Water Management and Economy
mohammad bakhshi mohebi
Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 11 June 2025
Abstract
The role of the judicial institution in managing water and public health crises with an emphasis on the position of the public prosecutor.
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The role of the judicial institution in managing water and public health crises with an emphasis on the position of the public prosecutor.
Water Quality, Recycling and Wastewater
azin nadi; mehran bijari; Reyhane Dehghan; Afsaneh Shahbazi
Abstract
Microbial disinfection of water involves the inactivation or removal of pathogenic microorganisms. Conventional methods for microbial water disinfection include chemical oxidation using various oxidants such as chlorine, chlorine dioxide, chloramine, and ozone, as well as ultraviolet radiation. Among ...
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Microbial disinfection of water involves the inactivation or removal of pathogenic microorganisms. Conventional methods for microbial water disinfection include chemical oxidation using various oxidants such as chlorine, chlorine dioxide, chloramine, and ozone, as well as ultraviolet radiation. Among these, advanced oxidation and photocatalytic disinfection using semiconductor nanomaterials have emerged as a novel approach for eliminating pathogenic bacteria from aqueous solutions. This study aims to investigate the photocatalytic removal of Escherichia coli (E.coli) bacteria using a graphitic carbon nitride photocatalyst synthesized from melamine as a precursor. The synthesis of the photocatalyst was confirmed through X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). To evaluate the antibacterial performance of the synthesized photocatalysts, the disk diffusion assay and the determination of bacterial viability on solid media after the photocatalytic process were employed. The results demonstrated that the synthesized photocatalysts exhibited excellent removal efficiency against E.coli under visible light irradiation. Among them, graphitic carbon nitride synthesized at a temperature of 550°C and a nitrogen gas flow rate of 20 mL/min (CN-20) achieved complete removal of E.coli with an initial concentration of 10^7 CFU/mL within 4.5 hours under visible light irradiation.
Water, Ecosystem and Environment
Zienab Salahshoor; malihe madanian; Ehsan Shokri
Abstract
Today, microplastics as an emerging pollutant are an important issue and a global concern, especially in soil and groundwater due to their high stability in the environment and inherent toxicity. Microplastics enter the soil and groundwater environment from various sources, including the atmosphere, ...
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Today, microplastics as an emerging pollutant are an important issue and a global concern, especially in soil and groundwater due to their high stability in the environment and inherent toxicity. Microplastics enter the soil and groundwater environment from various sources, including the atmosphere, interaction with surface water bodies, urban infrastructure or agricultural soils. Mechanical, physical, chemical, and biological transfer processes can affect the dynamics and behavior of microplastics transfer through pores and fractures, as well as interaction with colloidal aggregates in the soil and groundwater environment, through mechanical pressure, physicochemical reactions, and bioturbation. The fate of microplastics in the subsurface porous medium strongly depends on the nature of the receiving medium (electrolyte, ionic strength, dissolved organic matter, etc.), living organisms, the nature of microplastics (density, chemical composition, size, shape, functional groups, and surface coating) and water chemistry. Microplastics are absorbents and activators of other pollutants during infiltration and drainage processes due to their hydrophobic nature, absorption capacity and high surface area which leads to the spread of pollution. Therefore, the restoration of contaminated resources is necessary to protect the health of the ecosystem and humans with innovative materials and technologies. Nanotechnology as a comprehensive approach plays an effective role in the three fields of absorption, membrane process and photocatalytic degradation of microplastics. Although safety considerations, environmental consequences, as well as the performance of nanomaterials in removal of microplastics from the real environment need further investigation.
Surface and Groundwater Resources
Ali Mehrabi; Nasrollah Kalantari; Farshad Alijani; Hadi Mohammadi
Abstract
The drinking water for Izeh, a city in Khuzestan, is sourced from karstic wells, which are affected by nitrate contamination due to a hydrogeological connection with the alluvial aquifer. This study investigates the variations in nitrate, ammonium, and nitrite concentrations in the urban aquifer and ...
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The drinking water for Izeh, a city in Khuzestan, is sourced from karstic wells, which are affected by nitrate contamination due to a hydrogeological connection with the alluvial aquifer. This study investigates the variations in nitrate, ammonium, and nitrite concentrations in the urban aquifer and evaluates the denitrification process. Groundwater samples were collected from nine wells over six bi-monthly periods in the 2023-2024 water year to analyze various hydrochemical parameters. Results indicate that agricultural practices, particularly the application of chemical fertilizers, significantly increased nitrate levels from December 2023 to April 2024, with concentrations ranging from 14 to 152 mg/L. Notably, the northern area near the Miangaran wetland exhibited severe pollution from urban wastewater, resulting in intense denitrification and the lowest nitrate levels among the wells studied. The aquifer's hydrochemistry is influenced by gypsum from the Gachsaran formation, with sulfate, BOD, and COD playing significant roles in nitrate concentration, while nitrite and ammonium show limited correlation. The influx of nitrate from wastewater highlights the fluctuations in groundwater quality. Denitrification rates vary across the city, being highest in the northeastern region (depths < 5 m) and lowest in the southwestern area (depths 15-25 m). Overall, the study emphasizes the need for strategies to manage nitrate pollution in Izeh's drinking water supply.
Water, Ecosystem and Environment
Mohammad Gholami; Mahdi Kolahi
Abstract
Floods, particularly those exacerbated by human activities, are responsible for significant annual losses in both life and property, and they present ongoing challenges to achieving sustainable development goals. This study investigates the underlying causes and dynamics of the May 2024 flood in Mashhad, ...
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Floods, particularly those exacerbated by human activities, are responsible for significant annual losses in both life and property, and they present ongoing challenges to achieving sustainable development goals. This study investigates the underlying causes and dynamics of the May 2024 flood in Mashhad, Iran’s second-largest city. Using a qualitative analysis approach, data were collected through discussion panels with key stakeholders, including officials and residents. The data were transcribed, and thematic analysis was conducted through open, axial, and selective coding. The analysis highlights that human-induced factors—such as inadequate urban design, poor traffic management, improper urban development, disregard for scientific knowledge, legal obstacles, and managerial failures—were the primary contributors to the flood's occurrence and severity. Climate change, while present, was identified as a less significant natural factor. The study emphasizes the urgent need for coordinated efforts among government bodies, civil society, and the public to address the root causes, including unsustainable urban development and lack of risk management, to mitigate future flood risks in Mashhad.
Risk, Sustainability and Resilience
Sara Attaran; Masoud Abdollahpour
Abstract
Drought has been one of the most damaging natural phenomena in the past decades. On the other hand, due to the complex and creeping nature of drought, it is almost impossible to determine a specific start and end time for it. Dry and wet periods are visible and expected in all climates and all seasons ...
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Drought has been one of the most damaging natural phenomena in the past decades. On the other hand, due to the complex and creeping nature of drought, it is almost impossible to determine a specific start and end time for it. Dry and wet periods are visible and expected in all climates and all seasons of the year, but sometimes a dry period leads to a drought and it affects humans (in various aspects), therefore, while every dry period cannot mark the onset of a drought, it is important to note that not every wet period signifies the end of a drought. In this study, the concept of drought and dry spells has been clearly expressed and the effect of these phenomena on humans has been discussed. To address the complexities of drought, a ten-step framework for risk management has been developed. This comprehensive guideline provides a systematic approach to drought planning and management, encompassing various facets of this challenging phenomenon.
Risk, Sustainability and Resilience
Maede Nasry; Mohammad Rahimi; Farzaneh Hadadi barforush; Hadi Jalili; Aliakbar Damavandi
Abstract
Extreme precipitation indices were selected using a fixed approach recommended by Expert Team on Climate Change Detection and Indices according to local needs and the climatic nature of the study area. These indices were extracted using daily precipitation data from the stations of the study area over ...
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Extreme precipitation indices were selected using a fixed approach recommended by Expert Team on Climate Change Detection and Indices according to local needs and the climatic nature of the study area. These indices were extracted using daily precipitation data from the stations of the study area over 21 years from 2000 to 2020 using RclimDex software. The NDVI index of MODIS satellite images was used to analyze the trend of annual vegetation cover changes. Also, the multilayer Perceptron neural network method was used to examine the relationship between changes in extreme precipitation indices on vegetation cover changes. The results showed that the NDVI index has an increasing trend spatially from east to west of the region. Areas with low NDVI were observed in the eastern, southern, and northern parts and areas with high NDVI were observed in the western part of the study area. The highest NDVI index values were observed at Minab and Rodan stations with values of 0.21 and 0.19. The lowest average NDVI index was observed at Bam station with a value of 0.03. The trend of NDVI index changes was significant and upward only at Rodan station (P-value = 0.01) and Kahnouj (P-value = 0.0001). The trend of changes at Saravan, Iranshahr, Bandar Abbas, and Bam stations was upward but not significant. The trend of changes at Zabol, Chabahar, Minab, Khash, and Zahedan stations was negative and insignificant. The overall trend indicated an increase in precipitation extremes during the study period. .
Water Management and Economy
Alireza jahanfekr; Alireza Rajabipoor Meybodi
Abstract
Today, due to the reduction of groundwater and glacier resources, increasing temperatures, and lack of control over drinking water consumption, there is a greater need to improve and save water consumption than in the past. In this study, the effect of factors affecting water consumption, including advertising, ...
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Today, due to the reduction of groundwater and glacier resources, increasing temperatures, and lack of control over drinking water consumption, there is a greater need to improve and save water consumption than in the past. In this study, the effect of factors affecting water consumption, including advertising, attitude, perceived behavioral control, intention to saving, moral obligation, and social pressure on saving behavior, was investigated. This research is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive-survey in terms of method. The statistical population of this study was all heads of households in Yasuj city. The data were examined and statistically analyzed through structural equation modeling using SPSS and AMOS software. The results showed that attitude, perceived behavioral control, intention to saving, and social pressure have a positive and significant effect on saving behavior, and also that attitude and perceived behavioral control indirectly affect saving behavior through the mediation of intention to saving.
Water Transfer & Hydraulic Structures
Saeid Mohammadhosseini; Amirpouya Sarraf; Babak Aminnejad
Abstract
Optimal management of water resources, especially in multi-reservoir systems, is of great importance due to limited water resources, climate change, increasing demand, and unbalanced distribution of resources. The efficient operation of these systems requires consideration of different and conflicting ...
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Optimal management of water resources, especially in multi-reservoir systems, is of great importance due to limited water resources, climate change, increasing demand, and unbalanced distribution of resources. The efficient operation of these systems requires consideration of different and conflicting objectives while maintaining the safety and stability of the reservoirs. The complexity of this problem, especially in large systems with several interconnected reservoirs, necessitates the use of advanced multi-objective optimization methods. This study presents a bat-based multi-objective optimization model for the operation of multi-reservoir systems. The main objectives of the model include: 1) maximizing the supply of water needs in different sectors, 2) minimizing the costs associated with reservoir management, and 3) maintaining environmental balance through control of releases. Constraints such as reservoir capacity, operation rules, and inflow and outflow conditions are considered in the modeling process. The results obtained from the simulations show that the BAT algorithm can provide a set of optimal solutions from which decision-makers can choose the most appropriate option according to their priorities. Therefore, this approach not only increases the efficiency of multi-reservoir systems but also helps in effective decision-making in water resources management and improves the flexibility of the system in the face of variable and critical conditions. Since the objectives above are important in most multi-reservoir systems, the use of this model can be a great help for decision-makers in the exploitation of such systems.
Ali Reza Radkhah; Soheil Eagderi; Hadi Poorbagher; Esmaeil Sadeghinejad Masouleh
Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 01 June 2025
Abstract
Today, healthy drinking water has become an important problem in many countries around the world. Therefore, the United Nations considers attention to this issue as a necessity for achieving sustainable development goals. Although, at present, various physical, chemical and biological methods are used ...
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Today, healthy drinking water has become an important problem in many countries around the world. Therefore, the United Nations considers attention to this issue as a necessity for achieving sustainable development goals. Although, at present, various physical, chemical and biological methods are used to purify water in many parts of the world, however, use of easy, inexpensive and efficient methods has a special priority in developing countries. Today, one of the most efficient and inexpensive ways to achieve clean water is promoting the use of Slow Sand Filters (SSF), inspired by nature. The present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the different aspects of using this method and its effectiveness in water treatment. The literature review showed that there are many requirements for easy, cost-effective and useful application of sand filtration, especially in rural areas where access to water treatment equipment is difficult. These filters are easily made from local materials and do not require expensive chemicals. On the other hand, the operation of these filters is easy to set up and their maintenance is not complicated. According to the information of this study, sand filtration can be used as a nature-based approach for water purification in different countries, especially developing countries.
Water, Ecosystem and Environment
Marzieh Jahani; Gholam Hossein Akbari; Ali Jafari
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the impact of treated wastewater discharge from the Bojnord City treatment plant on the transport of potential pollutants and the effective distance of pollutant migration. Sampling from aquatic and sediment environments was conducted at five and one selected stations, ...
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This study aimed to investigate the impact of treated wastewater discharge from the Bojnord City treatment plant on the transport of potential pollutants and the effective distance of pollutant migration. Sampling from aquatic and sediment environments was conducted at five and one selected stations, respectively, during the summer of 2023. The Contamination Degree (Cd) for all stations, except Station 2 (located downstream of the effluent discharge point), fell within the moderate pollution range. Results from the Heavy Metal Evaluation Index (HEI) and Heavy Metal Pollution Index (HPI) revealed that the highest pollution levels were associated with Station 2, situated downstream of the wastewater discharge. The Geoaccumulation Index (Igeo) for all metals yielded values below zero, indicating no significant pollution. The Contamination Factor (Cf) for all heavy metals, except cadmium, fell within the low pollution range. However, the Cf value for cadmium suggested moderate sediment pollution. The calculated Hazard Index (HI) for minors was approximately 0.5, signifying non-carcinogenic risks. Health risk indices demonstrated that children are more vulnerable to heavy metal exposure than adults. All measured indices for the aquatic environment were classified as polluted. This study underscores the critical need for systematic management and monitoring of river water quality in urban and agricultural zones. Based on the hydraulic conditions and temporal scope of this research, it may be hypothesized that the river can transport pollutants derived from urban wastewater discharge over a distance of 50 to 100 meters.
Water Management and Economy
Rokhshid Khanalipour; Mohamad Talati; Samaneh Tavakoli Aminian; Seyyede Saeede Sherafat; Fariba Ghanbari
Abstract
The increasing occurrence of widespread water-related tensions in the international scope, coupled with climate change and limitations on accessible freshwater resources, has led to the ineffectiveness of traditional engineering oriented approaches in urban water systems management. Therefore, political ...
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The increasing occurrence of widespread water-related tensions in the international scope, coupled with climate change and limitations on accessible freshwater resources, has led to the ineffectiveness of traditional engineering oriented approaches in urban water systems management. Therefore, political and social driving and environmental demands have caused urban water systems to be considered as a "socioecological" system, and strategic planning is needed for its management. This alternative model is called the "water sensitive city". Achieving the new approach requires significant changes in the structures, culture, planning methods, management, and stakeholder participation. The transition toward a water sensitive city consists of six stages. Dominant narratives and enablers are considered as two vital and affective factors affecting the transition process. Finally, a checklist of effective factors in the transition process will be formed, which will act as a roadmap and will be a matrix that can evaluate and monitor the progress of the transition.
