From the Proceedings of the 1978 Meetings of the Arizona Section - American Water Resources Assn. and the Hydrology Section - Arizona Academy of Science - April 14-15, 1978, Flagstaff, Arizona / Intensive strip and leach mining activity within a confined region usually causes environmental impacts both on the land and on water quality. Adverse water quality effects could be realized long after any mining activity has ceased due to the continuous leaching by precipitation of contaminants from spoils piles and leach dumps. The Miami, Arizona region is unique in its surface and subsurface hydrology. Two unconnected aquifers underlay the region with both serving as domestic (private and municipal) and industrial (mining) supply sources. The shallow floodplain alluvial aquifer is hydraulically connected to surface drainage from mine tailings and leach dumps. Several wells drawing from this aquifer have been abandoned as a municipal supply source due to severe water quality degradation. Water quality in these wells varies directly with precipitation indicating a correlation between surface drainage over and through tailings and leach piles. Expansion of spoils dumps into natural recharge pathways of the deeper Gila Conglomerate aquifer has raised concern that this aquifer may also be subjected to a long term influx of mine pollutants. Questions have also been raised concerning the potential effects of a proposed in situ leaching operation on the water quality of the conglomerate aquifer.

Phytoplankton blooms compromise the quality of freshwater ecosystems and the efficient processing of water by treatment works worldwide. This research aims to determine whether in-situ filamentous biofiltration processes mediated by living roots and synthetic filters as media can reduce or remove the phytoplankton loading (micro-algae and cyanobacteria) prior to a potable water treatment works intake. The underlying biofiltration mechanisms were investigated using field and laboratory studies. A novel macroscale biofilter with three plant species, named the "Living-Filter", installed in Farmoor II reservoir, UK, was surveyed weekly for physicochemical and biological variables under continuous flow conditions during 17 weeks. The efficiency of a mesoscale biofilter using the aquatic plant Phalaris arundinacea and synthetic filters, was tested with Microcystis aeruginosa under continuous flow conditions and in batch experiments. The 'simultaneous allelochemical method' was developed for quantifying allelochemicals from Phalaris in aqueous samples. Microscale studies were used to investigate biofilter allelochemical release in response to environmental stressors and Microcystis growth inhibition in filtered and unfiltered aqueous root exudate. Results demonstrate that the removal of phytoplankton biomass by physical mechanisms has a removal efficiency of ≤45% in the "Living-Filter" (filamentous biofilter plus synthetic fabric) and that the removal of Microcystis biomass using only biofilters was 25%. Chemical mechanisms that reduce Microcystis cell numbers are mediated by allelochemicals released from biofilter roots. Root exudate treatments on Microcystis revealed that Microcystis growth is inhibited by allelochemicals, not by nutrient competition, and that protists and invertebrates play a role in removing Microcystis. Filamentous biofilters can remove phytoplankton biomass by physical, chemical and biological mechanisms. Biofilters and synthetic filters in combination improve removal efficiency. Application of macroscale biofilters prior to potable water treatment works benefits the ecosystem. Plant properties, biofilter size to surface water ratio, and retention time must be considered to maximise the benefits of biofiltration processes.

In 1994, South Africa adopted intergovernmental relations (IGR) to facilitate service delivery. Sections 40-41 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, link service delivery with normative aspects of IGR, which include cooperation, transparency, accountability, mutual support, and coherence. A coherent implementation of IGR was subsequently emphasised by the Intergovernmental Relations Framework Act 13 of 2005. However, South Africa continues to experience service delivery challenges, especially in marginalised and poor communities in the current and former informal settlements. The selected Diepsloot was established as an informal settlement in 1995 and has been under an in situ upgrade programme. The study’s focus was on the provision of potable water in the City of Johannesburg with specific reference to Diepsloot. A case study approach was used to assess lived experiences among the actors within the intergovernmental context of cooperative government. A qualitative methodology was utilised to source data about intergovernmental interactions among actors from the public institutions by means of semi-structured interviews and documentary analysis. Lastly, a focus group was utilised for members of the ward committees in Diepsloot. The study concluded that IGR system is not used adequately to support Diepsloot to access potable water in accordance with an established standard. In essence, the IGR system lacks an integrated approach to reverse a legacy of informality. To facilitate an IGR improvement, the study’s recommendations were three-fold: (i) provision of integrated support to the City of Johannesburg for Diepsloot despite erroneous assumption that metropolitan municipalities are self-sufficient, (ii) standardisation of potable water provision in Diepsloot by means of integrating IGR institutional responses, and (iii) institutionalisation of IGR engagements with other cities. To this end, the study proposed a model of integrated intergovernmental support to improve potable water provision and, by extension, other related services in Diepsloot. / Public Administration / D.P.L. (Public Administration)

Cette thèse analyse les enjeux de la mise en œuvre de la politique de l'eau et de l'assainissement dans l'Aire métropolitaine de Buenos Aires (AMBA) au cours de la dernière décennie. Plus précisément, on étudie les scénarios de controverses et conflits qui ont conduit à l'émergence de nouveaux acteurs dans la région responsable de la gestion des ressources. La thèse est organisée en trois axes: l'institutionnelle, axée sur l'étude des modifications dans le scénario des acteurs en charge de la gestion de l'eau depuis la création de l'entreprise publique de l'eau et de l'assainissement AySA, et l'Autorité de Bassin Matanza- Riachuelo. L'environnement, consacré à analyser controverses générées par les différentes visions présentes par ces deux organismes et l'importance qui acquiert le regard de l'environnement à l'intérieur de la provision des services par rapport à la vision sanitaire traditionnelle du secteur. Et, la dimension socio-territorial qui vise à décrire l'accessibilité à l'eau et à l'assainissement dans la région, caractérisant les zones les plus touchées par le manque de service et les conflits qui émergent là, exigeant le droit à l'accès à l'eau?Pour répondre à ces dimensions on a choisi une stratégie méthodologique mixte qui permit combiner les sources et les approches qualitatives et les quantitatives. Nous avons principalement effectué des entretiens en profondeur à des fonctionnaires, des experts et des membres d'organisations sociales. Nous avons analysé la documentation technique sur les plans de œuvres, et nous avons utilisé des sources statistiques nationales pour étudier l'évolution de la couverture sur le territoire.L'hypothèse qui guide la recherche constate que, si bien que la création de ces deux organismes a produit une transformation dans la politique de l'eau et de l'assainissement à Buenos Aires, l'inertie du système de réseau centralisé et les limitations de la gestion territoriale de la part de l'autorité du bassin versant Matanza Riachuelo, limite la portée de cette transformation. / The thesis analyzes the challenges presented by the implementation of water and sanitation policy in the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires (AMBA) during the last decade (2006-2015). More precisely, it studies the scenarios of controversy and conflict that led to the appearance and raise of new actors in the region that became responsible for managing the resources.The thesis is organized in three dimensions: the institutional one, focused on studying the transformations in the framework of actors responsible for water management in the region, starting with the creation of the AySA drinking water and sanitation company and the Matanza Riachuelo Watershed Authority. The environmental, aimed at analyzing the controversies generated by the different visions present in the management of water through these two organisms and the weight that acquires the environmental view within the provision of the service against the traditional sanitary view of the sector. And the socio-territorial, which seeks to describe accessibility to water and sanitation in the region, characterizing the areas most affected by the lack of service and the conflicts that arise there, in claiming the right to water.To address these dimensions, we opted for a methodological strategy that complement qualitative and quantitative approaches and sources. We have conducted in-depth interviews with officials, academics and members of social organizations; We have analyzed technical documentation on the plans of works, and we have appealed to national statistical sources to study the evolution of the coverage in the territory.The hypothesis that guides the investigation indicates that although the creation of these two organisms implies a transformation in the politics of water and sanitation in Buenos Aires, the inertia of the centralized system of networks and the limitations in the territorial management of the basin authority , Crossed by the criminalization of the Riachuelo pollution, limit the scope of this transformation. / La tesis analiza los desafíos que presenta la implementación de la política del agua y saneamiento en el Área Metropolitana de Buenos Aires durante la última década. Más precisamente estudia los escenarios de controversia y conflicto que supuso la aparición de nuevos actores en la región encargados del manejo del recurso.La tesis se organiza en tres dimensiones: la institucional, centrada en estudiar las transformaciones en el entramado de actores encargados del manejo del agua a partir de la creación de la empresa de agua potable y saneamiento AySA y la Autoridad de Cuenca Matanza Riachuelo. La ambiental, destinada a analizar las controversias generadas por las distintas visiones presentes en estos dos organismos y el peso que adquiere la mirada ambiental dentro de la provisión del servicio frente a la tradicional visión sanitarista del sector. Y la socio-territorial, que busca describir la accesibilidad al agua y saneamiento en la región, caracterizando las áreas más afectadas por la falta del servicio y los conflictos que allí emergen, en reclamo del derecho al agua.Para atender a estas dimensiones optamos por una estrategia metodológica que permita complementar fuentes y enfoques cualitativos y cuantitativos. Principalmente hemos realizado entrevistas en profundidad a funcionarios, académicos y miembros de organizaciones sociales; hemos analizado documentación técnica sobre los planes de obras, y hemos apelado a fuentes estadísticas nacionales para estudiar la evolución de la cobertura en el territorio. La hipótesis que guía la investigación señala que si bien la creación de estos dos organismos supone una transformación en la política del agua y saneamiento en Buenos Aires, la inercia del propio sistema centralizado de redes y las limitaciones en la gestión territorial de la autoridad de cuenca, atravesada por la judicialización de la contaminación del Riachuelo, limitan el alcance de dicha transformación.

International LCA literature indicates that little data is available pertaining to potable water production and supply, in particular with respect to the environmental burdens generated within the system. This study aims to investigate and assess the environmental burdens associated with the potable water supply to an industrial area (Rosslyn, north of Pretoria, in the Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality). The procedure, as well as the assessment of the environmental impacts of a life cycle, is dependent on a comprehensive life cycle inventory (LCI) of the evaluated system. Water use is included in LCIs, which are incorporated into the LCIA procedure, as it reflects a direct extraction from available resources. The water supply system diagram has been developed and data was collected, treated and analysed in the inventory analysis phase. The study closely followed the four phases as stipulated in the International Organization for Standardization (ISO 14040 series of standards) for conducting LCAs, including: -- goal and scope definition; -- LCI analysis; -- LCIA; and -- interpretation, conclusions and recommendations. The methodology used in the impact assessment phase was the introduced LCIA framework for South Africa in order to determine the extent of different environmental impacts. The inventory analysis, conforming to the scope of the study, provided an overall inventory of energy and other resource requirements, emissions to water and air, dust fallouts and solid or liquid wastes for the system under study. By using this methodology and by tracing all unit processes involved in the potable water supply system, the main contribution to the environmental burdens imposed on the potable water supply system was found to be the extraction of the required water from nature to supply potable water to Rosslyn. The toxicity potential impacts on water resources, mainly due to the electricity required for the water supply system, are of minor importance. This conclusion is valid for the system investigated, and as a result, the recommendations for environmental improvements should focus on water losses that must be addressed foremost. What is required at this stage is strategic planning regarding the extraction, use and conservation of water resources. Furthermore, to optimise all processes of water extraction, and to make them more efficient, electricity and other energy inputs are also of importance, albeit to a lesser extent. / Dissertation (M (Applied Sciences : Environmental Technology))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Chemical Engineering / unrestricted

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