in Lubbock, conducting research and writing, Hayhoe meets with Christian colleges, church groups, senior citizens, professional associations and just about anyone else to explain that Earth's climate is changing and that human beings are behind it.

It's a great story.

By the way, the  second paragraph of the above story was brought home to me when Hayhoe recently Tweeted about a foul email she received from stan.lippmann@gmail.com in which he referred to her as a 'slimey-c**ted Nazi Bitch Whore Climatebecile'. Civilized discourse? Gees!  If you are so inclined, send Lippmann an email extolling the virtures of civil discourse.

She is married to Dr. Andrew Farley, an evangelical Christian pastor. He was a convert to her global warming viewpoint. 

2) GRACE

I recently discovered Dr. James 'Jay' Famiglietti's Water 50/50 blog. He's whom I call the Guru of  GRACE for his pioneering work with the GRACE satellite data.

I know, you thought 'Jay and His Satellites' was a rock band, maybe like Jay & the Americans or Jay & the Techniques?

His latest post deals with the Texas drought, and how praying for rain just won't do the trick.

Famiglietti just doesn't post some pretty graphics, but also poses some questions society must answer. LIke what? Oh, simple things like: Just how much freshwater do we have? Could we have seen this drought coming?

And like yours truly, he's concerned about our pumping of nonrenewable groundwater. It's going to be more of a problem as time goes by.

It is an excellent post; read it.

And I love his last few sentences:

"All it takes is the vision and the commitment on the part of our environmental and elected leadership. What are we waiting for?  Please tell me it’s not a rainy day." - Dr. Jay Famiglietti

Kosi Katha: The Making of a Famine

I received the link to this 34-minute video from P.J. Intach (see comment). The video tells the story of the flood, the resulting famine, and the usual bureaucratic incompetence and indifference to the plight of those affected.

Here is the description that came with the video:

The story of a river and those who tie her down. 33 million people lost their homes, lands n livelihood on 18 Aug 2008 when the barrage on the river Kosi in North India, bordering Nepal, broke, with the river changing its course by 250 kilometers. It was declared an international calamity.

This documentary was made with the view that such dishasters do not occur. And if they do then those responsible are not left without being punished and held accountable. It is meant for policy and decision makers across the world. Though it takes the example of Kosi yet it is a story of the attitude planners take towards the planet and communities considered dispensable in the scheme of things.

A total of 67 DVD's were couriered to various Indian and International officials, Elected members of both houses of Parliament. (PS: Not one sent even an acknowledgement of having received the same). A shorter version was shown on NDTV 24x7 (documentaries).

Kosi Katha(English) from Janmadhyam (People's Media) on Vimeo.

Visit the filmmaker's site.

"What does a monkey know of the taste of ginger?" - Hindi proverb (meaning: Someone who can't understand can't appreciate)

NM Judge Matt Reynolds: How We Can Prepare for the Great Drought of the 21st Century

Judge Matt Reynolds of the 7th Judicial District of New Mexico recently spoke at the University of New Mexico's School of Law - 2011 Natural Resources Speaker Series.

You can view a video of his talk here.

The talk runs for about an hour, with another 15 minutes for Q & A. There are no visual aids; it's just Reynolds speaking. 

Here is a transcript:  Download Reynolds-drought

Reynolds naturally focuses on New Mexico, its water code, and the drought the state is facing. Since I lived and worked in New Mexico for 17 years, that's fine with me. I may joke about New Mexico, but its water code is pretty advanced compared to other states, and it is currently being revised.

It does take a long time to adjudicate basins, however. I remember when the state talked about adjudicating the Middle Rio Grande basin (greater Albuquerque area) and one of the attorneys said it would take about 50 years. Reynolds noted that mediation should be written into the revised water code so that adjudication begins with mediation, not invoking it after years of wrangling. Mediation resolves water disputes, he said.

He noted that New Mexico manages surface water and groundwater conjunctively, something it has done since about 1931. In fact, a number of states have copied New Mexico's approach. 

Reynolds also indicated some archaic aspects of the state's water code, and some things that night be changed to deal with long droughts. Three principles should be used to guide any code revisions: 1) science; 2) the state water plan; and 3) its constitution. Good!

He did mention that he foresees more water dispute cases in the future as the landscape dries out. 

Despite the New Mexico emphasisI found his comments to be extremely useful in a general sense. Other states might be wise to heed his remarks regarding how water codes can be updated to deal with extended drought. He invoked the ASCE ModelWater Codes - one for riparian (Eastern) states and one for appropriative (Western) states and hoped that some of the provisions in these codes be cherry-picked for New Mexico's revised code.

Reynolds gave an excellent talk. He's a smart man, very insightful. As one of my colleagues said, he should be appointed to the New Mexico Supreme Court.

As I watched the talk, I couldn't help but wonder if Judge Reynolds was related to legendary State Engineer Steve Reynolds, who served in an appointed position for 35 years - 1955-1990 - for seven governors. He died in office in 1990. Here is a article about him after he died. They still talk about him. I suspect that Judge Reynolds is unrelated to Steve Reynolds because no one mentioned it.  

Worth listening and reading. Enjoy!

"If you win, what will you have when everyone else has lost?" -- Judge Matt Reynolds, referring to a 'water card game' (c. 55:50 of his talk)

USACE Video - The Great Flood of 2011: What If?

This video from the USACE shows what happened and what might have happened had the three floodways not been utilized.

One wag noted that the video 'reeks with hubris' [see today's quote].

Here is a link to the video, where you can also find other related videos.

 

"Barry [John Barry, author of Rising Tide: the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 and How It Changed America] is echoing the fears of river hydrologists who have been predicting this catastrophe since the 1960s. The problem, as they view it, is straightforward. Spilling tens of millions of acre feet of water from dams on the upper Missouri (in years of heavy runoff) into a swollen Mississippi will turn the delta into a small ocean and threaten major urban centers on the lower Mississippi." -- Paul VanDevelder, Los Angeles Times Op-Ed, 25 May 2o11