M.Sc. / The occurrence of invertebrates in drinking water supplies is a common consumer complaint with studies showing that very few drinking water distribution networks are totally free of organisms. A detailed investigation of different types of metazoan animals in the drinking water supply networks of South Africa has not been undertaken. In limited worldwide studies, invertebrates (mainly Amphipoda, Chironomidae, Cladocera, Copepoda and Ostracoda) have been detected in produced drinking water. In countries that have started monitoring these organisms, the quality of the produced water has improved due to the improved methods of filtering. The occurrence of “worms” (Nematodes and Diptera) and Crustaceans decreases the aesthetic value of the drinking water, and pathogenic organisms, which may also be associated with them, can affect human health. Limited reference works have been compiled during the conducted studies on drinking water distribution networks throughout the world. All fresh water invertebrates have the potential to be passed into the drinking water supply network (Rising mains, pipelines, reservoirs, and consumer taps). There are few complete reference works available for fresh water invertebrates occurring in the fresh water sources and those of Southern Africa. Therefore, there are no reference works regarding fresh water invertebrates that can be used to monitor drinking water supply networks in South Africa. / Prof. J.H.J. van Vuren

Magister Administrationis - MAdmin / Public-private partnerships to provide services are a relatively new policy initiative in Mexico, and have shown contrasting results. This research has endeavored to analyze the possible determinants behind the failure, or the success, of the choice of a specific mode of service provision. By using contracting literature based on transaction costs, and looking specifically at the case of AGSAL, a joint venture established between Saltillo, a northern Mexican city, and INTERAGBAR, a private investor, for the provision of water, this study showed that characteristics of the transaction at stake. More specifically, it showed that specificity of the investments that support a given transaction, the unanticipated changes in circumstances surrounding an exchange, either from physical assets or its ownership rights, and the frequency and duration with which parties engage in the transaction. / South Africa

[EN] One of the main challenges of drinking water utilities is to ensure high quality supply, in particular, in chemical and microbiological terms. However, biofilms invariably develop in all drinking water distribution systems (DWDSs), despite the presence of residual disinfectant. As a result, water utilities are not able to ensure total bacteriological control. Currently biofilms represent a real paradigm in water quality management for all DWDSs. Biofilms are complex communities of microorganisms bound by an extracellular polymer that provides them with structure, protection from toxics and helps retain food. Besides the health risk that biofilms involve, due to their role as a pathogen shelter, a number of additional problems associated with biofilm development in DWDSs can be identified. Among others, aesthetic deterioration of water, biocorrosion and disinfectant decay are universally recognized. A large amount of research has been conducted on this field since the earliest 80's. However, due to the complex environment and the community studied most of the studies have been developed under certain simplifications. We resort to this already done work and acquired knowledge on biofilm growth in DWDSs to change the common approaches of these studies. Our proposal is based on arduous preprocessing and posterior analysis by Machine Learning approaches. A multi-disciplinary procedure is undertaken, helping as a practical approach to develop a decision-making tool to help DWDS management to maintain, as much as possible, biofilm at the lowest level, and mitigating its negative effects on the service. A methodology to detect the more susceptible areas to biofilm development in DWDSs is proposed. Knowing the location of these hot-spots of the network, mitigation actions could be focused more specifically, thus saving resources and money. Also, prevention programs could be developed, acting before the consequences of biofilm are noticed by the consumers. In this way, the economic cost would be reduced and the service quality would improve, eventually increasing consumers' satisfaction. / [ES] Uno de los principales objetivos de las empresas encargadas de la gestión de los sistemas de distribución de agua potable (DWDSs, del inglés Drinking Water Distribution Systems) es asegurar una alta calidad del agua en su abastecimiento, tanto química como microbiológica. Sin embargo, la existencia de biofilms en todos ellos, a pesar de la presencia de desinfectante residual, hace que no se pueda asegurar un control bacteriológico total, por lo que, hoy en día, los biofilms representan un paradigma en la gestión de la calidad del agua en los DWDSs. Los biofilms son comunidades complejas de microorganismos recubiertas de un polímero extracelular que les da estructura y les ayuda a retener el alimento y a protegerse de agentes tóxicos. Además del riesgo sanitario que suponen por su papel como refugio de patógenos, existen muchos otros problemas asociados al desarrollo de biofilms en los DWDSs, como deterioro estético del agua, biocorrosión y consumo de desinfectante, entre otros. Una gran cantidad de investigaciones se han realizado en este campo desde los primeros años 80. Sin embargo, debido a la complejidad del entorno y la comunidad estudiada la mayoría de estos estudios se han llevado a cabo bajo ciertas simplificaciones. En nuestro caso, recurrimos a estos trabajos ya realizados y al conocimiento adquirido sobre el desarrollo del biofilm en los DWDSs para cambiar el enfoque en el que normalmente se enmarcan estos estudios. Nuestra propuesta se basa en un intenso pre-proceso y posterior análisis con técnicas de aprendizaje automático. Se implementa un proceso multidisciplinar que ayuda a la realización de un enfoque práctico para el desarrollo de una herramienta de ayuda a la toma de decisiones que ayude a la gestión de los DWDSs, manteniendo, en lo posible, el biofilm en los niveles más bajos, y mitigando sus efectos negativos sobre el servicio de agua. Se propone una metodología para detectar las áreas más susceptibles al desarrollo del biofilm en los DWDSs. Conocer la ubicación de estos puntos calientes de biofilm en la red permitiría llevar a cabo acciones de mitigación de manera localizada, ahorrando recursos y dinero, y asimismo, podrían desarrollarse programas de prevención, actuando antes de que las consecuencias derivadas del desarrollo de biofilm sean percibidas por los consumidores. De esta manera, el coste económico se vería reducido y la calidad del servicio mejoraría, aumentando, finalmente, la satisfacción de los usuarios. / [CAT] Un dels principals reptes dels serveis d'aigua potable és garantir el subministrament d'alta qualitat, en particular, en termes químics i microbiològics. No obstant això, els biofilms desenvolupen invariablement en tots els sistemes de distribució d'aigua potable (DWDSs, de l'anglès, Drinking Water Distribution Systems), tot i la presència de desinfectant residual. Com a resultat, les empreses d'aigua no són capaces de garantir un control bacteriològic total. Actualment el biofilms representen un veritable paradigma en la gestió de la qualitat de l'aigua per a tots les DWDSs. Els biofilms són comunitats complexes de microorganismes vinculats per un polímer extracel·lular que els proporciona estructura, protecció contra els tòxics i ajuda a retenir els aliments. A més del risc de salut que impliquen els biofilms, com a causa del seu paper com a refugi de patògens, una sèrie de problemes addicionals associats amb el desenvolupament del biofilm en els DWDSs pot ser identificat. Entre altres, deteriorament estètic d'aigua, biocorrosión i decadència de desinfectant són universalment reconeguts. Una gran quantitat d'investigació s'ha realitzat en aquest camp des dels primers anys de la dècada del 80. No obstant això, a causa de la complexitat de l'entorn i la comunitat estudiada, la major part dels estudis s'han desenvolupat sota certes simplificacions. Recorrem a aquest treball ja realitzat i a aquest coneixement adquirit en el creixement de biofilms en els DWDSs per canviar el punt de vista clàssic del biofilm en estudis en els DWDSs. La nostra proposta es basa en l'ardu processament previ i posterior anàlisi mitjançant enfocaments d'aprenentatge automàtic. Es va dur a terme un procediment multidisciplinari, ajudant com un enfocament pràctic per desenvolupar una eina de presa de decisions per ajudar a la gestió dels DWDS a mantenir, en la mesura possible, els biofilm en els nivells més baixos, i la mitigació dels seus efectes negatius sobre el servei. Es proposa una metodologia per detectar les àrees més susceptibles al desenvolupament de biofilms en els DWDSs. En conèixer la ubicació d'aquests punts calents de la xarxa, les accions de mitigació podrien centrar-se més específicament, estalviant recursos i diners. A més, els programes de prevenció es podrien desenvolupar, actuant abans que les conseqüències del biofilm es noten pels consumidors. D'aquesta manera, el cost econòmic seria reduït i la qualitat del servei podria millorar, finalment augmentant la satisfacció dels consumidors. / Ramos Martínez, E. (2016). Assessing biofilm development in drinking water distribution systems by Machine Learning methods [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/63257 / TESIS

No description available.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(工学) / 甲第22058号 / 工博第4639号 / 新制||工||1723(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院工学研究科都市環境工学専攻 / (主査)教授 米田 稔, 教授 清水 芳久, 教授 高野 裕久 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering) / Kyoto University / DFAM

Anthropogenic effects are causing significant environmental degradation, and regardless of actions taken to mitigate further changes, humans and animals will have to live with these impacts (IPCC 2019). Rapid population growth in coastal regions, saltwater intrusion (SWI), lowering water quality, and increased presence of toxic materials are degrading coastal resiliency. An important and popular coastal region for the United States is the state of Florida, and it is also an area extremely vulnerable to aspects of climate change such as sea-level rise (SLR) (Noss 2011). This project analyzes how the state is currently experiencing the direct and indirect impacts of toxic materials on the state’s people, environment, and economy. It will do so through analysis of the performance of federal legislation created with the intent to protect human and environmental health, quantification of current rates of using toxic chemicals and potential pollution, as well as quantifying effects of both anthropogenic and natural toxic materials on Florida’s housing market. It was anticipated that legislation such as the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) to ensure strict enforcement of drinking water standards and the Emergency Planning Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA) to prevent toxic pollution would be present in the vulnerable region. Also that natural phenomenon such as the harmful algal blooms significantly degrade the housing market through decreasing income through tourism and lowering housing prices in coastal neighborhoods. This project found that the SDWA is not being enforced, EPCRA data shows a huge risk to potential exposures from large storms, and that algal blooms are significant to housing prices in the state. Using these scientific findings to improve policy and appropriately communicating complex scientific topics to the public is extremely important. Doing so will enable a higher level of coastal resiliency as communities continue attempt to mitigate climate change, but also learn to understand current impacts and better live in a degrading environment.

This diploma thesis deals with the effectiveness of selected adsorbents for the removal of micropollutants from drinking water. In the first part there are described individual types of micropollutants and their occurrence in water. Further, there are described pharmaceuticals and their consumption in the world. At the end of the first part, the possibilities of removing micropollutants in drinking water treatment are approached and two water treatment plants in the Czech Republic have been selected, which already use the technology of the removal of some micropollutants. In the practical part of this diploma thesis is performed an experiment of removal of Ibuprofen from model water by adsorption on selected materials, which are Filtrasorb F100, Bayoxide E33 and GEH.

Monodisperse titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles were synthesized by a novel freeze-drying process herein called lyophilization. The process of lyophilization is described in detail. The materials were characterized by scanning electron microscopy SEM) including energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDXS), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy and UV-Vis-IR spectrophotometry. The TiO2 nanoparticles have narrow size distribution, mono-disperse, strained with most of the characteristics showing presence of the four phases of TiO2 thus: anatase, brookite, rutile with each lyophilization process producing its own phase mostly controlled by pH and precursor concentration and anneal/calcining temperatures. With specific reference to HRTEM, Raman spectroscopy results and XRD, it was found that the Scherrer equation, the Williamson-Hall method and others of similar nature were not enough to explain the strain and the grain sizes of these particles. Therefore the Williamson-Hall method was revised to properly explain the new results. The obtained TiO2 nanoparticles were used in three applications: (1) gas sensing (2) degradation of organic water-borne pollutants using methylene blue as an indicator (3) anti-bacterial activity. / Physics / D. Phil. Physics)

The determination of uranium in samples of the enviroment was considered for liquadeted chemical toxicity of uranium and it is impossible to leave out a potential occurrence in drinking water. The purpose of this diploma thesis was the monitoring of preselected public water supplies in the South Moravia and post action analysis of those samples. That was all on the basis of the requierement of the Regional Hygiene Station. For determination of trace concentrations of uranium in drinking waters the method ICP-MS (Inductively Coupled Plasma with Mass Spectrometry) was chosen. All of the results were then summarized and evaluated. At the end are proposed feasible solutions and precautions for public water supplies operators.

The subject of this diploma thesis is the proposal of savings of water sources and energy in the reptile pavilion at ZOO Brno. The theoretical part describes the current state of water management at the Zoo Brno. The practical part deals with potential water sources, analyzing them according to current legislation and assessing the suitability of resources. Part is devoted to measures to conserve energy.