Water, Ecosystem and Environment
Kazem Esmaili
Volume 12, Issue 1 , June 2025, Pages 1-2
Abstract
Water pollution is a growing problem that is overshadowed by water scarcity. In many parts of the world, human lives are at risk due to the lack of clean water. Water quantity is an immediate problem, but the problem of pollution becomes apparent in the long term. Although paying attention to the issue ...
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Water pollution is a growing problem that is overshadowed by water scarcity. In many parts of the world, human lives are at risk due to the lack of clean water. Water quantity is an immediate problem, but the problem of pollution becomes apparent in the long term. Although paying attention to the issue of water pollution is very important, observations show the expansion and destruction of renewable water resources, etc. In many parts of the world, efforts to increase the quality of the limited water resources available to people are not very strong. According to the World Health Organization, based on an analysis of 625 studies collected from 63 countries, the quality of water around the world is deteriorating due to the growth of urban areas. The increasing incidence of various diseases in different parts of the world is the best reason for the increase in water pollution and is a clear reason for the above-mentioned cases.
Water Management and Economy
mohammad bakhshi mohebi
Volume 12, Issue 1 , June 2025, Pages 2-4
Abstract
The growing crises in the country's water resources have created cross-sectoral dimensions and profound threats to public health, the environment, and sustainable development. In a situation where the executive capacities of the responsible agencies are not sufficient to respond to these crises, the ...
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The growing crises in the country's water resources have created cross-sectoral dimensions and profound threats to public health, the environment, and sustainable development. In a situation where the executive capacities of the responsible agencies are not sufficient to respond to these crises, the entry of supervisory and judicial institutions, especially the public prosecutor, within the framework of established laws, including Articles 46 of the Fair Water Distribution Law and 688 of the Islamic Penal Code, can play an effective role in controlling and correcting destructive processes. This note, using an analytical approach and examining several field experiences, addresses the role of this institution in dealing with water violations and crises and explains the existing legal capacities.
Water Quality, Recycling and Wastewater
Ali Reza Radkhah; Soheil Eagderi; Hadi Poorbagher; Esmaeil Sadeghinejad Masouleh
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 a necessity for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Although, currently, 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 a necessity for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Although, currently, various physical, chemical, and biological methods are used to purify water in many parts of the world, however, the use of easy, cheap, and efficient methods has a special priority in developing countries. Today, one of the most efficient and cheapest methods to achieve high-quality water is to promote the use of slow sand filters (SSF), which have been developed in a way inspired by nature. The present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the different aspects of using this method and its efficiency in water purification. The literature review showed that designing simple, low-cost, and effective sand filtration systems, especially in rural areas without access to advanced water purification equipment, is a key challenge. Given this information, sand filtration can be used as a nature-based approach for water purification in various countries, especially developing and less developed countries.
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 are considered an emerging pollutant due to their high stability in the environment and inherent toxicity, making them a significant global concern, particularly in soil and groundwater. Living organisms can easily ingest microplastics, leading to bioaccumulation and causing acute ...
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Today, microplastics are considered an emerging pollutant due to their high stability in the environment and inherent toxicity, making them a significant global concern, particularly in soil and groundwater. Living organisms can easily ingest microplastics, leading to bioaccumulation and causing acute and chronic harm, as well as carcinogenicity, developmental problems, and genotoxicity. . The stability and biological dose of microplastics are important factors that play an important role in their toxicity and risk level. Microplastics enter the soil and groundwater environment from various sources, including the atmosphere, interactions with surface water bodies, urban infrastructure, or agricultural soils. Studies show that mechanical, physical, chemical, and biological transport processes can influence the dynamics and behavior of microplastics in the soil and groundwater environments. Due to their hydrophobic nature, high adsorption capacity, and large surface area, microplastics act as adsorbents and activators of other pollutants, leading to the proliferation of contamination. Therefore, the remediation of contaminated resources is essential for protecting the ecosystem and human health using innovative materials and technologies. Nanotechnology plays a significant role as a comprehensive approach in three areas: absorption, membrane processes, and photocatalytic degradation of microplastics. In addition to contaminated environment reclamation, a sustainable approach to reducing, reusing, and recycling plastic waste is necessary. Strategies to manage microplastic pollution in groundwater require a holistic approach that includes legislation, stakeholder engagement, research, and awareness-raising in developed and developing countries, with an emphasis on reducing microplastics at the source, improving waste management, and promoting responsible use of plastics.
Water Quality, Recycling and Wastewater
Ali Mehrabinejad; Nasrollah Kalantari; Farshad Alijani; Hadi Mohammadi
Abstract
The drinking water of Izeh city in northeastern Khuzestan province is supplied from limestone wells in the Nal-e-asbi Karst aquifer south of the plain, which is in direct hydrogeological communication with the alluvial aquifer. Due to nitrate pollution infiltration from the alluvial aquifer to the Karst ...
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The drinking water of Izeh city in northeastern Khuzestan province is supplied from limestone wells in the Nal-e-asbi Karst aquifer south of the plain, which is in direct hydrogeological communication with the alluvial aquifer. Due to nitrate pollution infiltration from the alluvial aquifer to the Karst aquifer, determining the nitrate status in the aquifer and the effect of the natural denitrification process on reducing nitrate concentration is very important. In this research, temporal changes in nitrate, ammonium, and nitrite, and spatial changes in nitrate in the urban aquifer of Izeh were investigated to determine the denitrification mechanism. Over a one-year period (December 2023 - November 2024), samples were taken from 9 wells over 6 periods. Then, nitrate isoconcentration maps were prepared, and along with temporal changes of nitrogenous species, the nitrate chemograph was interpreted. Finally, spatial zoning of denitrification and the relationship between denitrification and other hydrogeochemical parameters was analyzed using composite diagrams. The results showed that with the leaching of pollutants from the surface and chemical fertilizers applied to agricultural lands, which are mainly applied in January and February in the Izeh region, the nitrate concentration in the urban aquifer of Izeh had a sharp increasing trend from December 2023 to April 2024, but decreased throughout the aquifer from April to June 2024. Groundwater in the north of Izeh city and adjacent to Miangaran wetland, due to severe contamination with Izeh city sewage, is under reducing and severe denitrification conditions and has the lowest nitrate concentration among the water wells. Based on the denitrification zoning map, the highest and lowest constant rate of denitrification are related to the northeast and southwest of Izeh city, respectively.
Water Quality, Recycling and Wastewater
Marzieh Jahani; Sadegh Partani; Gholam Hossein Akbari; Ali Jafari
Abstract
This study investigates variations in heavy metal concentrations to assess potential pollutant transport and effective transport distances in the Atrak River, influenced by urban wastewater treatment plant discharge and downstream agricultural activities. The methodology comprises field surveys, in-situ ...
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This study investigates variations in heavy metal concentrations to assess potential pollutant transport and effective transport distances in the Atrak River, influenced by urban wastewater treatment plant discharge and downstream agricultural activities. The methodology comprises field surveys, in-situ measurements, sample collection, and index analysis. Water and sediment samples were collected from five and one selected stations, respectively, during summer 2024, using duplicate sampling to ensure Quality Assurance (QA) and Quality Control (QC). Heavy metals were quantified via ICP-OES. The Contamination Degree (Cd) index indicated moderate contamination at all stations except S2 (downstream of WWTP discharge). The Heavy Metal Evaluation Index (HEI) and Heavy Metal Pollution Index (HPI) confirmed peak contamination at Station S2. Spatial distribution patterns varied: arsenic (As) and lead (Pb) showed consistent concentrations along the river, while chromium (Cr) and iron (Fe) exhibited an increasing trend downstream, attributed to their strong correlation. The Geoaccumulation Index (Igeo) revealed no sediment contamination for any of the metals. The Contamination Factor (CF) indicated moderate pollution for Cd. The Hazard Index (HI) for children was approximately 0.5, signifying non-carcinogenic risk. Consequently, under prevailing hydraulic conditions, the river’s capacity to transport wastewater-derived pollutants is limited to a 50–100 meters range from the discharge point. These findings underscore the critical importance of wastewater management and continuous water quality monitoring in similar watersheds.
Water, Ecosystem and Environment
Mohammad Gholami; Mahdi Kolahi
Abstract
Natural disasters, particularly floods driven by human activities, are among the leading causes of loss of life and property worldwide, posing significant obstacles to achieving sustainable development goals. This study investigates the causes and mechanisms behind the May 2024 flood in Mashhad, the ...
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Natural disasters, particularly floods driven by human activities, are among the leading causes of loss of life and property worldwide, posing significant obstacles to achieving sustainable development goals. This study investigates the causes and mechanisms behind the May 2024 flood in Mashhad, the second-largest metropolitan area in Iran. Utilizing a qualitative analytical approach, the required data were gathered through dialogue-based panels involving experts, officials, and concerned stakeholders. Following the transcription of discussions, key insights were extracted and categorized into open, axial, and selective codes. The findings revealed that human-related factors played a more prominent role in both the occurrence and the catastrophic impact of the flood. These included "improper urban design", "improper traffic management", "lack of proper urban development", "lack of attention to scientific issues", "incorrect human perspectives", "legal obstacles", "human aggravating factors", and finally "management factors". Also, the issue of "climate change" was recognized as the only natural factor that played a lesser role in the discourses in causing floods. Therefore, issues such as unsustainable urban development, land degradation, and lack of attention to risk management instead of crisis management can be highlighted as the most important root issues that caused the occurrence and, more importantly, the disaster of the flood in May 2024. Accordingly, establishing unified urban management through consensus and significant unity between all organs such as the municipality, officials and governmental institutions, civil society, and the public is essential to prevent the recurrence of such destructive trends.
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 in 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 in 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 drought, it is important to note that not every wet period signifies the end of a drought period. In this study, the concept of drought and dry spell 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 guideline addresses the complexities of this phenomenon and its various aspects, and provides a methodology for drought planning and management.
Risk, Sustainability and Resilience
Omolbanin Sadr; Fatamah Sadr; Marzie Samare Hashmi
Abstract
Natural disasters are phenomena that are widespread and affect all sectors of human societies. Since human societies operate within the framework of laws, the control and management of natural disasters fall under the responsibility of government officials and authorities. The two hydrological phenomena ...
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Natural disasters are phenomena that are widespread and affect all sectors of human societies. Since human societies operate within the framework of laws, the control and management of natural disasters fall under the responsibility of government officials and authorities. The two hydrological phenomena of flooding and drought are among the most significant natural disasters in recent years in Iran. Numerous studies have been conducted on flooding and drought, indicating that these two phenomena impact three areas: social, economic, and environmental. The aim of this research is to examine the legislative challenges for the integrated management of these two phenomena and to provide legal solutions in this regard. Many laws have been enacted to address and manage the flooding and drought phenomena, which have offered a sectoral and unique perspective on flooding or drought. Ultimately, this research has shown that the laws established concerning drought crises only address the compensation for damages caused by them, while remaining silent on scientific and practical solutions for preventing or mitigating the consequences of drought. Additionally, considering the interaction between the consequences of flooding and drought, reviewing and amending the existing laws related to flooding should be prioritized by the government.
Risk, Sustainability and Resilience
Maede Nasry; Mohammad Rahimi; Farzaneh Hadadi barforush; Hadi Jalili; Aliakbar Damavandi
Abstract
This study investigated the effect of extreme precipitation values on the trend of vegetation cover change in southeastern Iran. Extreme precipitation indices were selected using a fixed approach recommended by the Expert Team on Climate Change Detection and Indices, according to local needs and theclimatic ...
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This study investigated the effect of extreme precipitation values on the trend of vegetation cover change in southeastern Iran. Extreme precipitation indices were selected using a fixed approach recommended by the Expert Team on Climate Change Detection and Indices, according to local needs and theclimatic characteristics of the study area. These indices were extracted using daily precipitation data from the stations of the study area over a 21 years from 2000 to 2020 utilizing 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 and vegetation cover changes. The results showed that the NDVI index has an increasing trend spatially from the east to the 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 trend of NDVI index changes was significant and upward only at Rudan station (P-value = 0.01) and Kahnuj station (P-value = 0.0001). The overall trend indicated an increase in precipitation extremes during the study period. The extreme precipitation indices Rx1, SDII, and PRCPTOT have the most significant on the trend of changes in vegetation cover in the southeastern region of Iran. A comprehensive study of the impact and trend of changes in extreme precipitation indices on vegetation cover in the southeastern region of Iran will lead to the development of sustainable management methods and resilience to climate change.
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 "Socio-Ecological" System, and strategic planning is needed for its management. This alternative model is called the "Water-Sensitive City". Implementing the new approach requires significant changes in the structures, culture, planning methods, management practices, and stakeholder engagement. The transition toward a Water-Sensitive City consists of six stages. Dominant narratives and enablers are considered as two vital and influencing factors affecting the transition process. Finally, a checklist of effective factors in the transition process is developed, which will act as a roadmap and enabling the creation of a matrix that can evaluate and monitor the progress of the transition.
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 modify consumption, and improve and save water consumption than in the past. In this study, the effects of factors influencing water ...
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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 modify consumption, and improve and save water consumption than in the past. In this study, the effects of factors influencing water consumption, including advertising, attitude, perceived behavioral control, intention to save, moral obligation, and social pressure, on saving behavior were investigated. This research is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive-survey in terms of method, Additionally, the study is cross-sectional in terms of the survey period. The data collected for this research are quantitative and were gathered through a structured questionnaire. 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 save, 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 save.
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. Also, a quantitative comparison of the results of the proposed multi-objective Algorithm (BAT) with the results of the NSGA_II Algorithm showed that the average C(BAT, NSGA-II) values from 20 independent comparisons were 79.53%. 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.
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